Best Cheap Nights Out in London

London is a city full of endless possibilities for sparkling nights out, delicious meals and entertaining nights of culture.  It can be damn expensive thought if you don’t have an offshore bank account and a treasure trove to help you out.  Luckily we’ve got the lo down on the cheapest ways to have a good time in one of the world’s great cities. Keep reading for a list of the best cheap nights out in London. Guaranteed to blow your mind without breaking the bank.

1.  Penny – Cheap nights out in London don’t have to revolve around penny-saver menus. As well as offering £10 tickets for top class theatre, the Old Vic in Waterloo now has a bistro that can rival any in the city.  Whether you want to start your day of Central London exploration with a healthy and inventive breakfast, or pop in for a mid-tourist trail refuel, you’ll find dishes that are smart, scrumptious and sophisticated, without having to splash out more than £15. 
Opening Times: Monday – Wednesday 8am–1am; Thursday –Friday 8am – 2am; Saturday 10am – 2am. The Old Vic, London SE1 8NB
2.  Bearcat Comedy at the Viaduct in Hanwell and Turk’s Head in Twickenham – London is undoubtedly the stand-up comedy capital of the world.  For a genuinely unique comic ecosystem where you can see everything from absurdist clowning to well-targeted one-liners and everything in between, London is the place to be.  The Bearcat is a legendary club that has been entertaining crowds in south-west London for decades.  It’s just opened up a new venue in Hanwell which means you have twice the chance of seeing the absolute cream of the circuit at the weekend.  It’s a much beloved venue and often welcomes top guest acts such as Milton Jones, Reginald D Hunter and Omid Djalili.
Opening Times: Every Friday at 8pm at 221 Uxbridge Road, Hanwell, London, W7 3TD and Every Saturday at 8pm at The Turk’s Head, 28 Winchester Road, Twickenham, London, TW1 1LF
3.  Classic Cinema Club – A copper-bottomed Frugl classic. If you’re bored of the multiplex and want to harken back to a time when celluloid was king and leading men all looked like Errol Flynn, then you should head over to Ealing where there is a different selection of a classic film from their vaults every week for just £5-£7.  
Opening Times: Every Friday at 7:30pm. Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, London W5 2BY

4.  Hootananny –Brixton is renowned for its superb, diverse and innovative music scene and no venue epitomises that more than the Hootananny.  Some of the best cheap nights out in London revolve around music, and in an age of sanitised music venues this is a place that oozes authenticity and originality.  The drinks and tickets are cheap, the atmosphere is superb and you can dance yourself into a merry mess by the end of the night.  The line-ups are as diverse as some of the local restaurant menus – varying from growling heavy dub to sunny bluegrass, hands-in-the-air rock and roll to insane gypsy punk – good times are guaranteed.
Opening Times: Monday – Wednesday 3pm – Midnight; Thursday 3pm – 2am; Friday 3pm- 3am; Saturday/Sunday Midday – 3am. 95 Effra Rd, Brixton, Greater London SW2 1DF

5.  Dogstar –A much-loved Brixton legend of twenty years, the Dogstar is been one of the best venues in South London.  A parade of legendary acts has graced the stage, including the likes of Massive Attack, The Prodigy and The Specials all playing DJ sets there.  The bar has everything you could wish for from a premium London night out or a lazy Sunday afternoon with premium roast dinners.  It’s best known for its wide variety of music nights, but is also well worth popping by for a cheeky pint, pub quiz, FIFA football tournament or comedy night.
Opening Times: Tuesday/Wednesday 4pm – 11pm; Thursday 4pm – 2am; Friday 4pm – 4am; Saturday Midday – 4am; Sunday Midday – 10:30pm. 389 Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8LQ

6.  Polpo at Ape and Bird – London boasts more Michelin starred restaurants than some cities have MacDonald’s, but that doesn’t mean you have to sell one of your kidneys to eat well.  Polpo is the epitome of delicious central London food- well cooked, a vast choice, sharing is encouraged between you and your friends and it’s all served in a warm, bustling environment.  There’s not a single dish on the menu that costs more than £9 and you can choose from a variety of miniature pizzette (the fig and prosciutto is far and away our favourite) and then gorge yourself on the sort of mighty meatballs we imagine they serve in heaven.
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday Midday – 11:30am; Sunday Midday – 10:30am. 142 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8HJ

7.  Timber Yard – If you’re looking for a smart, sharp and friendly modern coffee shop then Timber Yard is right up there as one of the best.  In 2014 it was named Best Independent Coffee Shop in Europe. It also won the coveted 5 Cup Standard – the coffee equivalent of a Michelin star.  It’s not only the coffee here that’s superb – the sandwiches look as though they were designed by Jesus and made by Henry VIII – delicious and piled high with the finest ingredients.  In among the busyness of Central London the cool Scandinavian atmosphere is a gentle sanctuary where you can put up your feet and reflect on your time in this excellent city. 
Opening Times: Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm; Saturday/Sunday 10am – 8pm. 7 Upper St Martin’s Ln, London WC2H 9DL

