Beyond Victory, a season of special events at Westminster Abbey celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Running throughout May and June, a season of talks, tours, workshops and family events will look at life beyond victory, reflecting on the legacy of conflict and how societies are rebuilt. The Abbey has played a central role in marking VE Day. On the day itself, in May 1945, services of thanksgiving were held every hour, attended by an estimated 25,000 people. The anniversary has been celebrated regularly since then, and a special service at the Abbey on 8th May will once again bring the nation together to honour and pay tribute to the Second World War generation.
Beyond Victory season highlights include:
- An Evening with Max Hastings: Commemoration and Remembrance: Tuesday 3rd June
- British journalist and historian Max Hastings draws on his extensive research into the history of war to underscore why remembrance is vital. Sharing the varied experiences of those who have witnessed conflict first hand, emphasizing the invaluable lessons we can learn from their lives.
- Abbey Late: Beyond Victory: Wednesday 4th June
- Unwind after hours with an Abbey Lates evening of dance, crafts, and history at Westminster Abbey.
- Beyond Victory: Westminster Walking Tour: Selected dates in May & June
- Embark on an unforgettable journey through Westminster's poignant commemorative landscape with Blue Badge Guide Katie Wignall from Look Up London. Uncover the hidden stories behind memorials and monuments that reveal the far-reaching impact of the Second World War on Britain and the global empire.
- Beyond Victory: Drawing Workshop: Wednesday 18th June
- Experience a one-of-a-kind drawing workshop with Artist Reporter George Butler, set in the serene and historic St Catherine’s Garden at Westminster Abbey.
- Beyond Victory discussion: Destruction, Restoration and Commemoration: Tuesday 27th May
- Be part of an enlightening conversation held in partnership with the V&A's Culture in Crisis programme, uncovering the stories of recovery and resilience at religious sites impacted by war.
- Lunchtime Talk: The People’s Victory: Wednesday 14th May
- Historian Professor Lucy Noakes delves into the public emotions that surfaced with the end of the war in Europe.
- Lunchtime Talk: Remembering the Second World War: Wednesday 11th June
- Author and historian Keith Lowe examines how we remember the Second World War, 80 years after its conclusion.
- Beyond Victory Exhibition: 80 years of Christian Aid: 26th May – 20th June
- Celebrate 80 years of Christian Aid’s extraordinary impact with this moving photographic exhibition. This exhibition highlights some of its most inspiring moments, powerful stories of hope, resilience, and justice over eight decades of transformative work. Exhibition entry is included in the price of Abbey admission.
Full Listings & Tickets: Westminster Abbey