Moving to, or around, London is very exciting, but there are a few extra things to consider. We all know that the capital is one of the most bustling places in the United Kingdom, so London home movers could find that they encounter more pitfalls on moving day than those moving in quieter areas of the country. If you are moving home in London, here are a few things to remember to help get you through the busy world of London removals.
Traffic
London traffic is said to be the busiest in the country, with the slowest average miles-per-hour than any other UK city. Choosing a London moving company will help you find people who are very experienced in navigating through the traffic jams and have local knowledge of how to possibly avoid the queues and get to your destination on time.
Parking
If you don’t have a driveway at one or both ends of your journey, it is a good idea to visit your new area of residence to scout out good places to park in your region of London at the time of day you anticipate that you will be arriving. The last thing you’ll want is to turn up with a lorry full of your possessions only to be unable to find anywhere to unload them.
To avoid possible parking fines, check whether you will need to acquire a parking permit for the removals vehicle. This will vary from London borough to borough, but your removals company may need you to sort this out for them. Make sure you ask them about this and also visit your borough council’s website for more information.
Red Routes
Red Routes have been introduced to ease congestion and avoid London’s road users stopping unnecessarily on the busiest streets. If your move involves parking at any point on a ‘Red Route,’ you may need to apply for special dispensation to avoid a penalty charge.
Congestion Charge
Don’t get caught out by this. With so many things up in the air on moving day, this is something that could easily slip your mind. You can pay this up to 90 days in advance and by sorting it out early, it will be one less thing to think about on the day and you can get on with your move. We have more advice on the London Congestion Charge here.
London Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone
Vehicles with larger engines are required to conform to regulations set out in the Low Emission Zone. The Low Emission Zone covers most of Greater London, so when you choose a London removal company, check that their vehicles comply with these regulations. The regulations of the Low Emission Zone are becoming even tougher for heavy vehicles in March 2021, so be sure to account for that.
If your move will involve driving in central London then vehicles will need to comply with the regulations of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which came into force in April 2019. Again, it's important to check whether your removal company's vehicles comply as you'll need to know whether or not you'll need to pay the fee.
You can read more about the Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone on the Transport for London website.
London removals companies
We have some great London based removals companies, and helpful information about removals when moving home in London.
You can get quotes from our trusted removal firms here.
Got any more tips for moving house in London? Let us know below.
Updated January 2021