8.  Top Secret Comedy Club – In amongst a plethora of great comedy clubs, Top Secret stands out as one of the best – loved by performers and punters alike. Perfectly located on Covent Garden’s main piazza, you can see the full gamut of comedy here, from sharp and inventive improv to A-list acts trying out new material.  Possibly the best value element of the club is their regular TV and Festival preview shows that run at 7pm, before the main show. Turn up then for the chance to catch a work in progress of a new TV show or future tour.
Opening Times: Monday – Friday 7pm – 11:30pm; Saturday 6pm – Midnight; Sunday 7pm – 11pm. 170a Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PD

9.  National Gallery – This might seem like stating the obvious, but this still remains the absolute Daddy of galleries.  Tate Modern may have more cutting edge spark, but this is one of the best buildings in the world to get lost in.  You can see stunning objects that are close to a millennium old, works by modern and renaissance masters and have the simplest of pleasures by just standing in front of works of geniuses.  Best of all, you can do this all for FREE!  There’s no better offer in town.
Opening Times: Monday – Thursday / Saturday – Sunday 10am – 6pm; Friday 10am – 9pm. Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

10.  Gaz’s Rockin Blues Club at St.Moritz –This tremendous club is hosted by legendary Soho figure Gaz. An effervescent host who seems to be permanently on the decks in hits trademark zoot suit and massive hat busting out some of the finest rock ‘n’ roll, R’n’B, soul and ska to keep you dancing long into the night.  If you want to party like it’s 1969, but without having to put up with an infuriating wedding DJ, this is the spot to head for. The music is always spot on, the ticket price is nothing compared to the Shoreditch and Farringdon superclubs and the atmosphere is old-fashioned friendly.  Stick on your flares and get ready to party like your parents!
Opening Times: 10pm – 3:30am. 159 Wardour Street, W1F 8WH

11.  Star of Kings –This superb Kings Cross pub has stayed authentic, fun and affordable in the midst of the high-end regeneration of the area. It hosts the regular Comedy Grotto, where superstars of alternative comedy old and new put new gags through their paces. There’s also a cracking selection of top notch musical nights including London’s only Disney and Musicals club night: ‘Pure Unfortunate Souls’!  The watch word for 21st century London pubs is ‘eclectic’ and this cracking boozer hits that right on the bullseye – something for everyone and always at a good price.
Opening Times: Monday – Thursday 11:30am – Midnight; Friday 11:30 am – 1am; Saturday Midday – 1am. 126 York Way, London N1 0AX

12.  Meltdown –Meltdown is a true 21^st century venue – the original ‘eSports’ bar in London. Whether you want to pay homage to classic 80s and 90s gaming on Streetfighter and Mario Bros or play the latest cutting edge games in big tournaments for hard cash, there is something for everyone from casual gamers to battle-scarred digital masters. 
Opening Times: Sunday – Thursday 5pm – Midnight; Friday 5pm – 1:30am; Saturday 2pm – 1:30am. 342 Caledonian Rd, London N1 1BB

13.  Green Note – There is now a great deal of tourist stuff to cut through in Camden before you get to the old musical heart for which it became famous.  Luckily this wonderful roots, folk and blues venue is a shining example of the original Camden.  Head to this homely, welcoming musical hub and you won’t be disappointed.
Opening Times: Monday – Thursday/Sunday 7pm – 11pm; Friday/Saturday 7pm – Midnight. 106 Parkway, London NW1 7AN

14.  Our Black Heart – Another hidden Camden treasure.  Hidden down Greenland Place, this rocker and punk pub is the perfect marriage of the iconic World’s End and the new upstart Brewdog.  Despite the rugged boozer feel, there is a fun, welcoming atmosphere, well-kept pool table, delicious, cheap pizzas and great selection of drinks.  Best of all is the array of cracking events put on in their inviting upstairs room, including Josie Long’s Lost Treasures, activist comic Chris Coltrane’s Lolitics and the best ear drum shatteringly good metal and rock bands.
Opening Times: Monday/ Tuesday 3pm – 11:30pm Wednesday/Thursday 3pm – 1am; Friday/Saturday Midday- 2am; Sunday Midday – 11pm. 2-3 Greenland Place, NW1 0AP

15.  Camden Comedy Club – We’ve already mentioned two of our favourite comedy clubs on this list, but we’d be remiss not to mention this terrific club that’s just celebrated its first birthday.  A 7 day a week hive of creativity, it hosts conventional weekend shows featuring some of the best up and coming acts in town, but its best value for money comes during its weekday shows.  They’re often free and feature the finest of the alternative circuit trying out new material in preparation for TV shows, festivals and tours.  In addition, there are many completely experimental nights, whether it’s 21st century Victorian adventurers’ clubs, poetry vs stand-up battle slams or daft panel shows.  For those wanting to enter the London comedy scene there are also plenty of workshops and script-writing clinics from seasoned pros who can help with your development. 
Opening Times: 7pm – 11pm Every day. 100 Camden High St, London NW1 0LU
Guest post submitted by Frugl. To find out about more fun events, deals and cheap nights out in London you can download the Frugl App from Apple and Android.