Retro

This photo taken in 2011, gives a bird's eye view of Hearts' Tynecastle Park Stadium in Gorgie, showing the now demolished adult learning centre in the foreground, which made way for the new main stand.

26 incredible photos which show what Gorgie was like back in the day

Before buses were all fitted with CCTV, the driver used a kind of periscope contraption with a curved mirror to check what was going on upstairs.

12 photos of Edinburgh in the 80s and 90s

Starbank Park in Trinity is a stunning walled garden, a ‘Victorian Park’ which has been restored to its former glory by the active Friends of Starbank Park group, with some pollinator-friendly planting along the way. Central to the park's design and history is Stabank House, once the home of the Victorian Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone’s aunt and uncle. The house was bought in 1891 by Leith Town Council and was a museum from 1920 to 1931, but is now a private house again. The Friends - who celebrate their 10th anniversary this year - use the side building where the history of the park is on display. It won ‘Best Neighbourhood Park UK’ in 2018 and in 2021 Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited the park with Fields in Trust and planted an apple tree. Doors Open weekend will see a harvest display and guided tours, children’s crafts, chalk drawing and a planting demonstration as well as a history display and talk. Open: Saturday, September 23, and Sunday, September 24, 10am - 4pm

17 more venues to visit on Doors Open Days

The top place for a Sunday swim, the slides at the Commie Pool were removed in 2000 but those of us who got a shot on them undoubtably remember the urban myth that there were razor blades embedded in the flumes!

13 things Edinburgh people miss about the 2000s

On the corner of the top of the Mound where the street meets the Royal Mile is Deacon Brodie's tavern, named after the crooked councillor himself. The original Brodie family lived on Brodie's Close on the opposite side of the Lawnmarket.

In pictures: 12 of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs

Despite our lack of live music venues, Edinburgh has a rich history of producing quality music. Here are 11 songs our readers thought were some of the best. Photo: alterna2, Wikimedia Commons

11 of the best songs by Edinburgh bands or artists as chosen by readers

The Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston has often been named the oldest pub in Edinburgh - and one of the oldest in Scotland. It is believed that there has been a pub on the site since 1360.

13 pictures of the oldest pubs still standing in chronological order

Before the organised and multi-million pound Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations were introduced in the late 90s, Edinburgers brought in the bells at the Tron, off the High Street at Hunter Square. Teenagers pictured having a knees-up at the Tron Kirk in Edinburgh on Hogmanay 1990.

15 brilliant photos which will transport you back to Edinburgh in the 1990s

Edinburgh University's Ashworth Labs at King's Buildings in Blackford were built in the late 1920s to house the university's zoology department. (Note the beautiful stone animal plaques on the exterior.) Now they are part of the ever-expanding School of Biological Sciences at the university. On Doors Open Day the labs will have exhibits, interactive displays and tours of the University’s Natural History collections. Open: Saturday, September 23, 10am - 4pm.

Another 21 places to visit on Doors Open Day

Exclusive National Gallery reveals new spaces showcasing Scottish art treasures

Honeycomb on Niddry Street was a popular nightclub for Edinburgh clubbers. The venue later became known as Hive, which is still used as a nightclub and gig venue.

12 pictures of lost nightclubs that residents would like to bring back

An aerial view of crowds at the largely uncovered Murrayfield Stadium during Scotland v France Rugby International in 1962.

27 photos showing how much Murrayfield stadium has changed

Edinburgh Castle has witnessed many of the defining events in Scotland’s history. Sieges were fought over the mighty stronghold. Royalty lived and died within its walls. Just the sight of the Castle Rock has terrified and inspired countless generations.

Free Historic Scotland sites to visit this winter - in pictures

Leonie Bell is director of V&A Dundee.

