Are you a fan of the tv show and want to visit Outlander filming locations in Scotland? This list includes some filming locations you can easily see in and around Edinburgh and Glasgow.
My love affair with Scotland started when I watched the first episode of Outlander, the tv series based on the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon. The plot revolves around Claire, an English woman who travels back in time to 18th century Scotland and falls in love with a highlander named Jamie. It’s truly a riveting yet heartbreaking story, but it was the hauntingly beautiful scenery and backdrops that evoked such strong wanderlust within me.
By chance, I attended my friend’s wedding in Perth, Scotland. So it was the perfect opportunity to travel to Scotland and see the beautiful sights.
Disclaimer – I have yet to read the books, so everything I know about Outlander is based solely on the tv series. Also, there may be spoilers ahead.
This list of Outlander filming locations you can visit for free in Edinburgh and Glasgow is a good starting point for any fan visiting Scotland.
University of Glasgow (Harvard University)
University of glasgow as an Outlander Filming Location
The University of Glasgow was the filming location for Harvard University in Boston. It is where Frank taught as a history professor, and Brianna attended school.
In Season 3, Episode 5 (S305), we see external shots of the university’s main building before Claire and Frank socialize with Frank’s colleagues. It is the scene where Frank’s colleagues belittle Claire after she expresses her opinions on newspaper articles she had read. Afterward, Claire and Frank walk out into and through the cloisters.
Later in the episode, Brianna introduces the arched columns as the “Robinson” cloisters to Roger as she gives him a tour of the campus. They discuss their fathers and whether history is true or a lie.
University of glasgow HISTORY and INFORMATION
The University of Glasgow was founded in 1451 and is the fourth oldest university in the UK. It is the second oldest in Scotland, after the University of St Andrews.
It originally stood in Glasgow’s High Street but moved to the West End neighbourhood in 1870. The university has three primary campuses. The Gilmorehill campus is home to the stunning Gilbert Scott building, where the spectacular cloisters are located between the picturesque East and West Quadrangles.
The university also includes the Hunterian Museum, Scotland’s oldest public museum, and the Hunterian Art Gallery.
It is free to visit the university, including the museum and art gallery. In addition, you can go on a self-guided tour and roam around freely to explore the cloisters and admire the beautiful buildings.
You can also book a scheduled guided tour by a student guide. These last an hour and will give you a deeper insight into the university’s architecture and history.
Visit the university’s official website here for more in-depth information.
Glasgow Cathedral (L’Hôpital De Anges)
Glasgow CATHEDRAL as an Outlander Filming Location
The vaults of Glasgow Cathedral doubled as L’Hôpital De Anges in Paris in Season 2 of the tv series. It’s the hospital where Claire volunteered her time and honed her skills as a healer. Additionally, it’s used for the heartbreaking scenes in S207 where Claire gives birth to and loses baby Faith.
Glasgow CATHEDRAL HISTORY and INFORMATION
Glasgow Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland. The cathedral’s first stone structure was consecrated in 1136, and a larger cathedral replaced it in 1197. Several sections were added and expanded over the ensuing centuries to create what it is today.
It was initially a Catholic cathedral until the Reformation and is now home to a congregation from the Church of Scotland. It is one of only two medieval cathedrals to have survived the Reformation fully intact.
Glasgow Cathedral is free to enter, but you can donate to help with the upkeep. Due to maximum capacity requirements, it’s best to pre-book an entry ticket online to ensure access. They close for lunch from 12-1 pm, and the last entry is at 4:30 pm. It’s best to check their website for exact hours as they may have special events limiting access or closed on holidays.
George Square and Glasgow City Chambers (London Street and Westminster Register Office)
George Square and Glasgow city chambers as an Outlander Filming Location
In S107, we see a flashback of Claire and Frank walking down a busy 1930s London street. They stop right in front of #45 City of Westminster Register Office. They decide to get married in the scene despite not having their family or friends there.
This scene was actually shot in Glasgow’s George Square. The Glasgow City Chambers entrance doubled as the Westminster Register Office.
George Square and Glasgow city chambers History and information
Glasgow’s main public space, George Square, bears the name of King George III. It was created around 1800 and is a popular location for gatherings, political events, parades, festivals, and rallies.
The square is home to a collection of monuments and statues of famous Scots, including those of Robert Burns, James Watt, and Sir Walter Scott. In addition, prominent buildings, such as the entrance to Queen Street Station on the north and the Glasgow City Chambers on the east side, surround the square.
The Glasgow City Chambers is a stunning Renaissance-inspired building with an equally beautiful ornate interior. Since 1889, it has been the headquarters of the city’s municipal government.
