BFI Southbank

At this national film and TV archive, the best of contemporary and classic old movies are shown in a four-screen cinema. Watching a great film in a proper setting that you can’t find anywhere else makes it special. Immersing yourself in the experience sparks creativity into a bonfire of ideas. Why wouldn’t artists and writers be here? A great digital resource, where I did loads of research for my book on Soho, is the institute’s Mediatech, which has booths with television sets where you can watch short old films and TV shows. You’ll find treasures, such as the films Evelyn Waugh made as a student at Oxford in 1929. Booking is essential.