Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop

A charming and historic spot that oozes romance! Famous for runaway weddings since the 1700s, the Blacksmith’s Shop is packed with character and fascinating exhibits. The museum tells the stories of eloping couples beautifully, and the setting feels like stepping back in time. Even if you’re not tying the knot, it’s worth a visit for the history, lovely gift shop, and cosy café. Staff are friendly and happy to share the legends of the place. A must-stop if you’re anywhere near the Scotland–England border. I also recommend bringing a lock to put on the ‘LOVE’ sign! We bought one from the gift shop and wrote our initials on it.

returned to visit after we wed here 21 years ago. all staff we encountered from gift shop to cafe or the museum were helpful and happy. the upgrades to the museum are a nice addition and interactive way to explain the history of the location

We must have hit on a quiet time to visit. Last time we visited the place was very busy. It was more enjoyable being able to amble around the site. I didn't realise couples actually get married here. We saw at least three couples set to get hitched. We visited the cafe which had a very tasty selection of varying foods on offer. My better half praised how tasty the Scotch broth was. We had a look in the souvenir shop and again we were met with an array of varying gifts. The Foodhall likewise, was very well stocked and the Shortbread shop offered many styles of shortbread. We were lucky with the weather as it was sunny. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours on site.

Got married in there a week ago! Beautiful place filled with character and history. Lots of cool souvenirs in the shop (husband bought the anvil jumper, I bought lots of things like magnets, mini whiskeys, Christmas decorations etc) the museum was very informative and interesting, there was a cute wall to put your story on! Staff very lovely and if you stay at one of their hotels you get 10% off (excluding alcohol) You'll always see someone getting married there. The Thursday we arrived we witnessed 4 during our visit. Then on or day I saw two others. Be warned if you get married here you may have tourists snapping shots of you! (Was a very surreal feeling but I didn't mind, they were all so sweet giving compliments)

Really nice place to visit just into Scotland. The restaurant was tidy and tables cleared quickly. The coffee was very good . Went into the blacksmith museum and enjoyed looking at the history of the place. The food hall very good with a few items of food I haven't seen before.

Famous for runaway weddings, this is a beautiful village to stop by. There are dog friendly cafes, gift shops, toilets-which are beautiful, by the way, and photo worthy surroundings! We were on a group tour with a mandatory stop here. There's ample parking space of course.

I only came to know this place while returning from Edinburgh. It is one of Scotland’s most famous and romantic destinations, renowned for its rich history of runaway weddings. Located just across the English border, it became legendary in the 18th century when young couples, often under the age of 18; fled here to marry freely. Under Scottish law, they could wed without parental consent, and the English authorities had no power to stop them. The village’s famous Blacksmith’s Shop, where these marriages were performed over the anvil, remains a symbol of love, freedom, and timeless romance- making Gretna Green a must-visit for history and heart alike.

Even though I really enjoyed going to Gretna, I felt it had changed so much. It's a beautiful place to visit but it's got very commercialised. That being said it still holds a big place in my heart.

What a truly magical place! Everyone was so cheerful and accommodating! There is a lot of space inside and out to move about, shop, and even enjoy a meal. The location is clean and open whether you are eatMing a meal, shopping for gifts or souvenirs, visiting the museum, or getting married! The quality and variety of the gift items as well as the service is 5 star! Everyone is incredibly kind and helpful! Ask for Vikki the Gretna Green Experience Manager! She is exceptional at making your experience meaningful! Leslie

The old adage says that if you've got nothing good to say, then say nothing. Therefore my review of the so-called famous old blacksmith's shop at Gretna Green is that it is obviously a great place for a sandwich and maybe a cup of coffee. That's pretty much all anybody there was doing - sitting around eating their bring-your-own sandwiches and drinking a takeaway coffee. And that's because eating a sandwich and having a coffee is pretty much all there is to see or do unless of course you want to buy any manner of English/Scottish memorabilia/food/junk that you could buy anywhere else in England/Scotland or online. For an incredulous experience, visit Gretna Green's infamous blacksmith's shop. You'll leave wondering why! Oh, apparently you can also marry or renew your wedding vows there but I think guests have to bring their own sandwiches.

Our tour stopped here for a quick lesson in marriage. Back when England raised it's age for marriageable youths (Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act) where a parent of a minor could object, Scotland did not do so, Gretna Green became the destination for runaway weddings or the Las Vegas of the UK. It still is a destination for affordable weddings. Gretna Green is about 100 yards from the Scotland/England border so it naturally became a place for runaway couples to marry. This is a touristy spot for sure. We walked through the museum, held a mock wedding and took photographs before having lunch.

Purely existing as a place to separate tourists from their cash this place could be anywhere.

This tourist attraction is an overpriced cattle market with nothing to see or do there are a few very expensive shops and a self service restaurant where you will pay £2.50 for a latte and £3.50 for a stale sandwich if you want a hot meal go early as from 3pm onwards its dried up food that has sat from 11am on the hot food counter. during quiet months the food is truck stop standards. nothing more than a glorified service station. my advice is keep going down the road to the outlet shopping centre Gretna Gateway.