The Old Cinema London

A picture house of treasures

Peter from London

About me I’m an American guy living and loving London. I moved here to study but fell in love with the city and stayed. Aside from exploring new corners of the city, I enjoy theatre, exploring second-hand bookshops, rugby (and a bit of Quidditch). I am a keen traveller (42 countries and counting). However, no matter what exotic locale I am visiting, after a few days...
""The Old Cinema" in London is an unexpected treat: wandering around this furniture shop is like walking around the back set of an old Hollywood studio..."

Situated on Chiswick High Road, the Old Cinema is an unexpected treat amongst the coffee shops and chain restaurants. From the outside, it looks like an old-fashioned cinema that may have once showed silent films (in fact, the building was previously a picture palace dating back over 100 years). Instead of cinema seating and the smell of buttery popcorn, this quirky department store holds a collection of retro furniture and vintage gifts to please the designer in each of us.

Wandering around the Old Cinema is like walking around the back set of a Hollywood movie studio. Rather than decorate rooms with the precision of an IKEA room display, the store groups items loosely in the showrooms and allows customers to explore the treasures individually. The Old Cinema sources items from all time periods and from a large number of countries, so a clock that looks like it might come from a 50s roadside American diner can sit above a delicate Edwardian writing desk.

In 2012 the popular BBC programme 'The Apprentice' filmed here as part of a task. Perhaps even Lord Sugar is a fan of the shop?

Although I cannot readily afford most items here, I enjoy imagining how I would decorate my own flat if I ever won the lottery. I have my eye on old signs from the London Underground; I just need to buy a place big enough to fit them all in!

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

London Spotter Peter

About me I’m an American guy living and loving London. I moved here to study but fell in love with the city and stayed. Aside from exploring new corners of the city, I enjoy theatre, exploring second-hand bookshops, rugby (and a bit of Quidditch). I am a keen traveller (42 countries and counting). However, no matter what exotic locale I am visiting, after a few days I long to be back in London to walk amongst its parks, browse its bookshelves and eat its eclectic foods. Why London? Growing up in the US, London always seemed like a fantasy city...

About this spot

160 Chiswick High Road W4 1PR

Buckets:

£

28

+44

2089954166

Oct 3, 2025

Our London City Guide

Find your way with 276 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our London guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in London

Unwined

With a glass of wine

As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

The Penny Drop

Proper coffee in Fitzrovia

The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Fortitude bakehouse

Sourdough enthusiasts heaven

If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Rondo La Cave

A hip wine bar

Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Lamb's Conduit Street

Bloomsbury's hidden gem

Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Milk cafe

Best brunch in London

The menu has all the brunch classics you’d expect and also some more unusual offerings as well as weekend specials that change regularly...

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Bloomsbury Farmers' Market

A mid week treat

The Bloomsbury farmers market is a small market for fresh produce and lots of different food stalls held every Thursday on Bloomsbury square.

026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Southwark Brewing Company

A special spot

Southwark Brewing company has a range of traditional beers such as ales, IPAs, porter, and bitter - all really fresh and available on draft or bottle.

028-beach-bar-1
Bars

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Museum Lates

Enjoy museums without the crowds

Museum Lates is a concept that is essentially a late-night opening when you can explore the exhibitions without the day-trip crowds getting in your way.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

Stir Coffee Brixton

Coffee with a local vibe

Stir Coffee Brixton is a lovely neighbourhood coffee shop located on the corner of Brixton Hill and Arodene Road which has a very chilled vibe.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Angelina

Ivanova

Nov 22, 2025

House of Hodge

Books, books and more books

It was set up in 2009 by Highbury resident and cat enthusiast Doreen Rolph, as a place to raise funds for local animal welfare organisations.

002-building
Art & culture
026-thrift-shop-1
Shopping

by

Madeline

Gowers

Nov 21, 2025

Brunei Gallery

Art from across the globe

Past topics include tent-making in Islamic Cairo, recycling methods in Japan and underground pop culture in ‘50s to ‘80s Ghana.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Madeline

Gowers

Nov 21, 2025

Heading to London?

276 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

London app Home
London app Home
London app Map
London app Home

Heading to London?

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

276 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite London

Our team loves London

Get to know our other Spotters from London

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
19
Made with the 💚 of 496 Spotters.
Filters