We are Cotswold Services Removals, based at 246 Bath Road in Cheltenham, with our storage depot on Northway Lane in Tewkesbury. We are Move Assured accredited and a Checkatrade member, rated 5.0 on Google from 105 reviews (as of September 2026). A steady share of the moves we quote each year start in London, and the pattern is consistent: space, schools and remote work drive the decision, the move day itself needs planning as a genuine long-distance job, and a run of life admin follows once you arrive. Here is what that actually involves.
Why the Move Happens
Three reasons come up again and again when we talk to London movers. None of them are complicated, and most people moving from London to the Cotswolds are weighing more than one at once.
- Space. A London budget that buys a two-bedroom flat can buy a house with a garden, a study and room to grow into, once you look towards Cheltenham, Cirencester or the market towns around them (see our guide to moving to the Cotswolds for how these towns compare). Families with school-age children are often the ones who move this calculation from “someday” to “this year.”
- Schools. Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties have a mix of well-regarded state schools and independent schools, and buyers frequently choose a specific town because of a catchment or because a particular school has a place available.
- Remote and hybrid work. Cheltenham has a direct line to London Paddington, and towns such as Stroud and Kingham sit on routes that make an occasional commute realistic without making it a daily grind. For people who need to be in London one or two days a week rather than five, the Cotswolds put a fast train and a slower pace of life within reach of each other.
Schools admissions in England are handled through your new local council, not the school directly, and applying mid-year (an “in-year” application) follows a different process from the normal September intake round. If your move date and your term dates do not line up, contact the new council’s admissions team as soon as you have an exchange date, not after you have moved.
The Realistic Logistics of a Long-Distance Move Day
A move from London to the Cotswolds is a different job from a move across town, and it pays to plan it as one. The distance is typically 80 to 100 miles depending on your exact start and end points, which usually means a journey of one and a half to two and a half hours each way once you account for London traffic getting out and rural roads on the final approach.
That has a few practical consequences for the day itself:
| What changes | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Loading time | We build in more time than a local move would need, because there is no option to make a second short trip if something gets left behind. Everything has to go on the vehicle in one pass. |
| Route planning | We plan both ends before move day. London postcodes bring red routes, loading restrictions and controlled parking zones that need a permit or suspension arranged in advance. Cotswold postcodes bring narrow lanes, low bridges and market towns where a large vehicle cannot get close to the door. |
| Timing | We agree a realistic loading window at the London end and a realistic arrival window at the Cotswolds end, with contingency built in for traffic on the M4 or the A417, rather than promising a fixed hour that a hold-up on the road would break. |
We ask about access at both ends at the survey stage so the vehicle and crew are right for the job, not just for the easier half of it.
How the Survey Works for a London Property
Most Cotswold moves are quoted from a walkaround video or photos rather than an in-person visit, and that applies just as well when the property is in London. Send us a video walking through each room, cupboards included, and we can put together an accurate quote without needing to travel to you. This is the same process we use for any smaller move, and for a London flat or terrace it is usually the simpler option for both sides.
In-person home surveys are offered free of charge for properties with three or more bedrooms. If your London property qualifies and you would rather have someone walk the rooms with you, that option is there. For anything smaller, the video or photo route gets you a fixed quote within 24 hours without the scheduling back and forth.
Either way, tell us about access at the London end during the survey conversation, not on the day. A red route outside the building, a lift that needs booking, or a management company that requires notice before a removal vehicle can park all change what the job looks like, and we would rather plan around them in advance.
Storage Between Completion Dates
Chains rarely line up perfectly, and a London sale completing before your Cotswolds purchase is ready is common rather than unusual. When that happens, your belongings need somewhere secure to sit for the gap, which can run from a few days to several weeks.
Our storage facility is at Northway Lane in Tewkesbury, and it is the same secure, insured storage we use for any customer whose dates do not align, not a separate service bolted on for long-distance moves. Furniture and boxes go in once, come out once, and there is no need to arrange a separate storage company or a second point of contact. See our Cotswold relocation services for how packing, storage and flexible dates fit together for people moving into the area.
If you know your dates are likely to be tight, raise it at the quote stage. We can build a bridging period into the plan from the outset rather than trying to arrange it at short notice once a completion date slips.
What Changes About Life Admin
Moving out of London brings a run of administrative changes that are easy to overlook next to the bigger decisions. None of them are difficult on their own, but they are worth doing in the right order.
- Council tax. Set up with your new local council as soon as you have a moving date. Your London council will close your account and your Cotswolds council will open a new one on a different band and a different bill.
- GP registration. Register with a practice near your new address as soon as you have moved in, through the NHS website’s practice finder. No need to wait for paperwork from your old surgery.
- DVLA (V5C). Update your vehicle log book with your new address online through the DVLA once you know your moving date.
- Royal Mail redirection. Worth setting up ahead of the move rather than after, since post takes a few working days to start forwarding once it is in place.
- Electoral register. If you’re registered, you will need to re-register at your new address with your new council, as this does not carry over automatically.
- Utilities. The piece most people leave too late. Confirm your Cotswolds property’s existing suppliers where relevant, and give notice to your London providers with enough lead time that you are not paying for two properties longer than necessary.
Antz Crate Hire: An Alternative to Cardboard for a Long Move
Cotswold Services Removals customers receive a 20 percent discount on Antz Crate Hire UK plastic crate rental. For a long-distance move where boxes spend longer in transit and longer in storage, sturdier crates hold their shape better than repeatedly taped cardboard, and they stack more securely in the vehicle. Ask about this when you get your quote if you would rather not buy or source cardboard boxes yourself.
FAQs
How far in advance should I book a London to Cotswolds move?
For a long-distance move, four to six weeks’ notice gives you the best chance of your preferred date, particularly for moves in the summer months. If your completion date is later confirmed or changes, let us know as soon as you can, since we plan the vehicle and crew around the distance as well as the property size.
Can you collect from anywhere in London?
Yes. We regularly collect from addresses across London and deliver into Cheltenham, Cirencester, Stroud, Tewkesbury and the surrounding Cotswolds towns. Tell us your London postcode at quote stage so we can check for any access restrictions, such as red routes or controlled parking, ahead of the day.
Do I need an in-person survey if I am moving from London?
Not usually. Most moves, including long-distance ones, are quoted from a walkaround video or photos, which is often more convenient when the property is a distance away. An in-person survey is available free of charge for properties with three or more bedrooms if you would prefer it.
What if my Cotswolds property is not ready when I need to leave my London home?
This is one of the most common reasons people ask about storage. We can hold your belongings securely at our Tewkesbury storage facility for the gap between your dates, whether that is a few days or longer, and move them on to your new address once it is ready.
Do you charge more for a long-distance move?
Pricing is based on property size, volume, access at both ends and distance, the same factors that decide any quote. A London to Cotswolds move will usually cost more than a local move simply because of the extra distance and time involved, but you will get a fixed price after your survey or video, not an estimate that changes on the day.
