Ross Fountain is a cast-iron fountain in West Princes Street Gardens in central Edinburgh. It stands below Edinburgh Castle, creating one of the city’s most recognisable views, with the fountain in the foreground and the castle rising on Castle Rock behind it. The fountain was produced by the French foundry Antoine Durenne and first displayed at the Great Exhibition in London in 1862, before being bought by Edinburgh gunmaker Daniel Ross and installed in Princes Street Gardens in the 1870s. Its ornate figures, tiered structure and castle backdrop make it a distinctive screen location separate from both Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle.
Ross Fountain appears in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020), where Edinburgh stands in for the host city of the Eurovision Song Contest. The film uses several Edinburgh locations, including the Royal Mile, Princes Street Gardens, Ross Fountain, Calton Hill, Grassmarket, Victoria Street, Arthur’s Seat and Newhaven Harbour. Ross Fountain is one of the more recognisable outdoor locations in the Edinburgh section of the film.
In Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020), Ross Fountain appears during the Edinburgh scenes with Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdóttir. The fountain is decorated with Eurovision banners, and Lars and Sigrit are seen by the fountain while exploring the city during the contest. In one scene, Lars sits at the side of the fountain with Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle behind him. The location places the fictional Eurovision event inside a very recognisable Edinburgh setting, using the fountain and castle view as part of the film’s version of the host city.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga was filmed across Iceland, Scotland, England and Israel.
Victoria Terrace
Victoria Terrace has appeared in Cloud Atlas (2012) and is also connected to Edinburgh’s wider screen geography through productions filmed around.
Victoria Street
Victoria Street has appeared in F9: The Fast Saga (2021) and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020).
Makars’ Court
Makars’ Court appears in Frankenstein (2025), Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. The production filmed several Edinburgh locations.
Scott Monument
Scott Monument appears in Cloud Atlas (2012). Frobisher climbs the monument and writes to Sixsmith that he climbs the steps every morning.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Greyfriars Kirkyard has appeared in Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Jude and The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby.
St Giles’ Cathedral
St Giles’ Cathedral has appeared in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and the area around the cathedral was also used for Frankenstein (2025).
Dugald Stewart Monument
Dugald Stewart Monument has appeared in North & South (2004), One Day (2011), Mausam (2011), The Railway Man (2013) and Sunshine on Leith (2013).
Bakehouse Close
Bakehouse Close, a historic close in Edinburgh, has appeared in The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby (2005), Outlander (2014–) and Frankenstein (2025).
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle has appeared in Outlander (2014), Outlaw King (2018) and other historical productions connected to Scotland’s medieval and early modern past.