The best comedy clubs in London
We round up the best comedy clubs and nights in the capital
This city has the biggest and best comedy scene in the world. But where to start? Here's Time Out's round-up of the finest comedy clubs and comedy nights in London. From the funniest local gigs, north and south, to Soho comedy nights and central hangouts, the capital has plenty of comedy to satisfy your laughter needs.
Think we've missed a great comedy club or comedy night in London? Let us know in the comment box below.
The best comedy clubs in London
The Comedy Store
There’s no doubt about it, the Comedy Store is the daddy of all comedy clubs, and what most other gigs strive to be. Seemingly as old as London itself, the club has been instrumental in the growth of alternative comedy, and still to this day hosts stunning shows most nights of the week. Don’t miss the raucous King Gong on the last Monday of the month; the weekend bills are very rarely topped.
- Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EE
Live at the Chapel
Live at the Chapel
This monthly Islington comedy club undoubtedly provides the finest, most interesting line-ups in the capital. Taking over the gorgeous Union Chapel, the shows here are all killer, no filler, featuring the biggest names in comedy (Tim Minchin, Russell Howard, Simon Amstell, Noel Fielding and Frankie Boyle have all played) alongside supporting comics who are all headliners in their own right. Throw in a terrific live band, a tea-serving kiosk and a lot of swearing in a church, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a night out. Amen.
- Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, London, N1 2XD
Soho Theatre © David Tett
Soho Theatre
Rather than multi-bill nights, the Soho Theatre programmes solo, hour-long shows from some of the finest comedy acts in the world. Across three performance spaces, the venue hosts London performances of Edinburgh Fringe hits, the best in international stand-up, and shows that are a little more theatrical than straight man-and-a-mic stand-up. To see the best in exciting, cutting-edge comedy, get yourself down to Soho.
- Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
Knock2Bag
For value for money, variety and consistently stunning line-ups, it's hard to beat award-winning club Knock2Bag. Plus, with nights in both East and West London, it really is dead easy to pay them a visit. The line-ups here are packed to the rafters, with seven or more top quality acts often on one bill, and there's always a mix of inventive sketch troupes, bonkers character acts and slick stand-ups, from household names to the finest new comics. We still have no idea what the name means.
- Bar FM, Hopgood St, W12 7JU / Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6LA
The Boat Show
Boat Show
The line-ups aboard this floating comedy club situated opposite the London Eye are consistently superb. Ticket prices are reasonable, and for those wishing to party into the small hours, a nightclub follows the comedy every Friday and Saturday at no extra charge.
- Tattershall Castle, Kings Reach, Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2HR
© Steve Ullathorne
Leicester Square Theatre
The LST isn't strictly a comedy venue – it hosts heaps of music and theatre too – but it's basement space is home to some of the best regular stand-up nights in London, and the 400-seat main house is a favourite room among the big name stand-ups. Stewart Lee, Jerry Sadowitz and Doug Stanhope often play long runs in the main theatre, and Bill Bailey, Michael McIntyre and Micky Flanagan have all performed warm-up gigs here in recent months. Highlights from the studio space include geeky film-based monthly gig Richard Sandling's Perfect Movie and fast-paced sketch duo Max & Ivan's anarchic night The Roffle Club.
- 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX
Amused Moose Soho
Hils Jago runs a tight ship at her multi-award winning Greek Street club. The bills here, every Saturday night, are reliably strong, featuring a mix of circuit stalwarts and exciting new talents. Plus, if you’re lucky, the likes of Noel Fielding or Simon Amstell may well drop by to try out new material…
- Moonlighting, 17 Greek St, London, W1D 4DR
Hampstead Comedy Club
Veteran comedian and promoter Ivor Dembina hosts this cosy, Saturday night comedy club a few minutes from Chalk Farm tube. Dembina puts the quality of the show over everything else, booking a mixture of well-established circuit comics, hotly tipped newbies and the occasional TV favourite.
- Pembroke Castle, 150 Gloucester Ave, NW1 8JA
Soho Comedy Club
With most comedy clubs ramping up their prices at weekends to cash in on the off-the-clock laughter-seeking Londoners, Soho Comedy Club offers just as good line-ups at incredibly good value for money – plus bring along a copy of Time Out, and it's only a tenner! Walking through the Empire Casino in Leicester Square, past rows of depressed business men blowing their bonuses at the roulette table, it doesn't feel like you're in for a joke-fest. But once you're in the chandelier-laden room, in the company of the friendly regular comperes, you'll feel right at home.
- The Casino at the Empire, 5-6 Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA
Downstairs at the King's Head
One of the oldest clubs in the country (it's been running for more than 30 years), Peter Grahame's basement gig in Crouch End is still one of the best comedy venues in the capital. On Thursdays you can catch a large bunch of new acts (most of whom have waited months for a spot), Saturdays feature top notch circuit talent, and Sundays have more of a laidback variety feel. Plus, the staff are tremendously friendly and the shows are all very good value.
- 2 Crouch End Hill , London, N8 8AA
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