The Brits are known for enjoying a drink. Therefore, it’s fairly unsurprising that there are some great nightlife spots across the UK. From Scotland all the way down to the coastal city of Brighton, revellers can party all across the kingdom. Whether you enjoy hardcore underground nightclubs to party into the next morning, or a chilled drink with some live music, there’s plenty of choice for you. Here’s your guide to the best party cities in the UK.
The best party cities in the UK: the north of England & Scotland
Glasgow
Join the locals for a wee dram of whiskey in Glasgow, undoubtedly one of the best party cities in the UK. When in Rome, after all. The party capital of Scotland (soz, Edinburgh), it wouldn’t be a night out in Glasgow without hitting up Subculture at Sub Club. It’s now the world’s longest running weekly underground club night. Nice N Sleazy is one of the coolest hangouts. Here, you may spot Scottish indie stars from Franz Ferdinand and Mogwai who like to drink with a dive bar vibe. The party streets of Sauchiehall Street, Bath Street, and West Regent Street are always great for a night out, too. Here, you’ll find other revellers all looking for a fun night on the tiles, and you can easily hop from pub to bar to club. If you’re looking for great live music, look no further than King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. It’s been launching some of the world’s best musical talent for years, from Oasis to Radiohead and The Killers.
Where to party: Souchiehall Street, West Regent Street, and Bath Street
Newcastle
Thanks to the likes of Geordie Shore, Newcastle has surpassed itself as one of the best party cities in the UK. As a city that famously chooses not to take a coat on a night out – no matter what the weather – the best way to warm up is to get a round in and start partying. Grab a Newcy Brown or one of the city’s speciality triple vodkas and head to the Diamond Strip. Here you’ll find the fancy bars like Florita’s and Perdu. The Diamond Strip is also perfect for pub crawls, hen dos, and stag dos. See just how many bars you can tick off on your night out. For live music, head to Quayside along the Tyne. If you’re up for a slightly more chilled night out, the charming area of Jesmond is well worth a visit. Don’t forget to soak up your hangover with a classic Geordie baked staple at Greggs.
Where to party: Bigg Market, Diamond Strip, and Quayside
Liverpool
You can’t say you’re a seasoned partier until you’ve ticked off a night out in Liverpool off your list. As you can expect, there’s incredible nightlife in the city that has brought us such musical talent over the years. Start off your night with a trip to the Albert Docks. Here, you’ll experience the classy bars of the city with a few cocktails. Alma de Cuba is a great spot to head on a Saturday night thanks to the experiential show they put on each week. There’s a petal drop and then a voodoo show at midnight with contortion artists, fire breathing, and costumes galore. Any first time visitors must make a visit to Mathew Street to visit the classic Cavern Club. It’s part of the reason Liverpool is one of the best party cities in the UK. As the birthplace of the Beatles, it’s one of the country’s most famous clubs and there’s live music all day. Afterwards, check out one of the city’s cool clubs like Elektric Warehouse. It’s a former factory with three floors of music.
Where to party: Mathew Street
Manchester
Manchester is another epic musical city. It also has so much great nightlife to offer, from pub crawls to all-night raves, making it one of the best party cities in the UK. For cheap drinks and a great night, hit up Oxford Road for the student district. Here, you’ll discover live music and bars like the Deaf Institute. For the city’s vibrant gay scene, take a pub crawl around Canal Street, or for classy cocktails head to Spinningfields. Check out the iconic Northern Quarter for clubbing, or perhaps one of the classic clubs like The Liars Club, Lola Lo or Chinawhite across the city. As such a melting pot of diversity and culture, there’s something for everyone. For house music fans, try and tie in your visit with one of the Warehouse Project dates. They run from September through to New Year’s Eve.
Where to party: Deansgate and Northern Quarter
The best party cities in the UK: London and the south
London
It doesn’t get much more diverse than London, which naturally has more nightlife options than anywhere else in the UK. There are world-class bars and clubs dotted all over the city, with different areas and boroughs to suit literally everyone. Head to Soho for some of the best and most luxurious bars in the capital, from Ronnie Scott’s to Disrepute. Fabric has been a classic London nightclub for over twenty years. Attracting the best DJs from around the world, it even has speakers built into the floor. For something a little more alternative, head to Camden. It’s famous for its fun underground clubs, and KOKO is a classic. In its time, it’s seen visits from the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and Madonna. Although London’s a little more spenny than the other party cities in this list, you can keep your night out affordable if you plan ahead and prepare to pre-drink.
Where to party: Shoreditch, Soho, Camden, Brixton, Hackney, Kensington…
Brighton
Famous for being the UK’s LGBTQ+ capital, it’s fair to say Brighton is one of the best party cities in the UK. It brought Fatboy Slim to fame, and dozens of other high profile DJs have made their mark in the city. For a night of hedonism, head to Kemptown for the gay quarter of the city. Club Revenge has been one of the longest standing clubs in Brighton for over twenty five years. It has two great dance floors, seven VIP areas, and even a rooftop terrace. Karaoke is also readily available in bars across Brighton for a fun singalong. If, instead, you fancy something a little classier, hit one of the bars along the beachfront. Here, you can enjoy a cocktail with a sea view. Check out Shooshh for a VIP beachside experience, or Patterns. If comedy’s more up your street, give Komedia a try for its regular club nights.
Where to Party: Kemptown
The best party cities in the UK: the south-west and Wales
Bristol
Beautiful Bristol is the South West’s clubbing capital. A little bit quirky, a bit edgy, and very cool, Bristol has something for everything. Whether you like karaoke, comedy nights, LGBTQ+ friendly bars, or simply the idea of partying on a boat, head to Bristol for a night out. The waterfront area is perfect for some relaxing pre-party drinks, with various cocktail bars and pubs with a view. If you fancy catching some live music on a boat bar, don’t miss Thekla. The Grain Barge is another boat which serves up local beer. There’s also a great deck for catching the sun in the summer months. The Apple is another West Country favourite. It’s a cider pub across two floors of a boat with views across the gorgeous quayside. When you’re ready to party, hit up Motion, a nightclub with a huge arena that features globally renowned DJs.
Where to party: Harbourside and Queens Road
Cardiff
As a fairly compact city where there’s no need for lengthy Tube journeys or expensive taxis, Cardiff makes for one of the best party cities in the UK. The student district of Cathays offers up plenty of cheap drinks and fun nights at the clubs there. Clwb Ifor Bach is a Cardiff institution. It’s a rock club that dishes out great live music open until late at the weekends. Don’t miss Live Lounge too. It’s a vibrant live music menu. For classier cocktails, the waterfront at Mermaid Quay in the Bay area at is a lovely place for drinks with a view. For anyone keen for a pub crawl, there’s a great route to take through some of Cardiff’s most fun hotspots. Start off at Canton Mile, booze down Cowbridge East, and finish off at one of the fun clubs at Westgate.
Where to party: City Centre
That’s my guide to the best party cities in the UK! Where are your favourite spots to go for a night out in the UK? Looking for a party destination a little further afield? Check out my guide to the best party cities in Europe, and the best party cities in the world.
Hi, will be in London in Feb. Any more recommendations for nice bars and lounges? Professional crowd 30+? What about clubs?
Yes – where to begin!? Sky Garden is lovely for wine and a view. The American Bar at the Savoy is relaxed with live piano/jazz, one of my favourites. Madison is a little touristy but a great view of St Paul’s and a smart crowd. Clubs – I’d head to Chelsea. JuJu, Embargo, or a social club in Mayfair like 24 Mayfair or Mahiki. Hope that helps!
Amazing, thanks!