London Moving Day Logistics: Parking, Permits and Access for Your Man and Van

Plan your London moving day like a local by sorting parking, permits and access in advance, then working directly with your man and van driver so everything runs on time.

Moving day in London isn't just about boxes and furniture. Where the van can park, how far it is from your front door, and whether there is a lift or three flights of stairs can easily add an hour or more to your job.

With a bit of planning, you can avoid surprise parking headaches, missed time slots and extra costs. This guide walks you through how to handle parking, permits and access so your London man and van move runs smoothly.

Quick tip: Once you have an idea of what you are moving, use our Van Size Calculator to choose a van that fits both your belongings and your street, then build your booking around that.

Street in Notting Hill, London with brightly painted terrace houses and parked cars

Why Parking and Access Can Make or Break a London Move

In most parts of the UK you can usually pull up near the property and get on with loading. In London, a typical move has extra layers:

Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) and residents' bays that limit where vans can stop.
Estate roads, gated courtyards and private developments with their own parking rules.
Red routes, bus lanes and loading bays with strict time limits.
Flats, lifts and stairwells that slow loading more than the distance on the road.

All of these affect:

How long your move takes – more walking and stairs means more time.
How close the van can park – 10 metres versus 150 metres makes a big difference.
Whether extra costs apply – permits, CPZ fines, or needing to extend your booking time.

Your booking includes the van and a driver, along with any loading help you choose to add. You are responsible for making sure they can park legally and safely at both addresses. Getting this right is often the difference between a calm move and a hectic one.

If you are still deciding which London man and van service to choose, you can read our broader guide Moving in London: Choosing the Right Man and Van for Your Borough.

When You Book: What We Ask For and What You Choose

When you book through Compare The Man and Van, we collect a few key details so your driver can plan your move properly:

Full addresses and postcodes for both properties.
Which London boroughs you are moving between.
Basic access details at each address, such as:
- Number of floors.
- Whether there is a lift, and if it is suitable for furniture.
- Whether there are stairs only, and roughly how many flights.

At the same time, you choose the main parts of your booking:

The van size you think you need. You can use our Van Size Calculator to help match your items to a suitable vehicle.
How long you need the van for.
How much help you want with loading and unloading — from driver only up to driver plus 2 helpers — or you can choose to handle all the lifting yourself.

Your driver brings the van and any loading help you have booked, but sorting out parking, permits and any bay suspensions is your responsibility. If you are unsure what your council expects, you can always contact our friendly support team and we will be happy to talk it through.

How to Check Your Borough's Rules (With Examples)

Every London borough runs its own parking and permit system. The basics are similar, but the details vary, so it is worth checking the rules at both ends of your move.

Step by step, look for:

Find your borough website: Search for your council name together with "parking permits" or "parking suspensions".
Check CPZ maps and hours: Look for Controlled Parking Zone maps and the times they apply (for example, Mon–Fri, 8.30am–6.30pm).
Look up visitor permits and suspensions: See whether you can buy visitor permits for your address and whether you can request a bay suspension outside your property, and note how much notice they usually need.
Check loading and stopping restrictions: If you are near a high street or red route, check whether loading is allowed outside your building and any time limits (for example, a maximum of 20 minutes).

Borough examples (to give you a feel for typical patterns):

Southwark: Many streets are in controlled zones near stations and high streets. Online forms are often used for bay suspensions and the council may need several working days' notice. Visitor permits and shared-use bays are common around estates, and customers booking Southwark man and van services often plan parking a little earlier as a result.

Camden: Dense CPZ coverage, with strict loading bays and resident-only streets. You will often see short loading windows and clear signage about times you can stop. If you are arranging man with a van in Camden, it is especially important to check loading bay hours before moving day.

Croydon: More residential roads with mixed restrictions – some streets are free to park, others fall within CPZs near the centre and stations. Visitor permits and short-stay bays are more common than suspended bays outside houses. Our Croydon man and van services customers often have more physical space to park, but journeys can be longer.

Wherever you are moving, the goal is the same: know where the van can stop legally and how long it can stay before your driver arrives.

Common London Moving Day Scenarios

Every London move is different, but a few scenarios come up again and again.

