Turning tips into memories

The best London comedy clubs to cheer you up

By Eloise Barker on 20/8/2018

Everyone likes comedy clubs. Everyone except perhaps baby seals. Embark on a belly-aching tour of the best London comedy clubs with our handy guide to the hidden gems and well known theatres in Soho and beyond.
Dad jokes, scat jokes, surreal jokes, cabaret, drag and improvised murder mysteries are all in store. Just don't sit in the front row unless you know what you're doing.

The London institution: The Comedy Store

The Comedy Store is a one-stop shop for all the best stand-up – a Marks and Spencers, if you will. It's London's busiest comedy venue. Wednesday and Sunday nights are the times to go for the regular show from the 'Comedy Store Players' featuring established comedians like Paul Merton and Josie Lawrence, but there's comedy every night. The venue was formerly a strip club, but the performers keep their kit on nowadays (mostly). Order a pizza and go and see what's in store.

WHERE

1a Oxendon St, London SW1Y 4EE

The one with its own museum: Museum of Comedy

Did you hear the one about the comedy club with its own museum? That's the Museum of Comedy in Bloomsbury, the Leicester Square Theatre's sister venue. Set in a former church crypt – ironic for its lively atmosphere – the comedy club has a small theatre and a free museum which it opened on April Fools Day in 2014. Look out for props belonging to Tommy Cooper, the heads from Spitting Image and more. You can see even more comedy at Leicester Square Theatre itself.

WHERE

Museum: The Undercroft, St Georges Church, Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SR | Theatre: 6 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BX |

The worst-kept secret: Top Secret Comedy Club

It's no secret any more – this is Tripadvisor and Google's highest rated comedy club in London. Set in Covent Garden, with a rather cheap bar, Amy Shumer, Andy Parsons, Aisling Bea and Ross Noble have all visited in the past. And so should you. There's comedy here every single night of the week and on Fridays and Saturdays there are two shows a night. Go on Mondays and Wednesdays to hear comics try their edgy new material.

WHERE

170 Drury Lane London, WC2B 5PD

In the back of beyond: Backyard Comedy Club

Bethnal Green might not be your definition of a backyard, but this is where you'll find the Backyard Comedy Club. Just minutes from the station, there's a no-holds-barred poliy on the comedy, so go with an open, dirty mind and you'll be find. The club was founded by 90s television star Lee Hurst (They Think It's All Over). He pops up occasionally to do the odd show. Head to the bar for their signature pizza and pints and enjoy the show.

WHERE

231 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 0EL

For a right good laugh: The Bedford

There's something funny going on in Balham. The Bedford is a long-running comedy club that's been going for thirty years. It's a big, fun venue that's open late for dancing and is one of the best places for a night of laughter in south London. For £3 you can go to The Pit, which often features famous TV comics, and there are regular shows from Banana Cabaret, too. Best of all, in the summer it hosts Balham Comedy Festival.

WHERE

77 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9HD

For gut-busters not Ghostbusters: The Bill Murray

The Bill Murray in Angel certainly looks like a comedy club. Named after the beloved American actor, it's exterior is fittingly painted with murals of Chaplain and Mr Bean, perennially doing stand-up on, rather than in front of, a traditional brick wall. The club only opened in 2016 as the second home of the longstanding Angel Comedy Club. Small, crowded and simple, there are no tables, only foldable seats arranged around a dark curtain. Go on a comedy night and hopefully there'll be someone funny standing in front of it.

WHERE

The Bill Murray, 39 Queen’s Head Street, London, N1 8NQ

For all the fun of The Fringe: Soho Theatre

Soho Theatre is one of London's well known central comedy venues. It's a fun place to be: Edinburgh Fringe comics seem to think so, since all the best Edinburgh fringe acts come and perform here after the festival. There's comedy every day and plenty of shows are under a tenner in both the upstairs and downstairs theatres. Look out for Fringe theatre double-act Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit performing DollyWould next month.

WHERE

21 Dean St, W1D 3NE

For jazz and jokes: Hideaway

Not to be confused with the Kray twin's first club of the same name in Soho, Hideaway is also a very cool jazz club. Set in Streatham, it's a rather classy venue with a couple of popular comedy nights. Enjoy the setting, the menu and the lively local crowd.

WHERE

2 Empire Mews, Stanthorpe Road, Streatham, London, SW16 2BF