A survey of more than 36,000 undergraduates produced a top score of 64% for Newcastle, with Sheffield just two points behind.

The city tied for second place with Aberystwyth, Brighton, Exeter and Manchester, all on 62% - well ahead of others including Leeds, Leicester, Oxford and Cambridge.

Students from 56 towns were asked to rate their university location on five criteria: going out (restaurants, pubs, clubs), shops, transport links, community (safety, student population, surroundings) and facilities (gyms, libraries, parks).

The survey was carried out by accommodationforstudents.com, whose co-founder, Simon Thompson, said: "This information represents students' real opinions about where they study.

"It is helpful to students going to university for the first time, but also for existing students who are looking to move as it also provides a breakdown of the best areas within cities."

The results show that of areas well-represented in the survey, top-rated were, predictably, the city centre, Hunters Bar and Ecclesall Road.

Highfields and Norfolk Park - venue for the student village - score badly - so, surprisingly, do Crookes, London Road and Sharrow.

See ratings of all areas (external link)

The cheapest rent in the city was reported in Abbeydale Road, at £30 per week. Most expensive is City Road, at £184. City centre rooms range from an average of £40 to £85; and the most popular areas are Ecclesall and Broomhill.