1. International Comedy Club
23 Wicklow Street

Comedians take the stage four nights a week at the International Comedy Club. Advance tickets are €10 (or €8 for students) and are available only on Saturday night, when the club hosts two shows – an early show and a late show. On other nights, advance tickets aren’t available, simply pay the entry fee at the door. Cheapos will want to attend a show on Sundays, when the price is dropped to €5.

2. Capital Comedy Club
Upstairs in The Ha Penny Bridge Inn, Wellington Quay

Comedy in Temple Bar has been scheduled for every Wednesday and Sunday since 1996 at the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the show, at a cost of €7 or €5 for students. Advance tickets aren’t available, simply pay cash at the door. Irish comedians and international acts will interact with the audience at the Capital Comedy Club.

3. Laughter Lounge
6 Eden Quay

Perhaps the best known comedy club in Dublin is the Laughter Lounge – but it’s also the most expensive. Tickets generally range from €10 – €30. Over 3,000 comedians, including Des Bishop, have entertained audiences here since 1997.

There are a few strategies Cheapos can use to attend a show here affordably. If you’re traveling in a group, check out the group discounts available in advance online. There are also many value vouchers available online (through Groupon or Living Social) that can help to secure tickets at a significant discount.

Where do you go for laughs?

Where are your favorite comedy clubs in Europe? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Also in our guide: If you’re visiting Dublin and looking for an affordable place to sleep, visit our Dublin guide to read reviews of great cheap hotels.

The post Dublin: Comedy clubs offering cheap laughs appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Saving your pennies can feel like an impossible task in a city like London when just using public transport can burn a massive hole in your pocket. Thankfully, all the main museums are free, meaning that large chunks of your day can be spent admiring everything from the wonders of the universe at the Science Museum, to the world-famous artwork at the National Gallery without parting with a penny.

Beyond the museums, you need to be crafty to get the best value out of central London – so get your Oyster Card ready (see my previous post on saving on public transport) and follow these tips to have fun on a budget in London.

Cheapo-friendly live music

Ronnie Scott’s aside, many of London’s lesser known blues and jazz bars offer free entry and excellent live music. Plus, the venues are quirky and the atmosphere friendly and relaxed.

Try Ain’t Nothin’ But blues bar in Soho for a fun night of live entertainment without the hefty entry fees. There is live music every night of the week and free entry Sunday-Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s free to get in before 8.30 p.m.

The Spice of Life in Cambridge Circus, Soho, also hosts an eclectic open-mic night on Mondays and a blues jam on Tuesdays, both of which are free to get in.

Free laughs at Islington’s Camden Head. Photo: Dom Stocqueler

Alternatively, head to the Road Trip Bar in Old Street on a Wednesday night for the jazz-fusion Hoxton Jam.

For something more relaxed, factor in a trip to ‘Round Midnight in Angel, Islington for the Monday night acoustic session which kicks off at 8 p.m.

Free laughs

London is also home to an impressively large number of free comedy nights, so if you’re up for a bit of good old British humor, this is an ideal Cheapo way to spend an evening.

The beautiful Queen’s Head pub in Denman Street (Piccadilly Circus) runs The Absolutely Free Comedy Night every Wednesday and Sunday from 8.30 p.m.

The Camden Head, just off Islington’s buzzing Upper Street, plays host to Angel Comedy on Saturday nights, plus Free and Funny every Thursday and each second and third Sunday of the month, all of which start at 8 p.m.

If you’re in the mood for a New York sense of humor, don’t miss Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous at The Source Below, just behind Regent Street. The Brooklyn-born comedian’s twice weekly show has become pretty legendary on the London comedy scene and is now in its 18th year. Catch Lewis on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 p.m. and be sure to register your name on the guestlist in advance to guarantee entry.

Eat, drink and be pampered

If you’re looking to frequent some of London’s more exclusive establishments on a Cheapo’s budget, be sure to check out Travelzoo’s Local Deals. I can’t guarantee what you’ll find as the deals change all the time, but I have been wowed by huge savings at some of London’s finest restaurants, as well as some pretty nifty deals to swanky spas and bars. The deals last for several months so even if you see something ahead of your trip you can snap it up and then use it when you arrive in London.

For discounts on all sorts of different restaurants across the city, from the cheap and cheerful to the downright expensive, make sure you check out TopTable before booking. This is especially good for lunch and pre-theatre menus.

Also in our guide: All laughing aside, we also have recommendations for great inexpensive hotels in our London guide. Our editors have inspected, photographed and reviewed hotels throughout central London looking for the best deals.

The post London: A Cheapo’s guide to free live music and comedy clubs appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.