While some of today’s summer holidays attractions were as popular ‘back in the day’, day trips by train and to the cinema seemed a lot more popular in the ‘good old days’, with many kids simply spending hours most days playing football in Edinburgh’s parks or even in the streets, with ‘jumpers for goalposts’ often required.
Some great places to visit during the school summer holidays have now unfortunately gone forever, including Brattasani’s chip shops, Little Marco’s and the flumes.
9. Ice cream at Luca’s
When the sun was shining bright in Edinburgh during the school summer holidays, a short trip to Musselburgh to grab a famous Luca's ice cream was always a great treat. With a day in the Honest Town built around Luca's after a bus journey from Edinburgh. | Submitted Photo: Third Party
10. A trip to the cinema
One of the main forms of school summer holiday entertainment for children growing up in Edinburgh was undoubtedly a trip to the cinema, with the Odeon cinema on South Clerk Street seen as the best in the city for many years. There were also the Cameo and the ABC at Lothian Road, long before films could be seen on our TV screens shortly after their cinema release. | Bill Henry
11. Leith Water World
Leith Water World was built on the site of the former Leith Central railway station, opening in 1992. It had flumes, a fast river run and a wave machine, and was always mobbed during the school summer holidays. It was closed for three years from 1999 until 2002 due to structural issues. It was then closed for good in January 2012 in order to save funds for the Royal Commonwealth Pool's renovation and re-opening. The property has since been converted into a children's soft-play centre. | TSPL Photo: National World