Some friends and I have some movies we'd like to see while we're here in London. We live in Islington and our Oyster Cards are for zones 1 and 2, so it would be nice if the theatres were in that area, but if you know of anything cheap, please tell!

The Prince Charles off Leicester Sq is the cheapest you'll find in town, if you don't mind waiting a few weeks post release.

Run out of money? Not good. Always good to have some money at hand.

In general the cinemas away from the centre of London are cheaper but none are particularly cheap. If you buy a local paper for Islington or the Evening Standard you can see what is on at the time you are interested in it and where. If you want unusual or foreign films then the Curzon chain is good and not much more expensive than the chains.

Our local Odeon has cheaper prices before 5 pm BUT I discovered that the features start just after 5pm so you have to go quite early to get the benefit.

For newish releases, I second Candidus' suggestion.

For a slightly different experience the BFI Mediatheque on the South Bank has hundreds of films (both shorts and full length) that you can watch for free.

They don't have any new releases, but do have many classic films (and TV shows) that don't cost a penny to view. You won't get the full cinematic experience, rather your own individual screen, but you can plan your own viewing.

How about a London theme? An episode of Ab Fab, followed by 84 Charing Cross Road?

The Prince Charles is the only seriously cheap cinema I know. The NFT has cheapish prices but is hardly mainstream - ditto the ICA.

However if you have an Orange mobile phone they have Orange Wednesdays where you get two for the price of one.

The Vue in that rather nasty precinct at the extreme south end of Liverpool Rd offers extraordinary deals before 5, or if you're a student or over 60.

The Screen on the Green always has a complicated price list on display. Whatever deals they offer never seem to apply when I want to go in - but it's worth checking next time you're walking past

Thinking about it the Cineworld chain offers an all-you-can-eat deal where you can watch as many fillums as you want in any of their cinemas for about £13 a month.

The cinemas tend to be fleapits though.

http://www.cineworld.co.uk/unlimited

Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone!