What Happened in 1956 in the UK? 9 Defining Moments You Should Know

In 2026, we mark the 70th anniversary of 1956 — a year that tested Britain’s global standing while quietly reshaping everyday life at home, what happened in 1956 in the UK. With Elizabeth II on the throne and Anthony Eden as Prime Minister, the country found itself balancing post-war progress, cultural change, and international crisis.

If you were born in 1956, you’re celebrating your 70th birthday this year; if you married in 1956, it’s your platinum (70th) wedding anniversary. From landmark laws and transport icons to rock ’n’ roll, television expansion, and the shadow of Suez, join us as we uncover the moments that defined 1956 in the UK.

Major Events of 1956 in the UK

• 1 January 1956 – Possession of heroin becomes fully criminalised in the UK, marking a tougher stance on drugs.
• February 1956 – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is launched, encouraging young people to develop skills, fitness and service.
• 17 April 1956 – Chancellor Harold Macmillan announces Premium Bonds, with sales planned to begin on 1 November 1956.
• 5 July 1956 – The Clean Air Act receives Royal Assent, laying the foundations for tackling urban air pollution.
• 10 July 1956 – A private member’s bill to abolish the death penalty is vetoed in the House of Lords; notably, no executions take place in the UK during 1956.
• 29 November 1956 – Petrol rationing is introduced in response to the Suez Crisis, affecting daily life across the country.
• 23 December 1956 – British and French troops withdraw from Suez under international pressure.

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Global Events That Happened in 1956

• 26 July 1956 – Egypt’s leader Gamal Abdel Nasser announces the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, triggering the Suez Crisis.
• 24 October 1956 – The secret Protocol of Sèvres is agreed between the UK, France and Israel.
• 6 November 1956 – British and French forces seize two major ports on the Suez Canal before declaring a ceasefire.
• 23 December 1956 – UK and French troops complete their withdrawal from Suez.
• Hungarian Revolution (Nov 1956): Soviet forces moved to crush the uprising; major casualties and a large refugee outflow followed.
• US presidential election (6 Nov 1956): Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated Adlai Stevenson.

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UK Music of 1956

The mid-1950s marked a turning point in British listening habits, as traditional crooners shared chart space with the first wave of rock ’n’ roll. Elvis Presley was the most successful newcomer. Tommy Steele was the UK’s most successful new act.

The year started with Bill Haley & His Comets rocking around the lock and ended the year with the best selling single of the year, Just Walkin’ in the Rain by Johnnie Ray

Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Teenagers (feat. Frankie Lymon) was the first song to be written by a teenager, for teenagers, to be number one in the charts.

UK Albums Chart

• 22 July 1956 – The first UK Albums Chart is published in Record Mirror.
  • Number one for the first two weeks: Frank Sinatra – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!

UK Singles Chart – every number one in 1956

Start date	Song	Artist	Weeks at #1
6 Jan 1956	(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock	Bill Haley & His Comets	3
20 Jan 1956	Sixteen Tons	Tennessee Ernie Ford	2
17 Feb 1956	Memories Are Made of This	Dean Martin	4
16 Mar 1956	It’s Almost Tomorrow	Dream Weavers	1
30 Mar 1956	Rock and Roll Waltz	Kay Starr	2
6 Apr 1956	It’s Almost Tomorrow	Dream Weavers	1
13 Apr 1956	Poor People of Paris	Winifred Atwell	3
4 May 1956	No Other Love	Ronnie Hilton	6
15 Jun 1956	I’ll Be Home	Pat Boone	5
20 Jul 1956	Why Do Fools Fall in Love	Teenagers (feat. Frankie Lymon)	3
10 Aug 1956	Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)	Doris Day	6
21 Sep 1956	Lay Down Your Arms	Anne Shelton	4
19 Oct 1956	A Woman in Love	Frankie Laine	4
16 Nov 1956	Just Walkin’ in the Rain	Johnnie Ray	7

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Top UK Movies of 1956

• Around the World in 80 Days – A lavish cinematic event that captivated audiences worldwide. Won the Best Picture Oscar.
• Reach for the Sky – Winner of the BAFTA for Best British Film, celebrating wartime heroism.
• George Orwell’s novel ‘1984‘ was released as a film starring Edmond O’Brien, Michael Redgrave and Jan Sterling
• The King and I directed by Walter Lang and starring Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr and Rita Moreno was a hit musical film in this year.

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Science & Technology of 1956

• 10 March 1956 – Peter Twiss sets a new airspeed record in the Fairey Delta 2, becoming the first person to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight.
• 25 September 1956 – The TAT-1 transatlantic telephone cable between the UK and North America is inaugurated.
• 11 October 1956 – The UK drops its first live air-dropped atomic bomb (Blue Danube) over Maralinga, South Australia (Operation Buffalo).
• 17 October 1956 – The Queen opens the world’s first commercial nuclear power station at Calder Hall.
• 21 November 1956 – The DIDO heavy-water research reactor opens at AERE Harwell.

