Glasgow
One of the city’s premier live-music pub venues, hosting bands every night of the week. A staple of the local scene, and a real Glasgow highlight.
Must-see entertainment in Scotland
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Edinburgh
Formerly Edinburgh University's veterinary school, the Summerhall complex is a major cultural centre and entertainment venue, with old halls and lecture…
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Mull
Mull's lively arts scene includes a famous theatre group, regular art exhibitions and concerts. This arts organisation puts on exhibitions, plays and…
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Glasgow
This much-loved three-screener off Sauchiehall St shows art-house cinema and classics.
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Glasgow
Occupying a former tram depot, this buzzy cultural centre has performance and exhibition spaces as well as a popular cafe. It's a real Southside community…
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Edinburgh
The Filmhouse is the main venue for the annual Edinburgh International Film Festival and screens a full program of art-house, classic, foreign and second…
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Dundee
Dundee's hippest venue is an arty, bohemian hang-out in a rundown former library that hosts some of Scotland's best indie club nights. Live gigs have…
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New Town
The brainchild of rhythm-and-blues pianist and TV personality Jools Holland, the Jam House is set in a former BBC TV studio and offers a combination of…
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Edinburgh
The three-screen, independently owned Cameo is a good old-fashioned cinema showing an imaginative mix of mainstream and art-house movies. There's a good…
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Glasgow
South of the Clyde, this is one of the top theatres in Scotland. It's well worth trying to catch a performance here. A major redevelopment was about to…
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Glasgow
With bands almost daily in the downstairs space, this comfortable local is a great destination. It would be anyway for its excellent atmosphere, highly…
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Glasgow
A spectacular modern building to keep the adjacent 'Armadillo' company, the Hydro amphitheatre is a phenomenally popular venue for big-name concerts and…
Southern Scotland
Scotland's premier racecourse is a fun day out, with both flat and jump racing days and good facilities. The biggest event is the Scottish Grand National…
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Glasgow
One of Glasgow's big two football clubs, Rangers play in blue and traditionally represent the Protestant, pro-Union side of the divide. They recently…
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New Town
The raddled old queen of Edinburgh's 1990s gay scene has been given a shot in the arm, with two floors of deafening dance and disco every night. It can…
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New Town
Decadent decor of black leather, ornate plasterwork and gilt detailing creates a stylish setting for this complex of bars and performance spaces above the…
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Inverness
The Highlands’ main cultural venue – with theatre, art-house cinema and a conference centre – Eden Court stages a busy program of drama, dance, comedy,…
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Glasgow
By the Barras market area, this repurposed church – stained glass and organ still in situ – is a fantastic spot hosting live music every weekend,…
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Inverness
Hootananny is the city’s best live-music venue, with traditional folk- and/or rock-music sessions nightly, including big-name bands from all over Scotland…
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Aberdeen
This cavernous, subterranean club – the entrance is in a road tunnel beneath Union St – is a great live-music venue, with a packed program of up-and…
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Glasgow
Playing in green and white hoops, Celtic are one of Glasgow's big two football clubs and traditionally represent the Catholic side of the divide. There…
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Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh's most eclectic live-music venues, Henry's has something going on most nights of the week, from rock and indie to 'Balkan-inspired folk'…
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Aberdeen
Upstairs at O'Neill's you're guaranteed a wild night of pounding, hardcore Irish rock, indie and alternative tunes Friday to Sunday; downstairs is a …
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Glasgow
Tron Theatre, located in the James Adam–designed Tron Kirk, fronted by an elaborate bell tower, stages contemporary Scottish and international…
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Aberdeen
A long-established stalwart of Aberdeen's alternative music scene, Drummond is a crowded, grungy student hang-out offering live gigs from up-and-coming…
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Glasgow
A down-at-heel but exceptional old dancehall above the Barras market catering for some of the larger acts that visit the city. It's one of Scotland's most…
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Glasgow
Cosy basement venue with small independent bands as well as weekend DJs and regular comedy and theatre performances. At street level the pleasant cafe…
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Glasgow
A feast of classical music is showcased at this concert hall, the modern home of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. There are also regular pop, folk…
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Edinburgh
A beautifully restored art-deco theatre with a modern all-glass frontage, the Festival is the city's main venue for opera, dance and ballet, but also…
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Edinburgh
The Traverse is the main focus for new Scottish writing; it stages an adventurous program of contemporary drama and dance. The box office is only open on…
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Aberdeen
Hosts an interesting program of dance, music and drama, and often has live rock, jazz and folk bands playing. There are also children's shows, ranging…
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Glasgow
For concerts, a useful booking centre is Tickets Scotland, in the Argyle St tunnel. Its website is a good place to browse upcoming gigs; there's a printed…
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Glasgow
This is a chic venue making terrific use of space and light. It showcases the visual and performing arts, including movies, talks and galleries. There's a…
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Glasgow
In the heart of Merchant City, there are regular performances in this beautiful rectangular auditorium by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish…
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New Town
The Stand, founded in 1995, is Edinburgh's main independent comedy venue. It's an intimate cabaret bar with performances every night and a free Sunday…
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Glasgow
Also known as the Armadillo because of its bizarre shape, the Clyde adjoins the SEC Centre auditorium, and caters for big national and international acts.
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St Andrews
This theatre company started life in a converted cow byre in the 1930s, but it now occupies flashy modern premises making clever use of light and space.
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Holyrood & Arthur’s Seat
The Pleasance Theatre Bar is the home venue of the Edinburgh Folk Club, which runs a program of visiting bands and singers at 8pm on Wednesday nights.
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Aberdeen
The Belmont is a great little art-house cinema, with a lively program of cult classics, director's seasons, foreign films and mainstream movies.
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Glasgow
In the bowels of Central station, this is an atmospheric venue for regular concerts by touring acts, particularly of the rock and metal varieties.
