Your Trusted International Moving Company
Moving from San Francisco to London, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester or another English city means shipping your home about 5,400 miles across the Atlantic and clearing UK customs on arrival. NOR-CAL Moving Services is a Bay Area international moving company that manages the whole move, from export packing at your San Francisco home to delivery at your new address in England. We’ve moved Bay Area households to London and Bristol.
San Francisco homes, from SoMa lofts to Sunset houses, don’t look much like London flats or English terraces, and your move needs to account for that on both ends. As a full-service international mover, NOR-CAL handles the packing, export paperwork, shipping and delivery, and plans the English delivery around your address. We are a direct mover, not a broker, and we are licensed and insured.
Why People Trust NOR-CAL Moving Services for San Francisco to England Moves?
Experienced San Francisco to England Movers
Export-Grade Packing and Crating
UK Customs Paperwork Support
Short and Long-Term Storage
Licensed and Insured Movers
We Make Your Move from San Francisco to England Simple
- Free estimate. We review your San Francisco home in person or by video and recommend ocean or air freight.
- Packing and loading. Our crews pack, label and inventory everything, including items that need special handling for the narrow streets and stairs at your destination.
- Export and shipping. We handle US export paperwork and book your shipment to an English port.
- UK customs and delivery. Your shipment is cleared and delivered to your door in England.
- Unpacking. We can unpack, place furniture and remove the packing materials.
Follow your shipment with our international shipment tracking.
San Francisco to England at a Glance
- Distance (San Francisco to London): About 5,400 miles
- Typical shipping method: Ocean freight (full or shared container) or air freight
- Typical ocean transit, door to door: About 6 to 10 weeks
- Customs relief for movers: Transfer of Residence relief (HMRC)
- Electricity: US 120V / 60Hz; England 230V / 50Hz with Type G plugs
- Driving side: US right; England left
An International Moving Company You Can Count On
NOR-CAL Moving Services is based in the Bay Area, and our international moves run through the Allied International network of carriers and agents. You meet a local team before the move, and a UK partner team receives and delivers your shipment. Our international moving resources explain how the process works from start to finish.
What Makes the San Francisco to England Route Unique?
Ports and timing. Ocean shipments to England typically arrive at ports such as Southampton, Felixstowe or London Gateway before customs clearance and delivery. Door to door, plan on roughly 6 to 10 weeks by sea.
Transfer of Residence relief. People moving their home to the UK can often import used household goods without UK customs duty or import VAT under HMRC’s Transfer of Residence relief. It generally requires that you have lived outside the UK for at least 12 months and have owned and used the goods before the move. Confirm your eligibility with HMRC. We prepare the shipping documents that support your claim.
London access. In London and other English cities, delivery can mean narrow streets, walk-up flats and limited parking, and London boroughs can often reserve street parking for a moving vehicle with advance notice. Send us your address and floor, and we’ll plan the crew, vehicle and any parking request around it.
Completion dates move. When you buy a home in England, the completion date is agreed late in the process and can shift. Flexible delivery and storage keep your belongings from arriving before you have somewhere to put them.
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? If you’re heading elsewhere in the UK, see our Bay Area to the UK page.
Where we deliver. We deliver across England, including London, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
Professional Packing and Unpacking for Your England Move
Everything you ship overseas is handled several times and may spend weeks in a container. We use export-grade materials, crate fragile and high-value pieces, and inventory every carton for your customs paperwork. Our packing services also cover unpacking, furniture placement and removal of packing materials at your English home.
Storage and Flexibility When You Need It
Visa timing, lease starts and completion dates in England rarely line up with your San Francisco move-out date. We can hold your belongings in household storage before they ship, or arrange storage in England until your new home is ready.
Ready to Move from San Francisco to England?
Tell us where in England you’re headed, and we’ll send a free quote. Get your free quote or call us at (510) 949-8954.
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Question & Answer
How long does it take to ship household goods from San Francisco to England?
By ocean, most moves take about 6 to 10 weeks door to door. That covers pickup, export clearance, the sailing to an English port, UK customs and delivery. Air freight is much faster and is often used for essentials, but costs more. Your timeline depends on the shipping method, the port and whether customs selects your shipment for inspection.
How much does it cost to move from San Francisco to England?
The price depends on how much you’re shipping, whether it travels in a full or shared container or by air, the packing you need, access at both addresses, insurance and the delivery location in England. We give a free written quote after reviewing your move, so you know the price before you commit.
Will I pay UK import duty or VAT on my belongings?
Many people moving their residence to the UK qualify for Transfer of Residence relief from HMRC, which allows used personal belongings to come in without duty or import VAT. Conditions apply, for example a minimum period living outside the UK, so check your eligibility with HMRC. This is general information, not tax advice. We prepare the shipment documents that support your claim.
Do I need to arrange parking for delivery in London?
Often, yes. Many London boroughs let you apply to reserve street parking for a moving vehicle, usually with advance notice and a fee that varies by borough. Send us your delivery address and we’ll tell you what to arrange and when.
What if my completion date in England changes?
It happens often. We plan flexible delivery windows and can hold your shipment in storage in England until your new home is ready, so you aren’t left with a container and nowhere to unload it.
Will my US furniture and appliances work in England?
Furniture usually can, but English homes are often smaller, with narrower doors and stairs than many San Francisco homes, so measure your large pieces first. Electrical items are a different matter: England uses 230V / 50Hz power and Type G plugs, while the US uses 120V / 60Hz. Chargers and laptops usually need only an adapter, but many appliances don’t work safely without changes.
Call us today!
(510) 949-8954