Top removal companies in London

Moving within London can involve narrow staircases, controlled parking zones, congestion charges, lift bookings, restricted loading times and uncertainty around completion-day access. The right removals company should therefore do more than provide a van and lifting team.

The six companies below cover different requirements, from smaller hourly moves and flat relocations to full packing, storage, business moves and international services. Every quotation should still be checked against the exact inventory, access conditions and contractual protections for the individual move.

What distinguishes a suitable removals company?

A suitable provider should inspect or accurately survey the move, explain what is included and provide written terms before taking a substantial deposit.

Check:

• Full legal business name
• Companies House details
• Trading address
• British Association of Removers membership where claimed
• Goods-in-transit protection
• Public-liability cover
• Liability limits and exclusions
• Inventory or survey process
• Vehicle size
• Number of movers
• Hourly minimum
• Fixed-price or hourly basis
• Packing and materials
• Dismantling and reassembly
• Parking, congestion and ULEZ charges
• Waiting-time rate
• Cancellation terms
• Key-delay policy
• Storage arrangements
• Complaints procedure
• Subcontracting
• VAT

A low hourly rate can become expensive where the vehicle is too small, the team is understaffed or waiting time is charged at the full rate.

At a glance

Rates and services can change. Request a current written quotation for the precise addresses and inventory.

How much do removals cost in London?

A smaller London move may cost a few hundred pounds, while a full home removal with packing, difficult access or long-distance transport can cost several thousand.

Indicative London ranges include:

• One mover and van: about £45–£80 per hour
• Two movers and van: about £70–£120 per hour
• Small flat move: about £300–£800
• One- or two-bedroom home: about £500–£1,500
• Three-bedroom home: about £900–£2,500
• Larger home with packing: about £1,500–£6,000+
• Packing service: commonly several hundred pounds
• Storage: charged by volume, container, square footage or week
• Long-distance or international move: individual quotation

The total depends on volume, access, distance, packing, dismantling, parking, waiting time, move date and insurance arrangements.

MTC London Removals Company

Address: 87 Devonshire Road, London E16 3NL
Phone: 020 3811 8380
Format: Hourly and quotation-led home, office and man-and-van services
Published rates: One man and Luton van £75 per hour; two movers £90; three movers £130; four movers £160
Minimum: Published Luton-van rates normally carry a three-hour minimum
Website

MTC London Removals provides home removals, office relocations, man-and-van services, packing and storage across London and the wider UK.

Its main advantage is visible hourly pricing. The current price page lists one mover and a Luton van at £75 per hour, two movers at £90, three movers at £130 and four movers at £160. These options normally carry a three-hour minimum.

The published rates also state that congestion, ULEZ and long-distance charges may apply. Customers should confirm whether VAT, parking, stairs, dismantling, materials and waiting time are included.

MTC offers full, partial and fragile-only packing alongside short- and long-term storage. The company states that goods-in-transit and public-liability protection apply, but customers should request the policy limit, excess and exclusions rather than relying on the phrase “fully insured”.

An hourly service works best where the inventory and access are predictable. A larger home or completion-day move may be safer under a surveyed fixed quotation.

Pros

• Publishes hourly rates for several team sizes
• Packing, removals and storage available
• Home and office moves
• Several vehicle and staffing options

Best for: Small and medium London moves where visible hourly pricing is important.

What to confirm: Request the minimum charge, VAT position, liability limit, vehicle capacity and waiting-time rate in writing.

London Man Van / LMV Transport

Registered office: 20–22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU
Phone: 020 7060 4743
Format: Man-and-van, home, office, national and European removals
Published rate signal: Services advertised from £45 per hour with half-hour billing
Booking: Instant online quotation and booking tools are available
Website

London Man Van is operated by LMV Transport and provides smaller man-and-van assignments alongside fuller home and office relocations.

The company advertises rates from £45 per hour and half-hour billing. The actual rate depends on the vehicle, number of movers, distance and service selected, so the entry figure should not be assumed for every move.

Available services include packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, local and national transport and European moves. International road moves may also involve customs documentation, inventory requirements and delivery windows.

The operator states that passengers cannot travel in removal vehicles. Customers should arrange separate transport and should not assume a moving van can be used as a taxi between addresses.

For hourly moves, provide photographs and an itemised inventory. A missing wardrobe, sofa-bed or flight of stairs can materially change the required team and completion time.

Pros

• Published entry-level hourly rate
• Half-hour billing is advertised
• Local, national and European services
• Online quotation and booking

Best for: Flat moves, student relocations and smaller assignments requiring flexible vehicle sizes.

