Top 10 UK student nights out

One of the biggest perks of having friends in different cities for uni is having a place to stay whilst exploring. After some research and a lot of asking about, in no particular order, here are some of the best nights out in the UK…

1. Bristol

Bristol is not only one of the most quirky cities, but it also has a wide variety of nightlife! The biggest night is BED Mondays - if you crave the sound of house, D&B and chart music then here is your haven. Tuesdays and Thursdays' Lizard Lounge gives you all the cheesy music vibes.

No1 Harbourside is located on Bristol’s lively harbourside. You’ll find good food, live music, and a laid-back atmosphere. If you enjoy the ambience of a bar rather than a club, it’s a great choice.

• Night out type: a little bit of everything
• Party central: BED Mondays
• Must go: Park Street and Harbourside

2. Newcastle

If you've ever seen Geordie Shore you'll know there are a fair few places to party in Newcastle. TupTup Palace has great music and even greater drink prices, if you’re looking for a cheap night out with your mates this is the place to go. Even celebs love TupTup! With the likes of Ed Sheeran, Kanye West and Drake, no night is ordinary.

Big lover of dance music? Digital is the place to be. Here, you’ll be able to witness some of the world’s best DJs, alongside club nights and more. If live music is your thing, you find this and DJ nights down at Colonel Porter’s. If you’re planning a day sesh, you can look forward to the boozy tea service here too.

• Night out type: a big one
• Party central: Quayside
• Must go: TupTup Palace

3. Liverpool

Often renowned as one of the best nights out in the UK, Liverpool really has it all for students. The Navy Bar is a vibrant place known for its wild club nights, with students flocking here every weekend. Expect multiple floors, feel-good dance tunes and plenty of drinks offers.

Keen to start your night out in a pub? The Shipping Forecast is a great place to begin. Here, you’ll find good pub food, cheap drinks, and live sports. Plus, you can head back there for a hangover-busting meal the next day!

Liverpool’s crown jewel of nightclubs is Fusion, with a huge amount of space and regular student nights. And it’s open until 6am!

• ‌Night out type: all-out glam
• Party central: The Baltic Triangle and Pride Quarter
• Must go: Fusion

4. Leicester

Leicester has been up and coming for some time now, with some brilliant places to spend your night with your mates. According to data, it was even crowned the nightlife capital of the UK, so you won’t be short of places to go!

Mosh nightclub is the ideal place for students, and if you’re going on a Thursday, head over to their Instagram page to get on the free guestlist. Mosh provides you with 3 floors bringing you indie, alternative, dance and pop mash-ups all night.

If you'd prefer to hit a few bars for your night out, Leicester has you covered. Get yourself to Belvoir Street. It's a place for old-school R&B lovers, which is everyone, isn't it? Nearby, you could also check out Fat Cats and Sophy.

• Night out type: dancing all night
• Party central: High Street
• Must go: Mosh

5. London

There are 20 unis in London, did you know that? So just imagine all of the nights you can try! Fabric is one of the best nightclubs in London for students, greeting you with 3 rooms, 2 with live bands and a room with a vibrating floor known as 'bodysonic'!

XOYO in Shoreditch is the epitome of cool, offering a mix of everything from house and techno to disco and hip-hop. Plus, they host world-class DJs and regular student nights with plenty of discounts to be had.

For cheap and cheerful, Bar Rumba in Leicester Square has got you covered. This central spot is the ideal place for students on a budget, with promotions, mid-week student nights and a diverse music selection.

• Night out type: anything you want it to be
• Party central: Soho
• Must go: Fabric

6. Leeds

Music lovers of all genres know to head to Leeds for an incred night out. You’ll find the biggest and best underground house, dubstep, techno and bass DJs in basement clubs Mint Warehouse, Space, and Warehouse.

A great night is Hifi’s Mixtape Project, where you’ll find everything from Beastie Boys to Bashmore, Daft Punk to Disclosure, and Biggie to Bob Marley. Plus, this nightclub hosts regular comedy nights if you’re seeking something a little different.‌‌

It is not often that Student Union night achieves legendary status and becomes a crucial part of a student’s life, but Leeds SU did just that!

• Night out type: go hard or go home
• Party central: Call Lane
• Must go: The HiFi Club

7. Manchester

Mint Lounge is located in Manchester's vibrant Northern Quarter district where they are proud to host some of Manchester's coolest club nights and live music events.

If you love to bust a move, the best nightclubs in Manchester for students include the famed Warehouse Project and Factory. For lively bars, you’ll want to check out Peaky Blinders and Albert’s Schloss on Deansgate.

Revolver is another key student night in Manchester. Once dubbed a ‘Manchester Institution’, this indie event is currently hosted at The Deaf Institute. Revolver aside, this venue is not one to miss, with 3 floors each offering a unique musical experience.

• Night out type: something for everyone
• Party central: Deansgate and Oxford Road
• Must go: The Warehouse Project

8. Sheffield

As the birthplace of the Arctic Monkeys, Sheffield knows a thing or two about music. Live music is a key theme here in Sheffield, with West Street Live and Molly Malone’s Irish Tavern providing some of the best in new music.

If indie is your thing, you won’t want to miss rock ‘n’ roll speakeasy Kuckoo. For D'n'B and hip hop, head straight to The Tuesday Club. If you’re on a shoestring budget, check out classic student bars such as All Bar One, The Graduate, and Walkabout.

• Night out type: live music and a party atmosphere
• Party central: West Street and Division Street
• Must go: West Street Live

9. Nottingham

Coco Tang offers a classy student night in Nottingham, with no denim shorts or Converse in sight! Start the week off in style with some delicious cocktails and house music on Tuesday nights.

Not feeling heels? Dirty Mondays at Unit 13 is the official Nottingham Trent student night. Here, you can dance away your Monday blues to a mix of dance, RnB, D&B, dubstep, indie and pop. ‌For live music, check out Rock City. This live music and club venue hosts two student nights a week.

Thirsty Thursdays at OZ:Bar is a student’s haven with 4 for £5 bombs and £1.50 shots, prices impossible to turn down! This Aussie-themed sports bar is a lively one that’s sure to get your night off to a good start.

Baa Bar is another popular student spot, with live DJs, a range of cocktails, and famous shooters. Plus, it’s open until 4am if you’re looking for somewhere open to the early hours!

• Night out type: a cool atmosphere with plenty of choice
• Party central: Lace Market and Fletcher Gate
• Must go: Baa Bar

10. Birmingham

For cheese lovers, Popworld in Birmingham is the place to be. Playing the biggest tunes from the 90s to now, you’re sure to dance and sing your heart out here. You’ll find themed nights during the week too, with plenty of drinks promotions to get your night off to a flyer!

Iconic club, Snobs, is a haven for students, especially on Snobs Wednesdays. As one of the longest-running clubs in Birmingham, you can expect cheap drinks, beer pong, and music to suit all tastes.

The Tunnel Club in Snow Hill is also one of Birmingham’s most renowned venues. Offering an industrial setting accompanied by cheap drinks and seven rooms of atmosphere. You’ll hear everything from trance to drum and bass here.

If you're not sure where you want to go in Birmingham, you won't fail to find something on Broad Street. Host to over 40 bars, clubs and restaurants, you'll be spoilt for choice. Whether you want a big night out, or a quiet drink, you love rock music or dance music, there will be something for you.

• Night out type: budget-friendly but eclectic
• Party central: Broad Street
• Must go: Popworld

Drink responsibly

UNiDAYS encourages everyone to drink responsibly, and if you are concerned about alcohol dependency, please visit alcoholchange.org.uk.