Hollywood of the North: The Ultimate Guide to Comic Book Movies Filmed in Scotland
Did you know that Gotham City is actually in Glasgow? Or that the Asgardians live in the Scottish Borders?
Over the last decade, Scotland has quietly become the secret weapon of Hollywood. With its gothic architecture, moody weather, and dramatic landscapes, directors from Marvel and DC are ditching the green screens and heading north.
If you want to walk in the footsteps of Batman, The Flash, or Thor, you don’t need a plane ticket to LA. You just need a train ticket to Scotland.
Here is our guide to the biggest superhero blockbusters filmed right here on our doorstep.
1. Avengers: Infinity War (Edinburgh)
The Scene: Vision and Scarlet Witch are ambushed by the Black Order while trying to enjoy a romantic night out.
The Location: The Royal Mile, Cockburn Street, and Waverley Station.
In 2017, the Russo Brothers shut down Edinburgh’s Old Town to film one of the biggest fight scenes in MCU history.
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- Cockburn Street: The kebab shop window that Wanda gets thrown through? That was a fake shopfront built on Cockburn Street (sadly, you can’t actually buy a kebab there).
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- Waverley Station: The massive glass roof of Edinburgh’s main station provided the backdrop for Captain America and Black Widow emerging from the shadows to save the day.
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- St Giles’ Cathedral: You can clearly see the distinct crown spire in the background of the rooftop scenes.
👉 [Watch it now: Buy the Infinity War Blu-ray on Amazon]
2. The Batman (Glasgow)
The Scene: Bruce Wayne rides his motorcycle through a misty, gothic cemetery.
The Location: The Necropolis & Glasgow Cathedral.
When Matt Reeves wanted to create a grittier, noir-inspired Gotham for Robert Pattinson, he looked to Glasgow. The Victorian architecture of the Necropolis was perfect for the Wayne family history.
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- Wishart Street: The tunnel running underneath the Necropolis (near the Cathedral) was used for several chase sequences.
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- Glasgow Royal Infirmary: The distinct architecture of the hospital can be spotted in the background, adding to the imposing skyline of Gotham.
👉 [Get The Batman (4K Ultra HD) on Amazon]
3. Avengers: Endgame (St Abbs)
The Scene: Rocket and Hulk travel to “New Asgard” to convince a depressed Thor to rejoin the team.
The Location: St Abbs, Scottish Borders.
The tiny fishing village of St Abbs stood in for the Asgardian refugee camp. The location was so grateful for the tourism boost that they officially “twinned” the town with New Asgard! You can even find a sign near the harbour celebrating the connection. It’s a bit of a drive from Edinburgh, but absolutely worth it for the photos.
👉 [Complete your collection: Avengers Endgame Box Set]
4. The Flash (Glasgow)
The Scene: Batman (Ben Affleck version) chases criminals on the Batcycle.
The Location: George Square & St Vincent Street, Glasgow.
Glasgow city centre was transformed once again for DC’s multiverse adventure. George Square was filled with American police cars, news vans, and pyrotechnics. St Vincent Street, with its grid system and tall buildings, is a favorite for directors because it looks remarkably like Philadelphia or New York when viewed from street level.
5. The Dark Knight Rises (The Highlands)
The Scene: Bane hijacks a CIA plane in mid-air during the opening prologue.
The Location: The skies above the Cairngorms.
While Christopher Nolan prefers practical effects, this stunt was insane even for him. He actually dropped a real fuselage from a C-130 Hercules transport plane into the Scottish Highlands. The background landscape you see as the plane disintegrates is the unmistakable rugged terrain of the Cairngorms National Park.
👉 [The Dark Knight Trilogy (4K Box Set) on Amazon] [INSERT LINK]
6. Batgirl (Glasgow – The “Lost” Movie)
The Scene: The entire movie.
The Location: Glasgow City Centre (Trongate, Parnie Street, Charing Cross).
We can’t talk about Scottish filming locations without mentioning the elephant in the room. Batgirl was filmed almost entirely in Glasgow, transforming the Trongate area into a snowy festive Gotham, complete with murals of Batman and Robin. While the movie was controversially cancelled by Warner Bros, the production left a lasting mark on the city, proving once again that Glasgow is Gotham.
Want to visit Gotham?
Next time you are in Glasgow for a BGCP Comic Con, take a walk up to the Necropolis. You might not see the Bat-Signal, but you’ll stand exactly where the Dark Knight stood.
[Check out our Upcoming Events to plan your trip!]