Union Square is one of the largest shopping plazas in the United States, and always a huge draw for visitors to San Francisco.

Visitors to Union Square will find themselves among some of the finest upmarket and glamorous names in the world of fashion. High-end labels like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Burberry and Hugo Boss all have a presence here. A few blocks away, you can pick up the latest designs straight from the catwalk. Alongside, you’ll also find both quaint and expensive antiques and jewellery. Shopping in Union Square is a popular pastime all year round thanks to the choice of shops and San Francisco’s temperate climate.

In addition to the designer stores, there is a fair share of local colour and character. If you make a beeline for Gump’s, a particular popular haunt for locals, then you can pick up some of the most stylish home decor that money can buy.

Union Square was dedicated by the first mayor of the city, John Geary, back in 1850, and named after the pro-union Civil War rallies which were held here. The name itself refers to the park in San Francisco, which was originally created as a green haven and public plaza within the increasingly bustling cityscape.

A few decades later, this location had developed in a chic and fashionable residential district. However, disaster was to strike the region early in the twentieth century, when the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 devastated the area’s hotels and shops. The community and area was rebuilt, though, and today the area is better than ever a prime shopping and dining region, with a unique, colourful character.

The plaza also features the totemic Dewey Monument, a tall Corinthian column which features a bronze statue of the goddess Victory accompanied by a trident. A number of modern art sculptures are also on display in the square.

Parking can be tricky in this area. The best way to Union Square is by taking one of the characterful antique streetcars which pass by Union Square at regular intervals.