London
Comedy in London
London has comedy on every night of the week, from the big clubs with four acts and a compere to a back room above a pub where someone is trying out ten new minutes. The big shows sell through the usual sites. The small nights, the work-in-progress hours and the pay-what-you-like gigs, are the ones that go on the map.
Gigs and live shows coming up
Updated 6 Oct, 17:20
How to use this page
Comedy goes on the map as a gig, the same as live music, so the list above has both. Comedy nights say so in the title.
Kinds of comedy night
- Club nights. Three or four acts and a compere, usually Friday and Saturday, ticketed. The safest bet for a good night.
- New material and work in progress. Comics trying out jokes, often well known ones. Cheap or free, and you'll see the act before it's polished.
- Open mics. Anyone can sign up for five minutes. Free, unpredictable, sometimes the best night of the month.
- Hour-long shows. A single comic doing a full show, often a preview before a tour or the Edinburgh Fringe.
Where the comedy is
Soho and Covent Garden have the best-known clubs. Camden, Islington, Bethnal Green and Brixton have strong local nights in pub rooms. See Soho and Camden.
Tips
- Sit at the front only if you're happy to be talked to.
- Phones away. Most clubs ask, and comics notice.
- At pay-what-you-like nights, pay. It's how the room stays open.
Questions
What are the best comedy clubs in London?
The big clubs in Soho and Covent Garden are reliable for a full line-up. For something cheaper and rougher, try a new-material night in a pub back room. The best night changes with who's on.
Is there comedy in London tonight?
Almost always. See London tonight for everything on now, and the list above for gigs coming up.
Are there free comedy nights in London?
Yes. Open mics and many new-material nights are free or pay what you like.
Find a comedy night
Small comedy nights go on the map as organisers drop them. The app tells you when one goes on near you.
