Looking for a pop culture element to your next getaway? Edinburgh, England is a great place to follow in the footsteps of some of your favorite film characters.
The capital of Scotland has been the shooting location for blockbusters like Avengers: Infinity War and the Fast & Furious franchise’s F9, as well as the hit Netflix series One Day. The city is also believed to be the inspiration for several places in the Harry Potter universe, including the shopping district Diagon Alley.
Edinburgh’s preservation of historic architecture, along with its sprawling natural landscape, offers moviemakers a wide array of filming sites — all within one city.
Read on to find out the best places to eat and shop in Edinburgh through the lens of familiar movie and television faces.
Shop on Victoria Street, Diagon Alley’s Inspiration, Like the Hogwarts Trio
The colorful shops lining the cobblestone street is said to have served as the reference for the wizard shopping district Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. Victoria Street proudly celebrates the wizarding world, attracting Potterhead tourists with shops like the merch store Museum Context and the café Elephant House, which serves butterbeer. JK Rowling wrote part of the books in the latter, according to BBC.
Sit at a Café Near Parliament Square Like Nathalie Emmanuel’s Ramsey in ‘F9’
While her crew fought on the roof of St. Giles’ Cathedral, Nathalie Emmanuel’s Ramsey sat in a nearby café on St. Giles Street and Lawnmarket, orchestrating one of many F9 action sequences. There are plenty of coffee shops to choose from in the nearby Parliament Square, including Caffè Nero, Zebra Coffee Company and Deacon’s Coffee House.
Sip on a Drink at The Milkman, Near Where Wanda and Vision Hid
Avengers: Infinity War’s Wanda (played by Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (played by Paul Bettany) took refuge in Edinburgh’s Old Town neighborhood when on the run from Thanos. There, they walked by a kebab shop on Cockburn Street and then stumbled across a news report of his attack on New York. Although the restaurant doesn’t exist in real life, The Milkman café sits at the same address. Visit the independent coffee shop and enjoy a beverage while walking the same path as Olsen and Bettany in the 2018 Marvel blockbuster.
Order a Drink at the White Hart Inn Like ‘Eurovision Song Contest’s Lars and Sigrit
Lars (played by Will Ferrell) and Sigrit (played by Rachel McAdams) spend a night out in Edinburgh’s Old Town in the musical rom-com Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. The bandmates trekked to Grassmarket, at the center of the neighborhood, and kicked their feet up outside the White Hart Inn with drinks.
Enjoy Tea at the Signet Library Like ‘Outlander’s Lord John Grey
Edinburgh’s Signet Library transformed into the governor’s mansion in Jamaica for the third season of Outlander. When Lord John Grey (played by David Berry) becomes the temporary ruler of the island, he holds a lavish ball in the residence, filmed in the library’s upper floor. Outlander fans can treat themselves to high tea in the Colonnades, the library’s restaurant section that features towering columns around its seating area.
Run Through New Town and Grab Drinks Like ‘One Day’s Dex and Emma
The emotional rollercoaster of Netflix’s One Day opens with Dex and Emma’s first year at the University of Edinburgh where they eventually fall head over heels for each other. Played by Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, the pair race through New Town’s Howe Street, which has a handbag store, candle shop, café and more.
A Scottish pub crawl is the perfect way to romanticize your life like Dex and Emma. The New Town neighborhood is home to notable pubs like The Cumberland Bar, The Bailie, The Guildford Arms and many more.
Visit Nobles Cafe Bar and Restaurant Like ‘Sunshine on Leith’s Davy and Ally
The acclaimed romance movie musical Sunshine on Leith, adapted from the stage play by the same name, filmed scenes in the port neighborhood Leith. After Davy (George MacKay) and Ally (Kevin Guthrie) return to their hometown from military service in Afghanistan, they head to their favorite spot for drinks. The real-life bars, Port’O Leith and Nobles Cafe Bar and Restaurant, are still thriving in the area.
Browse Clothes at Romanes & Paterson, the Building Where ‘Trainspotting’ Opened
Near the beginning of the 1996 film Trainspotting, Ewan McGregor’s Mark Renton and his addict friends raid the John Menzies bookstore at 61 Princes Street before dashing out. Although the bookshop shuttered over two decades ago, Romanes & Paterson stands in its place. Customers can buy wool and tartan clothing, as well as Scottish souvenirs like hip flasks, at the traditional 19th-century retailer.
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