Hi, my fiancea nd I are looking for specific sites … on 43 Places

A question about this place:

Hi, my fiancea nd I are looking for specific sites to visit that clips of the movie Trainspotting were filmed? Like maybe a certain pub (Trainspotting pub?) or other landmarks used in the movie that we could see and photograph. Thank you!

4 cheers

Answers:

stacy
Seattle

i’ve spent a bit of time in ediburgh and scotland. i remember a scottish friend telling me something about “the trainspotting curse.” this was a couple years ago – so my memory’s fuzzy. but it seems like he said almost all the sites [buildings, businesses, etc.] the movie was filmed at no longer exist. places have gone out of business or were torn down, etc. i do remember him telling me that one place was still around.

maybe a local can verify this – OR tell me i’ve got it all wrong!?

Snookie
London

hmmmm, that’s interesting. I hope to find out. I have some friends from Edinburgh, I should ask them! I’m not sure if they’ll know though so I hope someone on here will.

Thanks for the reply.

Puzzle
Edinburgh

Leith is still firmly alive, as are the locations in Muirhouse (Although they are pushing money into that area, to improve housing. Maybe thats what they meant)

Snookie
London

thanks for the clarification. Let me ask, if it’s rundown… will it be safe for my fiance and I to travel there? I know in NYC there are some parts you avoid because they are too dangerous if you’re not in a gang or part of that neighborhood. Does the same hold true with Edinburgh?

Puzzle
Edinburgh

There is not the culture here as there is in NYC, personally I wouldn’t chose to visit Muirhouse at night.

Leith is certainly safe, as with any city at night you have to be aware of what is around you. I live here and socialize here and not had problems.

DianaBain
0 places

LEITH IS A DIVE AND IT AINT SAFE TO WALK IN LEITH AT NIGHT GORGIE IS THA BEST PLACE

Snookie
London

Oh, don’t say that! Leith isn’t bad… I was married there!

How long has it been since you’ve been there? Sure, certain bits of it used to be dodgy but it’s really looking “sunny” nowadays! :-)

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DianaBain
0 places

VISIT DURING THE DAY AND NOT AT THE WEEKEND

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DianaBain
0 places

THE FILM TRAINSPOTTIING WAS ALSO FILMED IN LONDON, THE PARTS OF EDINBURGH THAT WER IN THA FILM ARE NIDDRIE MUIRHOUSE AND LEITH ALSO BESIDE THE ST JAMES’S SHOPPING CENTER

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Puzzle
Edinburgh

It’s been so long since I have read the book/film so the majority of this is from sketchy memory. As was stated above some of the locations of the film were filmed in Glasgow, but it is very much an Edinburgh based book.

SickBoys pub port sunshine is the very colourful Port of Leith – http://www.ednet.co.uk/~portoleith/ Sit back and enjoy the views never a dull night there. From there walk up Leith Walk many places are mentioned there if I recall. I can’t remember when you said you are here but they are Trainspotting Walking Tours. Let me know the dates and I can check.

Irvine Welsh’s local is Robbie’s Bar on the corner of Leith Walk/Iona Street. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see him there and ask him yourself :)

Snookie
London

Thanks! Port O’Leith is a must. I’m sure Mark will love having a drink there to sample ‘Auld Leith’ :-)

We knew about the Trainspotting Walks but we do not have enough time to go on another walking tour as both our nights are already filled up with The Witchery Tours and Underground Edinburgh walking tours (hopefully these were funds well spent?)

Anyhow, given our limited time and the fact that we are doing some sorts of walking tours in Edinburgh, London, and Canterbury we decided to pass on the Trainspotting walk and try to maybe just catch our own glimpses of a few places on our limited time in Scotland. I wish we were staying longer!

Thank you for the answer.

Sissy

Puzzle
Edinburgh

The Witchery Tours are fantastic! Underground Edinburgh I haven’t done but would love to :)

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lauranen
Sallins

Hi there,

There is a special Trainspotting walking tour they do in Leith (a part of Edinburgh where the novel is set and the movie was mostly filmed). Here’s a link to their website for up-to-date information: http://www.leithwalks.co.uk/iw/iw1.htm

I think the original “Trainspotting Pub” (Central Pub) in Leith has been closed down, but you could visit Black Bull Tavern on the top of Leith Street, it’s pub that features in the opening scene when Renton and Spud run from the security guards. Near that is also a big arch bridge that might be in the film too.. Not sure, haven’t seen the film since I moved here.. :)

Puzzle
Edinburgh

Ohhhh I had forgotten about the running by the Black Bull!

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Snookie
London

Hi,

Adorable baby!!! Thank you for the reply.

Is the Central Pub still in it’s location but just shut down or has it been turned into something else?

I ask beacuse I’d still like to get a photo of it, even if it’s shut down.

paulapicklepepper
Edinburgh

Yeah, as Lauranen said theres a trainspotting tour that runs in Letih, however, a lot of the filming for trainspotting actually took place in Glasgow dispite it being set in Edinburgh.

Theres obviously Princes Street where they all run along at the beginning of the film which is the main shopping street here.

I would look around google for help too, thats how I found out a lot of film locations for the film Amelie when I was visiting Paris.

Good luck and I hope you both enjoy Edinburgh!!!!

Snookie
London

Thank you for the reply. Mark and I will definintely search about it more on google. 43 places gives excellent information too :-)

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Kat Crichton
Poole

I was told that the balcony scene happened in The Guildford Arms, West Regent Street (off Princes St). It’s a much prettier pub than the one used in the film.

Kat Crichton
Poole

And here’s a picture of the famed balcony…