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Trainspotting

1996 · Directed by Danny Boyle

Explore the real-world connections to Trainspotting, with each location linked to its own story and evidence.

Explore the film’s geography.

These existing site references are not exact scene or camera positions. Access notes and sources remain attached to each location.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A public street, open at all hours. The trams stop along it.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A public road under the arch; mind the traffic coming down the hill.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working café on Maryhill Road, near Queen’s Cross.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working pub, open daily from noon to midnight.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Reach it by train, or a twenty-mile walk: no cars. The Station House is usually open from the end of March to the end of October.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working hotel in Paddington, a few minutes from the station; see it from Craven Road.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Open at all hours. The High Road is closed to motor traffic; walkers and dismounted cyclists can still use it.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Free entry and free 45-minute guided tours, Monday to Saturday. Closed to the public 9–12 October 2026.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Now a venue: the hall opens for performances and events. The tower is best seen from St Vincent Street.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working pub at the Foot of the Walk tram stop.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: building · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A department store; the Forth Floor restaurant is at the top, by lift.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Public steps between Cockburn Street and the High Street. Steep, and slippery when wet.

  • General reference · Public access · Coordinate precision: site · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Gone: the club is being demolished for student flats. Only the street is left to see.

The places behind the film.

Princes Street

Princes Street, New Town, Edinburgh

A public street, open at all hours. The trams stop along it.

The chase

Renton and Spud sprint down Princes Street away from security, past an M&S and a John Menzies.

Production: Princes Street, New Town, Edinburgh · Depicted: Princes Street (same)

Home on the tram

Renton comes back from Amsterdam and rides the tram from the airport to Princes Street.

Production: Princes Street, New Town, Edinburgh · Depicted: Princes Street (same)

Under Regent Bridge, Calton Road

Calton Road, below Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

A public road under the arch; mind the traffic coming down the hill.

The bonnet

The chase ends under Regent Bridge: Renton is hit by a car and Spud runs on.

Production: Calton Road, below Waterloo Place, Edinburgh · Depicted: Under Regent Bridge, Calton Road (same)

The back street

The back street under Regent Bridge comes back in T2.

Production: Calton Road, below Waterloo Place, Edinburgh · Depicted: Under Regent Bridge, Calton Road (same)

Corrour Station

Corrour, Rannoch Moor, on the West Highland Line

Reach it by train, or a twenty-mile walk: no cars. The Station House is usually open from the end of March to the end of October.

The great outdoors

At Corrour, Renton shares his views on the difficulties of being Scottish.

Production: Corrour, Rannoch Moor, on the West Highland Line · Depicted: Corrour Station (same)

The same bridge

Ewan McGregor and his co-stars return to Corrour to film part of the sequel on the very same bridge.

Production: Corrour, Rannoch Moor, on the West Highland Line · Depicted: Corrour Station (same)

The Royal Eagle Hotel, Craven Road

26–30 Craven Road, Paddington, London W2

A working hotel in Paddington, a few minutes from the station; see it from Craven Road.

The deal

The four cross Craven Road like the Abbey Road cover and go into the hotel to set up their deal.

Production: 26–30 Craven Road, Paddington, London W2 · Depicted: The Royal Eagle Hotel, Craven Road (same)

Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat

Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

Open at all hours. The High Road is closed to motor traffic; walkers and dismounted cyclists can still use it.

The run

Renton takes Spud on a run around Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat.

Production: Holyrood Park, Edinburgh · Depicted: Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat (same)

The Scottish Parliament

Horse Wynd, Holyrood, Edinburgh EH99 1SP

Free entry and free 45-minute guided tours, Monday to Saturday. Closed to the public 9–12 October 2026.

The pitch

Renton and Simon go to the Scottish Parliament to try to secure funding.

Production: Horse Wynd, Holyrood, Edinburgh EH99 1SP · Depicted: The Scottish Parliament (same)

St Stephen’s, Stockbridge

105 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh

Now a venue: the hall opens for performances and events. The tower is best seen from St Vincent Street.

The meeting

Spud attends a recovery group meeting in the Great Hall.

Production: 105 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh · Depicted: St Stephen’s, Stockbridge (same)

The Central Bar, Leith

7–9 Leith Walk, at the Foot of the Walk, Leith

A working pub at the Foot of the Walk tram stop.

A beer for Begbie

Begbie drinks a beer at the Central Bar, which also plays the cellar of Simon’s pub.

Production: 7–9 Leith Walk, at the Foot of the Walk, Leith · Depicted: The Central Bar, Leith (stand-in)

Harvey Nichols, the Forth Floor

30–34 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh

A department store; the Forth Floor restaurant is at the top, by lift.

Choose life, again

Over dinner with Veronika, Renton gives his “Choose life” speech, updated for 2017.

Production: 30–34 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh · Depicted: Harvey Nichols, the Forth Floor (same)

The Cav, West Tollcross

3 West Tollcross, Edinburgh

Gone: the club is being demolished for student flats. Only the street is left to see.

The toilet

At The Cav, Begbie finds Renton hiding in the toilet.

Production: 3 West Tollcross, Edinburgh · Depicted: The Cav, West Tollcross (same)

Continue exploring.

City links can describe a broad production area or the source catalogue’s city collection. The named-site references retain their own geography.

Production locations in the source record.

The film’s Wikidata record lists these production locations. Exact filming areas and visitor access have not yet been established here.

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