A British man who relocated to Finland over four decades ago, almost by chance, has stated he is highly unlikely to ever move back to the United Kingdom. He credits his decision to a superior quality of life in the Scandinavian nation, which consistently tops global happiness rankings.
An Accidental Move Leads to a Lifelong Love
Tim Bird, now 70 years old, first journeyed to Finland in the early 1980s. Originally from Cambridge and having grown up in Deal, Kent, he sought adventure as a young man. "I thought I ought to be doing something interesting with my life," Bird explained. He secured a position as an English teacher, intending the move to be a brief one or two-year experience. Instead, he built an entire life there, becoming a writer, editor, and award-winning photographer with dual British and Finnish citizenship.
His enduring connection to his adopted homeland is now encapsulated in a new book, Happy Land: Finding My Inner Finn: Forty Years In The World’s Happiest Country, published by Eye Books. The work serves as a profound love letter to Finland, exploring the reasons behind its esteemed reputation.
The Finnish Formula: Contentment Over Cheer
Bird is keen to clarify a common misconception about Finland's number-one happiness status. He notes that visitors shouldn't expect a population of constantly jovial people. "You wouldn't get off the plane and find that everybody's necessarily laughing and making jokes - so it's not happy in that sense," he reveals. The key, he argues, is a widespread sense of quiet contentment and societal stability.
"It's about contentment. There's more of a sense that enough is enough, and that there's still a good standard of living here, generally," Bird states. This foundation is supported by a robust social and economic structure where the wealth gap is less extreme than in the UK. "The starting point, the lower starting point, is higher," he observes, adding that while costs are higher, the differential with Britain has narrowed significantly.
Safety, Trust, and the Great Outdoors
Bird, who lives in a Helsinki suburb, highlights several pillars of Finnish life that cement his loyalty. Personal safety and honesty rank highly. He describes the capital as a "pretty safe city" where leaving a wallet or phone on public transport often results in it being handed in. This culture of trust extends to commerce, with Bird expressing confidence in local tradespeople to do a good job without "cowboys."
Another core appeal is the seamless access to nature. Finland has preserved a strong connection to the natural environment, from ubiquitous sauna culture to vast green spaces. "Only a kilometre or so away from me, there's what they call the Central Park, a strip of forest going into the centre of Helsinki," Bird says, noting he can reach it by bike in 15 minutes. The country's stunning archipelago and the spectacle of the Northern Lights offer further natural rewards.
The dramatic seasons also shape the rhythm of life. "Looking forward to the summer, because the summers here are great," he shares. "It's full of light... The summers are great, so that's our reward for surviving the winter."
Family, Roots, and No Looking Back
Bird's personal life is deeply intertwined with Finland. He is married to Eeva-Helena, a Finnish national he met while working for a magazine publisher in Helsinki in the 1990s. The marriage brought him two stepdaughters, who are now parents to his grandchildren. He jokes that their English, honed by Finland's world-class education system, is superior to that of many native Britons.
When asked about a potential return to the UK, his stance is unequivocal. "I wouldn't want to go back to the UK at the moment. Well, I wouldn't want to go back to the UK, full stop," he states frankly. While he maintains family ties in England, his home, family, and fulfilling life are firmly planted in Finland. As he summarises, "Finland has been good to me in many ways." His four-decade accidental adventure has become a permanent and happy residence.
