VE Day 80 Illuminations

There is literally a lot for me to write about and writing continuous prose takes a lot of brain power that I lose at least two spoons (if you know the spoon theory and you fellow AuDHDers would understand how much energy it can take up). I will catch up eventually!

On Tuesday 6th May 2025, me and a friend thought we’d spend the evening in Central London to see historic landmarks and bridges along the Thames light up red, white and blue for the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). We arrived really early so we could take our time and not rush, starting with a slow stroll from Westminster and Lambeth down towards Tower Bridge via the Southbank to the Tower of London, thinking we’d get a good glimpse of the poppies.

Making our way to the Tower of London, we stopped at the end of Hay’s Galleria for me to pose with HMS Belfast in my Agent Carter-inspired dress which is red, white and blue and considering the character played by Hayley Atwell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is British and give HMS Belfast some love as I used to volunteer on board supporting the school holiday activities when she was celebrating her 80th birthday.

Dress: Her Universe (very likely discontinued from sale).

We then walked across Tower Bridge and took in the view from there before taking the pathway around the Tower keeping an eye out for the poppies, unfortunately we couldn’t see many (only the wall-mounted ones) because you had to pay to get in to see them up close. I knew I could get in for free when I showed my museum volunteering card, but my friend wasn’t comfortable doing so, then we thought we’d get some dinner whilst we wait for sunset.

It was still light outside and we found ourselves having way too much time to kill that we spent a lot of time debating how to pass the time! I thought about visiting the Barbican Conservatory as it is a very sensory experience with tropical plants, koi ponds and mini streams, but when we rocked up at the Barbican Centre, a staff member said it was booked for a private function and it’s only open to the public on Friday nights! I couldn’t help but notice the silhouette decorations of a British Tommy and an Unknown Woman in War outside the entrance of City of London School for Girls.

My feet were aching and burning from the friction against the inside of my canvas sneakers that I knew I was getting blisters and was desperate to find a pharmacy. We winded up by St Paul’s Cathedral and headed across the Millennium Bridge and back towards London Bridge to give more good vibes and hugs to HMS Belfast where we just about hit sunset. The lights came on slowly but surely; the first we noticed was Cannon Street Station bridge lighting up red that we knew we had to get a closer look, as well as the Shard with the Union Jack on its piercing sharp tip.

HMS Belfast was lit up in red as she was ‘cuddling’ a maintenance ship that had docked next to her - (another post on ‘cuddling’ warships will be created in due course). It was such a beautiful view from London Bridge itself that had been lit up blue and Tower Bridge was lit up in her default UV white - but matched the theme of the celebration.

After another painful stagger back towards Westminster, I saw the Houses of Parliament in red, white and blue which reminded me it was worth the journey! When we got closer to the other lights, we had to watch the AV projections on the Ministry of Defence’s office and Big Ben with photos from Imperial War Museum’s collection.

What a magical light fest for VE Day uptown! My feet and joints are painful but it was worth the sensory experience. I loved how Buckingham Palace had air raid style searchlights as well as red, white and blue. Let’s not forget the red white and blue along the Thames bridges, HMS Belfast and Big Ben. 🤩🇬🇧