Route planning
We choose a route that suits the vehicle and the delivery street, not just the shortest line on a map.
Long distance removals
Long distance removals from Newcastle
Moving out of the North East, or into it, takes more planning than a move across town. We work out the route, the driving time and the timing of keys at both ends, so the van arrives when someone is ready to let it in.
- Routes planned before the day
- Loading and delivery timed together
- Overnight moves planned in advance
What changes when a move goes further
A local move can absorb a delay. If the keys are late in Gosforth, the van waits round the corner for an hour. On a long move that same hour can push delivery past the point where anyone can sensibly unload. Our long distance removals from Newcastle are planned around that, with the route, the drive and the handover at the far end worked out before the day.
Common long moves from here head south to Leeds, Manchester, the Midlands and London, or north to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Plenty go the other way too, with people relocating to Tyneside, Northumberland or County Durham for work, university or family. The planning is the same in either direction.
The big differences from a local move are the hours spent on the road, how well completion lines up with the van's arrival, and how the load is packed. Boxes that only travel a couple of miles can get away with loose packing. Boxes that spend most of a day on the A1(M) can't.
Long Distance Removals
How we plan a long move
Most of the work on a long distance move happens before the van leaves.
Driving time
Drivers of larger removal vehicles have to take rest breaks under drivers' hours rules, so those breaks are built into the timetable.
Completion timing
We ask about completion day and key release at both ends so loading and delivery line up.
Overnight moves
When one day isn't enough, we agree a two-day plan up front rather than rushing the unload in the dark.
Packing for the road
Boxes and furniture are wrapped and loaded tight so nothing moves over hundreds of miles.
Part loads
If you only have a small amount to move, ask whether a part load is possible for your route and dates.
Long distance removals in Newcastle: the main routes
Newcastle is well connected for long moves, but each direction has its own character, and the best route for a removal lorry isn't always the one a sat nav would pick for a car. Height, weight, roadworks and the time of day all play a part.
South to Leeds, Manchester, the Midlands and London
Moves heading south usually leave Tyneside on the A1 Western Bypass and pick up the A1(M) through County Durham. Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire are reached from there. For Manchester and the North West there's a choice between continuing south and crossing the Pennines on the M62, or heading west on the A69 to Carlisle and coming down the M6. London is a full day's work on its own: a long drive south, heavy traffic on the way into the capital and often tight parking at the delivery address.
North to Edinburgh and Glasgow
For Edinburgh, the usual route is the A1 north through Northumberland, past Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Parts of that road are single carriageway, so driving times are less predictable than on a motorway, particularly behind farm traffic or in summer. Glasgow and the west of Scotland are normally reached on the A69 to Carlisle, then north on the motorway past Gretna.
Teesside, York and the A19
For moves towards Teesside and York, the A19 is often the better road. Coming from north of the river it runs through the Tyne Tunnel, which uses the Tyne Pass number-plate system rather than toll booths. There's nowhere to pay at the tunnel itself, so if you're following the van in your own car, pay online or set up an account before or soon after you cross.
Planning driving time and the delivery window
The first question on most long moves is whether everything can be done in one day. For many destinations it can, but it depends on three things: how long loading takes, how long the drive is once breaks and traffic are added, and when the keys are released at the new property.
Loading a three-bedroom house takes a good part of the morning. Add the drive and the driver's required breaks, and a delivery that looked simple on paper can end up starting late in the afternoon. If keys at the other end aren't released until after lunch, that's usually fine. If the buyer of your old home expects the keys at noon, the order of the day needs thinking through.
We plan backwards from the time the crew can get into the new home. Sometimes that means loading the afternoon before, so the van can set off first thing. Sometimes it means a very early start. The right answer depends on your chain, the distance and what's been agreed between the solicitors, so tell us as much as you know when you ask for a quote.
Overnight moves and two-day deliveries
Some moves are simply too long, or start too late, to finish in one working day without rushing the unload. In those cases it's better to agree up front that delivery will be the following morning than to find out at four o'clock that the beds won't be up before dark.
On a two-day move we'll tell you when the crew expects to arrive at the new address and how to reach them in the meantime. You'll need somewhere to sleep yourself, so pack an overnight bag with bedding, a change of clothes and anything the children need, and keep it in your car rather than on the van.