If you’re curious to learn more about the building’s history and architecture and would like to see the inside, tours are offered.Click here for more information.
Kelvingrove Park (Claire Walks Through Boston Park)
kelvingrove park as an Outlander Filming Location
In Outlander’s third season, we see more of Claire’s life in Boston. In S302, Claire walks through a park at various times. It was intended to represent a park in Boston, perhaps one near Harvard University. The Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow served as the actual location for these scenes.
Two particularly important scenes were filmed here. The first was of Claire taking a stroll as she pushed a baby Brianna in her stroller. The other scene is of Claire walking by and stopping to give some money to a man playing bagpipes. The lovely Prince of Wales bridge in the park served as the backdrop for these scenes.
kelvingrove park information
Kelvingrove Park is a public park located in Glasgow’s West End along the River Kelvin. It is home to one of Glasgow’s more popular attractions, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It lies adjacent to the University of Glasgow.
The park covers 34 hectares and offers various facilities for a wide array of activities. Aside from the Museum and Art Gallery, there are tennis courts, play areas, a skateboard park, bowling greens, and a bandstand for events.
Summerhall (Boston Lecture Theatre)
Summerhall Anatomy Lecture Theatre as an Outlander Filming Location
In S302, Claire enters a lecture theatre at the start of her medical career journey. Her male classmates ostracize her for being the only female student. She sits beside Joe Abernathy, the only black student, who becomes her close friend and partner in her medical practice.
The Anatomy Lecture Theatre at Edinburgh’s Summerhall served as the backdrop for this scene.
summerhall History and information
The University of Edinburgh Veterinary College originally commissioned the construction of the Summerhall building between 1913 and 1925. It is home to the preserved Anatomy Lecture Theatre, which is the last surviving example of this type in the UK. The room has a vaulted skylight and wooden raised seating in the shape of a horseshoe.
The college eventually moved to a new campus. The McDowell family acquired the space left behind and turned it into a central hub for the arts in Edinburgh. It is a popular venue for events such as parties, weddings, lectures, screenings and performances.
Visitors can visit Summerhall and the lecture theatre for free. There may be closures due to private bookings or events so email them. Visit the official Summerhall website for more details and information.
Bakehouse Close (Carfax Close, A. Malcolm’s Print House)
bakehouse close as an Outlander Filming Location
Bakehouse Close is the filming location for Carfax Close, the home of Alexander Malcolm’s print shop in 18th century Edinburgh.
In S305, Claire discovers that Jamie survived Culloden and lives under the alias Alexander Malcolm. She travels back through the stones and finds herself back in Edinburgh. Claire asks for directions and finds out that Malcolm’s print shop is located in Carfax Close. She climbs up the stairs and enters the print shop.
S306 also features Bakehouse Close as the episode starts with Jamie walking into Carfax Close, dusting off the shop’s sign, and walking up the stairs to enter his print shop.
bakehouse close information
It’s pretty easy to locate Bakehouse Close in Edinburgh. It’s right off the Royal Mile, closer to the Palace of Holyrood House. The entrance to the close is clearly labeled. If you prefer to go by landmarks, it is right across from Canongate Kirk and right by the entrance to the Museum of Edinburgh.
In person, Bakehouse Close looks quite different from Carfax Close in the tv series. For example, there is no wooden railing and cover for the stairs, but you can still walk up the steps just as Claire and Jamie did.
Tweeddale Court (Market Scene in Edinburgh)
Tweeddale Court as an Outlander Filming Location
After Claire and Jamie reunite in S306, they go to a bustling market, and Claire has a heartwarming reunion with the grown-up Fergus.
The filming location for this scene is Tweeddale Court in Edinburgh.
Tweeddale Court History and information
Right off the Royal Mile is where you’ll find Tweeddale Court. Located between the Real Scot Shop and the Nether Bow Cafe Bistro, the entrance to the close is marked with an elaborate and colourful design. The Tweeddale House is straight ahead of where the entryway opens up to a courtyard.
The court and the house have a rich history, much like other streets in Edinburgh. According to the Edinburgh World Heritage website, the house probably originally belonged to Neil Lang, the Keeper of the Signet and considered one of Scotland’s most senior legal officers. There is a carving inside the doorway with his initials and the date 1576.
In 1670, the Marquess of Tweeddale bought the house, hence the current name. Currently, it is the office of the publisher The List.
Another interesting fact worth mentioning is that the wall on the side of the court was a part of the original King’s Wall, marking the city’s boundaries in medieval times.
This list included seven Outlander filming locations you can easily visit for free in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
If you are looking for more ideas on what to do, see and eat in Edinburgh, check out this 4-day itinerary.
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