Glasgow has played New York, Boston, Paris, Gotham City, and Harvard. Some of those were in the same year.
That’s what makes film tours in Glasgow fun. You can stand on an ordinary city street and know which blockbuster chase ran down it.
One thing to know first. Only a few of the 12 stops below are bookable tours. Most are free places you can walk to yourself. Each one is labelled, so you know what you’re getting.
Why Glasgow Works So Well on Screen
The city centre runs on a street grid with varied historic buildings, which lets it pass for both New York and London. Beyond the grid, you get a medieval cathedral, a Gothic university, a Victorian cemetery and big parks. All of it sits within a short ride of George Square.
A crew can film a Manhattan avenue in the morning and a 13th-century crypt after lunch. That’s why the same few places keep turning up in very different stories.
12 Film Tours and Filming Experiences in Glasgow
1. Glasgow Cathedral
Location · Free
In Outlander, the cathedral’s crypt played a Paris hospital, L’Hôpital des Anges. The same crypt appears in Outlaw King, and film crews were spotted here in August 2024 for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.
Head down to the Lower Church. It’s a 13th-century crypt built for the tomb of St Mungo, Glasgow’s patron saint. Entry is free, but it’s a working church, so hours change for services. Historic Environment Scotland recommends booking a slot ahead. Check its Plan Your Visit page first. Glasgow Cathedral | Historic Scotland
2. Glasgow Necropolis and The Batman
Location · Free · Guided tours available
This Victorian cemetery sits on the hill behind the cathedral. In The Batman, it played Gotham’s cemetery, in the scene where Batman rides through on his motorbike. Other scenes were shot around Cathedral Square and the Merchant City.
Walking in costs nothing. For a guided visit, Visit Glasgow points people to the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis. Wear shoes with grip, because the paths are steep.
3. St Vincent Street: Indiana Jones and Spider-Man
Self-guided · Free
For Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, US flags lined St Vincent Street and Cochrane Street for a 1960s ticker-tape parade. More recently, the street became Lower Manhattan for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film reached cinemas on 31 July 2026, and its chase also ran along Hutcheson Street and Bothwell Street.
One location guide points out that the real Little Tuscany restaurant on St Vincent Street stays recognisable as the tank swerves past. It’s a good spot for a photo.
4. Cochrane Street and The Buccaneers
Location · Free
Apple TV’s The Buccaneers used Cochrane Street as New York, with digital effects stretching it into a long avenue. Stand at the George Square end and picture the extra length. Roadworks may be in the way, so allow for barriers.
5. George Square and the City Chambers
Location · Partly open
The City Chambers stood in for a Westminster register office in Outlander. George Square became Philadelphia in World War Z.
The square is mid-rebuild. Check the council’s latest update before you go, and expect to view the Chambers from the surrounding pavements.
6. University of Glasgow
Self-guided · Free
The Cloisters played Harvard in Outlander and hosted a feast scene in Outlaw King. They also appear in The Buccaneers and Cloud Atlas.
The Welcome Point in the McIntyre Building, beside the main gate, can give directions, and the Hunterian Museum is free. Plan your route with the university’s visitor guide. It’s a working campus, so keep quiet near lecture halls.
7. Park Circus and Kelvingrove Park
Self-guided · Free
Outlander: Blood of My Blood turned Park Circus into First World War London in March 2024. Kelvingrove Park, just below, doubled as a Boston park in Outlander.
People live in these townhouses. Photograph from the pavement and skip the doorsteps. Kelvingrove’s museum also makes our list of top attractions in Glasgow.
8. Pollok Country Park
Location · Free
Pollok appears in seasons 1, 2 and 4 of Outlander, standing in for the Highlands, Paris and the USA. In season one, it was the grounds around Castle Leoch. The Burrell Collection sits inside the park.
Take the train from Glasgow Central to Pollokshaws West. Give this stop its own half-day. Don’t squeeze it into the city-centre walk.
9. Govan Graving Docks and 1917
Location · Limited access
The broken-bridge scene in 1917 was shot at Govan Graving Docks on the Clyde. The docks closed in 1987, and for years you couldn’t get in. The new Riverside Park is the first public access to the site in nearly four decades.
Check what’s open before you go, and stay out of fenced areas. Glasgow Science Centre and Clydeside Distillery are close by.
10. Outlander Day Tour From Glasgow
Guided · Bookable
This is the only stop here that covers locations outside the city. Small-group coaches leave from Buchanan Bus Station and visit the castles and villages fans know from the show. The day trips section below covers what to check before you book.
