Visiting Edinburgh | Edinburgh to Shoreham | Sussex Removals Case Study

A calm, carefully planned long-distance move from Edinburgh house to Shoreham seafront with two Luton vans, HGV style driving rules and a Scotland to Sussex night train.

Edinburgh to Shoreham In Comfort and Calm With Our Long Distance Brighton Removals Service

Long distance moves are some of our favourite days. There is something satisfying about starting the morning in one city and finishing in another with the same sofa, the same boxes and the same calm atmosphere around the client. This case study follows a recent move from Edinburgh down to Shoreham and shows how we plan the journey, look after the load and still find a little time to enjoy the places we pass through.

Ready to plan your own Edinburgh to Shoreham or long distance move? Call 07552 555 820, visit www.eastsussexvan.com for a quick quote, and follow us on Instagram to see how we look after our customers on the road.

Planning a Scotland to Sussex House Move

This move began with a video call and a detailed inventory. The family were relocating from an Edinburgh house to a house in Shoreham. That meant staircases and a full day of careful loading before we even started the drive south.

Recent research shows the typical distance of UK home moves has almost doubled in the last few years, as more people feel able to relocate further from work and family. - Todays Conveyancer

We talked through the layout of the house, checked ceiling heights for wardrobes and tall cabinets and confirmed whether any furniture needed dismantling. We also checked parking restrictions on the street outside and agreed a clear window for loading so we could keep neighbours happy and avoid any last minute stress.

Behind the scenes we planned vehicle choice, fuel stops and driving hours. For this job we used two Luton vans, giving plenty of space for furniture and allowing us to separate delicate items. We also planned for extra men to join us back in Shoreham so that unloading would be smooth and well staffed. With long distance work you want rested staff, not rushed staff. That is central to how we operate.

Professional HGV operators must take a 45 minute break after four and a half hours of driving, with strict daily and weekly rest limits, because regulated rest is proven to reduce fatigue risk. - Add Secure

View from a service station café showing ESV Removals Luton vans parked outside in the rain during a long distance Brighton to Edinburgh house move.
Early morning coffee stop on the road north, with our Luton vans lined up in the rain before the final push to Edinburgh.

Local Business Spotlight: Harveys Hurstpierpoint

Harvey Self Drive are a long established van and truck hire company based at Newhouse Farm on Cuckfield Road in Hurstpierpoint, supplying a fleet of Mercedes vans and larger vehicles across Sussex. They focus on self drive hire with well maintained vehicles at competitive prices, backed up by thorough safety checks before each hire.

As a Brighton and Sussex removals company we run our own vans day to day, but on the biggest jobs we sometimes need a third or fourth vehicle. For those peaks we either bring in trusted independent contractors or rent extra vans, and Harvey Self Drive have been our go to rental partner for years. It means we can scale up for large Brighton to Edinburgh style moves without compromising on the standards or pacing that our customers expect.

Alongside our living wage pledge and commitment to staying independent, working with businesses like Harveys in Hurstpierpoint is important to us. We would rather form partnerships with regional and local firms who look after their customers in the same way we do, keeping more of that spend within Sussex while still delivering a professional, reliable service on move day. When you book a Scotland to Sussex move with us, more of what you spend stays with independent Sussex businesses rather than disappearing into a national chain.

Two Mercedes Luton vans parked side by side in a car park, one ESV Removals van and one Harvey Self Drive rental used for a large Brighton to Edinburgh move.
Our own Luton alongside a Harvey Self Drive rental, showing how we scale up with trusted local partners when a move needs extra capacity.

Driving up and arriving in Edinburgh the day before

We left Sussex on the morning of 1 December and headed north with the two vans. The run from Brighton to Edinburgh is close to 460 miles and around eight hours of driving in motorway conditions, so we treat it as a proper working day, not something to squeeze around the edges of the move itself.

We arrived in Edinburgh at around four in the afternoon and then parked the vans ready for an early start.

