A look back at the legendary film's links to the area!

In February 2026, iconic Scottish film, Trainspotting will unbelievably turn 30 years old! Despite being set in Edinburgh, some of the movie's key scenes were actually filmed in Glasgow's West End so, if you're a fan, then why not celebrate by exploring some of the sites that are now immortalised in film?

Scotland's best-ever film?

It was on 23 February 1996, that British cinemagoers were first introduced to the exploits of Mark Renton, Francis Begbie, Spud, Sick Boy and co in Danny Boyle's masterful adaptation of Irving Welsh's acclaimed novel.

Equal parts, funny, dark, disturbing and energetic, the picaresque tale of Renton's desperate attempt to escape a life of drug addiction and squalor in Edinburgh and 'choose life', captured the zeitgeist of the 'Cool Britannia' era and helped launched the careers of Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Kelly Macdonald.

Even now, thirty years on, the cult classic has lost none of its originality and continues to entertain and shock new audiences. 

Wasn't it set in Edinburgh?

Despite being set in Leith, Edinburgh, Director Danny Boyle and Producer Andrew Macdonald scouted widely for filming locations and a number of Glasgow sites were used. Thankfully for us, some of the best are within minutes of the Uni and our residences!

 

🎥 The Brewhaus (formerly The Crosslands)

182 Queen Margaret Dr, Glasgow G20 8NX

🎞️ Who could possibly forget the infamous scene where Begbie decides to lob a pint glass over the balcony just to get a brawl started!

The action was filmed in summer 1995 in The Crosslands pub, a converted church on Queen Margaret Drive. After a few name changes, including 'Franco's Bar', the pub is now known as The BrewHaus and is a great little venue with a lovely beer garden.

N.B. If you do visit, please don't try to recreate the scene😅

 

🎥 Café d’Jaconelli

570 Maryhill Rd, Glasgow, G20 7EE

🎞️ Before Spud's job interview, Renton joins him in a café to share a milkshake and discuss the tricky balancing act of not getting hired whilst doing well enough not lose welfare payments!

The famous café, Café d’Jaconelli, on Maryhill Road provided the venue for the confab and is still open so you can go and sit in the very same booth!

 

🎥 Firhill Sports Complex

87 Hopehill Rd, Glasgow, G20 7HU

🎞️ The famous, and much parodied, opening sequence to the film, which introduces us to all the main characters in a frenetic five-a-side football match, was filmed not far from Murano Street Student Village and Firhill Court at the Firhill Sports Complex.

It's still open so, if you fancy a game of five-a-sides then you can book out a pitch!

 

🎥 Volcano Club

15 Benalder Street, Glasgow, G11 6PU 

🎞️ After a night clubbing with the others, Renton meets his new, ahem, friend, Diane. The club used was the famous Volcano, which was located on Benalder Street, at the bottom of Byres Road.

Alas, Volcano was demolished a few years ago and is now flats but you can still see the surrounding tenements and landscape when you walk by.

 

T2 Trainspotting

Of course, we can’t mention Trainspotting without its brilliant sequel Trainspotting T2. Set 20 years on from the original film when Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie become embroiled in a brand new caper.

Like the original, Glasgow's West End featured in the film and very close to home for those of us in the Uni!

🎥 University of Glasgow Memorial Gates 

University Ave, Glasgow,  G12 8QQ

🎞️ Our very own University of Glasgow Memorial Gates featured as the background as Sick Boy embarks on a campaign to blackmail the Head Teacher of an Edinburgh private school.

 

 

Looking for more great film locations in Glasgow?

Glasgow has provided the backdrop for several big Hollywood hits over the years. Find out more about them with our 10 film locations to visit in Glasgow!