A bank holiday gives you a day off and often a free next morning, which makes it a good time for a comedy night in London. This guide lists the next bank holidays in England, explains why you should check show dates rather than assume a normal timetable, and introduces some comedy venues worth knowing about.
Upcoming Bank Holidays in England
These are the bank holidays in England and Wales for the next twelve months, taken from the GOV.UK bank holidays list:
| Bank holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | Monday 28 December 2026 |
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Good Friday | Friday 26 March 2027 |
| Easter Monday | Monday 29 March 2027 |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday 3 May 2027 |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 31 May 2027 |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday 30 August 2027 |
Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December.
Check the Date Before You Plan
Each venue sets its own holiday timetable. A club may run its usual show, add an extra one or take the night off, and the days around Christmas and New Year are the most likely to change. Before you plan a long weekend around a show, check the venue’s own listings for that exact date.
For JK Comedy Club, What’s On lists every show we have on sale, including bank holiday dates once they are published. If a date is not listed there, we do not have a show on sale for it yet.
Why Comedy Suits a Long Weekend
A comedy night needs little planning. You book a ticket, arrive in time for doors and spend the evening with a drink in a room full of people laughing. It suits friends catching up over a long weekend, a couple looking for an easy date, and visitors who have spent the day sightseeing. If you are in London for a few days, our three-day London itinerary shows how to fit an evening show around the main sights.
If you would rather keep the evening free, a daytime show works well on a long weekend. Our guide to afternoon comedy in London covers the options.
Comedy Venues in London for a Bank Holiday
London has comedy rooms all over the city. For a wider comparison, see our guide to the best comedy clubs in London. Here are four places to start.
JK Comedy Club
JK Comedy Club runs stand-up in central London. Most of our shows are at our Covent Garden venue at Arboretum on Charing Cross Road, two minutes from Leicester Square station, and we also run shows at our Soho venue downstairs at The Spice of Life on Moor Street.
Every show has a host and a lineup of professional comedians, and the bill changes from show to show. Prices depend on the day and time, and What’s On shows the price for each date. Popular dates can sell out, so book ahead if you have a particular night in mind.
The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store has been running since 1979 and is one of the best-known names in British stand-up. Its programme includes stand-up nights and the long-running improvisation show from the Comedy Store Players. Check its own listings for bank holiday dates.
Soho Theatre
Soho Theatre on Dean Street programmes new theatre, cabaret and stand-up, and its comedy line-up mixes established and emerging acts. Its central location makes it easy to pair a show with dinner or drinks in Soho.
Backyard Comedy Club
The Backyard Comedy Club is on Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green, East London. It is a convenient choice if you are staying in the East End or planning a group night out in that part of the city.
Tips for a Bank Holiday Comedy Night
Book before the weekend. Long weekends bring more people into central London, so book early if you want a particular date.
Arrive in time for doors. Seating at JK Comedy Club is unreserved, so arriving when doors open gives you more choice of seat. Other venues set their own seating rules.
Pair the show with food or drinks. Soho and Covent Garden have restaurants and pubs within a few minutes’ walk of most venues, so dinner before the show or a drink afterwards is easy to arrange.
Check your journey. Engineering works on the Tube and rail network are sometimes scheduled for bank holiday weekends, so check your route on the day.
Check What’s On to see which JK Comedy Club dates are on sale for the next bank holiday.