Going Higher: The brightest venues in the university towns

For a trendy bar at reasonable prices in Manchester try YoYo's or Shed in Fallowfield close to the main student village. If you want to splash out in the city centre, Velvet and Prague Five in Canal Street are worth a visit.

Hull's nightlife is highly rated and you can get beat-the-queue tickets at the University of Hull's students' union for the student night at the Eclipse, which caters for chart/dance fans.

What York lacks in clubs (there is a good train service to Leeds) it makes up for in pubs. They say there is one for every day of the year. The drink of choice is Theakstons.

Bradford is seeing something of an explosion of pubs catering for the student market. The old swimming-baths are being converted into two theme pubs. For dance music, Smile is the place to be seen.

Sheffield Hallam students favour the Nursery Tavern - if you can get through the door - or Champs for a trendy cocktail.

Sunderland's students' union is the best venue in town.