when was the big freeze in the uk

The event most commonly called “the Big Freeze” in the UK refers to the severe winter of 1962–63, which set in just after Christmas 1962 and lasted into March 1963.

Key dates

• The Big Freeze is generally dated to the winter of 1962–63.

• Exceptionally cold and snowy conditions began around Boxing Day, 26 December 1962, after snow spread south across the country.

• Deep cold and widespread snow cover persisted through January and February 1963, with a more decisive thaw only starting in early March 1963.

What happened during it?

• It was one of the coldest UK winters on record, with temperatures dropping below −20°C in places and some areas seeing snow on the ground for around two months.

• Rivers, lakes and even parts of the sea froze, and daily life was heavily disrupted by snowdrifts, blocked roads and impacts on transport and infrastructure.

Quick forum-style takeaway

When people on UK forums talk about “the Big Freeze”, they almost always mean winter 1962–63 – the brutal cold spell that started just after Christmas 1962 and didn’t really let up until March 1963.

TL;DR: The Big Freeze in the UK was the infamous winter of 1962–63, beginning around Boxing Day 1962 and finally easing in March 1963.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.