What to confirm: Ask for the exact vehicle, crew, minimum hours, mileage, parking, European documentation and liability terms.

Superb Moves London

Address: 19 Eardley Road, Streatham, London SW16 6DA
Phone: 020 7101 3681 or 0800 566 8619
Format: Residential, office and man-and-van removals
Additional services: Packing and storage support
Published price: Quote required
Website

Superb Moves is a south London removals company handling flats, houses, offices and smaller transport assignments.

The company offers quotation-led moving support rather than a simple universal hourly table. That allows the team to account for access, volume, dismantling, packing and journey requirements.

A smaller directly managed provider can suit customers who prefer to deal with the same team from enquiry through move day. Customers should still establish whether any part of the work, vehicle or storage is subcontracted.

Packing support is available, including protection for fragile belongings and furniture. The quotation should specify whether boxes, tape, wrapping, wardrobe cartons and unpacking are included.

Storage may be arranged as part of the service. Ask where goods will be held, who operates the facility, how access works and what liability applies during storage.

Pros

• Residential and office removals
• Packing and storage support
• Directly accessible south London team
• Suitable for full moves and smaller assignments

Best for: London house and flat moves where customers want a quotation tailored to the exact inventory.

What to confirm: Ask whether storage or additional vehicles are subcontracted and request a written inventory and complete price.

London Removals Team

Address: Office 119, 20 Bugsby’s Way, London SE7 7SJ
Phone: 020 8226 6011
Format: Home, office, packing and storage services
Quote: Free no-obligation quotation
Coverage: London and wider UK moves
Website

London Removals Team combines moving, packing and storage for residential and business customers.

The service can cover packing, loading, transport, unloading and placement of furniture into the chosen rooms. Temporary storage is useful where completion dates do not align or renovation work is unfinished.

The company adjusts team and vehicle requirements according to the move. That makes accurate disclosure essential. Customers should list loft, garage, garden, shed and storage-unit contents rather than estimating only the main rooms.

The quotation should clarify whether dismantling and reassembly are included and whether complex furniture, wall-mounted items, appliances or specialist equipment require preparation by another trade.

Storage terms should identify the facility, charging unit, notice period, access arrangements, minimum term and insurance position.

Pros

• Packing, transport and storage through one provider
• Home and office relocation services
• London and wider UK coverage
• Free quotation process

Best for: Customers needing a combined move and temporary-storage arrangement.

What to confirm: Provide a full inventory and ask for the exact vehicle size, staffing, storage terms and waiting-time charges.

Bishop’s Move

London service: Kensington, Chelsea and wider London coverage
Phone: 03300 585100
Format: Full-service home, business, UK and international removals
Professional membership: Founding member of the British Association of Removers
Additional services: Packing, storage, antiques, fine art, concierge and office relocation
Website

Bishop’s Move is a long-established removals and storage company handling domestic, business and international relocations.

The London service is designed for moves requiring a fuller survey and project-managed approach. Options include complete packing, fragile-only packing, storage, antiques and fine-art handling and concierge-style assistance.

Bishop’s Move is a founding member of the British Association of Removers. BAR members operate under a Trading Standards-approved code covering service, fair trading, insurance or liability arrangements and complaints.

For business moves, the company advertises dedicated project management and BAR Commercial Moving Group accreditation. This is relevant where IT, furniture, confidential records and phased occupation must be coordinated.

The service is quotation-led and may cost more than a smaller hourly operator. The benefit is strongest for larger, high-value or operationally complex moves rather than a few items across one borough.

Pros

• BAR founding member
• Domestic, commercial and international capability
• Antique, fine-art and specialist packing services
• Managed storage and project support

Best for: Larger homes, high-value contents, corporate relocations and moves requiring packing or storage management.

What to confirm: Ask for the BAR member details, survey scope, liability option, move manager and complete fixed quotation.

Pickfords

Central London office: 54 Queen Anne Street, London W1G 8HN
Home-move phone: 0800 019 8556
Format: Local, national, international and business removals
Professional membership: British Association of Removers member
Additional services: Packing, London storage, business relocation and international shipping
Website

Pickfords operates a national removals network with dedicated London services for homes, businesses and international moves.

Customers can choose full packing, fragile-only packing or self-packing. A personal move manager is available for suitable services, which can be useful where storage, international shipping or several delivery stages must be coordinated.

The London service advertises secure storage and transit-protection options. Customers should read whether the contract provides insurance or contractual liability, the valuation basis, exclusions and procedure for declaring high-value items.

