From adventure playgrounds and street parties to swimming pools, seaside trips, holiday schemes and after-school clubs, these nostalgic photographs capture how children across the region spent their free time between the 1960s and 1980s.
Before screens and smartphones filled our days, entertainment often meant climbing frames, rope swings, community centres, local parks and making your own fun with friends. Whether it was a trip to Blackpool, a summer afternoon at the pool, a creative activity at a youth club or simply exploring the playground, these were the moments that shaped childhood memories.
These atmospheric pictures from our archives are sure to transport you back - perhaps reminding you of the games you played, the places you visited, or even the childhood adventures your own parents remember.
Take a trip down memory lane, enjoy browsing the gallery, and share your favourite memories in the comments. What do you remember most about growing up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s?
Remember Wolverhampton market days? Take a nostalgic trip through our gallery here.
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1. Ambassador Bowling Centre, Wolverhampton, 1965
Three-year-old Wolverhampton triplets Paul, Martin and Andrew Tunney enjoy a fun day out at the Ambassador Bowling Centre in July 1965, pictured with their dad Graham Tunney of Tettenhall. A lovely glimpse of family time and childhood fun from the 1960s. Do you remember visiting local bowling alleys or entertainment venues like this, where a simple day out became a treasured memory? | Express & Star archive
2. Bentley, 1966
A brick and concrete adventure playground behind Linden Close, Bentley, near Walsall, in 1966. A simple space, but one that offered endless opportunities for children to climb, explore and create their own adventures. A reminder of a time when playgrounds were built for imagination, friendship and outdoor fun. | Express & Star archive
3. Lower Farm Estate, Bloxwich, 1967
A helping hand on the family farm at Lower Farm Estate, Bloxwich, in 1967, as Simon Hilton gets to work feeding 300 turkeys being prepared for Christmas. The young farmer was playing his part in the busy seasonal work, helping his family get ready for one of the biggest times of the year. Do you remember lending a hand with family jobs as a child, learning skills and sharing responsibilities along the way? | Express & Star archive
4. Rugeley, 1967
Youngsters on the Springfield estate, Rugeley, enjoy a play area in 1967. With slides, climbing frames and a concrete surface - but no railings or modern safety features - this was a familiar sight for many children growing up in the 1960s. How many remember spending hours in playgrounds like this, where imagination turned simple equipment into endless fun? | Express & Star archive