Moving to San Francisco

Removals to USA | Shipping to San Francisco

If you are planning removals to USA and looking to build a new life in San Francisco, you might find it hard to know just where to start. Fortunately, Greens Removals have the expert knowledge to make sure that your business or household's relocation to the Golden Gate City is as stress-free as possible.

Based in the UK, we are registered with the British Association of Removals (BAR) and have organised many moves all around the world over more than four decades, including many removals to USA. Shaping our service to your requirements, we at Greens make sure that all the legal requirements, paperwork and Customs regulations are dealt with smoothly for you.

We can also offer you any combination of the following, as you wish: expert professional packing and/or unpacking of your household or business contents, or providing you with all necessary packing materials if you prefer to do this yourself, transport of your possessions by air freight and/or in part or full-load containers, an insurance service, and transport of vehicles, pets, valuables and other items needing special arrangements.

Greens hold all three British and European standards for the removal industry, which is an assurance of our top-quality service. As well as moves to San Francisco, we also arrange international moves to other cities in California such as Los Angeles, San Jose and San Diego, and all other destinations across the USA, including New York City, Chicago, Houston and Boston, all at a competitive price. Our friendly professional staff would be delighted to give you more information over the phone and discuss your requirements for removals to America, so, if you have any questions, just call us on 01449 613053.

Removals to USA click here for full information on our removals to America service or here for a free Shipping to San Frisco quote.

Removals to San Francisco, USA: Living in San Francisco

Mention San Francisco, and those of a certain age will immediately think of the Summer of Love and the 1960s. However, there is a lot more to this famous West Coast city than just wearing flowers in your hair and it is a popular destination for British expats seeking a new life in California, as well as those relocating their businesses.

The city is the 14th largest in the USA, with a population of more than 820,000, and it is also surrounded by a larger metropolitan area with more than eight million people. Called after the Spanish name for Saint Francis, it was founded in 1776 by Spanish colonists who set up a mission dedicated to the saint, as well as a fort at the Golden Gate, the famous strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific.

The city really started to grow in 1849 with the Californian gold rush, as prospectors eager to strike it rich arrived from all over the world. The arrival of the railway saw San Francisco expand further. It was hit by a famous earthquake in 1906, followed by a devastating fire which destroyed most of the city, but it was quickly rebuilt and its trade was later boosted by the opening of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in 1937.

Today, San Francisco is a thriving international city which has become a hub for skilled computing professionals because of its nearness to Silicon Valley in the south of the San Francisco Bay area. This whole region is the top US high-tech manufacturing centre, with thousands of technology companies having a major presence in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco area. Despite the economic downturn, the area is still one of the world's top research and development centres.

The West Coast area is known for its mild climate, with temperatures that don't vary all that much over the year, and this is another attraction of the area for expats. This area of California typically has springs and summers which are dry but relatively cool and a lot of rain in the winter.

Removals to San Francisco, USA: Places to Visit

San Francisco's number one must-see landmark is undoubtedly the Golden Gate Bridge, with its breathtaking 746ft towers and International Orange colour, which was chosen as one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It covers a 1.7-mile span across the strait, linking the city to northern areas of California. The bridge attracts 10 million visitors every year. The city also has another amazing bridge, the Bay Bridge, built in 1936, which is 8.4 miles long.

Another world-famous icon is Alcatraz, the prison island where the likes of Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and the "Birdman of Alcatraz", Robert Stroud, were incarcerated. The notorious penitentiary closed down in 1963 but you can take a ferry trip to the island and go on a tour round the cell block.

Famous locations within the city include the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts, with a domed rotunda, which is set in a lagoon and was originally built for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition of 1915. You also mustn't miss the Ferry Building Marketplace, known for its clock tower, which houses a wide range of shops and restaurants plus a farmers' market, and the "Painted Ladies", a row of Victorian houses painted in bright colours near Alamo Square.

Yet another must is Haight-Ashbury, the neighbourhood which became a centre for hippies in the 1960s, and which still has a Bohemian atmosphere now, featuring a mix of boutiques, music stores, restaurants and bars. And, if you are seeking entertainment on the waterfront, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 offer the chance to see many street performers as well as choosing from a host of stores, restaurants and other attractions including a wax museum and an aquarium. You'll also spot sea lions in the sunshine here.

Removals to San Francisco, USA: Accommodation for Expats

If you are undertaking removals to the USA and planning a move to San Francisco, there are many different neighbourhoods where you could consider living or basing your business, and prices vary greatly in different areas. However, it is an expensive city overall. As a rough guide, in 2013 prices, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside the central area has been estimated at £950, while a three-bedroom rental might cost you around £1,700. In central San Francisco the prices are still higher, averaging around £1,400 per month for a one-bedroom flat and £2,500 for a three-bedroom flat, though again this varies between areas and could be much higher in a sought-after location.

Moving to San Francisco: Out and About in San Francisco

Within the city itself, it is widely preferred to use public transport rather than travelling by car. The city offers a wide range of public transport options, including its world-famous cable-cars, the only ones of their kind still operating anywhere, as well as buses, trolleybuses and a light railway. There is also a good local train network connecting San Francisco with other parts of the area, as well as a number of ferry services.

Removals to America click here for full information on our removals to America service or here for a free Shipping to San Fransisco quote.