"Ever been in the City of London at night?"

Sod that - always has been overrated and is basically a big tourist rip-off (unless you actually mean the City of London and not the West End, in which case I suoppse everything would be shut). Unless you're visiting the galleries, museums or a show it's really not got a lot going for it.

We often go into Manchester at night and that has a great atmosphere. The various different quarters are buzzing and there are thriving Asian and Chinese areas visited by both the locals and visitors. Great jazz clubs, great pubs, reasonably priced food and a healthy mix of people. Loads of decent Irish folk music, perhaps some of the best in the world outside Ireland and all played out in living, vibrant and diverse communities.

Of course you get the dickheads but they are relatively few and few between and it's not difficult to avoid the get-pissed-quick establishments where that type congregates.