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Moving home is often one of life’s biggest undertakings, especially when you’re covering a long distance. With so many moving parts to coordinate, it’s easy for things to start feeling complicated.
This complete guide to long distance moves in the UK breaks everything down into simple steps, from early preparation and decluttering to settling your children into new schools and setting up in your new home.
Bookmark this page, share it with your partner, or print it out if it helps. Think of it as your relocation companion, from the first box packed to the first cuppa in your new kitchen.
The single most important piece of advice for any relocation: start earlier than you think you need to.
Typically, it’s best to begin the planning process 8–12 weeks before your completion or tenancy start date. Starting this far in advance gives you maximum control over costs, availability of removal firms, and your own stress levels.
Here’s a rough timeline to work from:
| Timeframe | Focus |
| 8–12 weeks out | Budget, removal quotes, school research, declutter begins |
| 6–8 weeks out | Book removal company, start packing non-essentials |
| 4–6 weeks out | Notify organisations, book storage if needed, pack more |
| 2–4 weeks out | Redirect mail, confirm all bookings, childcare and pet care arrangements |
| 1–2 weeks out | Pack almost everything, confirm moving day logistics |
| Moving week | Final checks, essential items box, meter readings |
| Moving day | Execute the plan, photograph everything |
| First week in new home | Register with local services, unpack, settle in |
Pro tip: Book your removal company as early as possible. Popular firms fill up fast, especially at the end of the month, during school holidays and during peak summer moving season. Also, it’s worth considering a mid-week move (Tuesday or Wednesday); these can sometimes be 10–15% cheaper than Friday completions.
Good preparation turns a chaotic relocation into a manageable experience. Before you lift a single box, get the fundamentals in place.
Moving costs can add up faster than most people expect and are often a forgotten aspect of moving home. A realistic budget should include:
You should aim to get at least three written quotes from insured removal firms. Ask specifically about:
Ask friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations – word-of-mouth remains the most reliable way to find trustworthy removers. You can also check online reviews such as Google Reviews for independent testimonials.
Keep all your important documents, such as passports, contracts, insurance documents, and financial statements, together in a clearly labelled folder. This folder should travel with you personally on moving day, not in the removal van.
For items of significant financial and sentimental value, it may be a good idea to pack these to take with you personally on moving day. This helps you to know where they are always and put your mind at ease during the removals process.
Before you pack a single box, you should take the time to declutter. Moving home is the perfect opportunity to audit everything you own and shed what you no longer need. Less to move means lower removal costs, fewer boxes, and a fresh start in your new home.
Tackle one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. For each item, ask:
If the answer is no to most of those, it goes.
Storage tip: If you’re unsure about an item, don’t agonise over it – just box it separately and put it in temporary storage. You can make the final call once you’re settled.
Packing strategically will likely save you hours of frustration when it’s time to unpack. Follow these principles and you’ll thank yourself later. If you don’t want to or don’t have the time to pack, you can ask your removals company if they provide a professional packing service.
Pack room by room. Mixing items from different rooms will just create chaos at the other end. Start with rooms you use least, such as the spare bedroom, loft, or garage, and work towards the rooms you use daily.
Label every box on multiple sides. Write the contents and the destination room. Boxes often end up stacked against walls, so labelling multiple sides ensures the label is always visible.
Use a colour-coding system. Assign each room a colour with stickers. Give the removal team a colour-coded floor plan of your new home so they can place boxes directly into the right rooms.
Heavy items in small boxes. Books, crockery, and tools go in smaller boxes. Lighter items like bedding and cushions can fill the large ones.
Pack an “Open First” box for each room. These contain the essentials you’ll need immediately, like the kettle, mugs, toilet roll, phone chargers, bed linen, and a change of clothes. Label this box for each room clearly to help with the unpacking process when you move in.
Don’t leave boxes unfilled. Gaps cause items to shift and break. Fill spaces with scrunched newspaper, packing paper, or spare clothes.
