The jingle of the ice cream van voted Britons' top nostalgic summer sound

Published: 23:51, 24 July 2026 | Updated: 23:52, 24 July 2026 With the arrival of the British summer comes the unmistakeable jingle of the ice cream van’s tune. Queuing for scoops of Mr Whippy or Wall’s with raspberry or strawberry sauce drizzled round a Cadbury’s flake, is one our most cherished memories of childhood summers. Nearly half of Britons agree our summers as youngsters were made unique by the thrill of hearing the ring of the van’s bells growing nearer as we waited on our street. Two thirds of us love nothing more than the simple pleasures of evenings spent in the summer breeze, the smell of suncream, and slotting two pence pieces in arcade halls along the coast. When asked a third of 2,000 Britons agreed their favourite aspect of the summer is complaining about the heat despite waiting all year for it to arrive. The soundtrack to our summer accompanied by BBQs in a neighbour’s garden are also vital components to having a good time. Even the yearly battle to blow enough air into the paddling pool makes it onto the list, as does the hum of the lawnmower. And when the heat gets too great a thunderstorm to break the air is another highlight. The joyful  jingle of the ice cream van is our favourite childhood memory of summer- officially!  Although, we might cherish peace and quiet after work or at the weekends usually, when the summer arrives even the sound of our neighbour blaring out music from their radio is a joy. The study commissioned by Kinder Bueno Ice Cream found that pop, rock and reggae are our favourite genres of music in the summer. Rebecca Jakob, Senior Brand Manager for Kinder Bueno Ice Cream, said: ‘British summers are often defined by the little things - the familiar smells, sounds and rituals that instantly transport us back to some of our happiest memories. ‘Whether it’s hearing the ice cream van in the distance, catching the smell of a barbecue drifting through the garden or listening to the songs that soundtracked summers gone by, it’s these simple moments that make the season feel so special. 'Summer nostalgia is incredibly powerful, and so often it’s the smallest pleasures that bring the biggest sense of joy.’ The survey also found nostalgia is becoming increasingly important, with more than half admitting they yearn for the summers of their youth and 63% saying reminiscing leaves them feeling warm and happy inside.