Tower Remembers 2025

2025 Poppies commemorative display to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

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When

Until 11 November 2025

Where

Inside the Tower of London

Ticketing information

The main display is within the Tower’s walls and requires a ticket for entry. A small number of poppies are visible emerging from under St Thomas's Tower, without a ticket. Please note that these poppies are visible during the daytime only.

Included in palace admission (Members go free)

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See a new special commemorative display of ceramic poppies installed inside the Tower of London to mark the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The display of nearly 30,000 of the original poppies, made for the 2014 installation, ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’, returns to the Tower, marking the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War.

The specially commissioned installation resembles a ‘wound’ at the heart of the Tower, which was itself bombed during the Blitz. Poppies pour across the lawn overlooked by the ancient White Tower, where the blood-red flowers form a crater, with ripples flowing outwards.

On display within the Tower’s walls, the installation creates striking images, reminding us of loss through war, and of the long-lasting impact of conflict. It creates a shared space for visitors to remember and reflect on the collective sacrifice of so many in this important anniversary year.

The poppies are on loan from Imperial War Museums and were designed and made by the artist, Paul Cummins. The new display has been created by the designer, Tom Piper.

Don't miss your chance to see this unique installation. Open from 06 May, to coincide with the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 08 May, you can visit the installation throughout the summer including VJ Day on 15 August, until 11 November, culminating in a moment of remembrance for Armistice Day.

Image: Ceramic poppies on the South Lawn. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

Image: Ceramic poppies cascading down the front of the White Tower. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

Image: Ceramic poppies on the lawn surrounding the White Tower. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

Image: Ceramic poppies on the South Lawn. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

Image: Ceramic poppies on the South Lawn. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

Image: Yeoman Warders holding ceramic poppies in front of the White Tower. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

The Tower Remembers

Tower Remembers commemorative display in the Tower of London. © Historic Royal Palaces/Imperial War Museums

The Tower and the Second World War

The Tower of London is home to a community of veterans today and has had military associations for centuries.

The Tower suffered heavy aerial bombardment during the Second World War in the Blitz, alongside the rest of the East End of London. One of the Tower’s Yeoman Warders, Samuel Reeves, and a resident, Lily Frances Lunn, died when the fortress took a direct hit, and several of its historic buildings were bomb-damaged in the period. At the end of the War, the fortress was floodlit, as a beacon of hope for a new beginning, but the shadow of loss hung over its VE Day festivities.

In recent years, it has been the site of two major national commemorations, marking the beginning and end of the centenary of the First World War.

With its ongoing military links and position as a national symbol of resilience, the Tower is a space for remembrance and commemoration.

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About the artist and designer

Paul Cummins MBE

Paul Cummins MBE is a ceramic artist from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Paul is internationally renowned for the installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' at HRP Tower of London 2014.

Tom Piper MBE

Tom is a designer. He was born in London and studied biology and art history at Trinity College, Cambridge, and production design at the Slade School of Fine Art.

Paul Cummins MBE

Paul was inspired to produce a ceramic poppy to honour each military life lost at the Front during the First World War. In recent years Paul has been commissioned to create large-scale installations for the Duke of Devonshire's Chatsworth House, Derby Royal Hospital, Althorp Estate, Blenheim Palace, Hardwick Hall, the Conran Shop.

Paul is represented by Halcyon Gallery, London, his most recent artworks appeared in the gallery’s 2024 group exhibition, ‘In Plain Sight’, 2024.

See www.halcyongallery.com/artists/28-paul-cummins-mbe/

Tom Piper MBE

He was Associate Designer for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2004 to 2014, for whom he has designed over 50 productions, including the award-winning Histories Cycle with director Michael Boyd. He has had an extensive national and international freelance career in theatre, exhibition and installation design. He collaborated with Paul Cummins on 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' and the subsequent 19 venue National tour of 'Weeping Window' and ‘Wave’.

Tom works regularly with Alan Farlie Architects on exhibitions including Shakespeare: Staging the World at the British Museum and Alice at the V and A. His many awards include an Olivier Award (costume design) for the Histories Cycle and a Sky South Bank Award for the original Poppies installation at the Tower of London.

See www.tompiperdesign.co.uk

Historic Royal Palaces commissioned Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate, to write a poem to mark the anniversary. His new poem ‘In Retrospect’, reflects on the symbol of the poppy and the importance of remembrance.

In Retrospect

The world asks a great deal of the poppies,
insists they carry the wounds of war
and shoulder the weight of remembrance.
Such flimsy, wavering plants;
we painted their flowers the colour of blood
and punched dark holes in their heads
as if bullets had passed through,
then trimmed them with green sprigs of hope.
And from deep in the seeds we concocted
the essence of sleep and dreams and resting-in-peace.
Almost weightless even in full bloom
we made them souls, the poppies, souls
of those who we lost, and - let it be said -
those who we killed.

Poppies - nursed in darkness, nourished by dirt.
But for all their spindly roots, frail stalks
and papery petals - as easily smudged
as a butterfly wing -
they joggle into existence
again and again, unearthing themselves
in fallow fields and railway sidings,
on roundabouts, verges and no man’s land,
from the brickwork of old chimneys and bridges
and cracks in the pavement.
They nod and they nag,
reminding us not to forget, flagging a red alert
as their crumpled petals unfold.
So, rightly, the poppies ask a great deal of the world.

Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a ticket to see the installation?

The main installation is within the Tower’s walls and requires an admission ticket. A small number of poppies are visible from the wharf, emerging from under St Thomas's Tower, without a ticket.

Do members need to book to visit the installation?

Members do not need to book to visit the installation in the Tower.

Can I buy a separate moat/poppies ticket if I don’t want to visit the rest of the Tower?

There are no poppies in the moat and the moat is closed to the public. There are no separate tickets to view the poppies – the display is included in a Tower ticket.

Is there a discount for veterans?

We have extended our veterans discount to 25% for the duration of the display, upon presentation of a valid MOD90 card, Veteran’s ID card, Defence Discount Card, or MoD certificate of eligibility.

Can I volunteer to install poppies like in 2014?

We are not able to offer public volunteering opportunities for this installation. This is a smaller installation and will be installed over a shorter period of time.

Can I buy one of the poppies?

After the installation in 2014, and a subsequent tour, the poppies were saved for the nation by the Backstage Trust and Clore Duffield Foundation and became part of Imperial War Museums’ collection. They will be returned to Imperial War Museums after the display and will not be available to purchase.

Can I leave a memorial to my relative who served/died in WWII?

Unfortunately, we are not be able to accommodate memorials to or for relatives.

Can I bring my poppy to add to the display?

The poppies are being installed within the Inner Ward of the Tower of London, which contains some very sensitive archaeology. For that reason, their installation must be managed very carefully, and we will not be able to accept any additional poppies for the display.

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