When and How to Celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2025 in the UK
Thanksgiving Day 2025 is one of those moments that bring people together for good food, family gatherings, and an overall spirit of gratitude. While it’s a major holiday in the United States and Canada, it’s also slowly finding its place in the UK. Many British families, inspired by American traditions, now enjoy their own version of this celebration — from hosting cozy dinners to gathering outdoors with friends. Whether you’re planning a dinner at home, a picnic in the park, or simply want to understand what Thanksgiving Day 2025 is all about, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday that began in the United States to give thanks for a successful harvest and the blessings of the year. At its roots, the celebration can be traced back to autumn harvest feasts held by American colonists. In 1621, the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth featured English settlers and members of the Wampanoag people sharing a meal to mark the year’s harvest and mutual assistance. Over time, Thanksgiving evolved into an annual observance. Abraham Lincoln formally declared it a national holiday in 1863, establishing it as a time to reflect on gratitude and togetherness.
Traditional Thanksgiving Foods in the UK
When you celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the UK, here’s a solid list of dishes you’ll often find:
Roast turkey: This is the show-stopper. A crown-cut bird or a free-range turkey roasted to golden perfection, often stuffed with sage, onion, chestnuts or herby bread cubes.
Stuffing and gravy: Alongside the turkey, you’ll usually find a savoury stuffing—perhaps sausage-and-herb, or bread-and-onion style—and a rich gravy poured over the meat and potatoes.
Cranberry sauce or relish: A tart, sweet pop of flavour that balances the richness of the turkey and stuffing. Cranberries give that classic American touch, and they’re becoming more common in the UK holiday table.
Potatoes and vegetables: Expect creamy mashed potatoes, roast sweet potatoes (sometimes topped with marshmallows or pecans), Brussels sprouts, roasted carrots, maybe a green-bean casserole.
Cornbread or British variants: Some hosts lean into the American connection with cornbread, while others add a British touch—think bread-and-butter pudding, roast vegetables or even Yorkshire-style trimmings.
Pumpkin pie and other desserts: No Thanksgiving feast is complete without dessert. The classic is pumpkin pie with spiced filling, served with whipped cream. Other options often include pecan pie, apple pie or a modern riff.
How to Celebrate Thanksgiving Day 2025
If you’re planning to mark Thanksgiving Day 2025 in the UK, you’ve got plenty of fun and flexible options. Here are some ideas that work whether you’ll be hosting at home or joining others for a special outing.
Host a Dinner with Friends or Family
Bring people together by cooking a traditional-style meal—think turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Or add a British twist with seasonal veggies or a vegetarian main. The key ingredient is shared food and good conversation.
Visit a Restaurant Offering a Thanksgiving Menu
In London and other cities, many venues provide themed dinner menus for Thanksgiving. For example, at Duck & Waffle you’ll find roast turkey with all the trimmings, green-bean casserole and pumpkin pie served high above the city.
Likewise, at Indigo at One Aldwych in Covent Garden, they offer a full four-course Thanksgiving dinner featuring a traditional turkey main and vegetarian options, too. As menus fill fast, booking ahead is wise to avoid missing out.
Create a Thanksgiving Glamping Feast
Take the celebration outdoors and create a cosy, styled setup in your garden or local green space. Using stylish glamping accessories—such as soft lighting, comfortable seating and decorative touches—makes the meal feel special.
Combine Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Many people use the day to not only celebrate their blessings but also share them. That might mean donating to a charity, volunteering, or simply inviting someone who might otherwise be alone to join you. The spirit of gratitude works best when it includes kindness.
Add Fun Touches
To make the celebration feel special: create a warm table setting with candles, autumn-coloured décor, a gratitude jar where each guest writes something they appreciate, or even host a “thankful toast” around dessert. These touches help elevate the day beyond just the meal.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Thanksgiving in the UK
Making Thanksgiving Day 2025 feel seamless in the UK doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning and the right touches, you’ll set the stage for an enjoyable experience.
