Morningside is one of Edinburgh’s most genteel suburbs, all tearooms and tenements. Which makes it all the more surreal that, down a side lane off Springvalley Gardens, you can walk straight into a Wild West frontier town.
A saloon, a jailhouse, a trading post and a livery all stand shoulder to shoulder, complete with clapboard fronts and hand-painted signs, hidden in plain sight behind the shops.
A Cowboy Town Behind the Tenements
The scene is not a film set or a theme park but the frontage of a working furniture business, dressed up as a row of Old West buildings. From the lane it looks like a Hollywood back-lot dropped into suburban Edinburgh – and that incongruity is exactly why it has become a cult curiosity.
Who Built It
The facades were created in the 1990s by the furniture makers who occupy the yard, reportedly inspired by a love of the Western and a wish to brighten a plain industrial lane. Over the years the buildings have been repaired and repainted, keeping the illusion alive.
What You’ll See
Look for the “jail”, the “cantina” and the saloon-style storefronts, the timber sidings and the weathered signage. It is small – a single short lane – so it rewards a quick detour rather than a long visit, but it is one of the city’s most photographed oddities.
Finding It
The lane runs off Springvalley Gardens in Morningside, a short walk from Morningside Road and its bus stops. It is a private yard, so admire and photograph it from the lane rather than wandering into the working premises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Morningside Wild West a film set?
No – it is the dressed-up frontage of a working furniture business, built to look like an Old West street rather than a set or theme park.
Can you visit the Wild West in Morningside?
You can walk up the public lane off Springvalley Gardens to see and photograph it, but the yard itself is private working premises.
When was the Morningside Wild West built?
The Western facades were created in the 1990s by the furniture makers based in the yard.
How do I find the Wild West street?
It is off Springvalley Gardens in Morningside, a short walk from Morningside Road, reachable by Lothian bus.