Pickfords is a BAR member and participates in relevant industry groups for domestic, commercial and international work. BAR membership also provides access to an independent alternative dispute-resolution route where an eligible complaint cannot be resolved directly.

The company has the resources for large or multi-location moves, but a survey-led quotation is required. Smaller customers should compare the proposed service with a simpler man-and-van option rather than assuming national scale is always necessary.

Pros

• BAR member with national resources
• London home, business and international services
• Packing, storage and move-management options
• Suitable for multi-stage and overseas relocations

Best for: International, corporate and complex London moves requiring storage or central coordination.

What to confirm: Ask which legal entity contracts with the customer, who provides destination services and what liability applies at every stage.

BAR membership and consumer protection

The British Association of Removers is the principal UK removals trade association.

Its Trading Standards-approved code covers areas including:

• Advertising
• Quotations
• Contracts
• Advance payments
• Service standards
• Liability or insurance arrangements
• Complaints
• Dispute resolution

Membership is a useful quality signal, but customers should still read the individual company’s terms and declared liability.

Non-members can also provide a competent service. They simply need to be assessed through their legal identity, insurance, trading history, contract and operational detail.

Hourly rate or fixed quotation?

Hourly move

An hourly service can work well for:

• Small inventories
• Short distances
• Flexible timing
• Simple access
• Student moves
• Single-room moves

The risk is that traffic, stairs, parking or an inaccurate inventory increases the total.

Fixed quotation

A fixed price is generally preferable for:

• Whole-home moves
• Completion day
• Long distance
• Packing
• Difficult access
• Several vehicles
• Large furniture
• Business relocation

The quote should state which circumstances permit the price to change.

Video survey or home survey?

A survey helps the company estimate:

• Volume
• Packing requirement
• Vehicle size
• Crew size
• Access
• Dismantling
• Specialist items
• Parking
• Move duration

Video surveys are convenient, but customers should show cupboards, lofts, sheds, garages and outdoor items. Concealed or forgotten contents can invalidate the estimate.

For a large move, an in-person survey may reduce uncertainty.

Comparing quotations properly

Provide every company with the same:

• Collection address
• Delivery address
• Move date
• Inventory
• Floor levels
• Lift details
• Walking distance
• Parking restrictions
• Dismantling needs
• Packing requirement
• Storage requirement
• Key-release expectations
• High-value items

Then compare:

• Total including VAT
• Deposit
• Crew
• Vehicle
• Included hours
• Waiting rate
• Packing materials
• Dismantling
• Insurance or liability
• Cancellation
• Complaints
• Storage

A quote without an attached inventory is harder to enforce and compare.

Insurance, liability and declared value

“Fully insured” is not enough information.

Ask:

• Is this goods-in-transit insurance or contractual liability?
• What is the maximum payment?
• Is compensation based on weight, repair cost or replacement value?
• Is there an excess?
• Must high-value items be declared?
• Are owner-packed boxes covered?
• Are jewellery, documents, cash or electronics excluded?
• Is storage covered?
• What is the claim deadline?
• Who insures subcontractors?

BAR rules require members to provide an approved method of protection, but customers still need to select and understand the applicable option.

Packing services

Common choices include:

Full packing

The company packs most household contents before the move.

Fragile-only packing

The team packs glassware, pictures, mirrors, ornaments and other delicate items.

Owner packing

The customer packs boxes and the mover handles transport.

Unpacking

The team removes items from boxes and may place them on surfaces. This does not always include organising cupboards or removing every packing material later.

Ask whether boxes are supplied, hired, collected or charged separately.

Specialist and high-value items

Tell the company about:

• Piano
• Safe
• Artwork
• Antiques
• Large mirror
• Aquarium
• Wine
• Sculpture
• Gym equipment
• American fridge
• Stone furniture
• Server
• Medical equipment

These may require a specialist crew, lifting equipment, crating, valuation or separate insurance.

Never assume a standard team can safely move a piano or heavy safe.

Parking, access and London charges

London moves may require:

• Parking suspension
• Loading bay
• Council permit
• Congestion Charge
• ULEZ
• Long carry
• Stair carry
• Lift booking
• Building protection
• Time-limited access
• Security induction

Establish who obtains and pays for each arrangement.

A removal vehicle parked illegally can delay the move or create additional cost.

Completion-day delays

Property transactions can be delayed while funds transfer and keys are released.

Ask:

• Included waiting time
• Hourly waiting rate
• Cut-off time
• Overnight contingency
• Storage option
• Redelivery charge
• Weekend consequences
• Liability for missed access

Some companies offer a late-key or cancellation waiver for an additional fee.

