This May, the Imperial War Museums (IWM) are marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe with a powerful mix of celebration and remembrance. From an after-hours VE Day party aboard HMS Belfast in Shoreditch’s watery backyard, to a moving co-production with the National Theatre at IWM North, these events bridge the past and present with style, substance, and a dose of stiff-upper-lip nostalgia.
A VE Day 80 Street Party at Sea — Aboard HMS Belfast
On Monday 5 May, for the first time ever, HMS Belfast — the iconic Royal Navy warship moored on the Thames — will be fully open to visitors after dark, transforming into a floating VE Day street party as the sun sets over London.
From 6PM to 9:30PM, guests will explore all nine decks of the warship, enjoy live entertainment from vintage vocal trio The Charlalas, sip drinks on deck, and hear special guest talks that illuminate the ship’s crucial role in WWII. Expect tales of life aboard during Operation Overlord, the ship’s time in the Korean War, and personal stories from crew members past.
Food, music, and maritime history? All served with that unbeatable London skyline view. This is not your average Monday night.
Tickets for VE Day 80 Late aboard HMS Belfast are limited and available now via the IWM website.
Letters to Loved Ones: Theatre Meets Memory at IWM North
As part of IWM’s wider VE Day 80 commemorations, things take a more intimate turn up north. On Wednesday 7 May, the Letters to Loved Ones campaign comes to life through a live multimedia performance at IWM North in collaboration with the National Theatre.
This one-night event features celebrated British actors reading letters from WWII submitted by members of the public — giving voice to raw, personal stories written in ink during wartime separation. Renowned poet Tony Walsh will also perform his original poem Mightier Than War, a powerful tribute to love and human resilience during conflict.
The evening concludes with the premiere of The Next Morning, a poignant short film by James Graham (Olivier Award-winning playwright behind Best of Enemies) featuring Julian Glover, Siân Phillips, and Joseph Mydell. It offers a touching look at intergenerational reflections on VE Day — and how the memory of war still ripples through families today.
Tickets for this IWM & National Theatre event are free, but booking is essential via iwm.org.uk.
VE Day 80 Across IWM: More Ways to Mark the Moment
From 3–11 May, IWM branches across the UK will host a variety of VE Day 80-themed events:
- Volunteer-led insight talks at IWM London and IWM North
- Workshops and activities for families and history fans alike
- A themed Afternoon Tea at IWM cafés (because no British celebration is complete without cake)
- Ongoing invitation to contribute to the Letters to Loved Ones archive, where your family’s story becomes part of the nation’s history
It’s a moment to remember and reflect — but also to connect, through storytelling, creativity, and community.
Shoreditch’s Link to the Past, Floating in the Present
While HMS Belfast feels like a constant fixture on the Thames, it’s rare to experience the ship this way — after hours, illuminated, and alive with music and voices. Just a short stroll from Shoreditch’s buzzing streets, this VE Day 80 event offers something profoundly different: a night that honours history through joy, remembrance, and storytelling.
So whether you’re there for the vintage harmonies, the riveting talks, or just to walk the decks in the twilight, HMS Belfast is the place to be this VE Day. It’s not just a night out — it’s a dive into a living archive of courage, love, and survival.