Tower of London poppy installation honors 80 years since WWII's end

Iconic red poppies return to the Tower of London to mark Victory in Europe Day.

Ceramic poppies are seen being installed at the Tower of London on April 25, 2025, as part of commemorations for VE Day. Photo by Carlos Jasso/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

The Tower of London poppy installation is set to return in 2025 with 30,000 red ceramic flowers cascading down the walls of the historic fortress to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II. This solemn yet powerful display, known as The Tower Remembers, will be unveiled on May 8—Victory in Europe (VE) Day—serving as a tribute to the fallen and a reminder of the enduring scars left by one of history’s most devastating wars.

Remembering the fallen, 80 years on

The Tower of London poppy installation holds a deep national significance for Britain, where red poppies have long symbolized remembrance for lives lost in wartime. Rhiannon Goddard, who is leading the project for Historic Royal Palaces, emphasized the importance of this particular anniversary. “This is the last really important anniversary of the Second World War that we could have veterans with us to tell their stories,” she said.

Volunteers from across the UK are gathering to assist in assembling and placing the 30,000 ceramic poppies that will once again adorn the 900-year-old fortress. Each flower is a poignant symbol of sacrifice, intended to honor both British soldiers and those from the Commonwealth who served in the global conflict.

A tribute reborn from a landmark moment

The upcoming Tower of London poppy installation draws on the powerful legacy of the original 2014 artwork titled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which filled the moat of the Tower with 888,246 ceramic poppies—one for each British and colonial soldier who died during World War I. That installation became a national event, visited by millions and even viewed by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Now, more than a decade later, designer Tom Piper and artist Paul Cummins—who led the original project—are returning to lend their creative vision to the new display. This time, the installation focuses on World War II, reflecting not only on military loss but also on the civilian impact, particularly the damage inflicted on the Tower itself during the Blitz.

“The wounds of war are still visible in places like the Tower,” said Goddard. “These poppies bleeding out from the building speak not only of the lives lost but of the resilience of a people and a place that endured so much.”

A nation remembers—through history and art

The Tower of London poppy installation is more than just a public art display; it is a living memory etched into the cultural consciousness of Britain. Cascading from the central White Tower and spilling into the south moat, the display will symbolically show how the effects of war radiate outward, affecting all aspects of life and society.

The placement of each poppy is a careful and deliberate act. Over a 10-day period, groups of volunteers will work in rotation to install the flowers, a process that highlights the collective effort behind the memorial.

Among those volunteers is Harshida Amin, a 62-year-old whose grandfather supported the British war effort from India. “I really wanted to volunteer for this project, because I thought it was really important to represent all the British soldiers that came from the colonies,” she told AFP. “Seeing them [the poppies] in such abundance just... demonstrates how many soldiers died for our freedom.”

Amin’s sentiment captures the broader emotional resonance of the installation—a reminder of the immense human cost of war and the shared legacy carried by generations who follow.

Bridging past and present through shared memory

The Tower of London poppy installation aims not only to honor those who sacrificed during World War II but also to connect younger generations to the gravity of that period in history. Goddard noted that, as the number of living veterans dwindles, initiatives like this become essential in preserving first-hand accounts and cultivating historical understanding.

The red ceramic poppies, hand-formed and individually placed, are not mass-produced tokens. Each one serves as a physical representation of a life lost, a family affected, or a community changed forever. They embody remembrance and resilience, two themes that are central to Britain’s national identity in the aftermath of global conflict.

With geopolitical tensions and war still shaping today’s world, the installation’s message resonates anew in 2025. As the UK and the world reflect on the 80th anniversary of WWII's end, The Tower Remembers installation reinforces the importance of remembrance, peace, and unity in confronting the past and facing the future.

Public unveiling and continued reflection

The new Tower of London poppy installation will be open to the public starting Thursday, May 8, and will remain in place until Armistice Day on November 11. During that time, visitors will be invited not only to view the installation but also to take part in related events, educational programming, and remembrance services.

Historic Royal Palaces, the organization managing the Tower, encourages visitors to consider the personal and collective histories tied to the poppies. School groups, veterans’ associations, and members of the public are all expected to attend in large numbers over the installation’s six-month run.

In a world increasingly shaped by digital experiences, The Tower Remembers offers a tangible, physical space for memory and reflection. It is an invitation to pause, to remember, and to consider how the past continues to shape the present.

The enduring symbolism of the poppy

The red poppy remains one of the UK’s most potent symbols of remembrance. From the fields of Flanders to the moat of the Tower of London, it has come to represent not just sacrifice but also hope—a hope that humanity might learn from its darkest moments.

For artists Piper and Cummins, as well as those organizing the new Tower of London poppy installation, the goal is to ensure that the legacy of World War II endures. The installation is not simply a tribute to those who died, but a broader reflection on war, memory, and the responsibilities of peace.

As the poppies once again take their place around the Tower’s ancient walls, they will do more than mark the passage of time. They will stand as a silent, solemn reminder of what was lost—and what must never be forgotten.