After a long shift at Canary Wharf, a crowded Tube ride home, or a rushed dinner at a Pret in Soho, nothing beats sinking into the sofa with a warm cup of tea and a comedy that makes you forget you’re still in London. The city’s pace is relentless-whether you’re a banker, a barista, a student in Camden, or a tourist trying to find the nearest public toilet near Covent Garden-but great comedy doesn’t just entertain, it resets you. And in London, where the weather turns gray by 4 p.m. and the pub queue stretches past the bus stop, the right show can feel like a warm blanket wrapped around your shoulders.
What Makes a Comedy Perfect for Binge-Watching in London?
Not every funny show works for bingeing. You need pacing that doesn’t demand attention, characters you want to hang out with, and a rhythm that matches the rhythm of a London evening: slow, steady, and slightly chaotic. The best ones don’t require you to remember plot points from last week. They don’t make you pause to Google a reference (unless it’s about the Tube strike or why everyone’s still talking about the Queen’s funeral). They just make you laugh out loud while you’re half-asleep on the sofa, your socks mismatched, your phone buzzing with a WhatsApp group message about the latest Oyster card glitch.
Londoners know this. The city’s comedy scene is rich-from the legendary stand-up nights at the Comedy Store in Soho to the tiny basement gigs in Dalston. But when you’re too tired to go out, the screen becomes your new stage. And these are the shows that have earned their place in London living rooms.
The Office (UK) - The Relatable Nightmare You Know Too Well
Let’s be honest: if you’ve ever worked in an office in Croydon, Walthamstow, or even a co-working space in Shoreditch, you’ve met David Brent. The UK version of The Office isn’t just a comedy-it’s a documentary. The cringe, the awkward team-building exercises, the printer jams, the passive-aggressive Post-its on the fridge: it’s all too real. Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, this show doesn’t just make you laugh-it makes you nod in exhausted recognition. You’ll see your old manager in Brent. You’ll recognize your own voice in the awkward silence after someone says, ‘We’re like a family here.’
It’s short. Only 14 episodes. Perfect for a week of Tuesday nights after work. And if you’ve never seen it? Start tonight. You’ll finish it before your tea goes cold.
Peep Show - The Inner Monologue You Can’t Escape
Imagine your thoughts, but louder, weirder, and full of bad decisions. That’s Peep Show. Shot entirely from the characters’ point of view, with their inner voices narrating every terrible choice, it’s the closest thing to being trapped in the mind of a Londoner who’s just had one too many pints at The Harp in Waterloo.
Mark and Jeremy live in a flat in Croydon, but their emotional geography is all of South London: the pub crawl that turns into a 3 a.m. argument about Brexit, the failed date at a Nando’s in Brixton, the way you lie about your job to impress someone you met at a gig in Hackney. The humor is dark, crude, and painfully accurate. You’ll laugh, then immediately feel guilty for laughing. That’s the point.
It’s not for everyone. But if you’ve ever thought, ‘Why did I say that?’ after a night out in Soho, this show is your mirror.
Only Fools and Horses - The Classic That Still Fits
It’s older than the Oyster card. It’s set in Peckham. It’s about two brothers trying to get rich through dodgy deals, dodgy cars, and dodgier luck. And it’s still the most-watched British sitcom of all time. Only Fools and Horses doesn’t just belong in London-it *is* London. The Trotters’ flat on Nelson Mandela House, the Nag’s Head pub, the Christmas specials that feel like family gatherings at your Nan’s in Barking.
It’s not fast-paced. It’s not edgy. But it’s warm. It’s full of heart, and it’s full of London accents you won’t hear anymore unless you go to a pub in Walthamstow on a Saturday night. If you’ve ever been stuck in a traffic jam on the A406 and heard someone shout, ‘I’m not a millionaire, I’m a *trader*!’-you’ll know why this show still matters.
Start with the Christmas special ‘A Royal Flush.’ It’s 90 minutes of pure British chaos. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon when the rain’s coming down and you’ve got nothing else to do.
Ted Lasso - When You Need a Bit of Hope (and a Lot of Yorkshire)
It sounds ridiculous: an American football coach moves to London to manage a Premier League soccer team he knows nothing about. But Ted Lasso works because it’s not about soccer. It’s about kindness in a city that’s often too busy to notice it.
