Removals to the UK with Bournes Moves - International Removals Company

Get a FREE quote for your move to the UK

Where are you moving to?

Services for Removals to the UK

Container Shipping

Door to door exclusive use containers.

We collect your items, wrap and load them and transport all your furniture and household items door to door, with delivery and unloading at your destination.

+ Includes documentation assistance and customs clearance.

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Road Removals from Europe

For full household moves from mainland Europe to the UK our dedicated dates or exclusive use road removals services provides door to door transportation including optional packing services.

+ Includes documentation assistance and customs clearance.

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Why Bournes?

When it comes to moving you deserve a company that understands your needs and makes the process as smooth and stress free as possible. At Bournes, we're here to ensure your move to the UK is a simple, stress-free, and enjoyable experience and not a headache.

Here's how we do that...

Experience

We've been helping families move house since 1875, so we've got many years of experience in handling your move with expertise and care.

There aren't many move situations we've not come across before, from access problems and specialist items to customs challenges and global shipping crises, we have built the expertise and resources to help you overcome whatever challenges your move to the UK might throw at you!

Independent Accreditation

Feel secure knowing we have been pre-vetted and certified by FIDI FAIM and the British Association of Removers:

Annual quality standards inspections
Trading Standards Approved
Free Independent Ombudsman for dispute resolution in case anything goes wrong

Personal Touch

As a family-run company, backed by global resources, you'll have a personalised and attentive service.

We customise our service and move plans to your individual needs, whether that's help with packing, temporary storage or handling specialist items. We tailor the right resources to ensure everything happens just how you want it to.

Fixed, Transparent Pricing

Our clear and transparent quote means no hidden fees, giving you confidence and clarity in your moving costs.

We'll explain clearly what is included in your quote and help you understand your options so you can choose the services to suit your individual needs and budget.

Plus an Advance Payment Guarantee.

Dedicated Move Manager

Your own dedicated move manager will support you through your move, every step of the way.

From arranging your move dates and advising on preparing for the move to handling any last-minute changes - they are there to help you understand the process and make sure everything runs smoothly for you.

Documentation Support

We will provide all the documentation you need to complete and explain how to complete it to ensure that your shipment can clear customs smoothly, minimising the risks of delays or additional costs or fines.

Professional Crews

Are you worried about having strangers in your home? We get it, moving is very personal. That's why all our staff a pre-vetted and undergo full professional training in the technical skills to pack and load items safely for an international journey as well as soft skills like customer service to help make sure your move is a great experience.

Comprehensive Insurance

Packing, loading and transport is a physical service, provided by humans, with a range of risks involved - particularly when you move overseas.

Whilst we do everything in our power to avoid damage (like extensive training and the best packing materials) our comprehensive transit insurance options provide you financial peace of mind should the unexpected happen.

How we make moving simple

Bournes International Moves is a leading overseas removal company providing a range of moving services to take the headache out of moving.

Moving with Bournes is simple. Book your pre-move survey now to get started.

Tell us about your move

Book an in-home or video consultation so we can understand your move, the items to be moved and what's important to you so we can give an accurate quote and plan your move so everything runs smoothly.

We'll plan your move

Your dedicated move manager will help you plan and prepare for move day. We’ll plan all the finer details, tell you everything you need to know and help you complete any documentation you’ll need.

They will arrange your Move Crew, vehicle and packing materials and be on hand to keep you updated and support you before, during and after your move.

We'll get everything there safely

Our professional export packing crew will carefully pack and load your belongings for you before we safely transport everything to the UK, handle the customs clearance and deliver everything back so you can start making your new home yours.

Areas we cover

We move hundreds of families from all over the world to London and the South East of England every year.

From our UK service centres based across the South East we are ideally placed to help with moves to London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire.

We cover most of mainland Europe for Full Household moves, our most common moves are from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Austria.

London
Kent
East Sussex
West Sussex
Surrey
Oxfordshire

Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Northamptonshire
Hertfordshire
Bedfordshire

ADDITIONAL/ADD-ON SERVICES

As well as our core moving and packing services we can also provide a range of other services to help make your move to the UK easy.

Crating

Custom crates built to protect your most fragile or valuable items during transit.

Moving Vehicles

Cost-effective and convenient transport with your household goods plus support with documentation and UK customs clearance/import procedures.

Storage

Secure, short or long term storage in the UK or at origin.

Destination Services

A little extra help with your move, from finding a home and school in the UK to setting up bank accounts and finding a doctor.

Insurance

Comprehensive insurance gives you peace of mind that you’re financially protected if the unexpected happens.

Pet Relocation

Working with IPATA approved pet transportation experts to help your pets safely join your family in the UK.

Airfreight

Airfreight is ideal for small shipments that you need urgently, or for an advance shipment of just a few items to help you settle in quickly.