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Sports of 1956

• 7 April 1956 – Manchester United win the Football League First Division title.
• 5 May 1956 – FA Cup Final: Manchester City beat Birmingham City 3–1; goalkeeper Bert Trautmann plays on despite a broken neck.
• 12 & 26 September 1956 – Manchester United become the first English team to compete in the European Cup, defeating Anderlecht 12–0 on aggregate.
• 31 July 1956 – Jim Laker takes 19 wickets against Australia at Old Trafford.
• 22 November – 8 December 1956 – Great Britain & Northern Ireland win 6 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze medals at the Melbourne Olympics.
• 24 March 1956 – Grand National drama as Devon Loch collapses near the finish; E.S.B. wins at 100/7.

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UK Television of 1956

• 17 February 1956 – ITV expands beyond London as ATV Midlands begins broadcasting.
• 18 February 1956 – ABC Weekend Television launches.
• 3 May 1956 – Granada Television begins broadcasting from Manchester, extending ITV to the North.
• 5 November 1956 – What the Papers Say airs for the first time.

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Interesting Facts & Figures

• Monarch: Elizabeth II
• Prime Minister: Anthony Eden (Conservative)
• Defining theme: The year is widely described as being dominated by the Suez Crisis.
• Justice: No capital punishment carried out in the UK during 1956.

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Births, Deaths & Marriages

Births

• 4 January – Bernard Sumner, guitarist (Joy Division and New Order)
• 6 January – Angus Deayton, actor and television presenter
• 6 January – Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
• 9 January – Imelda Staunton, English actress[49]
• 17 January – Paul Young, pop singer and guitarist
• 31 January – John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), punk rock singer-songwriter (Sex Pistols)
• 8 February – Richard Sharp, banker and Chairman of the BBC
• 12 March – Steve Harris, bass guitar player, founding member of Iron Maiden
• 17 March – Frank McGarvey, footballer
• 9 April – Nigel Slater, food writer
• 19 April – Sue Barker, tennis player and television presenter
• 25 April – Greg Richards, decathlete
• 26 April – Koo Stark, actress
• 13 May – Richard Madeley, television presenter
• 5 July – Terry Chimes, rock drummer (The Clash)
• 21 August – Kim Cattrall, screen actress
• 14 September – Ray Wilkins, footballer and coach (died 2018)
• 29 September – Sebastian Coe, athlete, co-ordinator of London 2012 Olympic Games
• 1 October – Theresa May, Prime Minister, Conservative Party leader, MP for Maidenhead
• 20 October – Danny Boyle, film director
• 27 October – Hazell Dean, singer
• 8 November – Richard Curtis, screenwriter
• 26 November – John McCarthy, journalist and hostage
• 7 December – Anna Soubry, politician
• 28 December – Nigel Kennedy, violinist

Deaths

• 31 January – A. A. Milne, author (born 1882)
• 29 April – Harold Bride, Titanic survivor (born 1890)
• 19 August – Bernard Griffin, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church; Archbishop of Westminster from 1943 until his death (born 1873)
• 22 September – Frederick Soddy, chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1877)
• 16 October – Jack Southworth, footballer (born 1866)
• 17 October – Anne Crawford, film actress (leukemia) (born 1920)
• 22 October – Hannah Mitchell, socialist and suffragette (born 1872)
• 9 December – Charles Joughin, Titanic survivor (born 1878)
• 13 December – Anthony Moorhouse, soldier (murdered in Egypt) (born 1935)

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UK Fashion of 1956

Fashion in 1956 still reflected the elegant, cinched-waist silhouette of the early post-war years, with full skirts and tailored jackets dominating women’s wear. At the same time, youth culture was beginning to assert itself: Teddy Boy styles — drape jackets, narrow trousers and bold details — became a visible symbol of teenage identity, closely linked to the rise of rock ’n’ roll.

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UK Cost of Living in 1956

Everyday prices in 1956 were measured in shillings and pence, and the impact of the Suez Crisis was felt most clearly through fuel shortages and rationing.

Item	Price in 1956
Bread	Unwrapped 1½ lb loaf: 11.1d (average)
Milk	7½d per pint
Eggs	3s 10½d (May) to 5s 1d (September) per dozen
Petrol	64.00d per gallon (annual average)

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Reflecting on 1956

Looking back, 1956 stands out as a year of sharp contrasts. Britain embraced innovation — from nuclear power to transatlantic communication — while simultaneously confronting the limits of its global influence. The legacy of the year lies as much in its achievements as in the lessons learned from crisis.

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Pros and Cons of What Happened in 1956 in the UK

Pros

• Landmark clean-air legislation improves public health.
• Major technological milestones in energy and communications.
• Cultural growth in music, theatre and television.

Cons

• Suez Crisis damages Britain’s international standing.
• Petrol rationing disrupts everyday life.
• Continued nuclear weapons testing overseas.

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Gift Ideas for 1956

What gifts might bring back the spirit of 1956?

• Premium Bonds-themed commemorative print or keepsake
• Routemaster bus memorabilia or model
• Corgi Toys model car
• Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! music gift
• A 1956 yearbook or DVD of news headlines

Gift Ideas for 1956

1965 was a turning point in British history—a year of bold reforms, cultural revolutions, and technological breakthroughs. From the rise of Beatlemania to groundbreaking changes in law and science, the UK was setting the stage for the future.

As we reflect on these moments 60 years later, it’s clear that the events of 1965 still shape our lives today. Whether through music, fashion, or policy changes, this was a year that truly made history.