For accommodation we booked Travelodge Edinburgh Dreghorn, where we always stay because the parking works perfectly for our vans. There is plenty of space for the Lutons and we can park up without worrying about narrow streets or height restrictions. Each team member still gets their own room, a hot shower and a proper bed, which makes a huge difference when you are lifting furniture the next morning. The hotel is close to the main routes into the city, so it is ideal for late arrivals, early starts and a quick, stress free run to the job.

A quick Papa Johns delivery and everyone was in bed by 8pm. 

Move day in Edinburgh

On the morning of 2 December we arrived at the property for 8am. Floors and bannisters were protected and anything that could mark or catch was wrapped before it moved a single step.

Front view of a two storey Edinburgh house with the front door open and staircase visible, ready for ESV Removals to unload a long distance Brighton move.
Front of the Edinburgh home on unload day, with the hallway and staircase ready for a carefully protected move in.

The trick with an Edinburgh house move is to keep the stairs clear and the traffic flowing. With two Luton vans on the street we set up a simple rotation. One person remained upstairs managing the packing and dismantling. Two worked the stair runs, and another focused on stacking the vans so everything would ride well for the long journey south.

As with all our moves, we worked through room by room so the customer knew exactly where they were in the process. Kitchen finished. Bedrooms cleared. Living room wrapped and ready. A calm, steady pace beats any rushed approach, especially when there are several hundred miles still to travel.

By early afternoon both vans were fully and securely loaded. Straps were checked, fragile items double padded and a final walkthrough with the customer confirmed that nothing had been left behind.

Local Removals Company Tip: Dismantling and Reassembling a Peloton Treadmill

Peloton treadmills are heavy, awkward and full of sensitive electronics, so we always treat them as a job in their own right. Before we move one, we power it down completely, unplug it from the wall and remove the safety key. Where the model allows, we take off the screen and carefully wrap it as a separate fragile item. We photograph any cables and fixings before we undo them, then bag and label all bolts and screws so they stay with the treadmill for reassembly.

One extra step that saves a lot of time: we gently tape any loose wires in place before we move the frame. This stops them shooting back into the metal body of the treadmill, which can leave you spending hours trying to rethread them. Two people lift and steer the main frame, never drag it, and we use thick blankets to protect both the belt and the walls or bannisters on the way out. At the new property we rebuild it in reverse, making sure it sits on a level section of floor before testing it at a very low speed. For anything model specific we always check Peloton’s own instructions first and recommend that customers do the same.

Close up of an ESV Removals fitter lying beside a treadmill, tightening bolts with tools during post move assembly work.
Final checks on the Peloton treadmill build, making sure everything is tightened and tested before we leave.

If you need a Peloton moved in Sussex, London or Scotland, give us a ring on 07552 555 820.

Eco conscious route planning

Green focused removals firms cut that impact by planning shorter routes, using cleaner fuels where possible and reusing packing materials so every mile and every box does more work. - Green Move

Our eco pledge is built into the planning. Where possible we prioritise Esso Ethos fuel alternatives for our diesel vehicles, combine that with steady driving and plan the route to minimise unnecessary mileage and idling. For this move we chose a straightforward motorway route with reliable service areas where we could take breaks without weaving on and off the road.

Quotes, bookings and invoices for this job were all paperless which meant the client could keep everything on email and we avoided printing and posting. Reusable moving blankets, straps and box reuse where practical kept waste down as well. Small choices, but over a year of moves between Sussex and Scotland they add up.

Night Train Spotlight: Caledonian Sleeper

The Caledonian Sleeper promotes itself as a unique way to travel between Scotland and London, with private rooms so you can sleep on board and arrive refreshed in the city centre. - Caledonian Sleeper

While we set off by road, our customers had a very different journey planned. They spent a last relaxed evening in Edinburgh and then took the Caledonian Sleeper night train from Edinburgh Waverley to London Euston.

The Caledonian Sleeper is an overnight rail service between Scotland and London that offers private rooms and berths so you can travel while you sleep and wake up in the city the next morning. It is a brilliant option for long distance moves because it turns the travel day into a rest day instead of another tiring part of the process.

By the time their train was rolling south our vans were already well on the way down the motorway, with planned breaks for food, fuel and driver changes. It is especially good for moves with children or pets because everyone can rest properly while we handle the long motorway driving.

