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.placeholder image
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. | Contributed

10 things we used to do in Edinburgh during the summer holidays that have been lost over time

Kevin Quinn
By Kevin Quinn

Reporter

Published 24th Jun 2025, 09:39 GMT

With Edinburgh schools set to start their summer holidays this week, we’ve taken a look at things local kids can no longer enjoy during the break.

From the flumes at the ‘Commie’ and Leith Water World, to the ultimate soft play experience at Little Marcos, there are so many fun summer holiday things and places in Edinburgh that kids can no longer do and visit.

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Gone but not forgotten also, are the annual and popular Edinburgh Festival Cavalcade and Fringe Sunday events which were held every year at the start of the world’s largest arts festival.

While Edinburgh amusement parks Fun City and Marine Gardens are now distant happy memories for former Edinburgh schoolkids.

The city centre square was a popular spot for Edinburgh's skateboarders for years, particularly during the school summer holidays. The redevelopment of the square meant the removal of many of the raised concrete sections that skateboarders enjoyed.

5. Skateboarders at Bristo Square

The city centre square was a popular spot for Edinburgh's skateboarders for years, particularly during the school summer holidays. The redevelopment of the square meant the removal of many of the raised concrete sections that skateboarders enjoyed. | National World Photo: TSPL

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The parade along Princes Street every year ahead of the Fringe was always a big deal during the school summer holidays, with thousands lining the route to soak in the colour, sights and sounds of the cavalcade.

6. Edinburgh Festival Cavalcade

The parade along Princes Street every year ahead of the Fringe was always a big deal during the school summer holidays, with thousands lining the route to soak in the colour, sights and sounds of the cavalcade. | National World Photo: DENIS STRAUGHAN

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Leith Waterworld was a leisure pool built on the site of the former Leith Central railway station. It had flumes, a fast river run and a wave machine. This splashing venue was very popular with locals from when it opened in 1992 until it closed in 2012 in order to save funds for the Royal Commonwealth Pool's renovation and re-opening.

7. Make a splash at Leith Waterworld

Leith Waterworld was a leisure pool built on the site of the former Leith Central railway station. It had flumes, a fast river run and a wave machine. This splashing venue was very popular with locals from when it opened in 1992 until it closed in 2012 in order to save funds for the Royal Commonwealth Pool's renovation and re-opening. | TSPL Photo: National World

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Fat Sams was an American diner at Fountainbridge that brought the vibe and style of prohibition era USA to Fountainbridge. Fat Sam’s opening in 1986 coincided with an inventive marketing campaign that involved actors cutting about Edinburgh in a Godfather-style motorcar and dressed in pin stripe suits and fedoras. Despite its popularity, the restaurant closed for good in 2000 and the building razed to the ground seven years later to make way for a new office and retail development.

8. Enjoy a trip to Fat Sams

Fat Sams was an American diner at Fountainbridge that brought the vibe and style of prohibition era USA to Fountainbridge. Fat Sam’s opening in 1986 coincided with an inventive marketing campaign that involved actors cutting about Edinburgh in a Godfather-style motorcar and dressed in pin stripe suits and fedoras. Despite its popularity, the restaurant closed for good in 2000 and the building razed to the ground seven years later to make way for a new office and retail development. | en license Photo: National World

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