Best Outdoor Cinemas in the UK

Pop up cinemas are a real summer staple across the UK, appearing everywhere from iconic landmarks to magnificent country homes. What could be better than bringing your loved ones and a picnic to a screening of your favourite film on a summer evening? The best part is, many outdoor cinemas encourage singing and dancing, so be sure to pay a visit to a musical screening for a night of merriment. Join CrossCountry as we explore the best outdoor cinemas in the UK, where you will find the perfect summer activity under the stars. 

Outdoor Cinema

Outdoor Cinema has a range of summer and Halloween cinema screenings on offer across the UK. With favourites like Mamma Mia!, Encanto, and Harry Potter. Outdoor Cinema encourages a good time for all, that means plenty of singing and dancing to movie soundtracks. They’ve gotten pretty creative with their venues too, with showings of Shawshank Redemption taking place in prisons and showing of Jaws at lidos. It’s all about immersion at these spectacular screenings.  

Outdoor Cinema has lots of locations, plenty of which are accessible with CrossCountry. Head to Leicester for one of their Halloween screenings or to Wolverhampton for some Greatest Showman tunes to belt out.  

^{York Open-air Cinema}

The perfect location for families and film fans alike, Castle Howard in York provides the perfect setting to enjoy a picnic before settling down to watch a film on the big screen. York Open-Air Cinema puts on screenings throughout summer, with singalongs like Dirty Dancing, and classics like Jurassic Park and Top Gun. The stunning baroque mansion with it’s beautifully preened gardens provide the ultimate backdrop for a summer evening movie so picturesque it may be distracting. 

York Open-Air Cinema is made possible by Adventure Cinema, a fantastic organisation that holds events all over the UK, including at the Eden Project in Cornwall and Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire. All events have hot food and snacks available but picnics are welcome too. 

Castle Howard is easy to reach by train when you travel with CrossCountry. Simply travel to York station and hop on a bus to Castle Howard Garden Centre. 

Cinema on the Square

Located in the heart of Leeds city centre, the award-winning Millennium Square is the perfect location for an outdoor cinema. Situated in front of Leeds Civic Hall and surrounded by iconic buildings, it makes a great backdrop for your al fresco film. Cinema on the Square had their first event in 2023 and it’s been a hit ever since. With a handful of carefully curated screenings, from classic concerts to family films, Cinema on the Square is a fantastic annual event to take the whole family.  

Millennium Square is just twelve minutes walking distance from Leeds station. For those travelling to Leeds for a day trip, there are multiple routes serviced by CrossCountry from all over the UK, including from York station and Nottingham station. 

National Trust Outdoor Cinema

Across the UK, National Trust locations are taking advantage of the natural beauty and rich heritage of their properties. Every year, throughout the summer, visitors have the chance to lay a blanket down amongst the carefully shaped topiary and seasonal flowers of a stately home and watch a movie under the setting sun. Head to Calke Abbey in Derbyshire for a lively Grease Sing-A-Long or to Knole in Kent for a scrumdiddlyumptious Charlie and the Chocolate Factory screening.  

With CrossCountry, families and friends can access some of the best National Trust properties in the UK, in comfort and style. 

Tulleys Drive in Cinema

Tulleys Drive in Cinema are hosting an eclectic mix of screenings throughout summer. For those looking for a dance, head to one of their musical screenings of The Greatest Showman or Grease. Or, if you’re looking for a fright instead, Tulleys are showing a few horror movies, including SAW and The Conjuring. They’ve also got some 80’s classics on offer too, like Back to the Future.  

Tulleys Drive in Cinema is located on Tulleys Farm, a charming location for a family day out. They’re also known for being one of the best locations for pumpkin picking around Halloween and for their excellent escape room adventures.  

If you’re planning to visit an outdoor cinema, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.