London skyline featuring The Shard, Tower Bridge and River Thames at dusk under a pink and purple sky
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There are two very clear camps of thought when it comes to London. Some consider London to be a proper late-night destination, mirroring New York City with its 24-hour possibilities. Meanwhile, others believe that there aren’t enough proper late-night venues or events in the city for that to be the case. Well, the argument is only just getting started on that, because recent research* has confirmed that London is officially the best late-night city in the UK.

When considering a variety of metrics that include everything from safety at night scores to public transport costs and the number of late-night venues, London handily came out on top. This was thanks to the capital boasting the highest number of nightlife venues and late-night restaurants of any city in the UK.

In second place was Edinburgh, which also had the highest score for safety when walking alone at night. Rounding out the top 3 was Manchester, thanks to its cheap transport costs and impressive selection of late-night spots.

View of Edinburgh's Old TownCredit: JeniFoto via Shutterstock Best late-night cities in the UK

All things considered, these are the top 10 cities for late-night jaunts and revelry in the UK:

  1. London
  2. Edinburgh
  3. Manchester
  4. Liverpool
  5. Leeds
  6. Bristol
  7. Newcastle upon Tyne
  8. Sunderland
  9. Cardiff
  10. Sheffield

It’s not all good news for Londoners looking to stay out late, though. The research highlighted the importance of staying alert and safe at night, especially in London. The capital had one of the worst scores for safety when walking alone at night.

Best late-night cities in Europe

But what if you’re planning a trip to Europe, and want to go to a city with a bustling nightlife? According to the same research that ranked the UK cities above, these are the best late-night cities across Europe.

  1. Paris
  2. Madrid
  3. Prague
  4. Rome
  5. Berlin
  6. Zagreb
  7. Belgrade
  8. Vienna
  9. Budapest
  10. Warsaw

Sunset view of Eiffel tower and Seine river in ParisCredit: Catarina Belova, Shutterstock

Paris took the top spot thanks to its plethora of late-night venues, restaurants, and events. However, similarly to London, this comes at a cost, with Paris ranking poorly for nighttime safety. Meanwhile, Madrid came in second thanks to a lively late-night scene, coupled with a high ranking for safety when walking alone at night.

*Research conducted by SuomiCasino.