Childhood in ‘90s Edinburgh in 18 pictures: 18 things only ‘90s Edinburgh kids will remember

Little Marcos parties, epic flumes at the Commie Pool, enjoying a wee pick n mix from Woolworths, these simple joys defined our childhood in Edinburgh during the ‘90s.

By Thomas Mackay

Published 3rd Feb 2023, 15:41 BST

Updated 6th Feb 2023, 08:39 BST

We’ve all seen ‘only 90s kids will remember’ posts which remind us of the days of tamagotchi, rewinding cassette tapes with pencils, and the joy of playing 3D Pinball on your Windows 95 desktop.

But what about the ‘only 90s kids from Edinburgh will remember’ editions, surely there are nostalgic novelties connected to our wee pocket of Scotland?

Well, indeed there is, and whether you grew up as a millennial or a bit before/after in Gen X or Gen Z, many of these examples will spark fond memories of your time in Edinburgh during this golden age.

Here are 18 things that you will remember if you grew up in Edinburgh during the ‘90s.

If you wanted a cool venue for a kids birthday party then Little Marcos was the first choice. It was Scotland’s first indoors soft play venue which opened in 1980 at Grove Street, it closed in 2008 but welcomed over 1 million kids to play while active.

1. Legendary parties were in full swing at Little Marcos

If you wanted a cool venue for a kids birthday party then Little Marcos was the first choice. It was Scotland’s first indoors soft play venue which opened in 1980 at Grove Street, it closed in 2008 but welcomed over 1 million kids to play while active. Photo: Submitted

This robotic dinosaur exhibition was the first of its kind to come to Britain when it arrived in Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in 1990. Celebrated for being highly realistic, these dinosaur animatronics still live on in our hearts over 3 decades later.

2. Visiting the Dinosaurs Alive! Exhibition (it was pure dino-mite!)

This robotic dinosaur exhibition was the first of its kind to come to Britain when it arrived in Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in 1990. Celebrated for being highly realistic, these dinosaur animatronics still live on in our hearts over 3 decades later. Photo: Submitted

One of Edinburgh’s most prominent landmarks looked very different for a while during the ‘90s. The Scott Monument, Edinburgh’s own ‘Gothic rocket’, was lit up like a rocket ship indeed as it was under scaffolding during the early 1990s.

3. You remember when the Scott Monument looked like a rocket ship

One of Edinburgh’s most prominent landmarks looked very different for a while during the ‘90s. The Scott Monument, Edinburgh’s own ‘Gothic rocket’, was lit up like a rocket ship indeed as it was under scaffolding during the early 1990s. Photo: Joesboy via Canva Pro

Remember the legendary flumes of the Commie Pool? You had to be brave to take them on, especially after talk emerged of the pool’s flumes being ‘laced with razor blades’ but this has been called an urban myth. Either way, your reward for braving the challenge was a hot chippy from Bratisanni’s afterwards.

4. You braved the death-defying flumes of the Commie Pool

Remember the legendary flumes of the Commie Pool? You had to be brave to take them on, especially after talk emerged of the pool’s flumes being ‘laced with razor blades’ but this has been called an urban myth. Either way, your reward for braving the challenge was a hot chippy from Bratisanni’s afterwards. Photo: Submitted

Edinburgh Woolworths Gen Z Scotland