UK comedy festivals
The stand-up fests across the country that'll keep you chortling year-round
London comedy festivals
Udderbelly Festival
When: April-July
Where: Jubliee Gardens, South Bank
What: This giant upturned purple cow settles in behind the London Eye every summer for three months of cabaret, theatre and music. Plus, it's effectively the biggest comedy festival in London, with a consistently impressive line-up of stand-up shows.
London Wonderground
When: May-September
Where: Jubilee Gardens, South Bank
What: This summer-long pop-up cabaret festival offers an embarrassment of riches, including its fair share of comedy delights. Previous acts include Barry & Stuart, Heath Franklin's Chopper and Frisky & Mannish, and for 2013 Al Murray, The Horne Section and Rob Delaney are all programmed in.
London Sketchfest
When: Last weekend in May
Where: The Victorian Vaults, Shoreditch
What: This brand new three-day fest hosts four shows each day from sketch troupes at the more up-and-coming end of the scale. All 12 shows are then judged by a panel with the best show awarded a gong at the end of the weekend.
Balham Comedy Festival
When: Mid-July
Where: The Bedford, Balham
What: In SW12, the team behind regular weekend club Banana Cabaret host the Balham Comedy Festival, now in its second year. It takes place in various rooms of the Bedford pub and the promoters bring in an impressive list of big-name comedy mates (2012's line-up included Harry Hill, Al Murray and Ed Byrne).
Brick Lane Comedy Festival
When: Mid-July
Where: Allen Gardens, off Brick Lane
What: After four glorious years in the surroundings of the Old Royal Naval College, the Greenwich Comedy Festival has now moved across the river to the Allen Gardens and becomes the Brick Lane Comedy Festival. As well as a massive big top hosting superb line-up shows each night, the festival site includes live music on a bandstand, bar and food stalls, which are all free to visit without a ticket.
Ealing Comedy Festival
When: Mid-July
Where: Walpole Park, Ealing
What: As part of Ealing's summer festival line-up, a 1000-seater marquee is set up in Walpole Park for the long-running Ealing Comedy Festival. This fest features galas jam-packed with a mix of circuit favourites and the occasional superstar comic.
Camden Fringe
When: Late July-late August
Where: Various venues in Camden
What: The Camden Fringe hosts comedy, theatre, music and more, for the entire month of August. It clashes with the Edinburgh Fringe, meaning the quality can be a little hit and miss, comedy-wise. Nevertheless, there are always some enjoyable names playing throughout the month.
Rest of the UK and Ireland comedy festivals
Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival
When: Mid-February
Where: Various venues in and around Leicester
What: Apart from the Edinburgh Fringe, the Leicester Comedy Festival is arguably the biggest event in the UK comedy calendar. For two plus weeks, over 500 shows take place in more than 50 venues, with a mix of big-name touring comics and established circuit acts roadtesting material for their latest Edinburgh runs.
Glasgow Comedy Festival
When: Mid-March
Where: Various venues in and around Glasgow
What: Legendary promoter Tommy Sheppard, the owner of The Stand comedy clubs in Scotland, curates this huge Glaswegian laughter fest, featuring over 350 shows in 40 venues. Expect the biggest names here, plus plenty of rising stars.
Colchester Comedy Festival
When: Mid-April
Where: Various venues in and around Colchester
What: That's right, even the oldest town in Britain has its own comedy festival. Colchester's offering includes 12 days of solo shows from household names, comedy films and kids shows.
Bath Comedy Festival
When: Late-March to mid-April
Where: Various venues in and around Bath
What: Now five years old, the Bath Comedy Festival is expanding year on year, offering a bigger variety of stand-up shows. As well as solo shows from circuit regulars, the BCF hosts a new act competition and Bath-based comic Noel Britten's 'Bizarre Bath' comedy walk.
Machynlleth Comedy Festival
When: First weekend in May
Where: Various venues in Machynlleth
What: This delightful comedy festival in north Wales has quickly become one of the best in the country, and the one every comic wants to play. Over the May Day bank holiday weekend the tiny market town of Machynlleth is taken over by a mass of top-notch comedians, with all the venues within a short walk of one another.
Comedy Hullabaloo – Stratford-upon-Avon
When: Last weekend in May
Where: Various venues in Stratford-upon-Avon
What: New for 2013, the team behind the Udderbelly on the South Bank curate this weekend-long festival in Shakespeare's country. With venues including the RSC and a specially pitched spiegeltent, most of the shows include line-ups of four comics (each with a huge-name headliner), plus the odd late night party. Sounds fun!
Happyness – Inverness Comedy Festival
When: Last weekend in May
Where: Various venues in Inverness
What: A weekend of funny up in the Highlands, featuring a mix of Scottish and British acts on line-up shows, and TV regulars performing solo shows.
The Sky Cat Laughs Comedy Festival – Kilkenny
When: Late-May/early-June
Where: Various venues in Kilkenny
What: Kilkenny is one of the most respected comedy festivals in the world. For a long weekend this tiny Irish town is riddled with top comedy talent. The Cat Laughs has scored some huge coups in the past – Bill Murray, Zach Galafianakis and Louis CK have all played the festival – and each year usually features some big-name American acts. It's heaps of fun.
Tring Comedy Festival
When: Late-June to mid-July
Where: Various venues in Tring
What: Tring's unique selling point is that it's the 'seventh largest comedy festival in the world'. Quite a feat for a small Hertfordshire market town! Every night for three weeks two comics preview their new Edinburgh Fringe shows.
Cambridge Comedy Festival
When: Mid-July
Where: Various venues in Cambridge
What: Cambridge Comedy Festival is relatively small – with just 30 shows in six days – but attracts some mega-famous comics to headline.
Latest comedy features
London Punderground: comedian Darren Walsh puns the tube map
‘They want to extend the Northern line, but I think this is Morden adequate.’
Jessie Cave shares some exclusive doodles
The twee comedian and ‘Harry Potter’ star draws Time Out a few London-themed drawings
Doug Stanhope’s top ten stand-ups
The hellraising US stand-up and Time Out favourite picks his favourite fellow comics
Joseph Morpurgo: on the record
The Foster’s Award nominee talks us through some hidden gems from his record collection
October's top ten comedy shows
The ten shows that'll make you laugh most this month
The best ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic songs
Musical comedians pick their favourite tracks by the king of musical parody
Review: Liam Williams: Bonfire Night
A scruffy, bearded man who plays to rooms packed with lefties. Is Liam Williams the comedy Jeremy Corbyn?
One to watch: Minor Delays
As part of the #TimeOutTakeover, reader Jen Wakefield meets sketch troupe Minor Delays
Nick Coyle’s Guided Meditation: four steps to achieving serenity
The Australian comedian has turned spiritual guru in his latest show. Here, he gives Time Out a quick relaxation lesson
All hail Sam Simmons!
This year's Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award-winner. But what made this new show the funniest at the Fringe? We speak to the Aussie absurdist
Snap up exclusive discounts in London
Time Out's handpicked deals — hurry, they won't be around for long...