Terraced houses in Gaskarth Road on a narrow London street

Terraced houses on narrow roads

Cars parked on both sides can make it hard for larger vans to pass, let alone park.
Neighbours may already be used to residents arranging short-term moves.
Think about whether a medium van can get closer than a large Luton.
Consider asking neighbours in advance if anyone can leave a gap outside your door.
If you are in a CPZ and need guaranteed space, look into arranging a bay suspension.

Estate blocks with gated access or a concierge

You may have barriers, entry fobs or a concierge desk between the van and your flat.
Lifts can be small or restricted to certain hours for moving large items.
Check whether there is a dedicated delivery bay or loading area for the block.
Ask building management if you need to book the lift or reserve a moving slot.
Make a note of any codes, fobs or instructions your driver will need to get in.

London red route and bus lane with parking restrictions

Red routes and bus lanes

On red routes, stopping is heavily restricted. Loading may only be allowed at very specific times, or not at all.
Pulling up "just for a minute" can quickly turn into a ticket.
Before you book, check the red route signs outside your property and note any allowed loading times.
If loading is not possible directly outside, consider using a nearby side street with a safe walking route.
Where your council allows it, a parking suspension or an off-peak time slot can sometimes help.

Talking to Your Driver About Access

Your booking confirmation includes your driver's contact details. In many cases your driver will get in touch before moving day, but you can also contact them directly to discuss anything specific about access, timing or parking.

It is helpful to share details such as:

Any tight turns, narrow doorways or low ceilings inside the property.
Gate codes, concierge desks or entry systems they will need to use.
Where you expect the van to park and how long that space will be available.
Photos or a short video of the street, entrance or staircase if things are especially tight.

We encourage customers and drivers to manage the on-the-day logistics directly together. Drivers are usually local to the area, so they can ask the right questions and suggest practical solutions based on experience in your part of London.

Using Extra Helpers When Time or Space Is Tight

In some parts of London you may only have a short window to load or unload before the van has to move. Time-limited loading bays, single yellow lines and busy residential streets can all put pressure on how quickly things need to happen.

Choosing extra helpers can make a real difference in these situations:

Driver plus 1 helper speeds things up compared with the driver working alone.
Driver plus 2 helpers is ideal for moves with several flights of stairs, long walks from van to door, or tight loading windows.
More hands on deck means fewer trips, less time with the van stopped, and a better chance of staying within your parking limits.

If you know parking will be difficult or heavily restricted, it is often better to book a little more help and time than you think you need, rather than risk running over.

Quick Checklist: London Moving Day Logistics

Borough and street rules: Do you know which council you are in and what their rules are for vans on your street?
Parking and permits: Have you checked whether you need visitor permits or a bay suspension, and allowed time to arrange them?
Access inside the building: How many floors are there, and are there any very tight staircases or small lifts?
Van size and helpers: Have you used the Van Size Calculator and chosen the right level of help for your move?
Driver communication: Have you shared clear notes or photos with your driver about parking and access?

If you can tick off most of this list, you are in a strong position for a smooth London moving day.

London Moving Day Logistics FAQs

Your man and van driver brings the vehicle and the labour you have booked, but you are responsible for arranging any parking, permits or bay suspensions needed to park legally at both addresses. Check your council's rules in advance so you know what you need to organise.

Drivers cannot arrange permits or bay suspensions for you, but most London drivers know their local streets well. If you tell them about your parking situation before moving day, they can suggest realistic places to stop, adjust timings, or recommend booking extra helpers where loading time is tight.

Extra helpers can make a big difference in London, especially if there are several flights of stairs or you only have a short window to use a loading bay. Booking driver plus 1 or driver plus 2 helps keep everything moving quickly so you can load and unload within the time and parking restrictions you have.

Ready to Plan Your London Moving Day?

Use our London hub to compare quotes from vetted local drivers, choose a van size that fits your belongings and your street, and share your access details so your move runs on time.

Compare London Man and Van Quotes

Sources

"Terraced houses in Gaskarth Road" by David Smith, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
"Apartments on Brent Street" by JThomas, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

About Compare The Man and Van

Compare The Man and Van is a UK-based comparison service that helps you find vetted, fully insured man and van drivers for moves and deliveries across the UK.

Our moving advice guides are written by our in-house team using insight from thousands of real bookings, so the tips you read here reflect what actually happens on moving day.

When you compare quotes with us, you'll see live prices from trusted local drivers, along with reviews from previous customers, so you can choose a mover that fits your budget and your needs.