 

Two small dogs on leads standing among moving boxes and bags inside a home, during a Brighton to Scotland removal where the owners travel on the Caledonian Sleeper and ESV Removals drive the van.
Two of our four legged clients on move day. For Brighton to Scotland removals we often recommend the Caledonian Sleeper for owners and pets while we handle the heavy driving.

The journey from Edinburgh to Shoreham

Once both vans were securely packed and final checks were done, we headed south. The aim on long runs is not just to arrive on time but to arrive with a team who feel human and a load that has barely shifted. Regular breaks, changes of driver and a sensible schedule mean we can keep that standard.

For longer distance work our pricing also reflects the fact we pay our team properly including travel time. Cutting corners on rest or wages is a false economy in our view. A move like this is all about quality and care from the first box to the last screw going back into a bed frame.

We arrived back on the Sussex coast later that evening, parked the vans safely and everyone went home to sleep so that unloading day could start on time and with clear heads.

We used Peter’s company to relocate from southern England to Edinburgh Scotland this week and his service was second to none. Couldn’t be a nicer chap, carefully managed the transport of the contents of our three bedroom home and was considerate in ensuring furniture was placed exactly where I wanted it in new home. It was a big job and a long distance to travel but you are in good hands if you choose them. 5 star service - Aoife Whiteford - ESV Removals Google Business Reviews

Unloading and settling in Shoreham

On the morning of 3 December our team met at the new Shoreham property for 9am. Two extra men joined us locally so that we had a strong crew ready to unload both Luton vans efficiently without rushing.

The Shoreham streets near the coast can feel tight when you arrive in fully loaded Lutons. Local experience helps with positioning the vans so that pedestrians, neighbours and the move itself all work together. Once parked and safe, the unload began.

Furniture came off in the reverse order to loading, with heavier items placed first so we could build out rooms around them. We reassembled beds and key furniture, positioned wardrobes where the client wanted them and checked that every box was in the right room. Across roughly four hours the house shifted from echoing empty rooms to a lived in space with beds built, essentials unpacked and the big items already where they needed to be.

Our handyman style approach means we do not simply drop items and disappear. We want the property to feel like home that afternoon, not a storage unit of boxes.

Why long distance moves are a good fit for us

We are a family run removals company and you always deal directly with Peter from first enquiry to move day. That continuity matters on a journey of this length. You are not explaining your plans to a new face at each stage.

Goods in transit insurance up to twenty thousand pounds and public liability cover of five million pounds are in place for peace of mind. Combined with careful packing, secure strapping and steady driving, this gives our clients confidence when their entire home is travelling the length of the country.

From Edinburgh houses to Shoreham seafront properties we bring the same calm planning, careful loading and five star service that we offer on every local Brighton and Sussex move.

Peter was fantastic from start to finish in moving our furniture from Brighton to Edinburgh. We had a few last minute issues on our side but he and Chris handled everything professionally, going above and beyond to ensure our belongings were taken care of. I cannot recommend highly enough and will call on Peter again should we move in the future. - Darren Gorden - ESV Removals Google Business Reviews

Thinking about a move between Scotland and Sussex

If you are planning a move from Edinburgh or anywhere in Scotland down to Brighton, Shoreham or the wider Sussex coast, we would be happy to help you plan it properly.

Moving blankets, a furniture dolly and sack barrows set up outside an Edinburgh house during unloading by ESV Removals.
Blankets, dollies and sack barrows lined up outside the Edinburgh address ready for the last few loads from the vans.

You can visit our website to request a quote, see more case studies and read reviews from customers who have already made similar journeys. For behind the scenes clips from long distance runs, exhibition work and local house moves you can also follow us on Instagram and see what a day on the road with us really looks like.

Planning a Scotland to Sussex move? Call 07552 555 820 or visit www.eastsussexvan.com today. 

If you are just starting to plan a Scotland to Sussex move, the FAQs below cover most of what we get asked about Edinburgh to Brighton and Edinburgh to Shoreham removals.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer removals between Edinburgh and Brighton or Shoreham?

