Let’s face it, 2025 has been a pretty tough year.
But even in a year where the news has often been dominated by doom and gloom, there have also been plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lighter side of the news.
2025 had no shortage of stories that left us smiling - here’s a roundup of ten of the most light-hearted, fun, and feel‑good news stories of the year.
1. Crazy Claudia cake
Way back in January, a cake of Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman went viral on TikTok for its striking features complete with Tic Tacs for teeth and black icing for her famous hairstyle.
The cake was the creation of HR Consultant Keith Scovell from Kentish Town, and was one of many caricature-style creations of various celebrities including Donald Trump, Oasis, and the King and Queen.
2. Viral supermarket receipt
In April, one Londoner’s 26-item supermarket receipt went viral for containing one item for each letter of the alphabet.
A picture of Graeme Bowman’s receipt earned more than 32,000 “upvotes” and more than 1,400 comments on Reddit - although he had to be fairly creative to complete the full list, including a USB stick for U and a Zinkeez toy for Z.
3. Sam Ryder at Disneyland Paris
Also in April, Eurovision star Sam Ryder warmed our hearts when he opened up about his experience signing with critically ill children at Disneyland Paris.
Ryder performed Viva La Musique with the children at the theme park as part of a collaboration with charity Make-A-Wish.
“Singing with these amazing kids was honestly one of the most meaningful and heart-warming things I’ve ever done,” Ryder said.
4. Disabled student travels 850 miles
In May, we read about a disabled photography student who spent 10 days travelling over 850 miles across England using public buses to highlight the challenges faced by disabled bus pass holders.
Dan Bowhay, 22, made a documentary about his journey to raise awareness about his “limited freedoms” as a disabled bus pass user.
5. Kings Guard horse kisses young girl
In June, we witnessed the beautiful moment a King's Guard horse appeared to reward a thrilled little girl with a 'kiss' after she slipped some cash into the guard's boot.
The heart-warming clip garnered over 2.5 million views on TikTok.
6. Dachshund saved from foxhole
In October, a dachshund that got stuck three feet underground after disappearing down a foxhole was rescued by firefighters.
Six-year-old Tosca vanished down a hole in Hackney, with the rescue mission taking just over two hours.
7. Tortoise on the tube
A tortoise was spotted riding the Victoria line in November.
One commuter spotted the tortoise at Seven Sisters, where the reptile was reportedly en route to the vet after injuring its tail.
8. Bizarre AI Christmas mural
Last month, a bizarre AI Christmas mural at a London riverside spot was taken down after confusing locals and being roundly mocked online.
Bizarre 'AI' Christmas mural sparks ridicule for warped faces and mutant animals https://t.co/KL4M7TH73E pic.twitter.com/ez67JVNfNH
— Standard News (@standardnews) November 19, 2025
The mural, on Kingston Riverside, featured numerous AI glitches, including a dog merging into a chicken, and a number of Christmas revellers with missing limbs.
9. Drunk raccoon on the rampage
Like many revellers at a Christmas party, this raccoon went viral for getting drunk and passing out in the bathroom.
The mammal broke into an American liquor store and ransacked its stock, leaving aisles soaked with alcohol and littered with smashed bottles.
The raccoon was discovered the next morning when a police officer attended to investigate reports of a break-in, finding the creature passed out face down just inches from the toilet.
10. Santa themed sausage dogs
Sausage dogs in Santa outfits took over London in early December at the annual Santa Sausage Dog Walk.
Dachshunds of all shapes, sizes and coat colours donned tiny red jackets and Santa hats as they waddled their way past some of London’s most recognisable landmarks.
