June 2025 is a typically eclectic month for London comedy: it’s fair to say that no other city on the planet can boast a dizzyingly broad festival of modern clowning and a residence for ex Daily Show host Trevor Noah running side by side. Toss in the chance to see the brilliant Kieran Hodgson’s new show two months before Edinburgh gets it and fun from Stewart Lee and Wanda Sykes, and you’ve got yourself a solid month of chuckles.
There are far, far too many one-off, multi-performer comedy nights in London for us to compile a single coherent page with our favouites on, which is entirely to London’s credit. So do check individual bills of comedy clubs online for that sort of thing. But if you’re looking for an individual comedian with a full headline show then this page is here to compile the Time Out editorial team’s top choices, often with our reviews from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The best comedy clubs in London.
The best new theatre shows to book for in London.
What is it? Having made shows exploring his relationship with Scotland (Big in Scotland) and the EU (’75), the unfailingly high conept Kieran Hodgson now turns his sights on the US. In it, he explores how the country he was fascinated with as a child stacked up to the real thing when he auditioned for Hollywood, and what actual Americans thought of the accent he’d always assumed was flawless (spoiler: he has a small role in The Flash and his accent isn’t bad).
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? Think clowning is a dying art that’s limited to circus big tops? The London Clown Festival will make you think again. The event returns for another year in its biggest incarnation yet, with an eclectic line-up of British and European clown work. As you might imagine, it’s a thoroughly contemporary affair much weirder and funnier than guys dressed as IT squirting you with flowers.
Where is it? Soho Theatre then Jacksons Lane.
What is it? In his latest dizzyingly high concept show, avant comedy legend Stewart Lee bemoans his irrelevance in a new show in which he promises to unleash a new, callously offensive stage persona to compete with the likes of Ricky Gervais and Dave Chappelle. The Man-Wulf is, apparently, ‘a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity’. Expect nuclear levels of irony.
Where is it? Leicester Square Theatre (then Southbank Centre in July)
What is it? Erstwhile Daily Show legend Trevor Noah returns to London for a comparitively ‘intimate’ string of dates at the Apollo after playing The O2 last time in 2023. We’re promised the South African stand-up will be performing all new material: this may even be the show’s name, although the poster for these dates features Noah standing in front of the postcode for the Apollo (W6 9QH) which would be a fun name. We don’t know exactly what’s on offer, but expect humourous storytelling with a politicial edge.
Where is it? Eventim Apollo.
What is it? The Emmy-winning US comedy legend – and longterm Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star – calls in at the Southbank Centre as part of a short tour of England and Europe. We’re promised laughs aplenty and ‘a smattering of manners’, with the versatile veteran offering a mix of physical humour, goofy anecdotes and more political stuff.
Where is it? Royal Festival Hall.
What is it? Neon Nights is the gorgeous Soho Theatre Walthamstow’s monthly showcase spectactular and typiclaly features a big name headliner with stars ion various degrees of rising in support. This month’s show is headlined by Phil Wang with Catherine Bohart as host and Olga Koch, Jin Hao Li, Josh Pugh and Fatiha El-Ghorri supporting.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? The absurdly successful comedy theatre troupe Mischief follow up The Play That Goes Wrong, Magic Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery etc etc with a new one about Cold War spies.
Where it it? Noël Coward Theatre.
Why go? Mischief offer solid old fashioned comedy laughs ever time, and while the wheel is never going to be reinvented, they’re nothing if not reliably amusing.
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