GREAT BRITAIN

Capital: London
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy
Area: 242,495 km2
Religion: 59,5% Christianity, 25,7% No Religion, 4,4% Islam
Phone number: +44
Language English
Time difference: -2
Population: 67,886,004 (2021)
Currency: British Pound (GBP)
Pääkaupunki: Lontoo

Finnair, Norwegian and British Airways have several daily flights from Helsinki to London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Ryanair has flights from Tampere to London.

Juna

The train is a very effective way to explore the UK.

National Rail -Website also includes all timetables and route guides.

Embassy of Finland, London Address: 38 Chesham Place, SW1X 8HW – Tel. + 44-20-7838 6200 Email: sanomat.lon@formin.fi – Website: www.finemb.org.uk

Travel bulletin from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Generally safe. Beware of pickpockets and traffic. The level of threat of international terrorism remained serious. Read more

View to the modern skyline of London, United Kingdom, in autumn during sunset time with all the popular tourist attractions

London (CAPITAL)

London is full of layers from different eras of history, and here medieval and Victorian features complement the rich and vibrant modern environment. The Tower of London and the Palace of Westminster are right next to local pubs and markets, and ancient rituals such as the change of palace watchdog live in fused harmony among commuters rushing to the underground. Here, tourists can embark on a time travel through the city and when fatigue strikes, rest like authentic Londoners by the teacup.

Buckingham Palace

Address: London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the focus of national and royal celebrations as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony. Explore the magnificent State Rooms which are open to visitors for 10 weeks each summer and on selected dates during winter and spring. During a visit to Buckingham Palace, visitors can see the 19 magnificent State Rooms, which provide the setting for ceremonial occasions and official entertainment. All rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.

Tower of London

Address: London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom

Built between 1078 and 1399 on the north bank of the Thames River, this castle complex is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London. It has served as a prison and a royal residence. Currently it is housing the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and it is still guarded by the famous Yeoman Warders. The famous White Tower is a must-see for history aficionados.

Tower Bridge

Address: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom

An iconic London landmark and one of Britain’s best loved historic sites, Tower Bridge is open to the public 363 days a year. Within the Bridge’s iconic structure and magnificent Victorian Engine rooms, the Tower Bridge Exhibition is the best way of exploring the most famous bridge in the world! Come learn about this incredible feat of Victorian engineering, discover how the Bridge is raised and enjoy stunning panoramic views across London from our high-level walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames. Opening Times: 09:30 – 17:00 (last admission).

London Eye

Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom

This enormous Ferris wheel was completed in 2000 and is now a remarkable landmark on the South Bank of the Thames river. It is 135 meters tall and has a diameter of 120 meters. It is currently Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel.

Big Ben

Address: London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom

The Big Ben clocktower, built around the middle of the 19th century, is a symbol of Great Britain. While the tower may have changed names over time and the large bell in the clocktower is officially the Great BelI, both are known by their unofficial name, The Big Ben. The clocktower is a part of the Palace of Westminster, Great Britain’s house of parliament, and rises to a height of 96 meters (315 feet). Designed by Augustus Pugin in neo-gothic style, the tower is a marvel to behold.

London, United Kingdom - April 2018: Greenhouse in Kew botanical gardens in London

The Kew Gardens (UNESCO 2003)

Address: Richmond, United Kingdom

This absolutely gorgeous area in London is one of the city’s main tourist attractions. The area is a mix of fantastic buildings, greenhouses filled with exotic plants, bridges, skybridges, gardens etc. Main attractions include the Palm House, a stylish building with an interior walkway at a height of 9 meters, allowing visitors to witness the crowns of the palm trees up close. Another one is the exciting looking Alpine House with its changing collection of high-altitude plants. Visitors should also take a stroll across the treetop walkway. The 200-meter structure sways in the wind and lets visitors come up close to the local trees. The Sackler Crossing is a bridge that connects the vast gardens. The area is filled with things to see, with its many plant houses, Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, the Kew Palace, the Orangery restaurant, galleries, museums and even a pagoda, built in 1762. There is still a lot more to see in the gardens that hasn’t been mentioned, and the establishment even takes part in conservation efforts to keep endangered plant species alive. The Kew Gardens are a must-see on a trip to London and they became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.

View down the historic Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland

Old Town of Edinburgh (UNESCO 1995)

The oldest part of Edinburgh is an idyllic way to get acquainted with the Scottish urban life and it has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the New Town since 1995. It has a rich medieval atmosphere with its narrow alleys and cobbled paths. The area also features Reformation-era architecture. Notable attractions are e.g. the Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the National Museum of Scotland.

"The Forth Rail Bridge which spans the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland."

The Forth Bridge

The Forth Bridge, 14 kilometers west of Edinburgh, is a long, magnificent red railway bridge that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Opened in 1890, this bridge extending over the Firth of Forth had the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world for 40 years and is still in second place. 2528 meters (8294 feet) long, the magnificence of this bridge, which was extraordinary at the time, came at a high cost. It is said that 98 workers died making this bridge. It still remains impressive to this day, and trains pass over it even now, over a hundred years later. The nearby Forth Road Bridge, made for cars, pedestrians and the like is also an impressive sight by itself.

Windsor Castle

Address: Windsor SL4 1NJ, United Kingdom

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and offers an extraordinarily rich and varied day out. Throughout its history, the Castle has been redecorated, enlarged and rebuilt. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle, which is also used regularly for ceremonial and State occasions.

More information about United Kingdom

Stonehenge (UNESCO 1986)

Address: Salisbury SP4 7DE, United Kingdom

Stonehenge is a significant and unique prehistoric monument, and one of the most famous places in the world. It is located on the Salisbury Plain, about 3 km west of Amesbury and 13 km north of Salisbury. Archaeological excavations show that the structure was built between 3000 and 2000 BC and is now managed by English Heritage (a cultural heritage organization under the UK Department of Culture). Stonehenge is also a popular ritual site among neo-pagans, for example during the equinox. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.

Liverpool

Maritime Liverpool is located in the Merseyside region of the North West of England, on the coast of Liverpool Bay in the Irish Sea. It has about 460,000 inhabitants, and the entire metropolitan area about 1.5 million. The city is known for its music life. In the Guinness Book of Records, it has been named the capital of pop music. The Beatles are the most famous band from Liverpool. Liverpool’s native, “scouser,” speaks in a whimsical dialect and certainly knows how to celebrate. Along with Stavanger, Liverpool was the second European Capital of Culture in 2008.