Yes, we regularly complete full house moves between Edinburgh and the Sussex coast, including Brighton, Hove and Shoreham. We can send one or two Luton vans depending on the size of your home and plan the whole move so that loading in Scotland and unloading in Sussex feel calm and organised.

How long does an Edinburgh to Sussex house move usually take?

Most Scotland to Sussex moves run over two to three days. We normally travel up the day before, stay overnight so the team is rested, load from around 8am, then drive back to Sussex the same day and unload the following morning. This approach keeps everyone fresh and protects your belongings for the full Edinburgh to Shoreham route.

Can I travel on the Caledonian Sleeper while you move my belongings?

You can absolutely travel on the Caledonian Sleeper while we drive your furniture and boxes. Many customers like to enjoy a relaxed evening in Edinburgh, take the night train to London and then make a short daytime connection to Brighton or Shoreham. It turns the Scotland to Sussex travel day into downtime rather than another stressful part of the move.

Do you follow HGV style driving rules on long distance removals?

Even though our Luton vans are not classed as full HGVs, we plan our days as if they were. We work to HGV style driving limits, build in regular rest breaks and rotate drivers so no one is ever overtired behind the wheel. That way your long distance move from Edinburgh to Shoreham is safer for our team, for other road users and for your belongings.

Can you move specialist items like a Peloton treadmill from Scotland to Sussex?

Yes, we have experience dismantling, protecting and transporting Peloton treadmills and other high value gym equipment on long distance removals. We power everything down, remove and wrap screens separately, tape cables so they do not disappear into the frame and rebuild the machine carefully at the new property. If you need a Peloton moved in Sussex, London or Scotland, you can give us a ring on 07552 555 820.

How do you keep an Edinburgh removal eco conscious over such a long distance?

Our eco pledge runs through the planning from day one. We prioritise Esso Ethos fuel where available, plan the shortest sensible routes, drive steadily and avoid unnecessary detours or idling. We also reuse and recycle boxes where practical and run paperless quotes, bookings and invoices so your Scotland to Sussex removal has a lighter footprint.

Are you fully insured for long distance moves between Scotland and Sussex?

Yes, we are fully insured for both local and long distance removals. Our goods in transit insurance covers up to £20,000 and our public liability insurance is £5 million. Combined with careful packing, secure strapping and a calm approach to loading, this gives peace of mind when your entire home is travelling from Edinburgh to Brighton or Shoreham.

Can you dismantle and rebuild furniture as part of an Edinburgh to Shoreham move?

We can dismantle items like beds, wardrobes and desks at the Edinburgh property and rebuild them in your new Sussex home. This is planned in during the video survey so we allow enough time on move day. Our aim is that by the end of unloading you have beds ready, key furniture in place and the house feels like home, not a storage unit.

What size moves do you handle between Scotland and Brighton?

We handle everything from one bedroom flats to full family homes on our Scotland to Brighton and Scotland to Shoreham routes. Using one or two Luton vans and additional crew where needed means we can scale the move to fit your inventory while still keeping the process calm and personal.

How far in advance should I book an Edinburgh to Brighton or Shoreham removal?

For long distance removals we recommend booking as early as you can, especially if you are tied to a specific completion date. Four to six weeks is ideal, but it is always worth contacting us sooner if your dates are still flexible so we can pencil you in and talk through travel options like the Caledonian Sleeper and overnight stops for the crew.

Got a question we have not covered in the Edinburgh to Sussex FAQ? Call 07552 555 820 or visit www.eastsussexvan.com and we will talk through your move in detail.

 

 

 

 

About the author...

Peter Hawes is the director of ESV Removals Ltd, a family run Brighton and Sussex removals team known for calm planning, careful handling and clear prices. Peter oversees every move from first message to the last box and brings local know-how for permit zones, tight stairwells and seafront buildings. ESV is fully insured with £20,000 Goods in Transit and £5 million Public Liability, recognised with two SME Southern Enterprise Awards in 2025 and backed by 280 plus five star Google reviews. The company follows an eco pledge that prioritises Esso Ethos fuel where available, reuses boxes and runs paperless bookings. Learn more at www.eastsussexvan.com or call 07552 555 820.