Finding events in the UK used to mean scanning the back pages of your local newspaper or picking up flyers from the nearest record shop. Those days are long gone. Today there are dozens of apps and websites dedicated to helping you discover gigs, festivals, comedy nights, theatre productions, and everything in between. The trick is knowing which platforms are worth your time -- and which ones will actually save you money. Here is our guide to the best event discovery tools available in the UK right now.
Tickts
We will start with our own platform, and for good reason. Tickts is a UK-based ticketing platform that charges zero fees to buyers. That means the price you see is the price you pay -- no booking fees, no service charges, no nasty surprises at checkout. Beyond the savings, Tickts offers a clean, easy-to-browse listing of events across the UK, covering everything from live music and comedy to theatre and community events.
For event discovery, Tickts is particularly strong on grassroots and independent events -- the kind of shows that often slip through the cracks on bigger platforms. If you want to support local artists and venues while keeping more money in your pocket, it is well worth bookmarking.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is one of the largest event platforms in the world, and its UK listings are extensive. It covers everything from corporate networking events and workshops to music gigs and food festivals. The search and filtering tools are solid, and you can browse by date, category, and location with ease.
Eventbrite is particularly strong for free events and community-organised activities. The downside is that paid events often come with added fees, and the sheer volume of listings can sometimes make it hard to sort the wheat from the chaff. But as a discovery tool, it is hard to beat for breadth.
Dice
Dice has carved out a strong niche in the UK music scene. It is a mobile-first platform that focuses on gigs and club nights, with a particular emphasis on independent and emerging artists. The app's recommendation engine is genuinely useful -- it learns your tastes over time and suggests events you might enjoy based on your listening habits and past attendance.
One of Dice's standout features is its anti-tout policy. Tickets are stored in the app and cannot be transferred or resold at inflated prices, which helps keep events accessible and affordable. Fees are typically included in the listed price, so there are fewer surprises at checkout.
Ents24
Ents24 is a UK-specific event listing site that has been running for over two decades. It aggregates listings from venues and promoters across the country, making it one of the most comprehensive databases of UK events available. You can search by artist, venue, date, or location, and the site covers music, comedy, theatre, sport, and more.
The tracking feature is particularly handy -- add your favourite artists and Ents24 will notify you whenever they announce UK dates. It does not sell tickets directly but links through to whichever platform is handling sales for each event, so it works well as a pure discovery tool.
Skiddle
Skiddle is a UK ticketing platform with strong roots in the dance music and club scene, though it now covers a much wider range of events. Its listings are particularly strong in the north of England, and the platform runs regular features and editorial content highlighting upcoming events worth knowing about.
The Skiddle app includes a useful map view that shows events near your current location, which is handy for spontaneous nights out. Fees are generally reasonable, though they vary by event.
Time Out
Time Out started as a London listings magazine in 1968 and has since expanded into a global brand covering dozens of cities. For London-based event discovery, it remains one of the best resources available. The editorial team curates recommendations across food, drink, culture, music, theatre, and nightlife, so you get a human touch alongside the raw listings.
Time Out also covers other UK cities to a lesser extent, and its \"things to do this weekend\" roundups are a reliable source of inspiration when you are stuck for ideas.
Songkick
Songkick is a music-focused platform that excels at tracking live performances. Connect it to your Spotify account and it will scan your listening history to identify upcoming gigs by artists you already enjoy. It is brilliant for catching tour announcements you might otherwise miss, especially from smaller acts who do not generate the same media buzz as arena headliners.
The platform covers UK and international dates, so it is also useful if you are planning to catch a show while travelling.
Resident Advisor
If electronic music, club culture, and DJ events are your thing, Resident Advisor is essential. It is the go-to platform for the global dance music community, and its UK listings are extensive. Beyond pure listings, RA publishes reviews, features, and podcasts that help you discover new artists and scenes.
Facebook Events
Despite Facebook's waning popularity in some demographics, its Events feature remains surprisingly useful for local event discovery. If you interact with a few venue pages and event listings, the algorithm will surface similar events nearby. Local community groups are another goldmine -- members frequently share events that do not appear on any formal ticketing platform.
Evnt Central
Evnt Central is a UK concert discovery platform focused on a gap most other tools miss: presale access. It helps fans find presale codes, understand how to qualify for early access, and check live ticket availability before events sell out. If you have ever missed out on tickets because a presale sold out before you even knew it existed, this is the tool that solves that problem.
With over 139,000 monthly visitors and a growing app, Evnt Central sits alongside the other platforms on this list as a useful complement rather than a replacement. It does not sell tickets directly but points you to the right place at the right time. Visit evntcentral.com to explore.
How to get the most from these platforms
No single platform covers everything, so the smartest approach is to use a combination. Keep Tickts bookmarked for fee-free ticketing and grassroots events. Use Ents24 or Songkick for artist tracking. Check Eventbrite for free and community events. Browse Time Out or your local equivalent for curated recommendations.
Set up notifications on the platforms you use most, and sign up for venue mailing lists to hear about events the moment they are announced. With a little setup, you will have a steady stream of event recommendations landing in your inbox and notification tray -- meaning you will never be stuck for something to do.
Ready to discover events near you? Browse upcoming UK events on tickts with zero booking fees, or read our guide to theatre ticketing platforms if you run a venue or production company.
Curious how tickts compares? See our side-by-side comparison of tickts vs Eventbrite: fees, payouts, and features for UK organisers.