We’ve picked out 11 of the most exciting events from the decade - the occasions that brought people together and created a buzz.
From the worlds of music, sport, film, TV, technology and politics, they were moments which gripped the collective consciousness.
We’ve focused on happy events from the 80s, which had their fair share of tragedy, in this pick of events that shaped the decade.
What do you think was the defining moment of the 80s, and what is your happiest memory of the decade?
If you’re after more 80s nostalgia, you might enjoy this look back at the decade’s most maligned cars.
9. Eddie the Eagle soars into the nation's hearts
While Torvill and Dean achieved sporting perfection at the 1984 Winter Olympics, four years later, Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards did anything but. He achieved his dream by becoming the first person to compete for Great Britain at Olympic ski jumping. But he finished a distant last, more than 10 metres short of his closest rival. His exploits endeared him to the British public, making him one of the UK's biggest stars for a while. | Getty Images Photo: Gray Mortimore/Allsport
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10. Charlene and Scott tie the knot
While Charles and Diana's nuptials were the wedding of the decade, a huge TV audience also tuned in to watch Scott and Charlene tie the knot on Neighbours in 1988. The fact that actors Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan dated in real life only added to the appeal. | Getty Images Photo: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive
11. The fall of the Berlin Wall
It may have happened hundreds of miles from the UK, but the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was felt around the world. It was a moment of hope at the end of the decade, broadcast to hundreds of millions around the globe, as the East and West came together and friends and family who had been separated for nearly 30 years were reunited. | AFP via Getty Images Photo: PATRICK HERTZOG