May 8th, 1945: Celebrating 80 Years of Peace on VE Day
As we approach the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it is a wonderful time to reflect on the significance of this historic event and the impact on our lives today. VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, marks the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945. This year, we celebrate eight decades since that momentous day, and it’s an opportunity to honour the bravery and sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom.
In Surrey, many of our local museum and heritage venues will be putting on special events to commemorate this milestone. From exhibitions showcasing wartime memorabilia to interactive displays and reenactments that bring history to life, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. These events provide a wonderful opportunity to step back in time and experience the joy and relief felt by millions when the war ended. So, come along and join us in celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Surrey.
Here is just some of what will be happening around the county:
Brookwood Military Cemetery is offering free tours of the UK’s largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, the final resting place of over 8500 Commonwealth servicemen and women and many nationalities cared for by the CWGC, now through May 11.
At Bourne Hall Museum, you can explore VE Day in Epsom and Ewell with bunting, fascinating facts, and a small exhibition on life in Epsom and Ewell at the time of VE Day, available now through to May 17.
Cranleigh VE Day 80th Anniversary Family Trail: Up until May 17th, explore a fun and engaging trail filled with stories of incredible bravery
VE Day Tea Party at The Guildford Institute: On May 7th, enjoy classic tunes from vintage singer Jennifer Merchant and get creative with Open Access Arts
Epsom 80th Anniversary Commemorations: On May 8th, the day starts with a procession from the Town Hall to the Marketplace and ends with a beacon lighting ceremony
Surrey Heath Borough Council Celebrations: From May 8th to May 10th, various events will take place across the borough to mark VE Day
Farnham Commemorations: On May 8th, Farnham will host commemorations for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
Join in Guildford World War Two Guided Walk on May 8 from 11am to 1pm, starting at Tunsgate Arch, to explore the vast impact of the war on the lives of Guildford’s local communities.
VE Day 80th Anniversary Trail at Kenley Airfield: Starting May 8th, learn about the epoch-shaping events of 1945 while enjoying a family walk or cycle ride around the airfield
Spelthorne Museum is hosting an exhibition showing how Spelthorne experienced WWII and celebrated its end, from May 8 to June 7.
Surrey Day 2025: On May 10th, explore how Surrey was impacted by World War Two as part of the county’s annual Surrey Day celebrations.
At Bourne Hall Museum, learn about the local impact of four years of bombing on the people and places of Epsom and Ewell during WWII on May 10 from 10:30am to 12noon. Tickets are £6.50 per person.
Bourne Hall Museum Kids Club invites children to step back in time and experience life on the Home Front during World War II with gas mask training, air raid drills, and many more hands-on activities on May 10 from 1pm to 2:30pm. Tickets are £6.50 per child.
Rural Life Living Museum is hosting the Village at War Event on May 10 and 11 from 10am to 4pm, featuring WWII reenactments, military encampments, RAF plotting room, and more. Tilford at War is one of the premier second world war reenactments in the UK and is not an event to be missed.
Crafts Study Centre at UCA Farnham is displaying ceramic artist Henry Hammond’s war drawings from his time in service in North Africa and Italy, where he produced pen and wash drawings of astonishing clarity of line, rendering a war so often seen in black and white in impressive colour, now through to early June.
Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre is celebrating VE Day:80 Years with a pop-up VE day window, Blackbrook Bomber exhibition, and children’s activities on May 10 from 10am to 4pm as part of the wider town’s VE and Surrey Day celebrations.
Chertsey Museum is showcasing Local Heroes: Stories of the Second World War from now through to June exploring the history of the Borough of Runnymede through the experiences of nine local people, featuring images from the Jim Knight Collection of Surrey Herald newspapers and accompanied by a Runnymede Bomb Map created from original AFS and ARP bombing reports.
Ripley Museum is also celebrating two community heroes from now through the end of June telling the story of a remarkable pharmacist who made penicillin for civilians during the war despite the odds, and the pharmacist’s assistant who preserved the archive on display.
Rural Life Living Museum will also have VE Day themed activities and demonstrations throughout May Half Term from May 26 to 30, 10am to 4pm.
For the month of May, visit Surrey History Centre’s foyer display to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Featuring photographs, records, and stories from Surrey’s VE Day celebrations in 1945, 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2020, the display highlights personal memories from those who experienced the historic day. You can also discover records to help trace family members who served in World War Two.
And why not visit Brooklands Museum at any time to explore their interactive Aircraft Factory which includes the only known surviving Brooklands-built Wellington Bomber and the only one to see active service during World War Two. Discover the Air Raid Shelters on site capable of housing over 5,000 people in the event of an attack which were in use throughout the Second World War.
Surrey Museums Partnership is a member of Visit Surrey, the county’s tourism platform. Keep up to date with what’s happening near and around you on their website here
View or download a pdf of the museum events here