VE Day 2025: Britain Prepares for Historic Anniversary with Showstopping RAF Tribute
If you’re in the UK next May, get ready to look up: the 80th anniversary of VE Day is shaping up to be an unforgettable tribute, especially in the skies. On May 5, 2025, a sweeping RAF flypast will feature 23 aircraft — including the legendary Red Arrows and the emotional favorite, the Lancaster Bomber — set to stream across the country on carefully planned routes. This isn’t just a spectacle for aviation fans; it’s a nationwide salute to the heroes who ended World War II in Europe.
The details are enough to get any plane spotter excited. The action starts at 1:45pm, but if you’re anywhere from Essex to Cheshire, keep your eyes peeled earlier: flight paths cover multiple areas with scheduled windows. Essex and Colchester will catch the early thunder between 12:20pm and 1:10pm. The route then sweeps through Witham, over to London City, across to Heathrow, through Buckinghamshire and Denham, reaching as far as Cheshire and Halton, and covers northwest London up to Oxfordshire. All these skies will echo with powerful engines and remarkable history. For those who want an up-close view, parts of the route in London will pass directly over The Mall and Buckingham Palace — a royal centerpiece for the festivities.
This flypast isn’t just about vintage machines showing off. It’s backed by a ceremonial procession through the capital that’s set to make thousands stop in their tracks. Over 1,300 Armed Forces personnel, joined by young people’s groups, will process from Parliament Square, along Whitehall and The Mall, finishing at the Queen Victoria Memorial. It’s a deliberate move: the government wants to highlight remembrance as something shared by all generations, not just the old guard. Lisa Nandy, Culture Secretary, put it plainly: the anniversary means honoring the veterans themselves and making sure future generations understand what was won — and what’s at stake keeping that peace.
Events Across the Country: Parties, Parades and Restored Traditions
People who can’t make it to London or the flight paths aren’t left out. The flypast and the major procession will be covered live by national TV — so every living room can join in with millions of others. For those in the capital, there’s no need for big screens or tickets. The Mall is free for the public to line up and catch the spectacle in real time. It’s a back-to-basics approach, focusing on connection — you, your neighbors, and a bit of British street celebration.
And you won’t go hungry or thirsty. On May 8, pubs get extended opening hours thanks to a special government order, letting the party spill out later than usual. Meanwhile, the Great British Food Festival means street parties are almost impossible to avoid, complete with classic dishes and the kind of community feel you don’t get often these days. Across the four-day slate of commemorations, the final day brings a service at Westminster Abbey and a big concert on Horse Guards Parade: moments meant to reflect, remember, and unite the nation one more time.
The RAF isn’t just showing off old hardware — Wing Commander Andrew Watson, who’s behind the whole flight plan, says it’s about demonstrating just how capable and ready the military still is, all while paying respect to those who made Victory in Europe possible 80 years ago. Every detail, from the Red Arrows’ iconic trail to the stirring engine notes of the Lancaster, is tuned to send one clear message: the legacy of peace, and the sacrifices it took, will not be forgotten — and everyone gets a front-row seat.
