The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Is Coming to Portsmouth – Here’s Everything You Need to Know

With Christmas quietly sneaking up on us, the gift-buying frenzy has begun, the lights are switching on across the city, and the air is thick with festive excitement. That can only mean one thing: the unmistakable glow of one of the UK’s most beloved Christmas icons is about to return. Yes the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck is on the road again.

For 15 years, this bright-red, LED-soaked lorry has transformed ordinary streets into glittering winter wonderlands, sprinkling a little festive magic over towns and cities all over the country. And in 2025, to mark the 15th anniversary of its first UK tour, the truck is visiting exactly 15 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the theme “Refresh Your Holidays.”

Whether you’re a seasoned fan who queues every year or hoping for your first glimpse of the iconic lorry, here’s everything you need to know: dates, locations, what to expect, and, of course, what this means for Portsmouth.

A Little Christmas Nostalgia: The Coca-Cola Truck Story

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck made its on-screen debut in 1995 with the now-legendary “Holidays Are Coming” advert. With glowing lights snaking through snowy towns and that famous jingle, the ad quickly became part of the UK’s festive tradition.

It wasn’t until 2010 that Coca-Cola took the magic on the road with its first UK truck tour—a huge 14-tonne lorry coated in 48,000 sparkling LEDs. Over the years, it has become a phenomenon, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and making stops in cities including London, Manchester, Cardiff… and yes, Portsmouth.

Last year’s 2024 tour brought in around 53,000 visitors nationwide, proving the appetite for festive fizz is as strong as ever. Now, for its milestone anniversary, Coca-Cola is turning up the sparkle with 15 nationwide stops.

When is the Coca-Cola Truck Touring the UK in 2025?

The 2025 tour begins in mid-November, travelling right up to the week before Christmas. Exact dates for each stop are famously kept under wraps until just a day or two beforehand. Coca-Cola likes to keep fans guessing, but announcements usually appear first on their social channels.

As of 23rd November, the full UK list hasn’t been released, but Coca-Cola has confirmed the 15-stop tour. The first weekend sees the truck in Edinburgh:

Friday 21 November – ASDA Supercentre, The Jewel, Brunstane Drive (12 pm–8 pm)

Saturday 22 November – Fort Kinnaird, Newcraighall (12 pm–8 pm)

Where Did the Coca-Cola Truck Visit in 2024?

• London – Elys Yard, Truman Brewery (21 Nov)

• Belfast – Custom House Square (1 Dec)

• Edinburgh – Fort Kinnaird (30 Nov)

• Gateshead – Metrocentre (1 Dec)

• Wakefield – Stonegate (3 Dec)

• Ashton – Greene King (4 Dec)

• Speke – Burger King (5 Dec)

• Liverpool – Liverpool One (6 Dec)

• Manchester – Trafford Centre (7 Dec)

• Leeds – White Rose (8 Dec)

• Portsmouth – Gunwharf Quays (14 Dec)

• Milton Keynes – Centre (15 Dec)

• Birmingham – Bullring (20 Dec)

• Gloucestershire – Cribbs Causeway (21 Dec)

• Cardiff – St Davids (22 Dec)

  Rumours for 2025 suggest similar major shopping destinations and waterfront hotspots, including a likely return to Gunwharf Quays. With its iconic views, Christmas market stalls, and easy access, it’s a perfect backdrop for the glowing red lorry.

What to Expect When the Coca-Cola Truck Arrives

Visiting the Coca-Cola Truck is like stepping into a live Christmas card. Expect:

Free Coca-Cola drinks

Enjoy a complimentary can of Coca-Cola Original, Diet Coke or Coke Zero Sugar.

Festive activities and games

Think of Christmas challenges, sing-alongs, and fun chances to win exclusive merch, scarves, baubles, and even mini truck models.

Plenty of photo ops

The lorry makes for a perfect Instagram moment, especially with the snowy backdrops and themed displays Coca-Cola sets up.

A mini winter wonderland

Most stops feature music, Christmas lights, and even live performances. It’s all free in England, Scotland, and Wales, just turn up and queue. Northern Ireland may use small paid tickets (usually under £3) to help with crowd control.

For Portsmouth, expect queues along the Gunwharf waterfront and dreamy nighttime photo opportunities with Spinnaker Tower shining in the background.

A Christmas Tradition with a Cause: Coca-Cola & FareShare

Once again, Coca-Cola is partnering with FareShare, the UK’s biggest food-redistribution charity. For 2025, the aim is the equivalent of 1 million meals donated to communities in need.

Every visitor helps support this initiative—Coca-Cola provides contributions based on attendance. Some stops also collect non-perishable food items, so keep an eye out if you’d like to donate.

How to Stay Updated (So You Don’t Miss Portsmouth’s Stop!)

To stay ahead of the official announcements:

• Follow @CocaCola_GB on X (Twitter)

• Check coca-cola.com/gb for daily updates

• Keep an eye on Best of Portsmouth—we’ll be watching for the Portsmouth confirmation the moment it drops

Between the festive lights at Gunwharf Quays, the waterfront atmosphere, and the magic of that glowing red lorry, the Coca-Cola Truck’s visit is one of Portsmouth’s most charming Christmas traditions. Whether you’re grabbing a selfie, collecting a free can, or simply soaking up the atmosphere, it’s guaranteed to bring a little sparkle to the season.

Christmas magic is loading… and Portsmouth might just be next on the route.