Jason Sudeikis plays Ted as a man who believes in people-even when they don’t believe in themselves. He brings optimism to a world of cynicism: the overworked staff at AFC Richmond, the bitter coach Roy Kent (played by Brett Goldstein, a real-life London stand-up), the quiet struggles of Rebecca, the team’s owner. The show doesn’t ignore London’s grit-it just chooses to meet it with warmth.
And yes, there’s a scene where Ted eats a bacon sandwich at a café in Clapham. You’ll want one after watching.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The Anti-London Escape
It’s not set in London. It’s not British. But if you’ve ever been stuck in a pub in Greenwich with four friends who think they’re geniuses, this show is your soulmate. It’s Always Sunny follows five self-absorbed bar owners in Philadelphia who make terrible decisions-and then blame each other. It’s absurd, offensive, and hilarious.
Why does it work for Londoners? Because sometimes, you need to laugh at how much worse it could be. While you’re dealing with a delayed train and a £12 pint, they’re trying to sell fake lottery tickets to a group of nuns. It’s cathartic. And it’s short. Ten-minute episodes. Perfect for scrolling between the Tube stops.
Modern Love - The Quirky, Real, London Love Stories
This one’s not a traditional comedy, but it’s funny in the way that only real life can be. Based on the New York Times column, the Amazon series adapts true stories of love in the city. The London episodes? Pure magic. A man tries to win back his ex by recreating their first date-on the London Eye. A woman falls for her neighbor, but they only communicate through Post-its stuck on their shared fridge. A gay couple navigate dating apps while living in a tiny flat in Islington.
It’s gentle. It’s sweet. It’s full of London landmarks you’ve passed a hundred times without noticing. You’ll watch it with a cup of tea, and you’ll cry a little. Then you’ll laugh because you’ve been there.
Where to Watch These Shows in London
You don’t need to pay for five different streaming services. Most of these are on Amazon Prime Video or Netflix, both of which are cheaper than a monthly Oyster card top-up. If you’re a student, check out your university’s free access. If you’re on a tight budget, the public library in your borough (yes, even in Tower Hamlets or Lambeth) offers free streaming through Kanopy. You can watch The Office and Peep Show without spending a penny.
And if you’re feeling fancy? Book a table at The Comedy Store in Soho on a Tuesday night. They have £10 comedy nights with rising stars. You’ll laugh harder than you have in months-and you’ll get a free drink if you’re the first to shout ‘I’m not a millionaire!’
Final Tip: Start Small, Watch Slowly
Don’t try to binge all six shows in one weekend. That’s how you end up sleeping on the sofa with your shoes still on. Pick one. Watch the first episode. If you laugh-really laugh, not just chuckle-then keep going. London’s rhythm isn’t about speed. It’s about finding the quiet moments that make the chaos worth it.
So tonight, after you’ve paid the bill, checked the weather (it’s going to rain again), and put your coat on the radiator to dry-turn on the TV. Let the laughter fill the room. You’ve earned it.
What’s the best comedy show for someone who works in London’s financial district?
If you’ve spent your day staring at spreadsheets in Canary Wharf, The Office (UK) is your therapy. It’s short, painfully accurate, and doesn’t require emotional energy. You’ll see your boss in David Brent-and you’ll laugh because you know you’re not alone.
Are there any British comedies set in London that are easy to start?
Yes. Only Fools and Horses and Ted Lasso are both beginner-friendly. They’re warm, character-driven, and don’t rely on inside jokes. You don’t need to know London’s geography to get them-just the human stuff.
Can I watch these shows without a subscription?
Absolutely. Your local library offers free access to Kanopy, which includes The Office and Peep Show. You can also find full episodes on YouTube-sometimes legally uploaded by the BBC. Just search the show name + ‘full episode’.
What’s the best time to start binge-watching in London?
Tuesday or Wednesday nights. The weekend is for going out. Monday is for recovery. But Tuesday? That’s when you’re tired enough to want comfort, but not so tired you can’t focus. Start with The Office-it’s only 22 minutes per episode. You’ll finish it before your tea cools.
Is it weird to watch comedy alone in London?
Not at all. In fact, it’s one of the most London things you can do. The city’s full of people who’ve learned to find joy in quiet moments-on the 2:15 bus, in a 24-hour Tesco, or on the sofa with a show that makes them feel less alone. You’re not weird. You’re just British.
If you’re looking for more after these, try Black Mirror’s lighter episodes like ‘San Junipero’ or Call the Midwife for gentle humor with heart. But start here. These five shows? They’re the ones Londoners keep coming back to.
