Looking for the best comedy clubs in London? You’ve come to the right place.
From stand-up in Covent Garden to improv in Islington, the capital is filled with plenty of comedy clubs and nights showcasing the best of British live comedy.
Whether you’re looking to see one of the big names perform IRL, or you enjoy supporting up-and-coming comedians, you don’t need to travel too far for a side-splitting performance.
Ready for a chuckle? These are the best comedy nights in London…
Best Comedy Clubs in London
The West End Comedy Club
One of the more recent additions to London’s comedy club scene is The West End Comedy Club.
Since opening in August 2021, the comedy club has hosted Tuesday and Wednesday night shows, though, in March 2022, they are set to double this with a fantastic Monday preview and an earlier Thursday show.
The club has been graced by some big names on the comedy circuit such as Seann Walsh and Rosie Jones, as well as some up-and-coming names like Ania Magliano, Finlay Christie, and Lily Phillips.
Covent Garden Comedy Club
Located inside Drury Lane’s Prince of Wales Pub, Covent Garden Comedy Club has been touted by many as the best in the capital since it first opened in 2002.
Throughout the years, this comedy club has had the pleasure of hosting the UK’s top comedians. Everyone from Rob Beckett, Rufus Hound, and Rudi Lickwood have cut their teeth at this funny spot.
Banana Cabaret
Balham
With a roster including Romesh Ranganathan, Ria Lina, and Henning Wehn, it’s safe to say that Banana Cabaret has boasted some top stars and is one of the best comedy clubs in London, for good reason.
For 38 years, The Bedford’s Club Room has hosted award-winning comedy nights. The club acts as a platform for future stars, as well as welcoming back returning comedians to the stage.
City Comedy Club
Based in Shoreditch, City Comedy Club boasts some of the best stand-up performances in London.
Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the club arranges for the hottest rising comedians (Eddie Mullarkey and Hatty Preston, to name a couple) to take to the stage – mixed in with plenty of surprise guests.
We have to say, we’re huge fans of the club’s bottomless shows that take place on Thursdays. Wings, booze, and laughs was always going to be a winning combo.
99 Club
Covent Garden + Leicester Square
After winning the award for London’s best comedy club ten years on the bounce, it’s clear that 99 Club is the spot to visit if you’re in need of some real belly-laughs.
With shows running between Tuesdays and Saturdays, the club hosts a regular roster of Chris McCausland, Sara Barron, and Darren Harriot, alongside a sprinkling of new additions every so often.
Keep your eyes peeled for new materials nights, where comedians will showcase their newest routines in a somewhat trial and error show (hopefully) guaranteeing light entertainment.
Angel Comedy
Run by comedians for comedians, Angel Comedy is a club located in both The Bill Murray and Camden Head. And it’s one of the best comedy clubs London has to offer.
If you’re after a more affordable show, Angel Comedy runs free shows throughout the week alongside reasonably-priced stand-up routines from the likes of Nish Kumar, Aisling Bea, and Joe Lycett.
The Boat Show
Whitehall
Heard of the comedy boat London boasts? You’ll find it floating on the Thames in Tattershall Castle just off Whitehall Gardens.
Throughout the week, the likes of Matt Richardson and Rosie Jones take to the stage to tickle your sides. We particularly love Tuesdays, a.k.a Guinea Pig Club nights, where the capital’s best comedy stars test out new materials on a raucous crowd – prepare for the potential cringe.
The fish and chips on offer is also excellent and makes a cracking pairing to all the LOLs.
The Comedy Store
Founded in 1979 by Don Ward and Peter Rosengard, The Comedy Store brings together the best of stand-up and improv comedy to London.
Fridays and Saturdays are the Best in Stand-Up evenings, where superstar comedians take to the stage to share hilarious tales – past attendees have included Kae Kurd, Rosie Jones, and Paul Sinha (yes, the one from The Chase).
Fancy yourself as a budding comedian? The Comedy store boasts the most brutal open mic comedy London has to offer with Paul Thorne acting as the gongmaster. If you’re feeling brave, head down and bring with you your best jokes (and your thickest skin!).
Camden Comedy Club
Camden Comedy Club is something of an icon in the capital, taking place upstairs at The Camden Head. The space has recently been renovated, but the famous red curtain and neon lights have remained.
The funny folk at CCC cover all bases, with stand-up comedy nights, sketch and improv shows, new material, Edinburgh Fringe previews, and even workshops and masterclasses for those who want to get involved in the comedy scene.
If they’re a British comedian, it’s likely that they’ve spent many evenings dazzling crowds here.
Happy Mondays Comedy
Deptford
Who knew that tucked away inside The Amersham Arms was one of the best comedy nights in London?
Happy Mondays Comedy runs every fortnight on (you guessed it!) Mondays, bringing with it a selection of rising stars and big names within comedy – past performers have included Shazia Mirza, Miss Mo’Real, and Tony Law.
Most shows are stand-up, though occasionally Happy Mondays will run an improv/open mic event, so keep your eyes peeled on their socials for announcements.
Top Secret Comedy Club
Covent Garden
If you’re looking for side-splitting laughs, look no further than The Top Secret Comedy Club in London.
Mondays and Wednesdays are new material nights, Sundays and Tuesdays see Nico Yearwood hosting three short stand up sets, and the rest of the week is filled with brilliant shows from a mix of future stars and big-name billings.
Backyard Comedy Club
Bethnal Green
When it comes to comedy nights, London’s not lacking – though Backyard Comedy Club hosts some of the very best.
A trailblazer in the East London comedy scene, Backyard prides themselves on hosting West End shows for East End prices… and we have to say we agree. The value for money is excellent.
Throughout the week the club hosts a number of themed nights: from The Comedy Hump on Wednesdays, designed to give you a little mid-week boost, to stand-up specials on Mondays, as well as regular Thursday-Saturday comedy evenings.
Practical Tips for Exploring London’s Comedy Scene
- If you’re looking for cheap comedy nights in London, it’s well worth supporting rising stars and helping them get the springboard they need to launch their career. Tickets are often cheaper and you get the luxury of saying you saw them before they made it big.
- The majority of London’s comedy clubs can be found in Covent Garden and Soho, though it’s worth branching out to other areas like Camden and Deptford if you’re after brilliant comedy evenings.
