The Pleasance chain spans just two venues - but oh, what venues they are. Every August, more than a quarter of a million people call into the vast outdoor campus of the Pleasance Courtyard, or the palm-shaded atrium of the Pleasance Dome. Between them, the two sites sport 20 performance spaces, 10 bars, and a packed line-up of almost 200 shows.

Though its programme spans most genres, the Pleasance's real strength lies in comedy - and from big-name acts in the cavernous Grand to hopeful first-timers in the poky Cellar, there's room at the venue for everyone. There's a smattering of serious theatre, too; and most years see some quirky specials, like 2007's symphony played on the components of a Vauxhall.

The Pleasance's two venues are just minutes apart, though it takes some skill to navigate the warren of back streets between them. It's well worth knowing that, if you need to pick up a ticket, the Dome's box office is invariably a whole lot quieter than the Courtyard's.

Venues in the Pleasance chain