July is upon us and the spectre of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has hovered into view. Even if you have no intention of crossing the border this August, the gargantuan Scottish festival has a clear effect on the London comedy scene: this month our city is is groaning with work in progress previews of the Fringe’s likely highlights, and you can easily sample the best of the Fringe without going any further north than Soho Theatre.
There’s also plenty more fun besides: Tim Minchin returns to live service, Stewart Lee moves to the Southbank Centre, and cult movie critic parody On Cinema has a string of live performances in Walthamstow.
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? The Edinburgh Fringe is almost upon us and let’s be honest, not everyone reading this is actually going to find the time and money to go and visit. But if you’re into comedy then get yourself down to Soho Theatre this month where many of the biggest and best shows of the 2025 Fringe will be previewing: picks include Tim Key, Toussaint Douglass (pictured main), Cat Cohen (pictured), Urooj Ashfaq and more.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Dean Street.
What is it? New York City cabaret legends Kiki and Herb are longtime friends of Soho Theatre, although it’s been a while since they all hung out together: the duo’s inaugural shows at Soho Theatre Walthamstow are also their first in this country for 18 years. Expect wit, confrontation and virtuoso musicianshipin a show themed around the pair enforced unretirement.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? Tim Minchin may be from Perth, Australia, but the piano playing comic has felt like one of our own even since his first shows over here way back in 2005. Not just a hugely popular comedian, he’s woven into the fabric of our country via his smash musical Matilda. This ironically titled tour – his first since the pandemic – is effectively a look back at his lengthy career.
Where is it? Eventim Apollo.
What is it? You might know Gregg Turkington better as failed, sweat-drenched anti-comedian Neil Hamburger. And you might recognise Tim Heidecker as the Tim half of hyper-influential absurdist duo Tim & Eric. Well forget all that, Gregg and Tim are here in their alter ego guises as hilariously terrible film critics for a few (mostly sold-out) nights at Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
What is it? Brilliantly, often sickeningly funny anti-comic Patti Harrison has a new Edinburgh Fringe show entitled Don’t Ask. This is not that show: it’s a one off event for Soho Theatre Walthamstow and we have no real idea what it is actually involved. The actual show description is entirely nuts but to give you a flavour we’re told it will be a two hours ‘of what-is-not-legally-allowed-to-be-called-comedy-at-this-moment-but-in-the-future-will-be-called-comedy-and-definitely-will-not-be-called-porn’.
Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.
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? 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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