D-Day 80 Anniversary Events

2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day when Allied forces undertook the largest invasion the world had ever seen. In 1944 Operation Overload saw the launch of over 4000 ships and landing craft and over 150,000 troops storm the five Normandy beaches - Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha - in an event that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation. There are a host of events bringing the UK and its allies together to remember this shared history, many events will be free to attend and open to visitors and local residents to attend and pay our respects to the fallen-on D-Day.

Portsmouth in Hampshire has been chosen as the centre of the UK's National Commemorations, standing shoulder to shoulder with the international events to mark this occasion. Not all events will be happening over the 6th June weekend, with a number running across May and June. Commemorate this momentous event by heading out and getting involved in and showing your respect for those who lost their lives.

D-Day 80 Events - Lest we Forget

• Now until 5th June, D-Day 80 in Objects, Online Exhibition
• 16th May - 16th June, D-Day 80, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
• 5th June 2024, UK’s national commemorations for D-Day, Southsea Common, Portsmouth 
• 6th June 2024, Memorial Service at D-Day Stone, near South Parade Pier, Portsmouth
• 6th June 2024, D-Day Party in the Park, Sunninghill, Berkshire
• 8th June 2024, Armed Forces Day, Southsea Common, Portsmouth 
• 8th June 2024, Memorial Service and Parade, Dover, Kent
• 8th June 2024, D-Day 80 Themed Cruise, Steamship Shieldhall, Southampton
• 8th - 9th June 2024, Southwick Revival D-Day Story, Southwick, Hampshire
• 8th - 9th June 2024, Daedalus D-Day 80, Solent Airport, Lee-on-Solent, Gosport
• 9th June 2024, Proms at the Kings, Kings Theatre, Southsea. Portsmouth
• 9th June 2024, D-Day 80 Themed Cruise, Steamship Sheildhall, Southampton 
• 9th June 2024, D-Day Anniversary Parade, Hardway, Gosport
• 29th June - 30th June, Commemorative Weekend, Hungerford, Berkshire

D-Day 80 Proclamation

The D-Day 80 Proclamation will take place on Thursday 6th June at 8 am and see Town Criers from across the South East and around the world including the United States of America, Bermuda, Canada, Australia, and many more making an official announcement in public to commemorate the start of D-Day.

These will include Chris Brown from Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Nigel Hopkins from Reading, Patrick Laws from Buckingham, Jonathan Rayner from Christchurch, Paul Goring from Rye, Faye Thompson from Petersfield, Michael Hickmott from Tenterden, David Peters from Guildford, Richard Plowman from Chichester, and Jean Pastlewaite-Dixon from Whitney to name but a few.  Click here to see the full list of town criers in towns and villages across the region taking part. 

D-Day Beacon Lighting

Beacons will be lit on both sides of the English Channel on the 6th June with the International 80th Anniversary D-Day Beacon will be sited at the British Normandy Memorial and five more being lit on the beaches used for landing: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. See below for other beacons being lit within South East England.  We are adding to this list all of the time, please check back for more sites and information. 

• Portsmouth will have two beacon lightings, one at the HM Naval Base and one at Southsea Castle - these will represent the UK's principal beacon and will be lit at 9.15pm BST, all others highlighted below will also be lit at this time.
• Guildhall Square, Southampton, Hampshire
• Cliff Meadow, Bramley, Hampshire 
• Civic Park, HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire
• Cricket Field, Netley Abbey, Hampshire
• Lepe Country Park, Hampshire (arrive at 8.15pm for 9.15pm lighting)
• Whitehill Village Hall, Bordon, Hampshire
• Fordingbridge Recreation Ground, New Forest (arrive at 8pm for 9.15pm lighting)
• Yarmouth Town Centre Green, Isle of Wight 

D-Day Attractions in South East England

Visit the UK's only museum dedicated solely to the Normandy Landings, D-Day Story, Portsmouth, with activities, talks, and the D-Day 80 in objects project, showcasing an object each day in the lead-up to the anniversary. There is no better time to visit.  

Southampton was transformed, like many towns along the South Coast, into a massive military camp. It was also involved in the development of the Mulberry Harbour ahead of D-Day. Discover more about Southampton's involvement in the build up to D-Day and the period that followed.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire, will be marking D-Day 80 showcasing the related D-Day parts of the attraction. You will also be able to enjoy D-Day films and talks at No.6 Cinema and explore the Royal Submarine Museum, Gosport where you can discover the crucial role the x-class submarines played in the lead up to D-Day.

Head to Dover Castle, Kent to learn about one of the biggest deceptions of all - Operation Foritude South, which spun a web of deception and gave the allied forces the best chances of success on D-Day. 

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London was one of the most highly rated naval training college in Europe.  During the Second World War, it provides training for around 27,000 officers including around 8500 Wrens between 1939 and 1945. 

Danesfield House Hotel, Buckinghamshire was requisitioned as a base in 1941 to develop the intelligence Section of the Royal Air Force - Reconnaissance and Photography Section.  They went on to provide intelligence vital to planning the D-Day landings.

Discover an immersive cinematic experience at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, which explores its secret D-Day role as the home of the World War Two Codebreakers to commemorate D-Day 80.

Did you know that Lepe Country Park in the New Forest National Park, Hampshire was used to launch the famous floating Mulberry Harbours that made it possible to load troops and artillery onto the boats. Visitors can still see their remains here and at the mouth of Langstone Harbour on the outskirts of Portsmouth. (please be aware that the far end of the beach at Lepe Country Park, near the D-Day remains is currently closed due to storm damage).

Explore Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, and see the remaining chapel which was once part of a miltary hospital, handed over to the American army in January 1944 to give the United States a medical base on the south coast of England ahead of the D-Day landings.

Descend into the air raid shelter at Didcot Railway Centre, Oxfordshire, and see the VIP Saloon which is reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day.