10 film locations you must visit

Trainspotting 2 2017

EDINBURGH is used to having the eyes of the arts world trained on it.

The Festival and the Fringe see the capital thronged with hordes taking in a show and, indeed, just soaking up the special buzz that envelops the city.

But while the entertainment they’ve enjoyed is on the streets and the stages, it’s often what they’ve seen on the big screen which attracts visitors in the first place.

As many as one in five of those who come to visit do so because of what they see have seen in the cinema or on telly movie channels.

And just last year an American poll declared Scotland as the world’s best cinematic destination.

It came ahead of Petra in Jordan, used in the Indiana Jones series, New Zealand, setting for The Lord of the Rings blockbusters, and Salzburg, unforgettable backdrop to perennial favourite The Sound of Music.

The accolade was welcomed by Visit Scotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead, who said: “This is a fantastic accolade for Scotland which has beaten some of the world’s most iconic film locations to take this award.”

And the tourism organisation has been keen to highlight the appeal of what’s become known as “set-jetting”, flying in to see the locations of movies which have won over film-lovers’ hearts.

They launched their latest push earlier this year to coincide with June’s Edinburgh International Film Festival.

For the city recently hosted work on the sequel to Trainspotting, which used the capital to such stunning effect.

Director Danny Boyle got Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and the gang all back together for the much-anticipated follow-up.

And that includes Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner, so memorably pursued down Princes Street right at the start of the 1996 movie.

But Trainspotting is just one of many films that have brought film fans along for a look-see.

Rarely has the city been so vibrantly brought to life as in feel-good hit Sunshine on Leith.

North Bridge, Grassmarket and Calton Hill all featured prominently and the Mound Precinct, Princes Street Gardens and the Royal Scottish Academy were all there for the infectious finale with I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) having every toe tapping.

And Edinburgh was seen in a much darker light as James McAvoy showed its underbelly in Filth.