London Event Days and Removals: Check Before You Book
Check big-event closures before you fix a collection date
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Which London events can stop a removal lorry?
Stadium days, the New Year's Eve event, the marathon and the late-summer Carnival weekend, among others. The size that triggers controls varies. Brent says up to 90,000 people can attend an event at Wembley; Haringey sets controls at events of more than 10,000 attendees at the Tottenham stadium; and Richmond introduces its Twickenham Event Zone for very large crowds such as 25,000 or more.
What happens on New Year's Eve?
The central event area is shut to vehicles. The Greater London Authority says “These restrictions will be in effect from early afternoon on New Year’s Eve, usually 2pm, until around 6am on New Year's Day.” It adds “All vehicle parking will be suspended within the event area.”
A move cannot get a lorry in. The page says “access for deliveries or collections to restricted event areas will not be possible from when the roads close in the early afternoon on New Year’s Eve until the following morning.” Localised road closures also begin in the days before and after, to install and remove event infrastructure, so a Christmas-week move near the central area can meet them. The page says the plans are under review, so read it again nearer the date.
Can the marathon close the roads on the day?
Yes, for the roads on the course. In 2026 the London Marathon closed roads in Royal Greenwich from early morning: the borough listed “Charlton Way (4am to 2:30pm)” and said “The Woolwich Ferry will be suspended between 6:00am and 3:30pm due to road closures for the event”. The next race will have its own roads and times, so read the host boroughs' guide for it before fixing a Sunday in the spring.
And the Notting Hill Carnival weekend?
The August bank holiday weekend brings road closures and parking controls in Kensington and Chelsea. The council's bank holiday parking page says “Road closures and parking restrictions apply within the 2026 Notting Hill Carnival area.” and “Look out for Controlled Parking zone signs where waiting restrictions apply on Carnival Sunday and Monday”. Read the council's current page for the year of your move.
How do I check a date before I book?
Use three steps. First, find your council on the London parking lookup and read its event page if it has one. Second, give the removal firm the street and the dates you are considering, and ask it to check them against the council's event list. Third, avoid the listed days, because a permit or a closure on the day is hard to fix. We do not list event dates here because they change; the councils and the Greater London Authority keep the current lists. The London guide links every borough page, and the London removals page covers zones and lorry rules.
Questions about moving abroad from London
Which London events are most likely to affect a removal date?
Home matches and events at the big stadiums, the New Year's Eve event in central London, the marathon and the Notting Hill Carnival weekend.
Can a lorry collect on New Year's Eve in the central event area?
No.
The Greater London Authority says access for deliveries or collections to restricted event areas will not be possible from the early afternoon closure until the following morning.
Do event closures start before the event day?
Some do.
The New Year's Eve page says localised road closures are needed in the days before the event to install the infrastructure.
Where do I find the dates?
Each council and the Greater London Authority publish them.
We do not copy them here because they change each year.
Does a marathon affect removals?
It can, on the course roads.
In 2026 Royal Greenwich listed early-morning closures to mid-afternoon and a suspension of the Woolwich Ferry for the race.
Tell us about your London move
Send the street you are leaving, the dates you are considering, your destination and a rough load size.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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