Kuusamo to London (KAO–LGW) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Finnish citizens enter the UK visa-free for tourism, business meetings, and short courses for up to 6 months. Since Brexit, the UK is no longer part of EU free movement. You must use a passport at the UK border. Finnish national ID cards are not accepted for entry.

At the e-gates, scan your biometric passport and walk through. No stamp is given at e-gates. If you go through a manned booth, the officer may ask about your travel purpose and return plans. No advance paperwork or ETA is required for Finnish passport holders as of 2026.

You cannot work in the UK on a tourist entry. For work, you need a sponsored visa. The NHS does not cover Finnish visitors. Travel insurance is strongly recommended since EHIC/GHIC cards are not valid in the UK post-Brexit. The pound sterling trades at roughly EUR 1.15 to 1.20 per GBP. Finnair and British Airways fly Helsinki to London Heathrow direct.

The Gatwick Express departs the South Terminal every 15 minutes to London Victoria (30 min, from £21.50). Thameslink services are cheaper and provide direct access to Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, and London Bridge; useful for destinations in the City and East London. Both terminal buildings are connected by a free inter-terminal monorail shuttle (2 min).Taxis from arrivals queue outside; metered fares to central London typically run £70–100 and can exceed this during peak hours. Uber and other ride-shares operate from a designated zone. Rental car desks are in both terminal buildings.

Temperate maritime climate. Winters (November–February) are cool and grey at 3–9°C, with fog, low cloud, and occasional light snow causing moderate delay risks. Summers (June–August) are mild at 18–25°C. Heat waves are increasingly common and can affect ramp operations. Rain falls year-round with no dry season.

Wind is a more frequent disruption factor than snow at Gatwick. The airport has a single active runway and is sensitive to crosswinds. Autumn storms (October–November) occasionally cause significant delays.