As the World Cup approaches, we take a look back at life in 1966 — a time extremely different to today, despite Paul McCartney releasing new music and a Labour Prime Minister in office. Social historian Paul Feeney, author of 1966: From Good Vibrations to World Cup Victory, explains what it was like living in Britain then.
Fashion and the Mini Skirt Revolution
It is impossible to think of 1966 without fashion. The era was synonymous with a radical new wave of dressing, from mod culture to the mini skirt. Mary Quant, awarded an OBE that year, designed the skirt that became so popular the government had to intervene. Most miniskirts had been classed as children's wear, but in 1966 the government reclassified them as adult clothing to stop grown women avoiding tax by buying children's clothes. Jean Shrimpton, often described as the world's first supermodel, helped launch the mini skirt in 1965. Other top models included Celia Hammond, Pattie Boyd, Peggy Moffitt, Penelope Tree, and 16-year-old Twiggy, named the 'Face of 1966'. For men, well-tailored suits were the norm, with Fred Perry polo shirts as popular casual wear. The more flamboyant adopted a look later borrowed by Austin Powers: velvet fabrics accessorised with frills and bows, topped with flowing locks.
Daily Life and Home Comforts
In daily life, a milkman still delivered the morning pint, post was delivered twice a day with no junk mail, and most Brits shopped at local stores before supermarkets took over. Twenty per cent of Brits had yet to experience indoor plumbing, and central heating was a distant dream — coal fires and oil burners heated many homes. Britain's first credit card, Barclaycard, launched in June 1966; before that, everything was paid for with cash or cheque. Getting a doctor's appointment was far easier than today: you were seen the same day and never refused a home visit, even in the middle of the night. Motorways were new; only the M1 was operational, with an experimental 70mph limit. The M25 was still years away.
Transport and Travel
In 1966, drink driving laws had just made it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level above 80mg, but the only police test was asking the driver to walk in a straight line. Pass the walk and you were back behind the wheel; failing meant a £100 fine and up to two years in jail. Although most Brits holidayed at home — popular spots included Blackpool, Brighton, and Bournemouth — foreign getaways were emerging. Freddie Laker formed Laker Airways, operating economy charter flights from Gatwick to Mediterranean resorts. Spain was the top destination, with thousands flocking to Majorca, Ibiza, and Tenerife. Benidorm was growing as a resort, but mass package tourism to the Costa Blanca was just starting; Alicante Airport did not open until 1967, so most visitors flew into Valencia, followed by a three to four hour coach transfer.
Entertainment and Culture
For those staying home, the cinema was the most popular destination. Television was still in its infancy, but some shows are still recognisable today. Coronation Street dominated monthly ratings, Alf Garnett shocked audiences in Till Death Us Do Part, and in October 1966, William Hartnell regenerated as Doctor Who for the first time, with Patrick Troughton taking over. In America, Star Trek launched, though it would not reach the UK for a couple of years; the UK's favourite sci-fi remained Thunderbirds, which had a feature film released. Cliff Richard and The Shadows released a tie-in single for Thunderbirds Are Go, including tracks like 'Lady Penelope'. Cinema offerings were mixed: Alfie starring Michael Caine was a critical hit, Thunderball (the fourth Bond film) cleaned up at the box office, Doctor Zhivago grossed around £80 million in today's money, and Carry On Screaming saw the team tackle the villainous OddBod.
Music and the World Cup
Musically, 1966 is inseparable from the Beatles. They released the groundbreaking album Revolver in August, widely considered one of their best, with tracks like 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Taxman', and 'Yellow Submarine'. They toured Germany, Japan, the Philippines, and the USA — their final paid concert tour. The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks were also making it big, with 'Sunny Afternoon' becoming one of the year's biggest hits. Bizarrely, the best-selling album of 1966 was The Sound of Music soundtrack, which spent 70 weeks at the top of the UK album chart. The 11th Eurovision saw Scottish tenor Kenneth McKellor in a kilt come ninth with 'A Man Without Love'. But only one tournament really interested Brits: the World Cup.
Football was not the big business it is today, but it was still a national obsession. Liverpool, managed by Bill Shankly, were champions; Everton FA Cup winners; Bobby Charlton was both British and European Footballer of the Year. Arsenal finished 14th, and Manchester City were still in the Second Division. The average footballer's wage in the top flight was £44 a week, compared to today's £60,000. World Cup fever built throughout 1966, but there were no sticker albums or global sponsorship blitzes. The official mascot was World Cup Willie, a cartoon lion in a Union Jack football shirt. The Royal Mint issued commemorative medals in silver and bronze. Television coverage was central: the BBC broadcast England's matches live, with ITV also covering the tournament. People gathered in pubs, clubs, and village halls to watch. The tournament began in July with 16 teams — compared to 48 today — including North Korea, and was played at grounds like Hillsborough, Roker Park, and Ayresome Park, with the final at Wembley.
The Final and Aftermath
The night before England's final triumph, Sir Alf Ramsey took the squad to the cinema to watch Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. Earlier, they had visited Pinewood Studios, meeting Sean Connery filming You Only Live Twice. Ninety-three thousand spectators, including the Queen and Prince Philip, filled Wembley to watch England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time. Around 400 million watched worldwide. The squad's win bonus was £22,000; Bobby Moore insisted it be split equally, leaving each man with £1,000. Pre-tournament, Sir Alf famously predicted: "We will win the World Cup." Current coach Thomas Tuchel was more cautious, saying: "I think everyone knows we cannot promise that we will win it, but England fans want to see a team that loves to fight for each other, loves to run and give everything."
Then and Now: Prices Comparison
Here is a snapshot of prices in 1966 (in today's money, as decimalisation came in 1972) compared to 2026:
- National Average Wage: £20.30 per week (£1,055 per year) vs £749 per week (£38,948 per year)
- Cinema ticket: 15p vs £9.50
- Pint of beer: 10p vs £5.50
- Fish and chips: 10p vs £9.50
- Flight to Spain (return charter): £31 vs £250
- Train ticket (London–Manchester return): £3 vs £100
- Men's haircut: 15p vs £20
- Pack of 20 cigarettes: 20p vs £13
- Loaf of bread: 5p vs £1.60
- Pint of milk: 4p vs £1.00
- Daily newspaper: 3p vs £2.00
