UK's 'best city for nightlife' crowned despite its small number of bars and clubs

A beautiful city has been named the best place for a student night out despite having a relatively small number ofbars and clubs.

As A Levelresults day nears, at the forefront of many prospective students' minds will be whether or not their first and second choices offer a good night out.

Happily, Canvas has unveiled its 2025 Student Nightlife Index, a ranking of the UK’s top university cities for students looking to make the most of their nights out alongside their studies. The index analyses key nightlife factors, including the average cost of a pint of beer and a soft drink (Pepsi/Coke), the total number of student bars and clubs, average ratings of these venues, and the local safety score for walking home at night.

Bath tops the list for student nightlife in the UK, offering a blend of quality and safety. In Bath, students can enjoy a well-rated scene with an average venue rating of 4.45 across 98 bars and clubs. Bath’s nightlife benefits from a high safety score (66.12), making it a great choice for those who want to enjoy nights out with peace of mind. The city’s charming historic backdrop and lively student atmosphere add to its appeal.

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Bath won the crown despite having the fewest bars and clubs of the top 10 destinations, proving that quality trumphs quality.

Manchester ranks second, with the largest nightlife scene among the top three and an impressive 606 bars and clubs. It has the highest venue density for its population.

Pints cost an average of £5.50 and soft drinks £1.91, but many venues will offer student discounts or happy hours. With a strong average rating of 4.37 for bars and clubs, Manchester offers a diverse social scene, though its safety score (41.65) suggests students should stay mindful when exploring the city’s bustling nightlife.

Newcastle comes in third with a slightly more affordable drink scene, featuring £5.00 pints and £2.31 soft drinks.

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The city hosts 273 bars and clubs, with a solid venue rating of 4.37. Newcastle’s nightlife is known for its energetic vibe and friendly locals, but with a lower safety score of 32.57, students are advised to take extra care when out at night.

Rank	City	Average price of a beer	Average price of a soft drink	Total number of bars and clubs	Bars per 10,000 people	Average rating of bars and clubs	Safety walking alone at night score
1	Bath	£5.75	£1.90	98	10	4.45	66.12
2	Manchester	£5.50	£1.91	606	15	4.37	41.65
3	Newcastle	£5.00	£2.31	273	14	4.37	32.57
4	Leeds	£5.00	£1.71	325	7	4.40	47.28
4	York	£5.00	£2.14	119	8	4.42	53.78
6	Coventry	£4.00	£1.49	101	3	4.27	70.04
6	Sheffield	£4.04	£1.82	242	4	4.42	46.76
6	Glasgow	£5.00	£1.60	306	5	4.31	59.64
6	Edinburgh	£5.25	£1.88	347	7	4.38	40.68
10	Leicester	£4.00	£1.45	143	3	4.34	50.43

If you are looking for a great night out but you're not a student, then why not head to Dudley?

Unless you're in the know - whether as a paid up member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) or as a pint enthusiast aware of Dudley's qualities - then it's unlikely that you'll have been to the Black Country town for the pubs. Yet you should, as the mid-sized town of 80,000 leads the pack when it comes to excellent places to drink.

Although cities like Edinburgh and York have more, Dudley is streets ahead of any other town, especially when the Horse and Jockey on its outskirts is counted alongside the Waggon and Horses, Beacon Hotel, and Old Swan to give the settlement one three-star pub for every 20,000 people.