The Big Freeze of 1963: UK's coldest winter in more than 200 years

The winter of 1963 was the coldest winter for more than 200 years in the UK. The very cold, snowy weather started just before Christmas 1962 and continued until early March 1963.

A persistent feed of Arctic air and snow cover meant that it got progressively colder and colder. Tredegar in South Wales recorded snow 165cm (over 5 feet) deep on 7-8th February 1963. Weatherman Liam Dutton has more in this short video explainer.

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[jrgboy]

It was exceptional, it started snowing on Boxing Day & didn't stop for 3 months, I was 13 & remember helping my Dad dig our way to the pavement, the snow was over 2 feet deep in our street alone.

[thomasreed]

I remember it well as a family living in Scotland mum dad and sister we came down to live in England New Year’s Day there was n Snow mountain high on the side of the road all the way down. We live with Nan and grandad. After watching videos grandad said even the sea has frozen over. I wish we could all be back together again. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[prof.heinous]

Best winter ever (if you were a kid) maybe not so much fun if you were an adult - happy memories!

[robtyman]

Apparently the River Thames had ice blocks in it and was completely frozen over in last time this had happened was around 1890. Many rivers all over the UK had ice flows in them. It was the coldest winter overall in the UK in the 20th century - beating 1946/47. Both were before my time, but I do remember some particularly cold winters down the years - 78/79, 86/87, and 2010/11.

[happydaze-m]

I was born at home April 1963 my parents told me there was snow above the window sills my dad had to dig a trench to get out of front door onto the road 😮

[peterschweiger]

I remember seeing snow on roof tops for months as I cycled to school. Black ice was a constant danger in the mornings and snow men lived happily in front gardens for days, even when the thaw set in.

[mariansteele]

I remember it so well . Baby and toddler in 3rd floor flat . Pipes frozen, moved in with mum for a week until they thawed, back home for a short while until they froze again . The good thing to come from it was it gave us the impetus to start looking for and buying our first house. So not all bad .

[peterwright]

I was11remember it we'll still went to school everyday never seen snow like it before went fishing with my brother bait was frozen in the garden shed great fun as a kid

[ajadrew]

I was 5 yrs old & vividly remember loads of snow in my Grandparents garden nr Tonbridge in Kent!

[peterjackson]

I remember it well. I was due to start a new job 200 miles away. Got 3/4 way there and had to stop for the night. The last 60 miles took all of the next day. Saw a line of cars in s side road. Only the roofs were visible. Also someone with a shopping basket - on skis!

[peterg]

I remember it well and yes it was bloody cold...

[chrisbarrett]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Throughout history there have been some very severe winters. In the CET (central England temperature) record that goes back to 1659 the winters of 1683-1684 and 1739-1740 were colder, the former being the coldest, but 1740 had the coldest YEAR by a wide margin in the entire CET record.

[richardcowley]

it started on Christmas eve for us, we had very deep snow over the houses in Rainford, lasted until April

[pauleades]

I remember as a child on our farm in Shropshire, being snowed in for 6 weeks before we could get up our lane.

[jacobisrael-ok]

we had no central heating in those days, and there was no cold weather payments me old mates

[marionmoore]

Yes remember it,
at the infant school back
then. At break times we built
an igloo in the playground.
We had the local paper come
out and take pictures.
🤗👏😂

[alanfrost]

Before climate panic set in and every body started flying to meetings wow

[bwghall]

Chippenham frog- well in Wiltshire, the snow started on the boxing day at 6 pm and the snowflakes were the size of 10 bob notes. I had to drive my Jowett back into Bath somerset. just made it okay.

[colin]

Some people look back to this time with fond memories of carefree childhood.
I sadly look back and remember the tradjic death of my baby sister Sandra, this was due to her catching Pneumonia at eleven month old.
Our father was a self employed plasterer, he could not work due to the very cold weather conditions across UK.
No work no money in them days, we had no coal for the fire to heat the house.
I remember our mother going without food so we three children could eat.
Do I look back with anger damn right I do

[yesemitesam]

My most vivid memory, apart from the depth of snow, was the number of dead birds I saw lying around. They were mostly smaller, garden birds such as finches, tits, thrushes, robins etc. There was just no food for them and with the severe cold they didn't stand a chance.