11. Guided Outlander Walk in the City
Guided · Bookable
If you’d rather have a guide in town, local operators run Outlander walks. One example is Sassenach Historian, whose tour covers the cathedral, the Necropolis, St Andrew’s in the Square and the City Chambers, plus a Subway ride. Its website lists £75 per person. Confirm price and dates, and expect a lot of walking.
12. A Free Self-Guided Film Walk
Self-guided · Free
Link the cathedral, Necropolis, Cochrane Street, George Square and St Vincent Street. Add the university if you still have energy. It costs nothing but transport. The full route is below.
Which Productions Filmed Where
| Production | Where in Glasgow |
|---|---|
| Outlander | Cathedral crypt, University of Glasgow, Pollok Country Park, City Chambers, Kelvingrove Park |
| Outlander: Blood of My Blood | Park Circus |
| The Batman | Necropolis, Cathedral Square, Merchant City |
| Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | St Vincent Street, Cochrane Street |
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | St Vincent, Hutcheson and Bothwell streets |
| The Buccaneers | Cochrane Street, University Cloisters, City Chambers |
| 1917 | Govan Graving Docks |
| World War Z | George Square |
One-Day Self-Guided Glasgow Film Walk
Times are rough. Walk it once and adjust.
- 9:30, Cathedral and Necropolis. Allow about 90 minutes for both.
- 11:15, Cochrane Street and George Square. It’s roughly a 20-minute walk from the cathedral. See the street first, then the City Chambers.
- 12:30, Lunch in the Merchant City.
- 1:30, St Vincent Street to Bothwell Street. Allow about 30 minutes for photos.
- 3:00, University of Glasgow. Take the Subway to Hillhead, then walk in. Explore the Cloisters and the free Hunterian.
- 4:30, Kelvingrove Park and Park Circus. It’s about 15 minutes on foot from campus.
Finish with a drink. Our guide to the top bars in Glasgow has options in the centre and the West End. For more ideas, see places to visit in Glasgow.
Roadworks around George Square can slow things down, so leave extra time.
Guided Tours vs Self-Guided Visits
| Guided tour | Self-guided | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid | Free apart from transport |
| Best for | Castles and villages outside the city | City-centre streets and sites |
| Access | Operator handles tickets and timing | You check hours and closures |
| Flexibility | Fixed schedule | Your own pace |
In short, walk the city yourself and book a guide for the countryside.
Best Film Location Day Trips From Glasgow
Full-day Outlander tours run about nine hours. Typical stops are:
- Doune Castle, which was Castle Leoch and also appeared in Monty Python and Game of Thrones.
- Blackness Castle, which played Fort William.
- Midhope Castle, better known as Lallybroch.
- Falkland, which stood in for 1940s Inverness.
- Culross, which played the village of Cranesmuir.
Rabbie’s, Haggis Adventures, Highland Explorer and Timberbush all run versions of this day. Rabbie’s caps its group at 16.
Before you book, check these:
- Castle entry. At least one operator lists Doune and Blackness admission in its price. Others may not.
- Midhope Castle. It’s on a private estate, so access can’t be guaranteed. It also closes for part of the winter.
- Filming closures. Doune and Midhope sometimes close for filming.
- Pickup and return times, and cancellation terms.
Getting to Glasgow
Flying from the Midlands? The direct flight takes around 1 hour 5 minutes, and easyJet was the only airline listed on the nonstop route. Schedules change, so check current options on our page for Cheap Flights from Birmingham to Glasgow. Fare trackers suggest.
From the airport, the Airport Express 500 runs 24 hours, roughly every 10 minutes, and takes about 15 minutes to reach the centre. It calls at St Vincent Street, George Square and Queen Street Station on the way to Buchanan Bus Station. That’s also where the Outlander coaches leave from. Check First Bus for current fares and diversions.
Glasgow Film Tour FAQs
Yes, but not many. The main ones are Outlander day trips, Necropolis tours and a few Outlander walks. Most filming locations are public streets and free sites.
The Necropolis is the main location. Other scenes were shot around Cathedral Square and the Merchant City.
Yes. They’re public streets: St Vincent Street and Cochrane Street.
One day covers the city-centre walk. Add half a day for Pollok Country Park and a full day for an Outlander castle tour.
Partly. It’s reopening in phases, with the last fences due to come down by the end of October 2026. Check the council’s update before you go.
Entry is free, but booking ahead is recommended to guarantee entry.
Check the George Square and Govan updates close to your travel date, since both are still changing. Then look at flights from Birmingham to Glasgow and pick a weekend.
