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Removals from the UK to Marseille with Hamiltons Removals
Marseille is one of the fastest growing places in Europe – thanks in no small part to its location at the heart of southern Europe, which means its port plays a vital role in trade between France and a host of other countries. It’s also an attractive place to move to for retirees, due to the hot summers and mild winters typical of many Mediterranean locations.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who can help with removals from the UK to Marseille, put the spotlight on this Southern French port city.
Marseille’s History and Heritage
Marseille was originally a Greek colony and can be traced as far back as 600BC. It owes much of its ongoing growth and development to its position at the heart of the Mediterranean, ensuring France enjoyed profitable trade with the rest of Europe and many countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
Today, the port and firms that use it employ around 50,000 people – not just in import/export roles but also in the fishing and petrochemical industries. In more recent years the city has seen an expansion in service industries – not just tourism but high-tech start-ups as well.
For all its reliance on international trade (and immigration) Marseille is not without its nationalist past. The French National Anthem is called La Marseillaise because it was first sung by volunteers from the city marching to Paris in 1795 (although the actual song was composed three years earlier in Strasbourg) and the nickname stuck.
Getting There and Getting Around
The main airport, Marseille-Provence International, is around 20 miles to the north-west of the city. The airport runs regular flights to and from London Heathrow, plus a host of other major European and north African cities. From the airport you can get a bus, train or taxi into the city centre – driving is not recommended as the city is not very car-friendly.
Once you are in the city you should be able to rely on the metro (two lines) tramway (three lines) or the bus or overground train network to help you get around. There are also ferry services to and from the Old Port; and there is a network of cycle paths, and a bike-sharing scheme called Le Velo, which operates in a similar way to London’s.
The Main Attractions
The Old Port, pictured above, has now been developed with restaurants, bars and hotels (but is still a private marina) and is well worth a look around. You can still see fishermen selling their daily catches there. The main commercial port is now at Marseille Fos-Port.
The Basilique Notre Dame de La Garde, to the south of the Old Port, is also worth a visit, not just because of its historical interest but because it offers some spectacular views over the whole city. Similarly, La Cathedrale de la Nouvelle Major is a beautiful cathedral overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
An urban renewal project, coupled with Marseille being named Europe’s capital of culture in 2013, has helped revitalise the city a great deal in recent years. Marseille is now second only to Paris when it comes to its number of museums. There’s plenty of variety, including (for the French fashion world) the Musee de la Mode. the Musee Cantini (for modern art enthusiasts) and a more recent addition, MuCEM, the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean.
If you are looking for something more family-friendly, the small beaches south of the city centre between La Pointe Rouge harbour and La Madrague harbour are usually less crowded than the larger Plages du Prado. And the Calanques national park, to the south, offers mountain biking, hiking and kayaking if you are feeling more energetic.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
Rue Saint-Ferreol has the biggest brand names, Rue de Rome is better for those on a budget, while Le Cours Julien has more artisan goods (as well as a weekly fresh produce market). If you want the convenience of everything under one roof, then try the Centre Bourse (near the Old Port) which has more than 60 shops and restaurants) or Les Terrasses du Port, in the 2md arrondissement, which is even bigger.
If you are eating out, then the most famous Marseille dish is the bouillabaisse, a stew with at least three types of fish (which should be caught locally). It can be served as a main dish or as a soup broth. Another popular speciality is tapenade, an appetiser with capers, anchovies and olives.
As far as drinking goes, Marseille and the wider Provence region is well known for its wine, particularly rosé; the excellent climate produces grapes which don’t need any pesticides or artificial aids.
Removals from the UK to Marseille with Hamiltons Removals
If you are thinking about moving to Marseille, then Hamiltons Removals can make the whole experience as stress-free as possible. You can opt for our dedicated service, where you have sole use of a vehicle or vehicles; or a part-load or groupage service where your items will be shared with other peoples’; or air freight can be used for smaller or more valuable items.
You can add on various extras as well – such as using us to professionally pack and unpack your belongings, and having your old home cleaned before you leave.
Hamiltons also offer international removals to all parts of France, including Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes and Nice. For more information follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
Internet Speeds in the UK and Across the World
A fast and reliable internet connection is increasingly important, not just for businesses but for families who are looking to move. Here East Anglian removal firm Hamiltons Removals look at why speeds vary so much – and where are the best places in the UK and overseas to move to if a good broadband service is essential for your work or leisure time.
Why Speeds Vary
In the UK, if you live in a town or city then you will usually have access to fibre broadband offering higher speeds. If you live in a rural area, this rollout may not have reached you yet, so you may still be relying on older infrastructure such as a copper wire system which is slower and more prone to interruptions.
Speeds may also be slower if you use them during times of peak demand, although pinning this time down has become harder to quantify now that so many people work from home.
The same problem applies overseas as well. So, given its reputation as a high-tech country (and the home of many of the internet multinationals), you might think that the USA would be at the top or near the top of the list for internet connections.
However, because it is such a vast country, and the cost of improving the high-tech infrastructure is so great, it’s not right at the very top. Also, much of the US internet market is dominated by a few big players with regional monopolies so there isn’t much competition, or an option to switch to another provider.
In this respect smaller countries with more modern infrastructure (such as the Middle East and South-East Asia) often have the advantage of better speeds and quicker access to high-tech upgrades.
The Best Places in the UK….
Southampton has the fastest average download speeds of anywhere in the UK in figures released in 2024 by uSwitch*, with households and businesses enjoying average speeds of 166.677Mbps (megabits per-second). It is closely followed by Stockton-on-Tees in the north-east (166.356Mbps); the London borough of Newham is third (157.795Mbps).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Isles of Scilly, Argyll and Bute and the Outer Hebrides in Scotland have the slowest average download speeds across the UK (the Isles of Scilly is the slowest, at 24.536Mbps).
…and Overseas
Singapore has the best average download speed of 284.13Mbps, according to 2024 figures released by SpeedTest. If you are interested in international removals to the UAE, then the country comes second with 276.02Mbps.
The USA is fifth on the list, at 254.01Mbps, while Cuba is at the bottom (just 2.92Mbps).
Moving Your Home or Business with East Anglia Removal Firm Hamiltons Removals
Wherever you want to move to in the UK – whether it’s as far north as the Outer Hebrides, or as far south as Southampton or the Isles of Scilly – then Hamiltons Removals can help you get there. For more information about our UK removals service, click here. And we can help with overseas moves as well – to Europe and many international destinations, including to America and the UAE.
And if you are moving your business, we specialise in the packing, transport and reinstallation of all IT related equipment, using packaging and vehicles specially designed for computer removals. Our staff will work alongside your own IT team to ensure all your equipment is transported undamaged and we will help you set up and reconnect everything at your new location.
If you would like to know more about our commercial removals service, then follow this link; you can also call us on 01379 855203.