Address and website
- Jauresgasse 12, 1030 Vienna
- Website
How to get to the British embassy
- Option 1: take the 71 tram to Unteres Belvedere (a 2 minute walk to the embassy). The tram skirts the edge of the old town, so you can catch it from various tourist hotspots along the western and southern side of the Ring boulevard, for example
After your embassy visit, jump on the 71 again for a little musical adventure: the tram takes you out to St. Marx (close to Mozart’s grave) and the Zentralfriedhof (home to the graves of such giants of music as Beethoven and Schubert)
- Option 2: take the 4A bus to Am Modenapark (4 minute walk) or Lisztstraße (5 minute walk)
You can catch both the bus and tram from near Karlsplatz, a relatively central station and a stop on the U1, U2 and U4 subway lines.
Nearby sights
(The nearby Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain and Red Army monument)
The British embassy forms part of the traditional diplomatic quarter. The Chinese, Russians and Iranians were near neighbours last time I checked, which I’m sure makes for some interesting encounters in the local coffee house.
To the west is Schwarzenberg square, with its giant memorial to the Red Army that “liberated” (or “conquered”, depending on your view of history) Vienna in WWII and the large fountain that commemorated the 1873 opening of a water pipeline from the Alps.
You reach that down Rennweg, which means you also pass the Croatian embassy at No.3 (a rather fine looking building designed by the famous architect, Otto Wagner). Gustav Mahler used to live on the same corner: see the plaque at Auenbruggergasse 2.
A little to the southwest is the famous Belvedere complex with its two Baroque palaces and landscaped gardens, built by Prince Eugen von Savoyen in the early 18th century.
Belvedere is now home to a major art institution featuring many notable works. Their Gustav Klimt collection includes, for example, The Kiss (one of the world’s most famous paintings). Look out, particularly, for any special exhibitions on.
A wonderful Christmas market sets up at Belvedere, too, in late November and December. It offers what I consider Vienna’s best photo opportunity.
A neighbour of Belvedere to the southeast of the embassy is the main university’s botanical garden, which charges no entrance fee and has a few flowery surprises.