Stand up comedy is a great option for a night out. It’s something you can do by yourself or with friends and it doesn’t necessarily require a ton of time and effort. Plus, you get a good laugh, which we could all do with sometimes. London has the biggest and most varied comedy scene in the country (and arguably the world), so there’s plenty on offer. Whether you’re looking to see some new upstart comedians or regulars from the telly, there is something on offer for you, all across the city. Here are some of the best comedy clubs in London
1. Angel Comedy
Angel Comedy has two venues, one at Camden Head and one at The Bill Murray. It’s arguably the best comedy club in London for students because their shows are so cheap. There are free stand up comedy shows every night and for their shows with bigger names, the cost of a ticket generally maxes out at about £10. Plus, if you’ve ever wanted to try out stand up comedy, they run the Angel Comedy School, which has courses in stand up, joke and sketch writing, comedy filmmaking and podcasting, clowning, as well as long/short form improv.
Address: 2 Camden Walk, N1 8DY
2. The Boat Show
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The Boat Show takes place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night at Tattershall Castle, which despite the misleading name is not a castle, but the name of a pub on a boat on the Thames. Like with many other clubs, you’ll see a mix of established names on the comedy scene as well as up-and-comers. As a student, I would say that the best night to go is Tuesday because the tickets cost £6 and you get to be a ‘guinea pig’ for new material for big acts. But, if that’s not possible, the tickets are still affordable – £15 per person on Fridays, £18 per person on Saturdays.
Address: Tattershall Castle, SW1A 2HR
3. Live at The Chapel
This is definitely one of the more unique comedy clubs in London, thanks to its church setting. Live at The Chapel takes place once a month at Union Chapel in Islington. Having been there myself, I would definitely say that this is one of, if not the nicest venues in London. While the shows only happen once a month, the organisers make it worth it, as each show features some of the biggest names in comedy. Past performers include Joe Lycett, James Acaster, Mae Martin, Rose Matafeo, Russell Howard, and many more. Tickets are £20 a show.
Address: Compton Terrace, N1 2UN
4. The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store in Soho is arguably the comedy club with the richest history in London – it has been running since 1979. There are performances pretty much every day of the week, ranging from stand up nights to improv to open mic nights. Some of the most famous names in comedy are performing here over the next few weeks, including Dara O’Briain, Rhys James, Jack Skipper and Rachel Parrish, among others. The tickets are a little more expensive, generally at about £20, but the quality of the show will make it worthwhile.
Address: 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE
5. Top Secret Comedy Club
Located in the heart of London’s West End, the Top Secret Comedy Club is one of London’s premier comedy venues, known for hosting both established comedians and up-and-coming talents. It’s a favourite spot for many comedy lovers and has been credited with giving a platform to new voices in the world of comedy. Past performers include Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.
One of the best things about Top Secret Comedy Club is that it has comedy nights pretty much every night, AND has lots of free events too. For paid events, you can usually get a student discount as well.
Address: 170a Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PD
6. Up The Creek
Another great comedy club in London is Up The Creek, known for open mic nights and nurturing famous celeb comedians. It opened in 1991 and has become a well-known place to go in London. It’s typical British humour, described as a ‘national institution’. Oh and it’s a great place to enjoy craft beers, where in 2018 they installed Up the Creek Brewery (originally known as Greenwich Brewery).
Like some of the other comedy clubs in London, they do special student tickets, so you can go for less. On weekend nights, you can also join the after party too!
Address: 302 Creek Rd, London SE10 9SW
So, these are some of the best comedy clubs in London. Of course, this is not an extensive list. It just goes to show that there is a wide range of comedy on offer for you, all across the city. Whether you’re looking for your first comedy club night or you’re looking for a new venue to try out, this article will hopefully have you covered. Happy laughing!
In addition to many comedy clubs, London is home to countless bars, pubs and restaurants. If you’re looking for somewhere that’ll let you keep partying away into the night, check out this article for some of the best late-night bars in London.
Last Updated on July 11, 2024
Published on September 23, 2023
A student from University of Nottingham.
