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I watched Avengers: Endgame, clocked the fishing village they were calling New Asgard, and immediately thought: that looks Scottish. Turns out I was right, which almost never happens. The location is St Abbs, a tiny fishing village on the Berwickshire coast in the Scottish Borders, and it is absolutely worth the detour.
Quick Answer
New Asgard in Avengers: Endgame was filmed in St Abbs, a small fishing village on the southeast coast of Scotland, close to the English border in Berwickshire. It is roughly a one-hour drive from Edinburgh. A sign at the village entrance reads “New Asgard,” so you will know you have arrived. The local currency is the British pound (£), and English is spoken everywhere, so no language barriers to worry about.
Where Exactly Is St Abbs?
St Abbs sits on the Berwickshire coast, on the southeast side of Scotland, not far north of the English border. It is north of Eyemouth, tucked into the rugged Scottish Borders coastline.
For reference:
- About 1 hour by car from Edinburgh
- Around 30 minutes from Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Roughly 90 minutes from Newcastle
The village originally went by the name Coldingham Shore until the 1890s, when it adopted the name St Abbs. These days it has around 100 permanent residents. It is, to put it plainly, very small.
Why Was St Abbs Chosen for New Asgard?
In the film, New Asgard is Thor’s home in Tønsberg, rebuilt after the fall of Asgard and housing Asgardian refugees and Sakaaran gladiators. The production needed somewhere that read as a remote, coastal, vaguely Scandinavian settlement without actually being Scandinavia.
St Abbs delivered. The rugged cliffs, the working harbour, the compact rows of houses, it all translated well on screen. The cast and crew filmed in Scotland in 2017, shooting Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame back to back. Edinburgh featured too, with scenes for Infinity War shot at Waverley Train Station and along the Royal Mile.
Marvel apparently made a donation to the St Abbs lifeboat station during production. A nice touch.
The Specific Filming Spots in St Abbs
If you are doing a proper Marvel pilgrimage, here is where to point yourself:
- The New Asgard sign at the village entrance, the obvious first stop
- St Abb’s Harbour, featured prominently in New Asgard scenes
- Seaview Terrace, this is where Thor’s house appeared on screen (the interiors were not filmed here, just the exterior)
- Horsecastle Bay, worth climbing the hilltop above it for the views along the cliffs
- The road to Pettico Wick Bay, this appeared in the scene where Bruce Banner and Rocket Raccoon drive to the harbour
- The coastal walk toward St Abb’s Head, there is a deleted scene where Thor and Valkyrie stand on a cliff overlooking Asgard, filmed on this stretch
In the film, Hulk and Rocket arrive in New Asgard to find Thor and meet Valkyrie. Most of what you see on screen was filmed right here in this village of 100 people. I find that genuinely delightful.
Getting to St Abbs
This is where I have to be honest with you: do not assume you can rock up on public transport. I would have, because I am exactly that optimistic and exactly that wrong.
- No direct public transport serves St Abbs
- Buses and heavy vehicles are banned from the village due to the narrow, winding roads
- Borders Buses can get you into the wider Scottish Borders and Northumberland area, but the last stretch is on you
- By car is the practical answer for most people
Parking: there is free parking at the top of the hill, which is genuinely the better option. The harbour car park charges £1 an hour, capped at £7 for over six hours, but the roads down to it are narrow and turning around is its own adventure. Save yourself the stress.
If you are coming from Edinburgh, the drive takes about an hour. You can break it up with a stop at Cove Harbour on the way, which has a hand-hewn tunnel that was reportedly used by smugglers. St Abbs is a solid day trip from the city.
What to Do in St Abbs Beyond the Marvel Spots
The village has more going for it than just Thor’s house.
St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, managed by the National Trust for Scotland, has marked trails along the coastline with serious cliff views and wildlife along the way. The St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve is one of the better diving spots in Scotland, with clear water, rocky reefs, and underwater caves. Riptide rib rides are available if you want to see the coastline from the water.
The village also carries real history. The 1881 Black Friday fishing disaster killed 189 fishermen, including three from St Abbs. A bronze memorial in the village depicts fishermen’s wives and children watching the sea. It stops you in your tracks.
St Abbs was also used as a filming location for Harry Styles’ music video for “Adore You,” if that adds anything to your visit. Honestly, between Marvel and Harry Styles, this village of 100 people punches well above its weight in pop culture.
Where to Eat in St Abbs
Options are limited, which is fine because the village is tiny.
- Ebbcarrs Cafe by the harbour does a full menu including local seafood and fresh baked goods, with sit-in and takeaway
- The Old School Cafe at the Ebba Centre is another option
- Try a border tart while you are in this part of the world, it is a fruity shortcrust pastry with icing and a cherry, and it is exactly as good as that sounds
On the drive back toward Edinburgh, The Old Clubhouse is recommended for fish and chips.
Where to Stay Near St Abbs
Accommodation in the village itself is limited. A few options:
| Property | Notes |
|---|---|
| The Rest | Traditional apartment on the coastal path, sea views, sleeps four |
| The Near Bank Cottage | Within St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, half a mile from the village |
| Beul-An-Latha | Holiday home sleeping five, sea views, garden with barbecue |
If those are full, the nearby towns of Coldingham and Eyemouth have more options. Book early if you are visiting in summer, because the combination of Marvel fans and coastal walkers means things fill up faster than you would expect for a village this size.
Is St Abbs Worth Visiting?
Yes, even if you could not care less about Marvel. I went in expecting a quick look at a harbour and a sign, and came away genuinely charmed by the place. The coastal scenery is dramatic, the history is real, and the whole thing takes maybe half a day from Edinburgh.
That said, the village is small. The roads are narrow. The parking situation is what it is. Go on a weekday if you can, arrive early, and park at the top of the hill. The village of 100 people is doing its best to handle the attention, and the least you can do is not block the road with a campervan.
Do yourself a favour and combine it with a walk along the St Abb’s Head coastal trail. The cliffs alone are worth the drive. And if you are building a longer trip around famous places in Europe, Scotland’s Borders region is one of those corners that rarely makes the highlight reel but probably should.