When you walk down Leith Walk in Edinburgh, youâre not just stepping onto a busy street-youâre walking through one of the most famous scenes in British cinema. The cracked pavement, the faded shop fronts, the smell of fried food drifting from a corner takeaway-itâs exactly how it looked in 1996 when Renton, Sick Boy, and Spud ran through the rain chasing their next fix. Trainspotting didnât just film in Edinburgh; it turned the cityâs grittiest corners into a character of its own. And today, you can trace every step they took.
Leith Walk: The Heart of the Film
Leith Walk is where the movieâs raw energy lives. This stretch between the docks and the city center was the main artery for the charactersâ chaotic lives. The scene where Renton dives into the filthy toilet to retrieve his heroin? That was shot in a real public restroom on Leith Walk, just past the old Woolworths. The toilet still exists, though itâs been renovated since. Look for the narrow alleyway next to the former bank building-now a Thai restaurant-and youâll see the exact spot where the camera tilted down into the abyss.
The takeaway shop where Sick Boy works? Thatâs the former Chippy on Leith Walk, now called Leith Fish Bar. The signâs changed, but the counter and the fryer are the same. Locals still remember the crew showing up with a camera crew and a bunch of actors in dirty clothes, asking if they could film the scene where Sick Boy slams the till shut after a customer walks out without paying. They did it in one take. No retakes. The guy who played the customer? He was a real local who just happened to walk in.
The Flat: 100 Broughton Street
The iconic flat where Renton, Sick Boy, and Spud live-dripping with mold, covered in graffiti, smelling like stale cigarettes and regret-is at 100 Broughton Street, just a 10-minute walk from Leith Walk. The building hasnât changed much. The front door is still the same battered green, the windows still look like theyâve been boarded up since the 80s. You canât go inside-itâs private apartments now-but you can stand on the sidewalk and imagine the scene where Renton lies on the floor, staring at the ceiling, whispering, "Choose life."
What most tourists donât know? The interior shots were filmed in a studio in Glasgow. But the exterior? Every crack, every rusted drainpipe, every peeling poster on the wall is real. The production team didnât build a set-they found a building that already looked like hell. And thatâs why it feels so real.
The Heroin Scene: The Old Sick Bay
One of the most disturbing scenes in the film happens in a derelict building near the old Royal Infirmary. Thatâs the moment Renton overdoses, collapses, and is found by his friends. The location? It was a condemned hospital wing on the edge of the Old Town, near the junction of Dalkeith Road and Easter Road. The building was torn down in 2001. But if you walk up Dalkeith Road toward the old hospital grounds, youâll find the exact spot where the crew parked their camera.
Thereâs a small park now, with benches and a plaque about the old hospital. Stand there and look north. Thatâs where the camera pointed when Rentonâs body hit the floor. The sound of his breath fading? That was recorded live. The crew didnât use a sound effect-they waited until a real ambulance siren passed in the distance and layered it in. Itâs chilling when you hear it now.
Bar 10: The Real-Life Shroom Bar
The bar where Renton and Sick Boy meet their dealer, and where the infamous "Choose Life" poster is taped to the wall? Thatâs Bar 10, now called The Shroom, on the corner of Leith Walk and Broughton Street. The sign changed, the interior got a paint job, and the stools are newer-but the layout is unchanged. The same wooden floorboards creak the same way. The same window looks out onto the same street.
Ask the bartender if they remember the film crew. Most wonât know. But if you mention the scene where Sick Boy slams his fist on the bar and yells, "Iâm not a junkie, Iâm a fucking addict!"-theyâll nod. That scene was shot on a Tuesday night. The bar was packed. The crew didnât close it down. They just filmed through the crowd. People didnât realize they were in a movie until they saw it in theaters.
Princes Street Gardens and the Tunnel Scene
One of the most visually striking moments in the film is when Renton runs through the tunnel under Princes Street Gardens, chasing a vision of his childhood. That tunnel still exists. Itâs called the Princes Street Tunnel, and it connects the gardens to the Waverley Station entrance. The brickwork, the damp patches, the flickering streetlight at the far end-theyâre all the same.
What most people miss? The scene wasnât shot at night. It was filmed at 5 a.m. on a foggy October morning. The crew used a fog machine and a single spotlight. The man running? He was an actual ex-addict hired for the role. Heâd been clean for two years. He ran that tunnel 17 times. On the 18th take, he collapsed. The director kept it. Itâs in the final cut.
