Look Back To 1964: What Happened That Year

Top of the Pops, pirate radio, mods and rockers, and BBC Two.

Here's 1964 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1964

• The Beatles and the Rolling Stones both had number ones; 'Can't Buy Me Love' sold in enormous numbers.
• The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun' went to number one in June.
• The Beatles' 'I Feel Fine' was number one at Christmas.

In the news in 1964

• Harold Wilson won the October general election for Labour.
• Radio Caroline began broadcasting from a ship in March.
• Mods and rockers clashed at Clacton, Brighton and Margate over bank holidays, and the newspapers made it a moral panic.

On screen in 1964

• Top of the Pops began on 1 January.
• BBC Two launched on 20 April, delayed on the first night by a power failure.
• A Hard Day's Night and Goldfinger were the films of the year.

In sport in 1964

• Match of the Day began on BBC Two in August.
• Liverpool won the First Division.
• Britain won four golds at the Tokyo Olympics, including Mary Rand and Ann Packer.

Everyday life in 1964

• Scooters, parkas and Carnaby Street defined mod style.
• The Mini Cooper won the Monte Carlo Rally.
• Transistor radios put pop music in bedrooms for the first time.

If you were born in 1964

• Anyone born in 1964 is the same age as Top of the Pops, BBC Two and Match of the Day.
• They were two at the 1966 World Cup.
• Anyone born in 1964 turns 30 in 1994, 40 in 2004, 50 in 2014, 60 in 2024 and 70 in 2034.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1967
• Look back to 1966
• Look back to 1965
• Look back to 1963
• Look back to 1962
• Look back to 1961
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• 1960s party playlist
• Playground games by region
• Knock down ginger
• Conkers rules
• Marbles rules
• School dinners we all remember
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

When did Top of the Pops start?

1 January 1964, broadcast from a converted church in Manchester.

When did Match of the Day start?

22 August 1964, on BBC Two, with Liverpool against Arsenal.

How old is someone born in 1964?

Subtract 1964 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2004, 50 in 2014, 60 in 2024 and 70 in 2034.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.