V&A Dundee reveals ambitions to take tartan exhibition around the world

The Dar al-Arqam mosque at the Lauriston Place was built as a church, designed by Archibald Scott in Gothic style and completed in 1859 and originally used by the United Presbyterian Church. It later became disused and was purchased by the Muslim community in 1980. It was used primarily as a social club and suffered fire damage, but opened as a mosque 2012. It is named Dar al-Arqam, after the first building used by the early community of the Prophet Muhammad in Mecca as a place of teaching. Visitors will have the chance to see how the church has been converted into a mosque while maintaining the original beauty of the building. Open: Saturday, September 23, 1pm-4pm

Another 25 places to visit on Doors Open Days

Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004.

Meadowbank Stadium over the years - in pictures
The changing face of Edinburgh’s premier athletics stadium

Looking down Leith Street in Edinburgh towards Picardy Place in 1958. Picture shows (left hand side) the Top Deck restaurant, John Collier menswear and Timpson's shoe shop. All these shops were demolished to make way for St James Centre and King James Hotel in 1969.

17 beautiful lost Edinburgh buildings – in pictures

The Junction of Hanover Street and George Street.

33 photos showing how much Edinburgh has changed

The Ritz cinema in Rodney Street Edinburgh. The last film shown was on November 28th 1981 with Exorcist II (the heretic) and Mad Max and the building was demolished in 1983.

16 nostalgic photos of Edinburgh’s lost cinemas

Period as Hearts manager: 2005. Win ratio: 76.92%. 10 wins from 13 games. George Burley had a very short but very successful period in charge of Hearts before being sacked with the team top of the table.

The 10 Hearts managers with the best win ratios

The owners of Logan's Rest are very proud of the pub's heritgage, and this mural shows customers just how old the venue is.

Historic Edinburgh pub reopens with new name

Next to the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Abbey Strand buildings have been witness to more than five centuries of Scottish history. The oldest parts date back to around 1490 and were used as a weapons store during the reign of James V; as courtiers’ lodgings for Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI and I; as a sanctuary for 6,000 people in debt; and a site of taverns and tearooms. Today, the Abbey Strand Centre hosts school visits, workshops and lectures. Open: Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24, 10am-3pm. Guided tours available at 10am, 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm.

17 buildings to visit on Doors Open Day

Children sit in a tiered or "galleried" classroom at South Morningside School in the 1950s.

11 photos of Morningside through the years

A display of flowers at Rankin's shop, 80 Princes Street, 1960.

14 photos of legendary grocer chain Rankins

British Home Stores was an iconic sight on Princes Street for many years, with the premises given a Category B listing by Historic Scotland in 2008 because they were some of the first “panel buildings”. This picture of British Home Stores is from 2013.

Edinburgh department stores from the past

This is the Stockbridge Market archway which was originally built in 1825 - it was marked for restoration in July 1979

In pictures: Stockbridge down the years

Meaning: Great. Example: “Me and Hamish went oot last night, it was pure barry.”

Edinburgh words that are in danger of dying out
Edinburgh has a very colourful set of words and phrases, as anyone who has spent much time in the city will know.

Football fans in the east terracing at Easter Road, the Hibs FC ground, in February 1990.

The changing face of Easter Road - in pictures

The MU Athenian is launched at Henry Robb's Yard in 1966.

In pictures: Leith's old Henry Robb shipyard

Outlander prequel show name and lead characters revealed

Land mine explosion in 1941 leaves Leith's David Kilpatrick school damaged.

19 photos showing Edinburgh life during WWII

Take a look through our photo gallery to be transported back to Hibernian's famous Scottish Cup final victory in 2016.

22 Hibs fan photos from the 2016 Scottish Cup Final

Gordon Thompson Director of The Californian Coffee Co. welcomes his first customer, Alec the Dalek , at the latest opening of his Police Box coffee stops in Rose Street.

27 pictures of Edinburgh in the year 2000

One of Edinburgh’s most photographed old buildings is the Canongate Tolbooth. It was built in 1591 at a time when the Canongate burgh was still separate from Edinburgh, and served as the district tolbooth, comprising a courthouse, jail and public meeting place. The Tolbooth has undergone a number of alterations over the centuries, the most notable being City Architect Robert Morham’s remodelling in 1875, which added its distinctive clock. The building now houses The People’s Story Museum and boasts a Category A listing.

