18-Mar-2025

Spring Summer 2025 at the British Normandy Memorial

The British Normandy Memorial will host a series of free events and activity through the Spring and Summer.

We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors alike in the coming weeks and months to reflect and remember in this 80th anniversary year of Victory in Europe Day.

Credits – Left – Florence Marsac, Right –  Septième Ciel / Christophe Neveu / Francois Monier

 

THE RETURN OF THE GIANTS – APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2025

The Standing with Giants installation will be installed from 31 March. The completed installation will be open to the public from 12 April until mid September 2025.

Among the 1,475 figures, this year’s installation will feature approximately 200 new creations including radio operators, medics, and a Scotsman playing the bagpipes.

In this VE Day 80 anniversary year, the figures will serve as a symbol of the bittersweet emotions faced by so many at the end of the Second World War in Europe – joy that the war had ended alongside the reality of absent loved ones who never came home.
The return of the Giants has been made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from the Normandy Memorial Trust’s three partners, BAE Systems, KPMG and Teledyne FLIR.

In addition, the Gold Beach Tourism Office has partnered with the Normandy Memorial Trust to support the costs of the installation process and supporting widespread promotion of the installation in Normandy and throughout France.

We invite the public to honour their fallen friends and relatives with a sponsored tribute plaque at the Memorial. More information here.

The Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning, which includes a café and shop, will also be open from 12 April until 5 October 2025.

 

 

VE DAY 80 AT THE MEMORIAL – THURSDAY 8 MAY 2025

The Royal British Legion, Normandy Branch, will hold a service of remembrance and celebration at 1500 local time at the Memorial to mark this significant anniversary.

Please register attendance here.

The ceremony will begin with a procession from the Winston Churchill Centre to the Memorial. The service will then begin at the Memorial at 15:25 and will last approximately 20 minutes. The service will be followed by a reception at the Winston Churchill Centre, to which all are welcome.

The Memorial and Winston Churchill Centre will be open as normal. 

 

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY AT THE MEMORIAL – FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2025

The Normandy Memorial Trust and the Spirit of Normandy Trust are working in partnership this year to host the official D-Day ceremony at the Memorial.

The ceremony will start at 1030 and end at about 1115 local time. Members of the public are invited to attend but must register in advance here.

For enquiries related to Veteran attendance or any other request to take part in the ceremony (e.g. to parade a standard) please email mark.sont1944@outlook.com.

The Memorial site including the Winston Churchill Centre café will be open as normal. The public is welcome to visit the Memorial outside of the official ceremony window and there is no requirement to register in advance.

 

PARKING AT THE MEMORIAL 

There is a fee of €3.50 for parking and tickets are valid all day. The fee is payable at parking machines on site or via the apps Easypark and PayByPhone.

All funds raised go directly towards the ongoing maintenance of the Memorial.