Spotlight on Scotland's Cinemas

Overview

A common feature in Scotland’s towns and cities, cinemas are now an increasingly rare part of our streetscapes. Constructed in a variety of engaging and exuberant styles, they add much to our country’s rich built heritage.

In 2007-08, Historic Environment Scotland worked with the Cinema Theatre Association Scotland to undertake a thematic study of Scotland’s historic cinema buildings, assessing the listed and unlisted cinemas across Scotland. As a result of the project, six cinemas were listed and 68 records for the existing listed cinemas and buildings with a cinema connection were updated.

There are now around 53 purpose-built listed cinemas.

Download our booklet about Scotland’s cinemas and search our Heritage Portal for listed cinemas.