While Glasgow was basking in its status as European Capital of Culture, there was plenty to celebrate in Edinburgh too.
Richard Branson visited the Capital to open a massive Virgin Megastore on Princes Street and journey times across the city were slashed with the opening of the Edinburgh City Bypass.
Take a look through our photo gallery to see 18 incredible images of Edinburgh in 1990 – and please do let us know your own memories of that year in the comments section before you go.
![British businessman Richard Branson poses with his pink Pontiac car outside his new Virgin Megastore, opening in Edinburgh in July 1990.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmViMTJjODc2LTVmNTktNGQ2NS1hOTBmLTdlMzFjYjM0ZjFhNzo4OTI4N2ZmMi1iZDIwLTQ4N2ItODljNi0yNjUzYzYxZTllMTI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Richard Branson in Edinburgh 1990
British businessman Richard Branson poses with his pink Pontiac car outside his new Virgin Megastore, opening in Edinburgh in July 1990. Photo: Alan Ledgerwood
![Three women having lunch in the Pierre Victoire French restaurant in Edinburgh's Union Street, April 1990.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjUyZTk4NDEzLTY5YTktNDgxNC04NmEwLTlmOGRjZDhhYzFhYTozODJhZDhjNi0yMDFjLTQ5NGUtODVlMi0xM2E2MTliOWQxNDA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Women lunch in Pierre Victoire 1990
Three women having lunch in the Pierre Victoire French restaurant in Edinburgh's Union Street, April 1990. Photo: Bill Newton
![The Private Lines 'sex shop' in Elm Row Edinburgh had 'PORN OUT' graffiti spray-painted on the exterior in April 1990.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjNlOTU2NzFjLWJlY2YtNGZjYy05ZjQ4LTA5YTEzMmVjNDgwYTo1NjJiNzVjMi03ODBhLTQ0MWQtOTU0My03MDlkNjgwNzRkYjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Private Lines 'sex shop' PORN OUT graffiti 1990
The Private Lines 'sex shop' in Elm Row Edinburgh had 'PORN OUT' graffiti spray-painted on the exterior in April 1990. Photo: Bill Stout
![Exterior of the Empire theatre (now Festival Theatre) in Edinburgh, being used as a Mecca bingo hall in August 1990.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmY2M2YxM2EwLWI0MjItNDcxMy1hMTE1LWVjOTAwM2FjYTY2MzphNDdjYTRmYi1jMmYxLTQ3MTktOWRkOC0wODI4M2IxODE5ZDE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Empire Theatre exterior
Exterior of the Empire theatre (now Festival Theatre) in Edinburgh, being used as a Mecca bingo hall in August 1990. Photo: Allan Macdonald