The British Embassy is located next to the British Ambassador's Residence in the Kaivopuisto area of Helsinki. The site on which the Embassy building now stands used to be owned by the Baumgartner family. Villa Baumgartner, designed by architect Lars Sonck was completed in 1913. It was considered by many to be a historically important building.

When the British government bought the site for the new embassy in 1972 and demolished Villa Baumgartner they faced much criticism from the Finnish public. According to the laws at the time, a landowner needed only to inform the magistrate of Finland of any plans to demolish or rebuild on bought land.

The new British Embassy was opened in August 1990 by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The building is designed by British architect Steven Quinlan. It is made of Finnish cross-point-cut stone. The facades of the Embassy are lightened by glass arcades at both ends of the building. Inside, the grey stone changes into red granite. Its glass and metal design follows a style made popular in the late 1980s.

The four-storey building contains offices and a conference room. Car parking (using a specialized hydraulic lift system) and staff amenities: (club, restaurant and kitchen) - are located in the basement area.

The embassy's beautiful garden is a popular spot for summer barbecues for embassy employees and their families and friends.