Moving home south of the Tyne means steep banks, terraced back lanes and a river crossing on most jobs. We plan Gateshead moves around those things from the first conversation, so the van turns up at the right time and in the right place.
Gateshead Quays and the River Tyne
If you are comparing removal companies in Gateshead, there are plenty to choose from, and most of them will quote for the same thing: a van, a crew and a day. What separates a smooth move from a long one here is local detail. Gateshead sits on a hillside above the Tyne, and a lot of its housing was built before anyone had a car, let alone a Luton van.
The borough is also bigger than people expect. It runs from the riverside flats at the Baltic Quarter out through Felling and Wrekenton in the east, up to Low Fell and Kibblesworth in the south, and west along the river to Blaydon and Ryton.
Most of our Gateshead work is local: people moving a mile or two within the borough, or crossing the river into Newcastle, where we work as one of the removal companies in Newcastle covering both banks.
Every part of Gateshead has its own quirks. These are the things we look at when we survey a move, area by area.
Rows of terraced houses and Tyneside flats climb the hill above the town centre, many with rear yards opening onto back lanes. Upstairs flats often have a narrow internal stair, so large sofas and wardrobes may need to come apart. Front-street parking is usually full during the evening, so morning starts tend to work best.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces sit either side of Durham Road, with bigger semis and detached houses on the streets towards Saltwell Park and the fell itself. Durham Road is a busy bus route, so we load from side streets wherever we can.
A mix of older terraces near Felling Square, interwar council housing and later estates up the bank towards Windy Nook. Quick access to the A184 makes this a straightforward area for moves heading east towards Sunderland or the coast. Some streets are steep enough that we chock the van and plan the carry carefully.
A hilltop village to the west with semi-detached and detached family homes, plus older cottages around Front Street. Driveways help, but the larger houses come with garages, lofts and garden furniture that all need time. The climb up from the A1 and Swalwell is steep, which is worth knowing if you are following the van in a loaded car.
Older terraced streets near Dunston sit close to newer housing and the retail parks around the MetroCentre and Team Valley. Weekend traffic around the shopping centre can be heavy, so we avoid booking Saturday afternoon loads near it where possible.
High ground on the south-eastern edge of the borough, with a good amount of council-built and ex-council housing as well as private estates. Gardens and driveways are common, which makes loading simpler.
Riverside towns on the western edge, reached along the A695. Ryton has a village centre with stone cottages and larger detached homes on the roads around it. Lanes are narrower than in town, so we check the approach before deciding which size of vehicle to send.
Newer apartment blocks around the town centre and the quays usually have lifts, but also loading bays, booking rules and fob-only doors. Ask your building manager about lift protection and loading times before the day.
Gateshead is built on a slope, and that shapes almost every job. A terrace in Bensham might have the front door on one level and the back lane a full storey lower. We look at both before deciding where to park, because carrying a fridge freezer down a short back lane is often easier than carrying it up a long flight of front steps.
Back lanes are useful but not always clear. If the lane is too tight for a large van, we may use a smaller vehicle to shuttle from a nearby wider street.
Where a street has residents' parking or permanent restrictions, the safest approach is to ask Gateshead Council about a temporary parking suspension well ahead of the move. Their process needs notice, so do not leave it until the final week. Check with the council for current timescales and charges, as we cannot promise a space they have not approved.
Most Gateshead moves cross the Tyne at some point. The Tyne Bridge has been under a long restoration programme with lane restrictions, so we often route vans over the Redheugh Bridge or the Swing Bridge instead, depending on where in Newcastle you are heading. The High Level Bridge is not open to general traffic, so it is no use for a removal van.
For moves heading out of the area, the A1 Western Bypass is the main artery. It is quick at the right time of day and very slow around the Team Valley and MetroCentre junctions at peak times. Heading south we use the A1 or the A167 through Low Fell and Birtley; heading east we take the A184 towards Sunderland. If you are going to Sunderland, our page on removals in Sunderland covers the other end of that trip.
We usually aim to have the van loaded before the afternoon rush builds. If you are crossing to a flat or terrace in Jesmond, an early start also gives us a better chance of a parking space on arrival, which is often the harder end of the move.
Flats are a big share of the work. Tyneside flats, purpose-built blocks and conversions all bring stairs, tight landings and shared entrances, and our flat removal service is set up for exactly that, with crews used to taking furniture apart on the landing rather than forcing it round a corner.
For smaller jobs, such as a student moving out of a shared house or someone clearing a single room, a man and van in Gateshead is often the most sensible option.
Family moves from Low Fell, Whickham or Ryton tend to be bigger than people think, with lofts, sheds and garages to empty. Booking professional packing for the kitchen and fragile items alone can take a day off your own preparation. If you want a sense of what affects the price before you call, our guide to removal costs explains the factors we look at.
The services Gateshead customers ask us for most, and how they usually fit local homes.
Full house moves from Low Fell terraces, Whickham semis and the larger homes around Ryton.
Moves from Tyneside flats in Bensham and Saltwell and from apartment blocks on the quays.
Smaller loads and single items across the borough or over the river into Newcastle.
Packing for kitchens, glassware and pictures, done the day before or on the morning of the move.
Taking apart beds, wardrobes and sofas that will not fit up a narrow Gateshead staircase.
See what affects the cost of a move in Gateshead and how we put a written quote together.
Local questions, answered plainly.
Not always. Many Gateshead streets have room to park near the door, and plenty of terraces have a usable back lane. Where there is a residents' scheme, yellow lines or a busy main road outside, ask Gateshead Council about a temporary suspension. Apply early, because the council needs notice to arrange signs, and check its current charges and timescales directly. We are happy to tell you after a survey whether we think it is worth applying.
It depends on where you are going and the traffic on the day. With the Tyne Bridge restoration reducing lanes, we often use the Redheugh Bridge for the west end and city centre, or the Swing Bridge for the Quayside. For moves to the north of the city, the A1 Western Bypass over the Blaydon Bridge, or the Scotswood Bridge, can be quicker. The driver checks the traffic on the morning of the move.
Yes, and on many Gateshead terraces it is the better option, particularly where the front door is up a flight of steps. We check the lane width, the gate and any bins or parked cars during the survey. If the lane is too narrow for the van, we park at the end and carry or trolley items along it.
For a standard house move, a few weeks is comfortable, and more around the end of the month or during school holidays when Fridays fill up quickly. Smaller man and van jobs can sometimes be fitted in at shorter notice. If you need a council parking suspension, allow for the council's own notice period on top, so start that conversation as soon as your completion date is fixed.
Yes. Blaydon, Ryton, Crawcrook and the surrounding villages are all within our normal area, as are Whickham, Sunniside and Kibblesworth. Some lanes out that way are narrow or have tight turns, so we may ask for photos of the approach to the house when you get in touch for a quote. That lets us decide whether to send a large van, a smaller one, or both.
Tell us where you are moving from and to, and roughly what is going with you. We will come back with a clear quote and an honest view of access and parking.