Handyman

From dismantling swing sets and taking down light fittings on the move out to hanging pictures and curtains or putting together your new furniture our handymen make moving out and settling in quick and easy.

Currency Exchange

We've partnered with Moneycorp to help you to achieve the best rates of exchange and make the most of your money, from one-off sums to monthly transfers.

For information from the Moneycorp team click here to request a contact.

Car rentals

Free of charge assistance with car rentals in the UK including preferred rates, Comprehensive insurance included for you and your spouse if needed, and flexible billing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SHIPPING TO THE UK

What are the shipping options available for moving to the UK

We offer full container shipping and airfreight to the UK from most global destinations.

For moves from mainland Europe your move would typically be transported by road, either with an exclusive-use vehicle or as a part load on a shared vehicle, depending on the size of your move and ideal move dates.

Do Bournes offer groupage/small moves service to the UK?

Bournes provide UK import services for larger dedicated-use container shipments or road removals.

Smaller volume international imports into the UK are better handled by local providers at origin who offer shared shipping/part load services more cost effectively with more frequent departures.

What factors affect the cost of shipping to the UK?

Every move cost is different so you'll need to arrange a pre-move survey to get an idea of pricing for your individual move. These are a few things that make up your moving costs:

Quantity of items you’d like to move (Volume)
Method of transport to the UK - full container, road removal or air freight
Speed of delivery required
The flexibility of your move dates
Types of items being moved and special requirements
Packing services
Where you are moving from and to
Access to your property in the UK and abroad
Your move dates
Insurance

To get an accurate quote for Moving to South East UK from overseas you can book a Move Consultation.

What qualifications do Bournes have for moving me to the UK?

Anyone can make a fancy website and pay to get it ranking highly in your search engine, but how do you know you’ve found a reputable company? Quality accreditations and membership of professional associations are a great way to assess the standard of service you can expect from professional moving companies - and this is especially important for international moves. Typically an expert external assessor will pre-vet the company for you with strict, regular external audits.

Bournes are proud to be members of the top professional industry bodies to demonstrate our commitment to quality.

FIDI FAIM
BAR Overseas

Check out our other quality accreditations and memberships

What if I need storage when I move to the UK?

Once your shipment has cleared UK customs we can either deliver it to your new home or if you're not ready we can store it for you safely in our warehouse until you're ready.

We charge for storage weekly so you'll only need to pay for what you need rather than committing to a longer term in a self-storage facility.

Are there any tips for the international moving process?

Yes!

Check out our International Removals Advice Centre for lots of tips and guides to help you prepare and plan for your move.

Should I book a shipping company at origin or destination?

Both options work - When you move overseas your international removal company will need to provide a range of services, some of them need to happen in person at a specific location, others can happen remotely without much impact to you. Some will take place at your current location (your origin), some at your destination and some in between.

The key point in making the decision is who is in control of your move as they have ultimate responsibility.

We explain the process and the pros and cons in detail in our article "Do I book an international removal company at origin or destination"

Customs Process for International Removals to the UK

The import of your household goods (furniture and personal effects) into the UK are subject to import and export rules and procedures, which will vary depending on whether you are a returning UK citizen or foreign national.

Your Bournes Move Consultant and Move Manager will guide you through this process, but here's a little of what to expect to help you start planning.

For your items to clear customs you will need to provide some customs documents, which will depend on your status and personal situation.

We will advise you on this during your move consultation or you can check out the FIDI Customs Guide for the United Kingdom

Restricted and Prohibited items

There are some items you cannot move with you to the United Kingdom, and others that require additional paperwork or processes. These include:

Unlicensed drugs
Offensive weapons
Indecent and obscene material featuring children and Pornographic material
Counterfied/pirated goods
Milk Products from outside of the EU
Some foodstuffs (perishable, meat/fish/milk based)
Rough diamonds
Animals, birds and fish whether dead (e.g. stuffed) or alive.
Articles derived from protected animal species (e.g. fur, ivory, skins, stony corals).

Alcohol and tobacco may be subject to duties and taxes.

Customs Documents

Prior to your move you will need to complete some documentation to enable us to make customs declarations and arrangements. This will depend on your status i.e. if you are a UK National or Foreign Citizen, but your move manager will guide you through and provide copies of the forms you need, these include (but aren't limited to):

Passport copy
Copy of Bill of Lading
Customs Clearance Application (ToR)
Supporting documents relating to the ToR form.

You must submit an online application to UK Customs to apply for relief from duty and tax when importing your goods, on approval of which you'll receive your Unique Reference Number (URN) which will be required by us to clear your shipment on arrival. Read more about Transfer of Residence for Moving to the UK here.

Removals to the UK