Ah, the 1990s. A time when Britpop ruled the airwaves, Tamagotchis were our closest companions, and dial-up internet was the height of technological sophistication. For those of us who came of age in this glorious decade, our childhoods were filled with unique experiences that today’s kids might find utterly baffling. From the joy of Saturday morning TV to the terror of a ringing phone during internet time, the 90s were a special era indeed. So, dust off your shell suit, grab a Sunny D, and prepare for a nostalgic journey through 30 things that will transport you right back to your 90s British childhood.
Watching Live & Kicking on Saturday Mornings
Every Saturday morning, kids across the nation would plonk themselves in front of the telly for Live & Kicking. With hosts like Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston, it was the perfect start to the weekend. The show’s mix of cartoons, celebrity interviews, and phone-in competitions kept us glued to our seats for hours. Who could forget the iconic ‘L&K’ hand gesture that became a playground staple?
The Thrill of Woolworths Pick ‘n’ Mix
No trip to the high street was complete without a visit to Woolworths for their legendary Pick ‘n’ Mix. The joy of filling a paper bag with an assortment of sweets, carefully weighing the cost against how much pocket money you had left, was unparalleled. The heartbreak when Woolies closed its doors in 2009 is still felt by many a 90s kid.
Trying to Keep Your Tamagotchi Alive
These little egg-shaped virtual pets were the bane of teachers and parents everywhere. The constant beeping as your digital creature demanded attention was impossible to ignore. Many a friendship was tested by the solemn responsibility of looking after a mate’s Tamagotchi during family holidays. The devastation of returning from the loo to find your pixelated pal had shuffled off this mortal coil was a uniquely 90s trauma.
The Agony of Dial-Up Internet
The screeching, grinding noise of a dial-up modem connecting to the internet is forever etched in our memories. The agonising wait as web pages loaded at a snail’s pace, only to have someone pick up the phone and cut off your connection. It was a true test of patience and timing. The phrase “Get off the internet, I need to use the phone!” became a common household battle cry.
Desperately Wanting a Furby
These odd-looking, electronic owl-hamster hybrids were the must-have toy of the late 90s. Their ability to ‘learn’ English and interact with each other made them irresistible to kids. Of course, the novelty wore off pretty quickly when you realised they never actually shut up. The terror of waking up in the middle of the night to your Furby suddenly springing to life and gabbling in Furbish was a rite of passage for 90s children.
Recording the Top 40 on Cassette
Sunday evenings meant one thing: huddling around the radio to record the week’s Top 40 countdown. The skill required to hit record at just the right moment, avoiding the DJ’s chat, was an art form. These homemade mixtapes were prized possessions, often adorned with painstakingly handwritten track lists. The frustration of a sibling walking in and talking over the end of your favourite song was enough to spark a family feud.
The Excitement of a New Beanie Baby
Beanie Babies were more than just stuffed toys; they were an investment opportunity (or so we thought). The rarer the Beanie Baby, the more valuable it was supposed to become. Many of us are still waiting for our collections to fund our retirements. The little heart-shaped tag became a status symbol in its own right, with mint condition tags jealously guarded from sticky-fingered siblings.
Proudly Wearing Your Global Hypercolor T-Shirt
These heat-sensitive t-shirts that changed colour when warm were the height of 90s fashion. Nothing said ‘cool’ quite like a shirt that showed off your sweaty armpits. The novelty wore off pretty quickly, but for a brief moment, we all felt like fashion icons. The disappointment when the colour-changing effect faded after a few washes was a harsh lesson in the fleeting nature of fashion trends.
Being Terrified of Mr Blobby
This pink and yellow spotted… thing… was a regular fixture on Noel’s House Party. With his bulging eyes and incomprehensible ‘blobby blobby’ speech, Mr Blobby was equal parts beloved and terrifying. His Christmas single reaching number one in 1993 remains a national embarrassment. The sight of Mr Blobby careening around the Crinkley Bottom set, destroying everything in his path, was both hilarious and slightly unnerving.
