8th May 2025 is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, and events will be taking place across the country to mark this historic anniversary. 

VE Day in 1945 marked the Allied victory in Europe and the news resulted in millions of people celebrating the end of the war, with street parties, dancing and singing across the country. This year’s commemorations will pay tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the Second World War, telling the stories of those who fought, the children who were evacuated, and those who stepped into the essential roles on the Home Front.

Four days of commemorations will begin on Monday 5th May, a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, with a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and a flypast of current and historic military aircraft in London, including the famous Red Arrows.

Buckingham Palace © VisitBritain / Andrew Pickett

The Cenotaph, the nation’s focal point of remembrance, will be dressed in Union Flags for the duration of the four-day commemorations.

The VE Day 80 commemorations will continue with a street party on HMS Belfast on the River Thames. HMS Belfast fired some of the opening shots on D Day in 1944 and protected Arctic convoys during the Second World War and is the most significant surviving Second World War warship.

HMS Belfast and Tower Bridge in London

From 6th May until 11th November, a commemorative display of ceramic poppies will be installed at the Tower of London to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The display will see nearly 30,000 poppies marking the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War. 

The specially commissioned installation will resemble a ‘wound’ at the heart of the Tower, which was itself bombed during the Blitz. Poppies will pour across the lawn overlooked by the ancient White Tower and within the Tower’s walls, the installation will create striking images, reminding us of loss through war, and of the long-lasting impact of conflict.

Tower of London © Historic Royal Palaces

On the evening of the 7th May 1945, a newsflash announced that the following day would be Victory in Europe Day. To commemorate this important moment in the nation’s history, the Parliament Choir will host a Victory in Europe Day Anniversary Concert in the famous Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster, eighty years to the day that victory was declared.

King Charles and senior members of the royal family will lead the commemorations on VE Day itself at a special Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, which will be both an act of shared remembrance and a celebration of the end of the war.

Westminster Abbey

The events will conclude with a concert at the historic Horseguards' Parade in London to finish the VE Day 80 commemorations in a celebratory tone, echoing how the nation reacted to the news 80 years before. With more than 10,000 members of the public in attendance, the concert will feature stars of stage and screen and military musicians and tell the story of victory and the legacy of the Second World War in Europe.

Street parties, barbecues and community get togethers be held by communities across the country, echoing the celebrations 80 years ago as the population welcomed the end of the war.

© VisitBritain / David Shepherd

Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition which is helping to organise the community celebrations said: “We spend a lot of our time focusing on the things where we might disagree. VE day 80 is a great opportunity to celebrate what we have in common, and to use the celebrations to reach out to neighbours, friends and our wider communities.”

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, added: “This landmark occasion is not only a time to remember the sacrifice of so many in World War Two, but it is an opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of the end of the war. VE Day will bring the United Kingdom together and we’re looking forward to taking part in the activities.”

To find out more about the commemorations visit ve-vjday80.gov.uk.

If you or your group would like to explore the locations and landmarks in London associated with VE Day and Britain's wartime past, on a tailor-made tour of the United Kingdom, please do contact our friendly team today.

Perhaps you would like to discover more about Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime leader, on one of our Churchill tours, or maybe combine your visit to England with a trip to the Normandy Beaches of France?