British diplomatic representation in Lithuania from its independence in 1918 until its occupation by the Soviet Union in 1940 was headed by the minister to the Baltic States, who resided at Riga. There was a consulate in Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania, for the whole inter-war period, during which the consuls acted as chargés d’affaires from time to time. The Kaunas consulate was in a leased building at Keistuchio gatve 19.

Lithuania regained its independence in 1991. A Finnish contractor, Haka Oy, won the tender in 1993 for ingoing works to the large building at Antakalnio str. 2, opposite St Peter and St Paul Church, to render it suitable for the embassy’s offices and the British Council’s cultural centre. A residence was bought in a forested area a few miles north-east of the city centre.