Religiously Watching Gladiators
Saturday nights were all about watching impossibly fit people in lycra battling it out on oversized obstacle courses. We all had our favourite Gladiators (Jet, anyone?) and secretly practised our best ‘Gladiators ready!’ poses in the mirror. The disappointment when you realised you’d never be tall enough to reach the rings on the Hang Tough event was crushing.
Collecting Pogs
These small cardboard discs became a playground sensation. The aim was to build up your collection by winning your opponents’ Pogs in games. Many a falling out occurred over accusations of cheating or refusing to hand over a prized slammer. The satisfying ‘clack’ of a well-thrown slammer was music to a 90s kid’s ears.
The joy of Cartoon Network Becoming Free
For many of us, Cartoon Network was a luxury channel we could only dream of. Then, one magical day, it became free to watch. Suddenly, our TV diet consisted of nothing but Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, and Johnny Bravo. The ability to watch cartoons 24/7 was a game-changer, much to the despair of parents trying to get their kids to do homework.
Trying to Beat the Demon Headmaster
This CBBC show about a sinister headmaster with hypnotic powers gave us all the creeps. It made us eye our own headteachers with suspicion, just in case they too were plotting world domination. The eerie green glow of the Demon Headmaster’s eyes haunted many a 90s child’s nightmares.
Cherishing Your Polly Pocket Collection
These tiny dolls in their compact cases were a girl’s best friend. The challenge was trying not to lose the minuscule accessories, which inevitably ended up hoovered up or lost down the back of the sofa. The pain of stepping on a tiny Polly Pocket shoe in the middle of the night was second only to treading on Lego.
Fighting Over Who Got to Be Lara Croft
The release of Tomb Raider on the PlayStation was a gaming revolution. Suddenly, we all wanted to be the pistol-wielding, dinosaur-fighting archaeologist. Arguments over whose turn it was to play were fierce and frequent. The triangular… assets of early Lara Croft models became a topic of much playground discussion.
Desperately Wanting Platform Trainers
The Spice Girls made platform trainers the must-have footwear of the 90s. The higher the platform, the cooler you were. Never mind that they were impossible to walk in and probably responsible for countless twisted ankles. The clunky, chunky aesthetic of these shoes perfectly encapsulated the ‘bigger is better’ ethos of 90s fashion.
The Trauma of Watching Watership Down
This animated film about rabbits seemed innocent enough, until it traumatised an entire generation with its unexpectedly violent and dark themes. Many of us are still recovering from the sight of bloodied rabbits fighting to the death. The haunting Art Garfunkel song ‘Bright Eyes’ from the soundtrack still has the power to reduce 90s kids to emotional wrecks.
Waking Up to the Big Breakfast
For many of us, school mornings meant The Big Breakfast with Chris Evans and Gaby Roslin. The show’s chaotic energy and zany games were the perfect way to start the day, even if it meant rushing to get ready for school afterwards. The ‘On Your Doorstep’ segment had us all dreaming that one day, the Big Breakfast van might roll up outside our house.
Trying to Complete a Crazy Bones Collection
These little plastic figurines with weird faces were all the rage in playgrounds across the country. Trading them, playing games with them, and trying to complete your collection was serious business. The thrill of finding a rare ‘Alien’ Crazy Bone was unmatched, instantly elevating your playground status.
The Disappointment of a Broken Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong promised hours of fun with his ability to stretch to extraordinary lengths. However, the heartbreak when he inevitably split open, leaking his gooey insides everywhere, was almost too much to bear. The sticky residue left behind by Stretch’s innards was a nightmare to clean up, much to the chagrin of parents everywhere.
Singing Along to ‘Barbie Girl’ by Aqua
This catchy pop song was impossible to escape in 1997. We all knew every word, even if we didn’t quite understand some of the more risqué lyrics. It remains a guilty pleasure for many a 90s kid. The song’s music video, featuring singer Lene Nystrøm as a living doll, perfectly captured the plastic fantastic aesthetic of the late 90s.
Desperately Wanting Moon Boots
These futuristic-looking boots promised to let you bounce around like an astronaut. In reality, they were hot, sweaty, and not nearly as bouncy as advertised. But that didn’t stop us from begging our parents for a pair. The squeaky noise they made with every step quickly went from cool to annoying, especially for teachers trying to maintain classroom order.