In pictures: 11 of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh

The final day of the 2012 Fringe Festival. Pictured are some performers packing up and heading for home.

Looking back at the Fringe in the 2010s - in pictures

The Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) would have involved building a tunnel under the main airport runway to bring trains to a station located underneath the terminal building. It was approved by the Scottish Parliament and scheduled to open in 2011. New sections of rail would be built to existing lines to allow regular trains from Glasgow, Fife and the north to call at the station. About £30m was spent on the scheme before MSPs agreed to scrap the scheme in 2007 - at the same time as they agreed to continue with the tram project.

13 transport projects which never made it

The wall of Disney characters as you entered the store was a joy to behold. Also, "Disney Princes" has a certain ring to it.

12 shops we have loved and lost in Princes Street

Frankenstein, the popular themed bar on George IV Bridge, which advertises itself as "the original horror pub", was originally built in 1859 as Martyrs' Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Much later, the gothic building was home to Edinburgh's Elim Pentecostal Church, which later moved to Morningside.
The building was converted to a pub in 1999.

13 former church buildings now familiar in new roles

You can't beat a bit of live music at the pub. Pictured are folk musicians at Quarters Pub at Bernard Street in Leith in 2001. Pictured left to right are Craig Mckinney (mandolin), Shug Kelly (double bass) and Dennis Arnold (banjo), Colin Whitelaw (Octave mandolin) and John Dignan (guitar).

Looking back at nights out in classic pubs - in pictures

Work is ongoing on a £35 million revamp of the King's Theatre in Edinburgh. Picture: Anneleen Lindsay

Transformation of King's Theatre in Edinburgh revealed under £35m revamp

Pupils in Edinburgh 1963

From sports days to skipping class: Memories of school days in Edinburgh

This street performer attracted a large crowd on the High Street, Edinburgh, during the Fringe in 2004.

Looking back at the Fringe in the 2000s - in pictures

Twinned with Mary Erskine's school for girls, Stewart's Melville was founded in 1832 and is easily one of the finest looking school buildings in Scotland.

12 photos of Edinburgh's most stunning schools

Every independent burgh. needs its own coat of arms and Leith was no different. Granted on Feburary 27, 1889, the coat of arms bears the famous "Persevere" motto. The coat of arms can still be seen all over Leith today.

In pictures: 11 remnants from when Leith was independent

Belford Bridge was completed in 1887 and carries Belford Road over the Water of Leith. Year: 1944

16 photos of Dean Village down the years

In October 1962, Queen Elizabeth II and King Olav of Norway make their way up Lothian Road in the Royal Coach during the state visit to Scotland.

17 photos of Lothian Road from yesteryear

Horse and cart trundles up towards Bowhead House and the Lawnmarket in the Old Town.

14 incredible photos of 19th century Edinburgh

Having given joy to generations, Portobello Bathing Pool and its gorgeous art deco surrounds met with the wrecking ball in 1988. The pool, which dated from 1936, closed for the final time in 1978.

18 beautiful buildings in Edinburgh we lost

Tattoo pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth in show's poignant finale

The feel-good musical based on the songs of The Proclaimers showcases Edinburgh in the summer, and was a big hit with audiences and critics alike.

In pictures: 14 great films shot in Edinburgh

Drum Street in Gilmerton is home to the ‘subterranean chambers of a remarkable cave’ thought to have been inhabited up to 300 years ago. Situated around ten feet below the surface, the Cove consists of a 40-feet long passage with an unusual series of rooms and passages on each side. It became a tourist attraction in 2003.

9 of the Capital's spookiest tunnels and vaults

19 fascinating pictures of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the 1950s and 1960s

18 pics of the Edinburgh International Festival in the 1950s and 1960s

13 pictures of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo from the 1950s and 1960s

Girls playing skipping ropes in Lapicide Place (August 1957).

19 photos of Leith in the 1950s and 1960s