THE shortlist

METROPLITAN LIFE TEN UNUSUAL WAYS TO GET HIGH

IN LONDON ...

London Planetarium Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR (0171-486 1121). Lose sight of the Earth but not of your armchair - visit this re-opened London landmark and try out the new Digistar II star projector and its latest programme, 'Cosmic Perceptions'. The intergalactic trip lasts 40 minutes. Tickets from pounds 2.95.

Circus Space Coronet St, Hoxton, London N1 6HD (0171-729 9422). A range of flamboyant highs are on offer here, including classes in trapeze, trampolining and stilt walking. For inspiration on stilts, witness the Scarabeus Theatre's vampire show, Drink From Me and You'll Live Forever, 28 Oct.

Forum Hotel 97 Cromwell Rd, London SW7 4DN. London's tallest hotel at 132m. For the high life, book into room 2731 on the 27th floor; for a taste of high society take a full suite for pounds 270 per night.

Spaniards Inn Spaniards Rd, London NW3 (0181-455 3276). One of the existing theories on this pub's name maintains that as a result of crumbling diplomatic relations before construction in 1701, 'Spaniards' became a nickname for hooligans. The pub is situated on London's highest land-point.

St Paul's Cathederal (0171-248 2705). Having tired of eavesdropping in the Whispering Gallery, complete the 530-step journey up to the Golden Gallery at 355ft. The cathedral and the galleries are open between 8.30am and 4pm, pounds 3-5 for entry.

Blackpool Tower Promenade, Blackpool FY1 4BJ (01253-22242). Ascend the 518ft tower and visit the pleasure beach, which offers the world's highest roller-coaster. The Pepsi Max Big One takes you to 71.6m and has a sheer vertical drop of 63.7m. All at a leisurely 85mph.

Super Elevation Consider a pair of Naomi Campbell toppling Super-Elevators from Vivienne Westwood. Available in leather, tartan, mock crocodile and snakeskin at pounds 330, they offer 5ins of platform and 9ins of heel. For the vertiginous, Office carry heels and platforms up to a less ridiculous 5ins for between pounds 40 and pounds 80.

Flight Simulation Red Letter Days, Melville House, 8/12 Woodhouse Rd, North Finchley, London N12 ORG (0181-343 8822). Apart from being able to get you airborne in anything from a Tiger Moth to a hot-air balloon, this company has access to various simulators around the country, including East Midlands, Gatwick, Heathrow, and Bristol. Crash with impunity in genuine British Airways training simulators of Concorde, Boeing 747/737, DC-10 airliner and Chinook helicopter. Anything from pounds 149 in the slot gives you permission for take-off.

Wanlockhead, Dumfries. Basically anything you get up to here will be lofty, as it's Scotland's highest village. Highest golf course, highest bowling green, highest museum (of lead mining), highest post office and the highest BT pay phone (01659-74289).

Cairngorm Observation Cafe, Cairngorm Ski Area, Aviemore, Inverness (01479-861261). Very high tea at 3,600ft.

Compiled by Pascal Wyse