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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Indigo Stafford

Trainspotting 25 years on: How Edinburgh Princes Street has changed over the years

This year marked 25 years since Irvine Welsh's novel Trainspotting hit our screens in the form of a movie that would become a cult classic Scottish film.

Trainspotting follows the turbulent lives of a group of Edinburgh friends who navigate their way through life while plagued by heroin addictions.

The film is told through the eyes of the main character Renton, who first appears in the film within minutes of it starting.

Surrounded by vintage maroon Lothian buses, we see Renton and Spud sprinting down a busy Princes Street to escape as they are chased by security guards.

In many aspects, Princes Street in the 1996 film looks unrecognisable, but when you look closely you will see that there are a few shops that haven't changed at all.

Spud can be seen jogging past Levis (Edinburgh Live)

The very first thing we see at the start of Trainspotting is Renton and Spud running in front of a Levi's store, and the quintessential jeans brand has stood the test of time because there is still a Levi's store on Princes Street all these years later, looking practically the same.

The security guard chases the men past John Menzies (Film 4)

The security guards leg it past John Menzies, which was a popular high street newsagent at the time that is no longer there, today you would find the high street fashion brand Zara in its place.

It's safe to say Boots has had a revamp (Film 4)
Boots looks very different now (Google Maps)

The two characters - who we later find out have turned to a life of stealing and crime to fund their drug habits - also run past Boots and Marks and Spencers.

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While Princes Street has seen a number of well-known shops such as Jenners and Topshop close their doors recently, It's pretty impressive to see both Boots and M&S are still going strong with Edinburgh locals - although it's safe to say they have both been given a refresh with some more contemporary branding.

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