While Scotland’s capital is more known for its beauty than Broadway, there are several movies filmed in Edinburgh worth binging on. Spot iconic locations in the following films covering all niches from crime to comedy, Marvel to musical. Which is your favourite? Tell us in the comments below.
Oh, you might want to read our guide to Scottish slang words before settling down to a film!
Updated September 2026
| Movie | Year | Key Edinburgh Locations |
|---|---|---|
| The Angels’ Share | 2012 | Edinburgh Castle (views) |
| Cloud Atlas | 2012 | Scott Monument, Old Town |
| Eurovision Song Contest | 2020 | Princes Street Gardens, Victoria Street, Calton Hill |
| Filth | 2013 | Victoria Street, The Grassmarket |
| One Day | 2011 | Arthur’s Seat, Victoria Street, Old College |
| Outlaw King | 2018 | Craigmillar Castle |
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | Royal Mile, Cockburn Street, Waverley Station |
| Sunshine on Leith | 2013 | The Shore (Leith), Calton Hill, Scottish National Gallery |
| The Da Vinci Code | 2006 | Rosslyn Chapel, Caledonian Hilton |
| The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie | 1969 | The Vennel (Miss Jean Brodie Steps) |
| Trainspotting | 1996 | Princes Street, Calton Road |
| T2: Trainspotting | 2017 | Princes Street, Cockburn Street, Arthur’s Seat |
| Frankenstein | 2025 | Royal Mile, Canongate, Parliament Square |
| Fast & Furious 9 | 2021 | Royal Mile, Cockburn Street, Victoria Street |
| Burke & Hare | 2010 | Edinburgh Castle, George IV Bridge |
The Angels Share
2012, Ken Loach starring Paul Brannigan
In Ken Loach’s “Angels’ Share,” a hot-headed hooligan from Glasgow’s underclass turns out to have an extraordinary talent for identifying different varieties of whisky.
Stephen Holden, The NYTimes
Cloud Atlas
2012, Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Lilly Wachowski
I occasionally winced but was mostly emotionally and intellectually involved, carried along by the oceanic flow.
Philip French, The Guardian
Edinburgh filming locations: The Scott Monument on Princes Street features prominently, and the city’s Gothic architecture stands in for multiple time periods. The Wachowskis filmed throughout the Old Town and New Town.
Eurovision
2020, David Dobkin, starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams
The result is a movie so eye-searingly extra it makes “Mamma Mia!” look bashful.
Jeannette Catsoulis, NY Times
Edinburgh filming locations: Princes Street Gardens (Ross Fountain scene), Victoria Street, Calton Hill, and the Royal Mile. The film used Edinburgh as a stand-in for the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Filth
2013, Jon S. Baird, starring James McAvoy
Insulting yet endearing, this loud portrayal of dirty cops is worthy of your attention. While it’s difficult to watch the demise of McAvoy, who plays the detective – the soundtrack, locations and illusions make the experience a tad more comfortable.
Edinburgh filming locations: Victoria Street, The Grassmarket, and the Royal Mile. The dark comedy uses Edinburgh’s Old Town to mirror the protagonist’s descent into chaos.
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One Day
2011, Lone Scherfig, starring Anne Hathaway
Scenes from the epic Netflix TV show were also filmed in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh filming locations: Arthur’s Seat, Victoria Street, Cockburn Street (Warriston Close), Calton Hill, The Grassmarket, The Vennel, and Old College quadrangle at Edinburgh University. The 2024 Netflix series also filmed at these locations.
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It may not truly capture the complexities of its source material but One Day is funny, winning and entertaining – if little else.
Ian Freer, Empire
Outlaw King
2018, David Mackenzie, starring Chris Pine
Bloody epic proves Chris Pine is brave of heart.
David Fear, Rolling Stone
Edinburgh filming locations: Craigmillar Castle (a medieval village was built for the production). The crew spent 7 days filming in Edinburgh with over a month of preparation.
You can visit Dunfermline Abbey to see where Outlaw King was filmed!
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War
2018, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo
Wildly ambitious and entertaining ride about good old-fashioned teamwork.
Geoffrey Macnab @TheIndyFilm, Independent
Edinburgh filming locations: The Royal Mile (epic battle scene), Cockburn Street, The Milkman kebab shop (doubling as a hideout), St Giles’ Cathedral roof, and Waverley Train Station. Edinburgh was the only real-world location used in the film; all other scenes were shot in the studio. The production spent 7 weeks in the city – the largest and most complex shoot ever in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Sunshine on Leith
2013, Dexter Fletcher, starring Jane Horrocks
Stunning and splendid but my husband wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole even if it is set in Leith.
Edinburgh filming locations: The Shore in Leith, The Grassmarket, Calton Hill, North Bridge, The Royal Mile, and outside the Scottish National Gallery (finale dance sequence).
