The curtain will fall on a historic north London cinema next month as the Camden Odeon prepares to shut its doors permanently. Following a mutual agreement between Odeon and the site’s landlord, the final screenings will take place on February 24, 2026, ending nearly nine decades of film exhibition at this iconic location.
The venue first opened as a Gaumont cinema on January 25, 1937, before converting to a bingo hall in the early 1960s. It returned to cinema use under the Odeon brand in 1964, eventually evolving into the five-screen multiplex that Camden residents know today.
Throughout its history, the cinema established itself as an integral part of Camden Town’s vibrant cultural landscape. Film enthusiasts may recognize the Odeon from its association with modern British cult cinema. Director Edgar Wright publicly celebrated the venue as the location where he viewed “Shaun of the Dead” in 2004, cementing its place in contemporary film history.
For generations of Londoners, the Camden Odeon served as the backdrop for countless cinematic “rites of passage.” The announcement in early January 2026 gave patrons approximately six weeks’ notice before the closure.
The building, located on Parkway in Camden Town, is scheduled for demolition as part of a broader redevelopment plan. The site will be incorporated into the Camden Town Xchange project, which will include 244 student bedrooms, 49 affordable homes, and a cultural venue, though there is no guarantee this will function as a cinema.
The adjacent Mecca Bingo hall will also be demolished as part of the same redevelopment scheme. Local reporting has framed the closure within the context of London’s ongoing loss of historic cultural landmarks to property development.
The Camden Odeon’s traditional interiors and seating contrast with newer luxury Odeon locations across the city. As the venue prepares for its final month of operation, it marks the end of an establishment that has remained deeply embedded in Camden’s music, arts, and nightlife ecosystem for generations.
