Moving in London: The Chaos, the Cardboard, and the I-Can’t-Do-This-Again Meltdown

Let me set the scene: I’ve moved six times in London. Six. That’s six rounds of trying to bribe friends with pizza and wine, six weekends wasted taping up boxes at 2am, and six near-hernias from lifting IKEA wardrobes that absolutely were not designed to be moved more than once.

If you’ve ever done a DIY move in this city, you know the drill. You either hire a “man and a van” or you convince your mate with a car account to help you make 14 sweaty, panic-filled trips across town. And let’s not even talk about the stress of trying to find legal parking in Zone 2 while holding a sofa on your back.

This last move, I decided: I’m done. No more dragging boxes down three flights of stairs or playing Tetris in the back of a van. I wanted the royal treatment. So, I finally hired professional movers – and not just any movers. I went with AnyVan, and honestly? Game. Changer.

If you’re even thinking about moving in London, this is the company you want to know about. Let me break it down.

Just an FYI, this post which is sponsored by AnyVan may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase something through the links, at no additional cost to you. It enables me to keep bringing you more free content to binge and I really appreciate it!

Who Are AnyVan and Why Should You Trust Them with Your Move?

AnyVan was founded in 2009 with the mission to create the world’s most efficient logistics technology, which would help halve the number of wasted miles driven.

They noticed that a lot of vans on the roads at any given time are half full, or even entirely empty. Which makes sense. If someone is dropping off a piano from London to Cardiff, they will often have to drive back empty. AnyVan help their transport partners find extra work on the journeys they are already making, while also saving you a nice sum – as the journey was happening anyway.

The AnyVan Services I Used (and Would 100% Use Again)

I decided to go all in. If I was going to pay for help, I wanted all the help. Here’s what I booked:

• Full packing service: They brought everything – boxes, bubble wrap, paper, tape. My hands never even touched a roll of tape.
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly: My bed, wardrobe, sofa – everything was taken apart and put back together at the new place.
• Labeling and room-by-room organization: They didn’t just dump my stuff in the hallway and leave. They asked where each box should go and made sure everything was in the right room.

Reader, I nearly cried with joy.

How Much Did It Cost?

Okay, let’s talk numbers because I know you’re wondering.

For my 2-bed, 750-square-foot house, the cost was approximately £1,500. That included:

• Full packing service
• 25 moving boxes
• 2 wardrobe boxes
• Furniture disassembly and reassembly – this included my 5 seater couch, king size bed (which they reassembled better than I had it!), day bed, 2 chairs, and a kitchen dining set
• £50K fire and theft cover
• Three-man moving crew
• Van with live tracking

Could I have done it cheaper with a man and a van? Technically, yes. But factoring in the physical exhaustion, stress, risk of injury, and the fact that I didn’t lift a single thing? This was money very well spent.

And remember, AnyVan’s logistics system keeps their rates lower than many of their competitors, without sacrificing service.

My Experience with the AnyVan Moving Company in London

The big day rolled around and I was… oddly chill? (That’s a first.)

Here’s how it all went down:

• Arrival: The movers arrived right on time.
• Communication: I got live tracking of the van, so I knew exactly when to expect them.
• Packing: It took just 3 hours for them to pack up my entire home. They wrapped everything in protective materials and packed it like pros.
• Furniture: They disassembled and reassembled everything without so much as a scratched screw.
• Organization: Every box was labeled and placed in the correct room, so I wasn’t hunting for my kettle or pyjamas at midnight.

Oh, and they were genuinely nice guys. Friendly, professional, and clearly knew what they were doing.

FAQs About Using AnyVan for Moving in London

Do AnyVan operate outside of London?

AnyVan operates across the whole of the UK, and their transport providers are based locally meaning no matter where you are, they’ll have someone in your area to assist with your move. 

And if you’re going a bit further, they also cover moves to and within Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Ireland.

What kinds of services do AnyVan offer?

Quite a few, actually:

• Home removals
• Office and student removals
• International relocations
• Man and a Van
• Storage services
• Vehicle delivery

Basically, if it needs moving, they’ve probably got a service for it.

Are AnyVan affordable?

Yes. Thanks to their smart logistics, they can offer prices up to 40% cheaper than other moving companies in London. And from my experience? You’re getting a high-end service without the high-end price tag.

Final Thoughts on Using AnyVan for Moving in London