Timing gets tighter again when a flat or apartment is involved at either end, because lift bookings and loading bays are usually given for a set window. Our page on apartment and flat removals covers what to arrange with building managers so the slot matches the van's arrival.
Packing matters more on a long move than a short one. A loosely packed box that survives a trip across town may not survive the run down to London. It's worth considering our professional packing service, at least for the kitchen and anything breakable. Our furniture dismantling and reassembly team can also take beds and wardrobes apart so they travel flat and wrapped, then put them back together at the other end.
Small loads and part loads
Not every long move is a full house. Graduates heading home, people sending a few pieces to a new flat in London, or someone moving a single room of furniture to Scotland may not need a whole vehicle to themselves.
If that's you, ask whether a part load is possible for your route and dates. A part load means your belongings share space on a vehicle with another customer's going the same way. It can work well for small amounts, but it usually means being flexible on collection and delivery days. It isn't available for every route or every date, so treat it as something to ask about early rather than something to count on.
If your move turns out to be shorter than you thought, say a few miles up the coast to Whitley Bay rather than out of the region, a local man and van service is often the simpler option for a small load.
The cost of a long distance move depends on the volume, the distance, the size of the crew, whether packing is included and whether the job runs over one day or two. You can read more about how removal costs are worked out, or send us your moving dates and both addresses for a quote.
How it works
How a long distance move is organised
Share both addresses and your dates
Include completion day, any key release times you know and access details at each end.
Survey and volume estimate
A video or in-person survey lets us size the vehicle and crew and judge whether one day is enough.
Route and timetable agreed
We confirm the loading time, the route, driving breaks and the expected arrival window at the new home.
Loading and the drive
Everything is wrapped and loaded tight, and the crew sets off with your contact details and the delivery address.
Delivery and placing
Furniture goes into the rooms you want it in, and dismantled items are rebuilt if that was booked.
FAQs
Long Distance Removals: common questions
Straight answers to the things people ask us most.
We cover Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding areas, including Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham, Jesmond, Gosforth, North Shields, Whitley Bay and Cramlington.
Can a move from Newcastle to London be done in one day?
Sometimes, but not always. It depends on how much there is to load, traffic on the way, rest breaks for the driver and what time the keys are available in London. A small flat loaded early can often be delivered the same day. A larger house, or a late key release, usually works better as a two-day move with delivery the next morning.
Which route do you take to Scotland?
For Edinburgh it's usually the A1 north through Northumberland, which has single-carriageway stretches where driving times can vary. For Glasgow and the west, the A69 to Carlisle and then the motorway north is normally the better option. The final choice depends on the vehicle, roadworks and the time of day rather than whatever a sat nav suggests.
What is a part load, and can I book one?
A part load is where your belongings share a vehicle with someone else's going in the same direction. It can suit small moves, such as a student's things or a few pieces of furniture, but it depends on other bookings on that route. Ask about it early and be ready to be flexible on dates, because it isn't possible on every route or date.
What should I keep with me rather than on the van?
Anything you'd need if delivery were the next morning: medication, phone chargers, documents, keys for both properties, valuables, a change of clothes and basic toiletries. If you're moving with pets or young children, keep their essentials with you too. On a two-day move, put bedding for the night in your car.
Do you move people into Newcastle from elsewhere?
Yes. Moves into the North East are planned in the same way as moves out of it, with the route, timing and key release worked out in advance. Let us know if the new property is a Tyneside flat, a city centre apartment or anywhere with tricky access or parking, as that changes how we plan the delivery.
How far ahead should I book a long distance move?
As early as you can once you have a likely completion date. A long move takes a full day or more of a crew's time, so popular dates fill up, particularly at the end of the month and through the summer. You can get a quote early and confirm the date once contracts are exchanged.
Related services
Often booked together
Most moves use more than one service. These are the ones that pair well with this one.
House Removals
Full home moves, planned room by room.
Explore house removals
Packing Services
Professional packing and materials.
Explore packing services
Furniture Removals
Single items and bulky pieces moved safely.
Explore furniture removalsAlso available: office removals, man and van, flat and apartment removals, furniture assembly.
Free, no-obligation quote
Planning a move out of the North East?
Send us both addresses and a rough idea of what's moving, and we'll talk you through the route and the timings.
- Written quote before you book
- Houses, flats and offices
- Packing and dismantling available
- Across the North East and beyond