London is about to get a lot more cosmic. Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is being staged at the O2 arena as a full concert screening — the film plays on a giant screen while the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs Hans Zimmer's score live in the arena. It's part of the wave of film-in-concert events that have turned classic movies into full evenings out, and few scores suit the format better than this one.
Interstellar's music is practically a character in the film. Zimmer's pipe-organ-driven score builds from quiet, ticking motifs into enormous waves of sound, and hearing it performed by a full symphony orchestra changes the experience entirely. The O2, one of London's biggest indoor venues, is a fitting setting — its sheer scale mirrors the film's ambition, and every seat gets a clear view of the screen.
For visitors, the timing works well. The O2 sits on the Greenwich Peninsula, reachable via the Jubilee line to North Greenwich, and the surrounding area has grown into a proper leisure destination — outlet shopping, restaurants, the cable car across the Thames, and nearby Greenwich itself with the Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum. You could easily build a London weekend around a show here.
Concert screenings also make an unusual evening for film fans who've already done the usual London sights. Rather than another West End musical, you get a two-and-a-half-plus-hour cinematic experience with live musicians — often at a price point comparable to a decent theatre ticket. Check the venue's listings for exact dates, seat prices and start times before booking, as these events frequently sell out the best seats first and sessions are usually added when demand is high.
Who's it for? Film buffs, Zimmer fans, anyone who cried at the docking scene — and travellers looking for a memorable big-night-out in London that goes beyond the standard itinerary.