The music, the fashion and the newfound freedom, for some at least, made it a great decade in which to grow up.
Wartime austerity was finally coming to an end and more and more households were able to afford time-saving mod-cons.
But no era is perfect and the 60s certainly had their flaws.
Below are nine things you almost certainly don’t miss about the 1960s if you grew up then.
How many of these things do you remember and are there any other elements of 60s life you were happy to see consigned to history? Let us know in the comments section.
5. 'Tracing paper' loo roll
If you went to school in the 60s, you'll likely recall how the loo roll was not at all kind to your bum. The shiny, rough, non-absorbent toilet paper used in many school toilets was the antiseptic Izal loo roll, which most pupils back then dreaded using. It was widely known by children of that generation as 'tracing paper' loo roll and the very mention of it is enough to send a shudder up the spine of those who remember using the stuff. One person called it a 'crime against humanity' and another said 'whoever invented it should be punished'. | Getty Images Photo: Chaloner Woods
6. Waiting for the launch of Radio Caroline
The 60s are widely recognised as the best decade for music, with the explosion of rock 'n' roll, and the arrival of great bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. But it took a while for DJs to give the public what they wanted, with Radio 2 reportedly rationing listeners to just three hours of rock 'n' roll a week in the early 60s as part of a rather traditional, conservative playlist. Thank heavens then for Radio Caroline, the pirate station which shook things up when it launched in 1964 - doing so from a ship off the British coast, to circumvent broadcasting laws. Such was the demand that within weeks of hitting the air it was reportedly attracting around 7 million listeners. Tony Blackburn, Johnnie Walker and Dave Lee Travis were among the big name DJs who started out aboard Radio Caroline before moving to the BBC. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
7. Ghastly paisley shirts
The 1960s were a golden age for fashion, full of colourful, flamboyant design classics, from flared trousers to the mini-skirt. But the decade was not without sartorial sin - the popularity of paisley shirts being a case in point. Two of the biggest offenders, it seems, were the pop duo Sonny and Cher. | Getty Images Photo: Douglas Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive
8. The smell of boiled cabbage
School dinners in the 60s were a stodgy affair, with potatoes and pastry featuring prominently. The smell of boiled cabbage hung heavy in the air, and most pupils dreaded seeing spam fritters on the menu again. Some desserts were more popular than others, with the skin on a wobbly blancmange, and 'frogspawn' tapioca pudding turning many children's stomachs. | Getty Images Photo: Terry Disney/Express/Hulton Archive