Photograph all items including furniture and fragile items before packing. Useful for insurance claims if anything is damaged in transit.
Pack a separate overnight bag or box with everything you’ll need for the first 24 hours, such as medications, toiletries, phone chargers, a couple of changes of clothes, snacks, and any children’s comfort items. This bag travels with you, not in the van.
Updating your address can be one of the most time-consuming parts of any relocation. Start notifying organisations 4–6 weeks before your moving date and work through the list systematically.
If you’re moving long distance, you’ll likely need to register with new clinics in your area. Your GP will typically automatically transfer your records to your new provider once you’re registered, but you can still let them know beforehand.
Time-saver: Consider using a home mover address-update service, which can notify multiple organisations in one go.
Britannia has a handy moving home checklist designed to help you stay organised at every stage of your move, from the early planning phase right through to moving day itself.
It’s a simple way to keep track of all the important tasks that need doing, so you can avoid last-minute stress and make sure nothing gets overlooked along the way.
Download a copy and work through it at your own pace, ticking off each item as it’s completed so you can feel confident everything is on track.
Pets don’t understand why their world is suddenly upside-down. Moving home can be stressful for animals, and a little extra planning goes a long way to keeping them safe and calm. Below is a summary of how to relocate with pets, or you can read our guide to moving home with a dog for more details.
Buy new ID tags. You should prepare by ordering new ID tags with your new address before you move. This way, they’ll be ready to put on your pet’s collar as soon as you move in.
Visit the vet. If your pet is anxious, speak to your vet about options. Some animals benefit from calming supplements or, in more severe cases, prescribed sedatives for travel. Your vet can advise based on your pet’s individual needs.
Maintain routines. In the run-up to the move, keep feeding times, walks, and play sessions as consistent as possible. Routine is reassuring for animals.
Arrange transport. Make sure you have a secure, comfortable carrier or crate for cats and smaller animals. Dogs should travel in a secured crate or with a dog seatbelt. Never transport pets loose in a removal van.
Arrange dedicated pet care. The safest option is for pets to be completely off-site on moving day. Arrange for a trusted friend, family member, dog sitter, boarding kennel, or cattery to look after them. Moving day involves constant door-opening and heavy furniture, which can bring a real risk of escape or injury for your pets.
If pets must be present, confine them to one empty room with their bed, food, water, and some familiar toys. Attach a note to the door asking removal staff not to enter.
Cats: Transport them last and keep them in a quiet room at the new property when you arrive. Give them one room to explore initially before gradually opening the rest of the house. Keep cats indoors for at least two to three weeks after moving before allowing outdoor access.
Dogs: Keep them on a lead at the new property until the garden is secured. Walk them around the new neighbourhood before settling in. Familiar smells from your clothes and furniture will help them to adjust.
Children thrive on routine and can find the upheaval of moving home genuinely unsettling. How you handle the lead-up makes an enormous difference. Below is a summary, or you can read our tips for moving house with children for more detail.
Be honest and positive when talking about the move. Explain what’s happening in age-appropriate language. Focus on the exciting aspects, like they’ll have a new bedroom to decorate, a garden, a new park nearby, or new friends. Give your child space to express any worries and take them seriously.
Involve your children in the process where you can:
If possible, moving during school holidays will give children time to adjust to their new environment before the additional challenge of starting a new school. However, moving mid-term (if a school place is already secured) can also mean children settle socially faster.
Moving day is not the place for young children. With constant door-opening, heavy furniture, and a stream of unfamiliar people, it’s unsafe and overwhelming.
Where possible, arrange off-site childcare for moving day. This could include grandparents or trusted family members, a close friend, or a professional babysitter or child minder booked well in advance
If children are older and need to be present, you can give them a specific role, such as being in charge of the snack bag, looking after the younger sibling(s), or tracking boxes, so they feel useful during the move.