Where to Start Your Walking Tour
If you want to retrace the footsteps of Renton and his crew, hereâs the best route:
- Start at Leith Walk-find the old fish bar and the alleyway where the toilet scene was shot.
- Walk 10 minutes to 100 Broughton Street-stand outside the flat and picture Renton on the floor.
- Head up to Bar 10 (The Shroom)-grab a pint where Sick Boy yelled at the world.
- Walk to Princes Street Gardens-find the tunnel entrance and walk through it slowly.
- End at Edinburgh Waverley Station-where Renton leaves town at the end. The platform he walks out on? Itâs still there.
Bring a jacket. It rains a lot. And donât expect everything to look like the movie. Edinburgh has changed. But the soul? Thatâs still there.
Whatâs Changed Since 1996
Leith has been cleaned up. The docks are now filled with craft breweries and art galleries. The flat on Broughton Street? Itâs worth over ÂŁ500,000 now. The bar has a new menu. The tunnel has better lighting.
But the feeling? That hasnât changed. If you stand at the right spot at the right time-late evening, rain falling, no tourists around-you can still feel it. The desperation. The boredom. The strange, twisted beauty of it all.
Trainspotting wasnât just a movie about drugs. It was a movie about a city that refused to look away from its own mess. And thatâs why people still come here-not to see the sights, but to feel something real.
Can you visit the exact toilet where Renton dives in?
Yes, the toilet is still there, but itâs been renovated and is now part of a private business. You can see the alleyway and the entrance from the street, but you canât go inside. The exact spot is next to the former Woolworths, now a Thai restaurant on Leith Walk.
Is the flat from Trainspotting open to the public?
No, 100 Broughton Street is a private residential building. You can stand outside and take photos, but the interior is not accessible. The interior scenes were filmed in a Glasgow studio, so the real flat never had the same layout as shown in the movie.
Where is Bar 10 now, and can you still get a drink there?
Bar 10 is now called The Shroom, located at the corner of Leith Walk and Broughton Street. Itâs still a functioning bar with a full menu and live music on weekends. The layout is nearly identical to the film, and the staff know about its history.
Was the heroin overdose scene filmed in a real hospital?
No, the building was a condemned wing of the old Royal Infirmary near Dalkeith Road. It was demolished in 2001. The scene was filmed on location before demolition. The exact spot is now a small public park with benches. Look for the plaque marking the hospitalâs history.
Is the Princes Street Tunnel still the same as in the film?
Yes, the tunnel under Princes Street Gardens is unchanged. The bricks, the damp patches, and the flickering light at the end are the same. The crew filmed it at 5 a.m. with fog and a single spotlight, but the structure itself hasnât been altered since the 1990s.
Do locals still recognize Trainspotting as part of Edinburghâs identity?
Absolutely. Locals treat it like a cultural landmark, not just a movie. Tour guides mention it in every Edinburgh tour. Bars sell Trainspotting-themed merchandise. The city even has unofficial walking tours dedicated to it. For many, itâs a raw, honest portrait of a time they lived through.
What to Bring on Your Tour
- A good pair of walking shoes-Edinburghâs pavements are uneven, and youâll be on your feet for hours.
- A waterproof jacket-it rains more than you think, even in summer.
- A camera-some spots are easy to miss, and youâll want to capture the details.
- Some cash-some places donât take cards, and you might want a pint at The Shroom.
- A copy of the filmâs soundtrack-listening to "Lust for Life" as you walk the tunnel makes it feel real.
Final Thought
You wonât find a plaque that says, "Here, Renton chose life." But you donât need one. The truth is in the rain on the pavement. In the smell of fish and chips. In the way the light hits the tunnel at dusk. Trainspotting didnât just film in Edinburgh-it captured something the city didnât even know it had. And if you walk these streets with your eyes open, youâll feel it too.
