The best places in the UK for live music lovers, revealed

Our research found that the number one city for live music lovers in the UK is Edinburgh.

The city is well known for having a thriving live music scene, with venues catering everything from small intimate gigs to huge arenas hosting some of the biggest names – including Harry Styles, on his recent “Love on Tour” tour.

In fact, at EatDrinkMeet we have five different venues catering to various styles of local live music – to enjoy a pit stop before a big concert or make a whole night of it on the cobbled streets. 

Edinburgh has the second highest number of live music venues at 23 (second only to London, but with a much smaller population); the iconic Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium will be playing host to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in June for 3 sell-out nights, and previously the likes of David Bowie, Queen, and Elton John have all graced the Edinburgh halls. 

Local venues include the famous Sandy Bell’s – just round the corner from our favourite Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, a folk music locale dating back to 1942, Jazz Bar, and Bannerman’s, known city-wide as hosting the best live rock gigs in Edinburgh. If rock isn’t your cup of tea, just 10  minutes away is The Last Drop, where legend has it the condemned men of Edinburgh would enjoy their last meal before facing the gallows across the road. And who could forget Whistle Binkies, an Edinburgh institution that’s open every night until the early hours of the morning and providing quality live music all night, every night. 

The city also had the second most monthly and yearly searches for “live music”, and when calculated by search per 1000 of population it came in first place, with a whopping 254.69 searches a year. So, not only is Edinburgh the best place to see live music, but it’s also clear those living there have a big desire for it. 

One of our favourite spots in Edinburgh is Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar in the heart of the city on Candlemaker Row. Named after the famous scruffy Skye terrier, Bobby, who faithfully watched over his owner’s grave from his death in 1858 until the pup’s own death in 1872, the pub is known by locals and travellers alike for having great live music every Friday and Saturday evening. A must for anyone visiting!

While it may come as a surprise to some, Bath is home to a thriving music scene – and the biggest lovers of local live music in the country, according to search trends. 

There’s a whole swathe of venues for music lovers, including the Green Park Brasserie right in the heart of the city that hosts bands in all genres – from soulful jazz to folk bands and everything in between. This eclectic venue is joined by the Bath Pavilion, the Bell Inn playing folk, jazz and blues on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday nights, and a vibrant little pub called the Pig and Fiddle which hosts an open-mic night on a Tuesday. 

Similarly in York, turn down any street and you’ll be met with a host of local live music venues. It’s more under the radar than other northern cities (such as Manchester or Liverpool) but it’s iconic in its own right, with the likes of FortyFive Vinyl Café providing records and regular live music performances, as well as The Hop on Fossgate that has provides live music every single week. 

Another great pub just round the corner from The Hop is the Old White Swan, showcasing local bands every Sunday, Thursday and Friday. One of York’s oldest and most cherished establishments dating back to 1703, the pub has a fascinating past: from an exhibition of Mr O’Brian, the world’s tallest man at 8 feet and 7 inches tall in 1781, to whispers of a haunting by a group of Catholic escapees heading to France, there really is something for everyone here.