Every summer, Edinburgh is where headlines are written, five star reviews dished out and comedy stars are made, but what if you can’t or don’t want to trek up to Scotland?

Luckily for us, lots of the top comedians are trying out their Edinburgh sets in our bit of London before they travel north.

Venues like the Crown in Blackheath, the Amersham Arms in New Cross and, of course, Up the Creek in Greenwich have an impressive line up of cult names and people off the telly, including Josh Widdicombe, Richard Herring and Al Murray.

Bridget Christie, who won the Fosters Comedy Award in Edinburgh last year, has previews at Happy Mondays at the Amersham Arms and the Crown.

What’s more, because the shows are usually a work in progress  (and can understandably be a bit rough around the edges), you often get more than one comic a night and for around a fiver. The venues are pleasingly intimate too.

Up the Creek’s Pollyanna McGirr said: “Edinburgh shows are a labour of love and previews are absolutely invaluable in crafting the final hour.

“We want to support acts in this process, hence why we programme such extensive preview bills - but these are also great opportunities for audiences to see their favourite comics in more intimate settings.

“This year we have everyone, from comic legends like Phil Jupitus to the hottest new stars like Dane Baptiste."

Happy Mondays tickets cost just £5, as does Josh Widdicombe and Romesh Ranganathan’s double header at Up the Creek on June 11. Crown Comedy Club tickets cost £7 on the door, £6 in advance and £5 for students

Previews run every Wednesday (and some Mondays) in June. Head to up-the-creek.com for more details. Be sure to keep an eye on crowncomedy.co.uk and follow @HMComedy on Twitter, too.

Vibe’s pick of the previews*:

Lucy Porter – Crown Comedy Club, June 4

Carey Marx – Crown Comedy Club, June 11

Holly Walsh – Crown Comedy Club, June 18, and Happy Mondays, May 12

Abandoman- Crown Comedy Club, June 25

Bridget Christie – Crown Comedy Club, July 2, and Happy Mondays, July 7

Josh Widdicombe and Romesh Ranganathan – Up the Creek, June 11

Mark Watson - Happy Mondays, May 12

Cardinal Burns – Happy Mondays, May 26

Richard Herring – Happy Mondays, June 9

Al Murray and Joe Lycett – Happy Mondays, July 21

*they're all subject to change.