The Da Vinci Code
2006, Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks
The Da Vinci Code has strange rhythms for a thriller. Bursts of action are interrupted by lengthy periods of exposition.
James Berardinelli, Reel Views
Edinburgh filming locations: Rosslyn Chapel (about 10 miles south of Edinburgh) features in the climactic final act. The Caledonian Hilton Hotel in Edinburgh also doubled as a filming location.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
1969, Ronald Neame, starring Maggie Smith
Smith’s performance is a triumph.
Variety
Edinburgh filming locations: The Vennel (now known as the Miss Jean Brodie Steps), Greyfriars Kirkyard, and various Old Town locations. A plaque on The Vennel commemorates the film.
Trainspotting
1996, Danny Boyle, starring Ewan McGregor
This is a savagely sophisticated work and a landmark British classic.
Alan Jones, Radio Times
Edinburgh filming locations: Princes Street, Calton Road, and Hanover Street (the infamous “Choose Life” opening sequence). Note: most of the original film was actually shot in Glasgow.
T2: 2017
Danny Boyle, starring Ewan McGregor
…manages to mock nostalgia, whilst also embracing it.
By Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
Edinburgh filming locations: Princes Street (recreated opening sequence), Cockburn Street (chase scene), The Grassmarket, Arthur’s Seat (health-conscious Renton takes Spike for a run), and the Scott Monument.
Frankenstein
2025, Guillermo del Toro, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s timeless tale was filmed on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and Canongate in September 2024. The production transformed parts of the Old Town into a period setting, with extras dressed in 18th-century clothes and carriages lining streets covered in mud. Parliament Square, Writers’ Close, Bakehouse Close, and Makars’ Court all featured in filming. Available on Netflix.
Fast & Furious 9
2021, Justin Lin, starring Vin Diesel, John Cena
The ninth chapter in the Fast & Furious saga spent 19 days filming across 11 different areas of Edinburgh city centre in September 2019. Daredevil stunts and car chases were captured on the Royal Mile, Cockburn Street, Victoria Street, George Street, Waterloo Place, Melville Street, and outside the National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh was one of several international locations alongside London, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. The production employed 1,940 people including 1,440 locals.
Burke & Hare
2010, John Landis, starring Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis
This horror-comedy based on Edinburgh’s infamous body-snatching duo was filmed at Edinburgh Castle, the University of Edinburgh School of Anatomy, Fishmarket Close, George IV Bridge, and Heriot Place. The real Burke and Hare murdered 16 people in Edinburgh between 1827 and 1828, selling their bodies to a local anatomy lecturer.
Harry Potter
While the Harry Potter movies are not actually films set in Edinburgh, their impact on the city can’t go unnoticed, so we would like to extend an honourable mention to the series.
Why do people associate Edinburgh with Harry Potter?
JK Rowling, the author, dreamed up the story of the boy wizard while living in Edinburgh, and many cafes claim that she penned chapters while drinking coffee in their establishments.
Potterheads should visit many locations in Edinburgh, including Greyfriars Kirk, The Elephant House, Victoria Street (Scotland’s Diagon Alley), and the City Chamber.
Find out more about the must-see Harry Potter attractions in Edinburgh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most famous movie filmed in Edinburgh?
Trainspotting (1996) is widely considered the most iconic Edinburgh film, with its “Choose Life” opening sequence on Princes Street becoming one of British cinema’s most recognisable scenes. The 2018 Avengers: Infinity War was the largest production ever to film in Edinburgh.
Was Harry Potter filmed in Edinburgh?
The Harry Potter films were not actually filmed in Edinburgh, but author JK Rowling wrote much of the series in Edinburgh cafes. Locations like Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street (Diagon Alley inspiration), and The Elephant House cafe are popular with Potter fans.
What was the most recent movie filmed in Edinburgh?
Frankenstein (2025), directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth, filmed on the Royal Mile and Canongate in September 2024. The production transformed the Old Town into a 19th-century period setting.
Can I visit movie filming locations in Edinburgh?
Yes! Most filming locations are on public streets you can walk freely. The Vennel has a plaque commemorating The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Victoria Street’s colourful shopfronts appear in multiple films, and The Milkman on Cockburn Street featured in Avengers: Infinity War.
What TV shows have been filmed in Edinburgh?
Recent TV productions include the Netflix series One Day (2024), BBC’s Rebus (2024), Dept.Q (2025), and Outlander Season 3 (2017). Outlander filmed at Summerhall, Craigmillar Castle, and Bakehouse Close in the Old Town.
Any questions or comments?
Let us know below.
Wow thats great! tbhere are also many series filmed in Edinburg. We recently watched Case Histories which shows all around Edi and we felt so nostalgic…
Clique is another TV programme I recommend which was filmed in Edinburgh. BBC show! Thanks for commenting, Sofia.