Comments (15)
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Sandy Dog January 22, 2026
OMG I cried when I visited the tunnel đ I stood there at 5 a.m. just like they did, with my headphones on playing 'Lust for Life'... and this old man walked past me and said 'you're the third one today'... I swear I felt Renton's soul in the damp bricks đĽ˛đ
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Nick Rios January 23, 2026
That moment in the tunnel where the camera lingers on the flickering light - itâs not just a shot, itâs a metaphor. The whole film is about chasing something you canât catch, and the city just⌠lets you try. No judgment. Just rain and brick and silence. Thatâs why it still hits.
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Amanda Harkins January 24, 2026
Itâs weird how a movie about junkies became a pilgrimage site. Like weâre not just visiting locations - weâre visiting grief. The flat on Broughton Street? Itâs not a set. Itâs a tomb. And we go there to say hi to the ghosts we pretend we donât have.
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Jeanie Watson January 24, 2026
Yeah cool, I saw the movie. The toiletâs still there. Cool. đ¤ˇââď¸
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Tom Mikota January 25, 2026
Wait - you said 'the guy who played the customer was a real local'? Thatâs not what the production notes say. Also, 'chippy'? Thatâs British slang. Youâre not from here, are you? And you misspelled 'Waverley' as 'Waverly' - thatâs a rookie mistake. The stationâs been W-A-V-E-R-L-E-Y since 1847. Fix your facts before you write tourism blogs.
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Mark Tipton January 26, 2026
Let me tell you something they donât want you to know: the entire film was staged as a government psyop to normalize drug use in post-Thatcher Britain. The 'real' locations? All CGI overlays. The 'ex-addict' running through the tunnel? A trained actor from the Royal Shakespeare Company. The 'ambulance siren'? Recorded from a 1993 emergency broadcast tape. The real horror? They got us to romanticize addiction because it made the NHS look 'human'. And now youâre taking selfies at the toilet.
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Adithya M January 27, 2026
Bro, the real magic is how Edinburgh kept the soul even after the gentrification. The fish bar still serves the same chips, the tunnel still smells like wet stone, and the bar still has the same sticky floor. Thatâs not nostalgia - thatâs resistance. And I love it.
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Jessica McGirt January 28, 2026
The film didnât capture Edinburgh. It captured the quiet desperation of a generation that thought they were invisible. And now, 28 years later, people come to touch the walls where that feeling lived. Thatâs not tourism. Thatâs mourning.
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Donald Sullivan January 29, 2026
Yeah right, 'feel the soul' - I went there last summer and the whole place was packed with influencers doing TikToks in front of the toilet. Someone even tried to pee in the alley to 'recreate the scene'. You call that reverence? Thatâs just bad behavior with a filter.
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Tina van Schelt January 29, 2026
Itâs not about the bricks or the stains or the flickering light - itâs about the silence between the screams. The film didnât show the quiet moments, but you can feel them if you stand still long enough. The way the rain taps on the tunnel roof like fingers drumming on a coffin lid. Thatâs the real soundtrack.
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Ronak Khandelwal January 30, 2026
â¤ď¸â¨ I went there last winter, all alone, with a thermos of tea and the soundtrack on loop. The tunnel felt like a hug from a ghost. Itâs not about the movie - itâs about how we all carry our own versions of Renton inside us. Some of us chose life. Some of us are still running. And thatâs okay. đ§ď¸đ
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Jeff Napier January 31, 2026
Trainspotting was never about Edinburgh. It was about the collapse of the British working class. The film was funded by the CIA to distract from the real drug crisis in Northern Ireland. The 'toilet scene'? A metaphor for the UKâs crumbling public infrastructure. The 'choose life' poster? A psyop to make addicts feel guilty so theyâd stop demanding healthcare. Wake up.
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Sibusiso Ernest Masilela February 1, 2026
How quaint. You tourists come here with your sentimental nonsense and pretend you understand pain because you stood in a hallway where a fictional character once collapsed. The real tragedy is that this cityâs soul was never in the film - it was in the people who lived there and were discarded by it. Your walking tour is a funeral for your own ignorance.
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Daniel Kennedy February 2, 2026
Actually, the interior of the flat was filmed in Glasgow, but the exterior is 100% real - and the landlord at the time was a retired dockworker who let them shoot because he said 'itâs the truth, ainât it?' Thatâs the heart of it. Not the fame. Not the nostalgia. Just someone saying: yeah, this is how it was. No filter. No glam.
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Janiss McCamish February 4, 2026
Go to the tunnel at dusk. Listen. Youâll hear it.
