Dundee in the 2000s was its own universe that I wish I could experience again

Dundee in the 2000s (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

Growing up in Dundee in the 2000s was a special kind of magic. It might not have looked glamorous from the outside, but for me, it was home, and every corner of the city held a story.

When I posted a video on TikTok about Dundee’s “rare aesthetics” from that decade, it struck a chord with thousands of people. That told me something I already knew – that Dundee in the 2000s was unforgettable, especially if you were a kid.

Most weekends seemed to begin at the Olympia. The building might not look like much now in photos, but back then it was an adventure waiting to happen. I remember the moment of excitement as you raced up the stairs to the slides, the butterflies in your stomach as you sat down, then the rush as you hurtled into the water.

The rapid river was always the best part – it felt wild, pulling you round and round, with waves crashing over you while everyone laughed. For a child, it was pure joy, and it made Dundee feel like it had its very own theme park.

The old Olympia (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

After swimming, the day often continued at The Stack. In its heyday, that retail park was alive. Megabowl sat right at the heart of it, and it felt like the coolest place in the city. I went to birthday parties there, lacing up bowling shoes that were always too big, trying to beat classmates while the arcade machines flashed and beeped nearby.

Afterwards, Wimpy was the spot for food – a burger and chips in one of its red booths, feeling like you were part of something big. Back then, The Stack seemed unstoppable. It was only years later, after the financial crash, that it became a ghost of itself. But when you were a kid in the 2000s, it was the place to be.

Toys R Us on the Kingsway West Retail Park was another landmark of childhood. I can still remember the thrill of stepping inside, where the aisles seemed to stretch forever. There were huge Doctor Who displays with Daleks and Cybermen standing guard, and endless shelves stacked with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.

At Christmas, it felt like a treasure cave, the kind of place where your entire wish list could come to life. Even now, I can almost smell the mix of new plastic toys and excitement in the air.

The old train station at the waterfront (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

Town itself was full of moments that stay with me. The City Square always had something going on – performers, events, or just the hum of people gathering. The Overgate was buzzing too, and WHSmith was a particular favourite. I’d wander through its shelves of books and magazines, always finding something new to flick through.

And then there was Tayside House, looming over the waterfront. It wasn’t pretty – in fact, everyone seemed to agree it was Dundee’s biggest eyesore – but it became part of the backdrop of childhood. I can’t look at old photos of the city without spotting it instantly.

And who could forget the Beano characters painted on the Overgate car park? That was such a Dundonian touch of fun. You didn’t just say “level three” when you parked – you said “Dennis” or “Minnie”. It gave the place a charm that only Dundee could pull off, and I’d love to see DC Thomson team up with the Overgate to bring it back again.

Christmas was another highlight. Dundee in December had its own magic, but the City Square light switch-on was the crown jewel. The crowd, the music, the anticipation as everyone counted down – then suddenly the lights flicked on and the whole city seemed to glow.

For a kid, it wasn’t just lights, it was the start of Christmas itself. I’ll never forget standing there, wrapped up in hats and scarves, feeling part of something bigger. It’s brilliant that the City Square switch-on is returning this year – because those nights really were unforgettable.

And always, there was Dundee’s soundtrack. Local bands like The View were breaking out of the city, while Snow Patrol filled the charts. Their songs were everywhere – blasting from radios in the Overgate or played live in venues like Fat Sams and the Caird Hall. There was even Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Camperdown Park in 2006, bringing some of the world’s biggest names to Dundee.

Dundee waterfront in the 2000s (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

Of course, the event would return bigger and better than ever in 2023. My mum and dad went to it to see the likes of Sugababes and P!nk, and what I loved was that me and my brother went in 2023 - so it felt like a natural succession.

Speaking of Camperdown, it wasn’t just concerts – it was the place for events, fairs, and family traditions. I remember rolling our eggs there at Easter, laughing as they bounced down the grassy slopes.

One of my favourite childhood memories was at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival, also in Camperdown. My brother took part in the school food competition and invented the “Desperate Dan-wich” – a massive creation inspired by the Dandy character.

He came runner-up to another pupil from our school, but for me, he was the star. I even got the day off school to watch him compete, and I loved every moment of it. That mixture of pride, fun, and family is what those festivals were all about.

Sundays often took us to Broughty Ferry, because our grandparents lived there. We’d stop by the Barnhill shops – Somerfield back then, now Co-op – before heading to their house. At Christmas, all the family came together at the Woodlands Hotel for dinner.

My grandad, my gran, and my auntie were all there, and though they’ve since passed away, those memories are treasures I’ll never forget. They’re the kind of moments that make you wish you could step back in time just to feel that warmth again.

The Bell Tree was another family favourite, a restaurant we saved for special occasions. Easter was the big one – the whole family gathering, the tables filled with food, and that feeling of celebration. It’s funny how you don’t realise at the time that you’re living through moments you’ll miss deeply one day. I can still picture the smiles, the chatter, the excitement of being together. Oh, how I miss it.

Beyond family and festivals, there were smaller quirks that stitched the decade together. Sensations, before it became Dundee Science Centre, had that massive talking head exhibit – terrifying yet fascinating, letting out its strange “Mmmmmm!” sound.

The Kingsway, too, somehow left its mark. To most people, it was just a dual carriageway, but as a child it felt unique. The tall rows of lamp posts gave it a rhythm as you drove along, especially on dark winter evenings. The old Hilton Hotel, once the Stakis Earl Grey, seemed impossibly grand to me then, standing tall with the best views across the Tay.

Some things I never got to experience before they disappeared. I don’t remember going inside the old train station, and the Tay Hotel had already closed its doors before I ever stepped in. By the late 2000s, it stood abandoned, almost haunting in its emptiness, before being reborn years later as the Malmaison. That was the story of Dundee in many ways – a city constantly reinventing itself, even while we were growing up within it.

Looking back now, Dundee is in a much better place than it was in the 2000s. The waterfront is transformed, the economy is stronger, and the city has a confidence it lacked back then. But for me, nothing will ever match the simple joy of those childhood years.

The Olympia, Megabowl, Toys R Us, the Beano car park, the Flower and Food Festival, the City Square Christmas lights, and even Tayside House – they’re all part of the tapestry of memory. If someone asked me to go back for just a single day, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.

To walk those streets again, to bowl another game at Megabowl, to dive into the Olympia’s rapid river, to shout “Dennis” when asked where I parked, to see the lights flick on in the City Square, to sit down for Easter at the Bell Tree – that’s the kind of time travel I’d never turn down.

Dundee in the 2000s might be gone, but the memories will always make me wish I could experience it all over again.