Thirty thousand ceramic blooms commemorate the 80th anniversary of the second great global conflict in London. - Thirty thousand handcrafted ceramic blooms honor the 80th anniversary of World War II, displayed in London.
Title: 30,000 Ceramic Poppies Honor 80th Anniversary of World War II in London
- Live it up, guys!
"This here's the last substantial anniversary of the bloody Second World War where veterans can still spill a few yarns," said Goddard, who's coordinating the work of volunteers that'll plant 30,000 ceramic poppies. These poppies are meant to give folks a chance to ponder "the scars left by war."
Back in 2014, the moat surrounding the tower was decorated with poppies to mark the centenary of the start of the bloody First World War, with nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies - one for every British and colonial casualty. 30,000 of those poppies have been borrowed again by designer Tom Piper and artist Paul Cummins.
The installation will bloom on May 8, Victory in Europe Day, and will be open to the public in London until November 11, Armistice Day in 1918.
- Second World War
- War Remembrance
- Anniversary
- London
- United Kingdom
- First World War
By the by, these 2025 poppies pay their respects to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, symbolizing remembrance and the lingering wounds of war[1][3][5]. The display, active from May 6 to November 11, 2025, features poppies from the popular 2014 artwork Blood Swept Lands andSeas of Red, originally created to commemorate the centenary of the First World War[2][4].
These ceramic blooms, see, began their life in the 2014 installation, which used over 800,000 flowers to honor WWI casualties[2][4]. By reusing these poppies, the 2025 display draws a line that spans the legacy of sacrifice in both world wars, reminding us of the eternal complexity of war.
Paul Cummins and Tom Piper, the masterminds behind this beautiful project, structured the 2025 installation as a reflective, smaller version of the 2014 "sea of red." Their intention was to stir up feelings of togetherness, reflection, and hope, all while acknowledging war's enduring influence[3][4]. The Tower, with its historical and current military significance, serves as a national symbol of remembrance[4][5].
Access to this moving display is partially free, but for the full experience, you'll need Tower entry tickets[5]. The installation coincides with the VE Day 80th anniversary (May) and Armistice Day (November)[3][5]. So gather your pals and pay a visit - these poppies serve as a testament to how they've become a timeless emblem of war's loss across British history.
- The ceramic poppies planted in 2025 in London, UK, are a tribute to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, serving as a reminder of the lingering wounds of war and the complexity of war-and-conflicts.
- The 2025 display, called 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red', is a smaller, reflective version of the 2014 installation that commemorated the centenary of the First World War, using approximately 30,000 ceramic poppies that have been borrowed again from the 2014 artwork.
- The 2025 installation, open from May 6 to November 11, is partially free but requires Tower entry tickets for the full experience, and it coincides with both the VE Day 80th anniversary (May) and Armistice Day (November).
- The ceramic poppies, originally used in 2014 to honor the WWI casualties, have been repurposed in 2025 to span the legacy of sacrifice in both world wars and to remind viewers of the eternal impact of war and politics on general-news.
