Flights to San Francisco
Best student & youth fares right now to San Francisco
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Student flights from the UK to San Francisco
San Francisco is a bucket-list destination, perfect for everything from studying abroad to summer holidays. Centrally located along California’s coast, you’ll have access to plenty of beaches while also being in the heart of a big city. Whether you’re visiting for a few weeks or settling down for a few years of university, you can indulge in delicious foods from a variety of cultures and regions, see some iconic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39 and visit world-class museums and events. Stay in San Francisco and explore the best of what the city has to offer, or rent a car and use SF as a home base for some California road trips. Either way, you’re sure to have an unforgettable time in the Golden State!
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What are the main San Francisco airport hubs?
The main airport in San Francisco is the San Francisco International Airport. Oakland International Airport, which is just across the bay, is also an option, but most international travellers opt to fly into SFO.
San Francisco / SFO: As San Francisco’s main airport hub, servicing thousands of domestic and international flights daily, there’s a pretty solid chance that this is where you’ll be flying into. It’s also conveniently located about 20 minutes south of the city. Once you land, you can take BART (the train system) into the city or opt for an Uber/Lyft, if you’re not renting a car.
How to fly from the UK to San Francisco
The UK is well-connected to San Francisco, with direct flights from London that’ll have you landing near the Golden Gate in just over 11 hours flat. San Francisco’s primary airport (San Francisco International Airport) is one of the busiest airports in the US and thus is easy to find flights to. Whether you’re looking for a direct flight or want a stopover to stretch your legs on the way, there’s plenty of options.
The San Francisco airport is a big hub for Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, but you can also fly American, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic or other airlines. Keep reading for more details on flights to San Francisco from the UK.
Cheap flights to San Francisco
from London / LON
Average flight duration
11 hours, 20 mins
Number of daily flights
39+ nonstop flights daily
Cheap flights to San Francisco
from Manchester / MAN
Average flight duration
14 hours +
Number of weekly/daily flights
No nonstop flights, but numerous connecting flights daily
Cheap flights to San Francisco
from Edinburgh / EDI
Average flight duration
14 hours, 15 minutes
Number of weekly/daily flights
No nonstop flights but numerous connecting flights daily
When is the best time to fly to San Francisco?
The best time to visit San Francisco is in autumn, when the city quiets down a bit after the summer and offers some of its warmest weather. Believe it or not, September and October are San Francisco’s warmest months, and typically encounter less foggy days—meaning a better chance to get a picture-perfect view of the Golden Gate. Summers are cool and dry, but beware of “June gloom”—early summer days bring plenty of gray skies and fog to the bay.
There’s also a number of festivals and events every year in San Francisco that are worth visiting for, from the Chinese New Year festival in Chinatown each spring to Christmas tree lightings in Ghirardelli Square or the annual San Francisco International Film Festival, plus loads more surrounding themes of music, food, arts and more.
When is the cheapest time to book a flight from the UK to San Francisco?
Prices based on bookings made 60-91 days prior to departure.
Why do British students love visiting San Francisco?
British students love San Francisco for the mix of hip and relaxed California culture in an urban environment. Plus, the nearby beaches and mountains, incredible food, and thriving arts scene helps too!
San Francisco universities and campuses
San Francisco has a number of top universities, drawing thousands of students to the city every year. Stanford and UC Berkeley are two of the most prestigious, although there’s plenty more to choose from. San Francisco State University is one of the largest and the University of San Francisco is another great choice that’s centrally located and offers plenty of programme options. All of these universities offer plenty of international student placements. While San Francisco is a great place to study technology, science or engineering, it’s also a great place to study humanities and the arts, among other subjects, as well.
San Francisco lifestyle and culture
San Francisco’s culture in terms of arts, music, festivals, food and such is diverse and eclectic—it’s easy to find arts and food from all corners of the globe packed into this tiny city. The temperate climate and plethora of nature and outdoor adventures around the city (or in neighboring areas of California) make it the perfect place for getting outside and taking a break from the fast-paced city. Speaking of fast-paced: locals in SF, like many big cities, tend to hustle, so you’ll likely encounter an energetic and competitive lifestyle and culture if you decide to stick around for awhile.
Exploring San Francisco on a student budget
There’s no way around it: San Francisco is known for being an expensive city. However, if you’re used to London prices, you’ll probably be okay in SF! However, if you’re on a budget, no need to fret. There’s loads of free and cheap things to do in San Francisco. If you do some advance planning, you can also find plenty of amazing restaurants tucked away from the more touristy areas of SF offering amazing food at cheaper prices.
Frequently asked questions about flying from the UK to San Francisco
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