From traditional old ale houses to chic bars and nightclubs, Southampton has a thriving nightlife with no shortage of places to choose from. For a drink in the centre of town, try The Red Lion, 55 High Street, or The Duke of Wellington, 36 Bugle Street; they're both traditional old ales houses and both have a decent bar menu. The Hobbit, 134 Bevois Valley Road, has a large outdoor seating area and stays open until 0200.

For those who want to dance until the small hours, nightclubs abound. The Ikon Diva nightclub, Leisureworld, West Quay Road, caters to the city's young beautiful crowd and is the largest nightclub on the south coast. The Nexus Club, Eastgate Street, is another trendy place to strut your stuff.

The city also has a good live music scene with many of the bars putting on bands at the weekends; the Platform Tavern, Town Quay, in the historic dockland area of the city is a nice place to catch live music. For bigger acts, try the Southampton Guildhall, Civic Centre, West Marlands Road.