The Excitement of Turkey Twizzlers for Dinner
Before Jamie Oliver ruined everything, Turkey Twizzlers were the pinnacle of school dinner cuisine. These spiralled pieces of processed turkey were so unhealthy, but so delicious. Their ban in 2005 left a Turkey Twizzler-shaped hole in our hearts. The outcry was so great that they were reintroduced in 2020, albeit in a healthier form that 90s kids insist just isn’t the same.
Trying to Keep Your Trolls Collection Safe
These wild-haired little dolls were everywhere in the 90s. Collecting different colours and styles was a serious hobby. The devastation when a sibling gave one a dodgy haircut was real. Troll pencil toppers became the ultimate school status symbol, with the rarer colours traded like precious gems.
Begging Your Parents for a Game Boy
The Game Boy was the handheld console to have. Hours were spent hunched over that tiny green screen, usually playing Tetris or Pokémon. The struggle of trying to play in the dark on long car journeys is a memory we all share. The invention of the Game Boy Light was a game-changer, even if it did eat through batteries at an alarming rate.
The Horror of Accidentally Taping Over a Favourite Video
In the days before DVDs and streaming, recording your favourite shows on VHS was a delicate art. The devastation of realising you’d accidentally taped over your prized recording of The Lion King with an episode of Neighbours was almost too much to bear. The complex system of labels and Post-it notes used to prevent such disasters was a testament to the seriousness of the situation.
Trying to Master the Yo-Yo
For a brief period in the 90s, yo-yos were everywhere. Everyone was trying to master tricks like ‘Walk the Dog’ or ‘Around the World’. Most of us just ended up with bruised knuckles and tangled strings. The Coca-Cola sponsored yo-yo demonstrations in school playgrounds were the height of cool, leaving us all convinced we could be yo-yo champions if we just practiced enough.
Desperately Wanting Light-Up Trainers
Trainers with lights in the soles that flashed when you walked were the epitome of cool. The fact that they usually stopped working after a few weeks didn’t diminish their appeal one bit. We all felt like we were walking on starlight. The disappointment when your parents insisted on practical, non-light-up shoes for school was crushing, relegating the flashy footwear to weekend wear only.
The Ritual of Watching Noel’s House Party
Saturday nights meant gathering around the telly for Noel’s House Party. This chaotic show, hosted by Noel Edmonds, was a staple of 90s entertainment. We laughed at the Gotchas, cringed at the Gunge Tank, and waited with bated breath to see who’d get ‘gunged’ next. The NTV segments, where unsuspecting viewers found themselves on live TV, were both hilarious and mortifying. And of course, there was the terrifying Mr. Blobby, whose popularity somehow led to a Christmas number one in 1993.
The Obsession with POGs
POGs took British playgrounds by storm in the mid-90s. These cardboard discs, originally milk bottle caps, became a national craze. We’d spend hours playing the game, trying to flip our opponents’ POGs with a heavier ‘slammer’. Rare POGs were treasured possessions, often featuring popular characters or holographic designs. The satisfying ‘clack’ of a well-thrown slammer was music to our ears. Many schools ended up banning POGs due to arguments over lost collections, turning them into coveted contraband.
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Ever had a car that seemed more at home in the garage than on the road? You know, one of those vehicles that made every drive feel like a gamble—”Will we make it this time?” If that sounds familiar, you might find an old nemesis (or should I say, chassis?) on this list. Join me on a slightly exasperating, yet nostalgic journey as we revisit some of the most frustratingly unreliable British cars ever made.
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Food preferences can vary wildly across cultures, and what’s considered a delicacy in one country might be seen as downright bizarre in another. This cultural divide is particularly evident when comparing American and British cuisines. While the two nations share a common language, their tastes in food can be worlds apart. From overly sweet concoctions to processed cheese products, there are certain American foods that many Brits find hard to stomach.
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Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist who has been writing since 2002. She’s finds joy in learning new and interesting things, and finds history, science, and nature endlessly fascinating.
