Film Locations: Trainspotting
Video by Karina Caulfield
30 November 2020
By Karina Caulfield
Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting first hit the screens in 1996. It was adapted from the novel of the same title by Scottish writer, Irvine Welsh, published 3 years prior.
Trainspotting won The Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1996 Academy awards and in 2004 was voted the best Scottish film of all the time in 'The List' public poll.
Set in 1980s Edinburgh; it follows the story of Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) through his wild and crushing stages of heroin addiction. His four friends, Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Spud (Euan Bremner), Begbie (Robert Carlyle) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd) are along for the ride, towards an unhinged and self-destructive journey.
Although set in Edinburgh and Leith, Trainspotting was mostly filmed in Glasgow except for a handful of shots. This includes the opening chase scene where we first catch a glimpse of Ewan McGregor.
Fast forward 20 years; Danny Boyle releases T2 Trainspotting which follows a newly single and jobless Mark, returning to Edinburgh. He pays a visit to old friends, Sick Boy and Spud whilst the crazed Begbie is locked up.
T2 Trainspotting was mostly filmed entirely in and around Edinburgh and below are the following locations to spot in the capital.
Trainspotting / T2 Trainspotting
Princes Street
Photo by Karina Caulfield
No one could forget the iconic opening scene – the heavy beats of Iggy Pop’s 'Lust for Life' cranked up whilst a young Ewan McGregor is running for his life from shop security.
We see his character, Renton and his pal, Spud; run down passed the Scottish National Gallery from the bustling road of Princes street.
This scene is repeated as a flash back in T2 Trainspotting and again when Renton returns to the city via tram.
Screengrab taken from the Scottish Sun
Screengrab taken from BFI
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Regent Bridge
Photo by Karina Caulfield
As the chase scene continues, Renton runs down the steps connecting Leith Street to Calton Road, with Regent Bridge in the background. Renton is hit by a car where we see a freeze frame of him cheekily laughing to the camera before being ploughed down by security.
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Screengrab taken from BFI
In T2 Trainspotting, we see an older Spud, relive this scene: He stops bewildered, as a younger Renton runs past, as though he is watching a memory. It gives the feeling that time has passed at the speed of a flash.
Regent Bridge was built in the 19th century in a neo classical design and is located right next to Waverly Train Station.
T2 Trainspotting
The Banana Flats (Cables Wynd House): Leith
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Possibly made infamous from both novel and film, this housing estate was given the name The Banana Flats due to its curving architecture. These flats are shown in a flashback but is mostly used as a contextual reference throughout.
It has gathered the reputation of being one of Leith’s most rough and rundown block of flats, providing an appropriate setting for Renton and Sick Boy to score their first bag of heroin. We see the two young characters walking through the housing scheme excited to try their first hit of ‘skag.’
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Commercial Quay: Leith
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Located in the shore area of Leith, is Commercial Quay: a retail, office and leisure development space home to restaurants, cafés, and bars.
Whilst inside the Wolf and Water bar, Sick Boy and his girlfriend, Veronika try to persuade Renton to join them on their ‘great business plan’: a brothel.
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Holyrood Park / Arthurs Seat / Salisbury Crags
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Screengrab from Edinburgh Evening news
After rescuing Spud from attempting suicide, Renton tries to help his friend kick his heroin habit - something he has been able to get over himself.
He begins by forcing an exhausted Spud out for a run up Arthurs Seat/Salisbury Crags. Renton urges Spud to channel his problem, to be addicted to something else to which Spud scoffs – “What like running?”
Arthurs Seat is an extinct volcano which is surrounded by a 640-acre royal park. This is one of Edinburgh’s four hills, dating back 2000 years.
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Copyright @ Tristar Productions, Inc 2017
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Sailmaker Road: Leith
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Overlooking a scrapyard, this block of flats is where Sick Boy now lives. A scene here includes when best friends Renton and Sick Boy are drinking and reminiscing. They divulge to Veronika almost every detail of their wild past together: think football, drugs and 1980s nostalgia.
Photo by Karina Caulfield
​Scottish Parliament / Holyrood
Photo by Karina Caulfield
After Renton agrees to start up a brothel with Sick Boy – the pair take a trip to the Scottish Parliament. Here they present their fake Leith regeneration business idea in order to score a loan. It is with luck: they are successful.
In 1997 the people of Scotland voted yes to a Scottish Parliament building, which then opened in 2004. It is situated a two-minute walk away from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and was designed by architect Enric Miralles, who created the building as though it was "growing out of the land.”
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Photo by Karina Caulfield
​Clerk Street: Edinburgh Bargain Stores
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Hoping to channel his addiction into something else, Spud sets himself projects to focus on. He begins to write about his somewhat psychotic yet exhilarating life with him and his friends.
However, another project he sets his mind to, is the renovation of Sick Boy’s pub in Leith. Spud pops into the Edinburgh Bargain Store on Clerk Street for building essentials.
The Cav Nightclub (Attic)
Photo by Karina Caulfield
Renton and Sickboy head out for a night out at the Cav Nightclub in Tollcross (although in the film it is shown as though it is situated in the Old Town).
Over the years The Cav Nightclub has fell under different owners, each with a different name. In the 1960s the likes of Pink Floyd, The Jam and The Ramones played at the venue. Following on from that, bands such as The Clash, R.E.M and Simple Minds ‘graced the stage.’
It has built up the reputation as being one of Edinburgh leading clubs and as of 2020, The Cav (now Attic) has progressed over to the nightclub scene, playing pop and dance.
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Photo by Karina Caulfield
Copyright @ 2016 CTMG, Inc
In T2 we see crowds dancing on the coloured lit up dancefloor which is located in the upstairs part of the club. However, as Renton takes a trip to the toilets, somebody in the cubicle next to him drops their Viagra pills. That person happens to be the escaped Begbie: a coincidence like no other. The realisation on both their faces becomes priceless: Renton is sick with shock, slowly heading to make a run for it while Begbie is sick with rage, with the eyes of a killer.
For context: Begbie had been wishing to one day run into Renton after the four friends went on their big London drug deal 20 years ago. Instead of splitting the money four ways, Renton ran away with the entirety of cash which ultimately helped him escape his troubled life.
Copyright @ 2016 CTMG, Inc
The Royal Mile
Photo by Karina Caulfield
This scene leads on to the Old Town: Begbie screams as he sees Renton’s face and begins to chase after him down the Royal Mile, passing the triple set of red phone boxes. This is an incredibly tense moment, where an enraged Bebgie continues to follow him around the city, leading to a multistorey car park.
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The last few scenes are set in Leith at Sick Boy’s pub, 'Port Sunshine' which was filmed at the Douglas Hotel in Clydebank. This is where Renton, Sicky Boy and Spud take on the wrath of Begbie who is only here for one reason: revenge
More T2 Trainspotting Locations:
The top floor at Harvey Nichols: Where Sick Boy assures Veronika his brothel business plan will success to avoid her leaving the country.
Saughton Prison (HMP Edinburgh): Where Begbie has been locked up for the last 20 years.
Forth Road Bridge: Where Sick Boy and Renton cross half naked after being dumped in the woods by gangster, Doyle after he threatens the pair, not to open a brothel.
Unidentifiable tower blocks: This is where Spud lives and could possibly be located in Craigmillar, as around the same area is where Spud’s ex-girlfriend Gail, and his son is filmed living in. It is here, where we see Spud metaphorically falling backwards from his block before Renton saves him from an overdose.
Copyright @ Sony Pictures Releasing & Adam Gascoyne
Copyright @ Sony Pictures Releasing & Adam Gascoyne
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