Once you’re in, prioritise setting up their bedroom first. A familiar, personalised space gives children a safe anchor in an unfamiliar environment. Bring their favourite toys, books, and bedding in the “Open First” box rather than buried in the removal van.
Keep the first few days calm. Explore the new area together, find the nearest park, visit a local café. Familiarity builds quickly with small, positive experiences.
School logistics are often one of the most stressful parts of relocating, especially if you’re moving mid-year or to a high-demand area.
Start researching schools in your new area as early as possible, ideally 8–12 weeks before your moving date, or longer if you’re moving to a competitive catchment. Check:
In England: Apply through your new local authority. If you’re moving mid-year (called an in-year admission), contact the admissions team directly rather than applying through the normal round. The council has a duty to find your child a school place.
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Contact the new local council’s education department. Processes vary slightly by country, so check the relevant government website.
Important: Do not inform your current school of your leaving date until you have a confirmed place at the new school.
Once a new school place is confirmed, write to your child’s current school with their final attendance date. Request that school records, including any SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) support plans, medical notes, and academic records, be transferred to the new school.
Ask the new school what they need from the old school and facilitate the transfer directly between institutions. If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in England, notify your current local authority as soon as you know you’re moving so they can arrange a transfer to the new authority.
Sometimes there’s a gap between leaving your old home and moving into your new one. Sometimes you’re downsizing and need breathing room. Sometimes a room is being renovated before you can move in. Temporary storage solves all of these problems.
Self-storage units are the most flexible option. You pay for a unit of the size you need, access it yourself, and can stay month-to-month. Ideal for furniture and household goods. Some facilities may offer 24/7 access, but others may have different opening hours.
Container storage involves your belongings being loaded into a container that’s kept at a secure depot. Often cheaper than self-storage but you can’t access your items as easily. Typically, the container will be delivered to your home, where you can pack it yourself or have it professionally packed, and then transported to the depot.
Apply the same labelling principles as for the move itself, so everything is easy to find when you need it. Wrap furniture in protective covers and avoid storing perishables or hazardous materials. In self-storage units, make sure to leave walking space so you can access items at the back.
Arriving at your new home to find no internet, no hot water, and no bed assembled is nobody’s idea of a good start. A little advance planning ensures your new home is ready to live in from day one.
Contact gas, electricity, and water suppliers to arrange for accounts to be set up from your move-in date. Ask the previous owners or your estate agent for meter serial numbers so suppliers can match them easily.
Take photographs of all meter readings on the day you get the keys with a date-stamped photo and submit them to the relevant suppliers immediately.
This is the one most people forget to arrange early enough. Broadband installation can take 2–4 weeks, sometimes longer in rural areas. So, you should contact your chosen provider as soon as you have a confirmed move date.
If there will be a gap, check whether your mobile contract includes sufficient data for tethering, or look into a temporary 4G/5G router.
Even if the previous owners cleaned thoroughly, most people feel better doing their own clean before they unpack. If you can access the property before your belongings arrive, arrange a professional clean or do it yourself. Pay particular attention to:
If you’re relocating to a new area, before you move in, research:
Arrange for these to be ready or confirmed before moving day:
Pack a separate bag or clearly marked box that travels with you in the car, not in the removal van. This is your lifeline for the first 24 hours.
Practical:
Kitchen:
Personal:
Children:
Pets:
Documents (these should always travel with you):
Moving home is one of the most logistically complex things most of us will ever do. The difference between a stressful move and a smooth one almost always comes down to planning.
Start early. Declutter before you pack. Notify everyone you need to inform. Arrange proper care for your pets and children on moving day. Get your new home’s utilities and security sorted before you arrive.
And when moving day itself arrives? Take a breath. You’ve planned for this. By the time you’re unpacking that first box and putting the kettle on, the hard part is already over.
This guide is designed for people relocating within the UK. For international relocations, requirements around pets, documents, and school admissions will vary. Always check the relevant government guidance for your specific circumstances.
