Take the high road

If you live in London you have to be a dedicated clubber to travel to Scotland for kicks. It's definitely worth considering a northern weekender, as the Scots could easily teach us southern softies a thing or two about real partying.

Many Londoners get their first taste of Scotland at New Year, and a city such as Glasgow attracts thousands of English hedonists every year. Once you've sampled the unique sense of abandon that accompanies Scotland's best events, it will not be long before you return across the Border. While there have been recent attempts to curb revelling in Glasgow's streets, there is no shortage of excellent bars and clubs where you can dance the night away before keeling over.

"I went to Glasgow for the first time three years ago to visit a mate at university," says 23-year-old Jake Fuller from Highgate. "It was my friend's birthday and I couldn't believe that he wasn't coming back to London to celebrate.

"He kept telling me about the scene in Glasgow, so eventually I agreed to visit him. We went to The Tunnel two nights in a row and I had the most amazing time ever in a club. The atmosphere was incredible and the club looked amazing - now I visit him every chance I get."

Glasgow dominates the Scottish club scene. Students can always be located around the city but the local scene is by no means reliant on their ever- diminishing income.

Hard Times from Leeds, Cream from Liverpool and London's Ministry of Sound all make regular raids across the Border but these events are more complementary than trend-setting. In fact, ever-increasing numbers of southern DJs are championing the "Glasgow Sound": a mix of progressive house music with thick slices of techno and funk.

While Glasgow offers a wide range of sounds on most days of the week, the most successful gigs offer hard and fast beats - this is full-on clubbing. Even better, the prices here (entry tax, booze and weekend accommodation) put London to shame and easily offer better value for money.

The Tunnel is probably Scotland's best known club and for a good reason: it holds more than 1,000 people and always attracts the best DJs from across Britain and the world.

The Tunnel on Fridays (called The Ark) is a clubbing institution and characterises Scotland's penchant for hard beats. Many of Scotland's most popular clubs are techno-inspired - hard rhythms that fill the floor and really test the stamina of any clubber.

Saturday may attract a more mature crowd but it would be hard not to be impressed by The Tunnel regardless of the night.

At The Arches, the beats also register at the top of the bpm scale but you'll be hard pushed to find a better-looking venue. One of the first clubs in the UK to experiment with ISDN links, and featuring interactive interior design, this place pushes back the clubbing boundaries.

The Polo Lounge is one of Scotland's largest gay venues and also one of the most attractive, with a relaxed bar feel. The recently widened dancefloor, with its traditional high-energy beats fused with disco classics, always delivers a great night out.

Jet is situated just outside the city centre and, with a capacity of around 350, is a little less hectic than many venues in the heart of the city. It has recently spent a lot of cash doing the place up and the stylish interior now reflects the dress sense of the trendy regulars who pack it each weekend. The music is fresh and often experimental but, as the club featured in Trainspotting, it's worth a visit.

The Tunnel Mitchell Street, Glasgow (0141-204 1000)

The Arches 30 Midland Street, Glasgow (0141-221 9736)

The Polo Lounge 84 Wilson Street, Glasgow (0141-553 1221)

Jet Patrick Cross, Glasgow

(0141-337 3777)