UK Nightlife Guide

The UK has one of the world's great nightlife cultures — from London's globally famous club scene to Manchester's legendary live music venues, Bristol's bass music scene and Edinburgh's festival-tinged bar culture. A night out in the UK covers every conceivable format: craft beer micropubs in converted railway arches, black-tie cocktail bars in Georgian townhouses, warehouse raves in repurposed industrial buildings, and intimate jazz clubs that have been running since the 1950s. London and Manchester lead the pack in terms of sheer variety and volume, but the UK's nightlife landscape rewards exploration. Bristol's Stokes Croft and Bristol Harbourside offer something distinct from anywhere else. Leeds and Sheffield have thriving independent music scenes. Glasgow's clubs are a match for anywhere in Europe. This guide focuses on the best of London and Manchester — the two cities with the widest variety and the most consistent quality.