WELCOME to Manchester! With nine places to study and 100,000 full and part-time students, Greater Manchester has the biggest student population in Europe, so it’s no wonder the city has long been geared up to make the most of the ‘student pound’.

Of course, with so much on offer you can easily fall victim of the old metaphor of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

Thankfully, we at the M.E.N. Online are on hand to guide you through the pick of the city’s pubs, clubs, gig venues, theatres, comedy venues, shops and restaurants.

We’ll tell you when the best student nights are on (and perhaps more importantly, which ones to avoid) where to pick up cheap concert tickets, discounted CDs, meal deals and the pick of the city’s shopping.

Click on the links below for our hints and tips:

Pubs and clubs guide

Live music guide

Theatre and comedy guide

Shopping and eating out guide