A Look Back At

Born in 1962

What Was Life Like in 1962?

Who Was in Charge?

Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan

Monarch

Queen Elizabeth II

What Things Cost

Pint of Beer

12p

Loaf of Bread

7p

Petrol (per litre)

6p

Average House

£2,670

Weekly Wage

£15.60

Value of Money

£1 in 1962 would be worth approximately £30.10 in today's money.

What Was Life Really Like?

Back in 1962, the world felt like it was shifting gears, though we didn't quite know it yet. You’d walk down the high street and the air smelled of coal smoke and damp wool, but through the window of the local electrical shop, everyone was huddled to catch a glimpse of *Steptoe and Son* or a bit of *Z-Cars*. If you had a few bob, you’d head to the cinema for *Dr.

No* and see Sean Connery make being a spy look like the best job on earth. The radio was a bit of a battleground; your mum wanted Ken Dodd, but the kids were all waiting for "Telstar" to beep across the airwaves. It was a proper "meat and two veg" era—nothing fancy, just a Sunday roast and maybe a glass of Watneys Red Barrel if you were at the local.

But oh, that winter! We didn't know the "Big Freeze" was about to bury us in snow that wouldn’t budge until Easter. While the Cuban Missile Crisis had us all a bit jittery, wondering if it was the end of the world, we still found time to marvel at the new Lego sets or play with a Slinky on the stairs.

It was a simpler, slower time, right before the Beatles truly blew the doors off.

Popular Toys & Games

  • Easy-Bake Oven
  • Troll Dolls
  • Spirograph

Number 1 Song in 1962

Moon River

Danny Williams

UK #1 on 1 January 1962