Plan Your Shopping and Timeline Ahead
Order specialty items early (for example canned pumpkin, stuffing mixes or cranberry sauce) because they may sell out. Also check your oven size and kitchen setup — UK kitchens sometimes have smaller ovens than US ones, so you may want to adapt your cooking plan accordingly.
Blend Tradition with Local Convenience
Keep the essence of the feast (turkey, mash, pie) but feel free to include British additions like roast parsnips, local veggies, or a vegetarian alternative as the main dish. This way you maintain the spirit of Thanksgiving yet adapt it to your setting.
Choose the Right Gear for the Day
If your Thanksgiving plans include outdoor dining, string lights, background music, or even streaming the big game, you’ll want best portable power station to keep everything running smoothly.
The EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus + DELTA 3 Smart Extra Battery is a strong choice, offering a 2,048Wh capacity, up to surge 3,600W AC output—perfect for powering outdoor heaters, speakers, or cooking appliances. You can recharge it from a wall outlet to 100% in about 56 minutes, ideal for last-minute preparation on a busy Thanksgiving morning. Weighing around 22.1 kg, it’s portable yet sturdy, runs quietly at roughly 30 dB under low load, ensuring your outdoor celebration stays powered without interruptions.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus + DELTA 3 Smart Extra Battery
For even more flexibility, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station features expandable capacity from 2 kWh to 6 kWh. With a 2,400 W rated output, it can power up to 13 devices at once — ideal for your Thanksgiving dinner.
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station
Include Everyone and Stay Flexible
Since Thanksgiving isn’t a public holiday in the UK, people may have different schedules. Be inclusive: maybe invite friends, neighbours, or those who might otherwise be alone. Offer a mix of food choices (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) to make sure everyone feels welcome.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving Day 2025 offers a wonderful chance to gather. While the tradition began across the Atlantic, its themes of gratitude, shared meals and meaningful connection are universal. Whether you’re cooking a full feast at home, heading out for a themed dinner, or setting up a stylish outdoor gathering—with the help of a portable power station—you can ensure your lighting, music and devices stay powered even if the mains supply falters. Mix classic dishes with local touches, and surround yourself with people you’re thankful for.
FAQs
Is there Thanksgiving Day in the UK?
Thanksgiving Day is not an official public holiday in the UK, but the spirit of gratitude is something many people still enjoy celebrating. Traditionally, the British observe the Harvest Festival, which is a centuries-old custom of giving thanks for crops and food gathered during autumn. It usually takes place in late September or early October and features food donations, songs, and community gatherings. In recent years, however, American-style Thanksgiving dinners have become more popular across the UK. Families and friends gather for roast turkey, pumpkin pie, and shared gratitude. Some restaurants, especially in London, offer Thanksgiving-themed menus during this season, making it easy to experience the warmth of this holiday even without the official day off.
What day is Thanksgiving going to be on in 2025?
In 2025, Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on Thursday, 27 November 2025. The United States officially observes Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November, a tradition that began when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law in 1941. While the UK does not formally recognise Thanksgiving as a public holiday, many Americans living in Britain — along with locals who appreciate the custom — choose to mark the occasion on the same date. Some households host private dinners, while others visit restaurants serving classic dishes like roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. For many, it’s not about the official calendar but about taking time to appreciate good food, family, and meaningful moments of gratitude.
Is Thanksgiving bigger than Christmas?
In the United Kingdom, Christmas remains the biggest and most widely celebrated holiday, filled with cultural, religious, and social traditions. It’s a national public holiday, and celebrations typically include decorated homes, gift-giving, and family gatherings. Thanksgiving, by contrast, is not an official UK holiday and is mainly celebrated by American expats or those who enjoy adopting the tradition. In the United States, however, Thanksgiving holds nearly equal importance to Christmas. It marks one of the year’s largest family reunions, focused on gratitude and shared meals rather than gifts. While Christmas tends to be more commercial and extended, Thanksgiving stands out for its simplicity, warmth, and deep emphasis on togetherness and appreciation.