Storage

Storage may be:

• Self storage
• Containerised storage
• Warehouse storage
• Mobile storage
• Short-term holding
• International transit storage

Confirm:

• Charging unit
• Minimum term
• Access
• Retrieval notice
• Handling charges
• Redelivery
• Inventory
• Security
• Climate control
• Insurance
• Notice to end storage

The cheapest weekly rate may carry expensive collection or redelivery fees.

Office and business moves

Business relocation may require:

• Project manager
• Phased move
• IT relocation
• Server handling
• Asset register
• Crates
• Confidential shredding
• Furniture reuse
• Weekend work
• Floor protection
• Risk assessment
• Method statement
• Security clearance
• Business continuity plan

Ask for references from moves of a similar size and sector.

International removals

International moves may involve:

• Export packing
• Customs inventory
• Restricted goods
• Shipping method
• Consolidated or direct load
• Port charges
• Destination agent
• Delivery access
• Storage
• Customs duty
• Transit time
• Marine insurance
• Quarantine inspection

Confirm which company remains responsible after the goods leave the UK and whether destination charges are included.

Items movers may refuse

Companies commonly refuse or restrict:

• Flammable liquids
• Gas cylinders
• Paint
• Chemicals
• Explosives
• Perishable food
• Plants on international moves
• Cash
• Jewellery
• Important documents
• Illegal goods
• Unsecured fuel-powered equipment

Request the prohibited-items list before packing.

Inventory and condition records

For valuable or stored goods, use:

• Itemised inventory
• Photographs
• Serial numbers
• Existing-damage notes
• Box numbering
• Room labels
• Valuation list
• Signed collection record

Report damage promptly and preserve packaging and photographs.

Cancellation and postponement

Check:

• Cooling-off rights
• Deposit refund
• Notice period
• Completion-date change
• Cancellation scale
• Weather disruption
• Illness
• Vehicle failure
• Company cancellation
• Rescheduling
• Storage contingency

Property-chain uncertainty should be discussed before paying a non-refundable deposit.

Complaints and damaged items

Raise problems with the company promptly and follow its written complaints procedure.

Keep:

• Quotation
• Contract
• Inventory
• Photographs
• Delivery note
• Emails
• Receipts
• Repair estimates
• Claim form

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be provided with reasonable care and skill. BAR members may also provide access to an approved alternative dispute-resolution route.

Questions to ask before booking

• What is your legal company name?
• Are you a BAR member?
• What protection applies to my belongings?
• Is VAT included?
• Is the quote fixed?
• What can change the price?
• How many movers and vehicles are included?
• Is packing included?
• Who arranges parking?
• What is the waiting rate?
• What happens if keys are delayed?
• Do you use subcontractors?
• Where is storage located?
• What is the cancellation policy?
• How do I make a claim?

Common warning signs

Be cautious where a company:

• Refuses to provide written terms
• Gives a large-home quote without a survey
• Cannot identify the legal entity
• Uses only a mobile number and no verifiable address
• Requests full cash payment in advance
• Cannot explain liability
• Has no complaints process
• Provides no inventory
• Uses an unsuitable vehicle
• Changes the price on move day without a contractual basis
• Will not explain subcontracting
• Claims every item is insured without exclusions

Frequently asked questions

How many quotations should I obtain?

Three comparable written quotations are usually enough to understand the market and identify missing charges.

Is BAR membership essential?

No, but it provides audited standards, a code of practice and additional dispute-resolution protection.

Should I choose hourly or fixed pricing?

Hourly pricing can suit small simple moves. A surveyed fixed quotation is generally safer for a complete household move.

Are owner-packed boxes covered?

Not always for damage caused by poor packing. Read the liability or insurance terms.

Can movers dismantle furniture?

Often, but it must be agreed. Complex fitted or specialist furniture may require another trade.

Do removal companies transport passengers?

Usually not. Arrange separate travel.

What happens if completion is delayed?

Waiting charges, storage or redelivery may apply. Agree the contingency in advance.

Choosing with confidence

MTC and London Man Van provide visible hourly pricing suited to smaller and medium London moves. Superb Moves and London Removals Team offer quotation-led local services with packing and storage support.

Bishop’s Move and Pickfords add BAR-backed, higher-capacity options for larger homes, specialist contents, business relocation, storage and international work.

Choose according to the inventory, access, protection for belongings and complete written price rather than headline reviews or the lowest hourly figure. A properly surveyed move with clear liability terms is more valuable than a cheap quotation that leaves essential charges undefined.

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