Trade between Turkey and the United Kingdom grows every year. Furniture, textiles, food and e-commerce orders travel from Istanbul to London, while machine parts, samples, personal belongings and whole households return from London to Istanbul. Keeping that traffic moving reliably takes an Istanbul to London logistics company that runs its own depots at both ends. REG Transport operates weekly scheduled departures between its Istanbul and London depots, offering freight from Turkey to the UK and cargo shipping from the UK to Turkey under one roof. This guide covers the route, the transport models (full load, groupage, cargo), customs procedures, transit times and the factors that determine cost, in both directions.
Why the Istanbul–London Corridor Needs a Dedicated Logistics Plan
Unlike an intra-European move, a shipment between Istanbul and London passes through at least three customs regimes: export from Turkey, transit through the European Union and import into the United Kingdom. Since Brexit the UK is a separate customs territory, which means an HMRC import declaration for commercial goods and a ToR1 application for personal effects. Add the Channel crossing (Calais–Dover ferry or Eurotunnel), London's ULEZ and LEZ emission zones and inner-city delivery restrictions, and a logistics partner that knows the corridor and runs depots at both ends stops being a mere carrier and becomes the party that manages the whole process.
Route and Weekly Departure Schedule
Departures leave our Istanbul depot, cross into Bulgaria at Kapıkule, continue through Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Belgium or France to Calais, and reach Dover by ferry or Eurotunnel. From our London depot we deliver to every part of the city and to the rest of the UK. The return service follows the same route in reverse, so there is also a regular departure for cargo shipping from the UK to Turkey.
| Direction | Departure | Arrival | Average transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul → London | Weekly, Istanbul depot | London depot, then door delivery | 7-10 days (groupage), 5-7 days (full load) |
| London → Istanbul | Regular departures, London depot | Istanbul depot, then distribution across Turkey | 7-12 days (groupage), 5-7 days (full load) |
| Other Turkish cities ↔ London | Collection in Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya etc. | London / nationwide UK | Add 2-4 days |
Transit times vary with customs queues and seasonal demand; Channel crossings can slip by a day or two before Christmas and in high summer. We share the current departure calendar with every quotation.
Transport Models: Full Load, Groupage and Cargo
Full truck load (FTL)
If your consignment fills a 13.6 m trailer, or at least half of it, a dedicated vehicle is the fastest and most controlled option: the truck is loaded only for you, there is no transhipment and door-to-door delivery takes 5-7 days. Ideal for factory dispatches, store openings, exhibition material and large household moves.
Groupage (LTL)
For 1-15 pallets or 2-30 m³ you pay only for the space you occupy on our weekly consolidated departures. Goods collected in Istanbul are palletised at the depot, travel on the same trailer to London and are split and delivered there. This is the most popular model on the Turkey–UK corridor; see our guide to Turkey–UK commercial freight and groupage.
Cargo and parcels
A few cartons, samples, documents or e-commerce orders are added to the weekly road departure; for urgent items we arrange air freight. In the opposite direction, cargo shipping from the UK to Turkey works through parcels dropped at our London depot or collected from your address, which travel on the return service to Istanbul and are then distributed to any city in Turkey. See international cargo shipping for the full scope.
Cargo and Freight from the UK to Turkey: How the Return Leg Works
Many logistics companies only work from Turkey to the UK; we serve the return direction as well. The most common loads from London to Istanbul are:
- Household goods of families returning to Turkey: used belongings of people settling in Turkey enter duty-free under the Turkish personal effects exemption. Conditions and documents are in our guide to moving from the UK to Turkey.
- Commercial samples and machine parts: spare parts, moulds and samples for Turkish manufacturers; our customs broker prepares the Turkish import declaration.
- Antiques, artwork and private collections: crated, packed with humidity control and covered by all-risk insurance.
- Student and expat belongings: boxes, suitcases and bicycles of people finishing their studies or assignments in London.
- Vehicles: UK-registered cars and motorcycles on enclosed or open transporters; see international vehicle transport.
Our London depot accepts goods; for collection from your address, advance booking is all that is needed.
Customs: Documents Required in Each Direction
| Type of goods | Istanbul → London | London → Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial goods | Invoice, packing list, ATR/EUR.1 or certificate of origin, UK EORI number, HMRC import declaration | Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, Turkish consignee tax number, Turkish import declaration |
| Personal household goods | ToR1 application and URN, passport, visa/BRP, inventory list | Turkish personal effects exemption: passport, proof of residence abroad, inventory, consular attestation where required |
| Samples / documents | Pro forma invoice marked "no commercial value" | Pro forma invoice, consignee details |
| Vehicles | Registration document, invoice or sales contract, NOVA notification (UK) | Registration document, Turkish temporary or permanent import paperwork |
Declarations are lodged through customs brokers in Turkey and the UK; the customer only supplies the documents. Details on our customs clearance page.
What to Know About Delivery in London
- ULEZ / LEZ: the Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all of Greater London; our departures are planned with compliant vehicles, so no surcharge applies.
- Parking suspension: in central boroughs a council parking suspension is needed before a lorry can stand outside the address; we arrange it. See our moving to London guide.
- Loading bays and lifts: a loading bay for depot deliveries, and lift and floor details for residential ones, affect pricing.
- Delivery windows: because of heavy-vehicle restrictions most central deliveries are scheduled between 07:00 and 18:00.
What Determines the Price
- Volume and weight: per m³ or per pallet for groupage, a fixed price for a full load.
- Direction: capacity on the return leg (London → Istanbul) can be more favourable; useful for date-flexible loads.
- Customs status: VAT and duty on commercial imports depend on the goods; with a personal-effects exemption only the declaration fee remains.
- Packing and extras: crating, palletising, delivery by lift, storage.
- Insurance: CMR liability cover is standard; all-risk is recommended for valuable goods. See CMR vs all-risk insurance.
The general cost components are explained in what determines the cost of an international move.
Storage and Consolidation
Our Istanbul and London depots are more than transfer points. Goods are collected when ready and held until departure day; consignments from several suppliers are combined into one shipment; household goods whose delivery address is not yet confirmed are stored safely for weeks. For e-commerce sellers we also arrange UK domestic distribution from London.
Example Scenarios
Six pallets of furniture from Istanbul to London
Six pallets (about 12 m³) collected from a manufacturer in Bursa are consolidated at the Istanbul depot, leave on that week's departure, are declared to HMRC with ATR and invoice and delivered to the London store's loading bay on day 9.
A permanent return from London to Izmir
A family's 25 m³ of household goods after eight years in London is loaded at their Ealing address under a parking suspension, enters Turkey with personal-effects paperwork, clears in Istanbul and is delivered to the new home in Izmir on day 11.
Three cartons of samples from London to Istanbul
Cartons dropped at our London depot join the return departure, are declared with a pro forma invoice and reach the company in Istanbul within eight days.
Why REG Transport?
- Our own depots in Istanbul, Gaziantep and London; no intermediaries, the goods stay under our control throughout.
- Weekly departures from Turkey to the UK and regular departures on the return leg.
- Experienced teams in Turkish and UK customs; from ToR1 to HMRC declarations, the whole file is handled by us.
- ULEZ-compliant vehicle planning and London parking-suspension arrangements.
- One contact for household goods, commercial freight, vehicles and cargo: see commercial freight, household removals and our United Kingdom page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does freight take from Istanbul to London?
On average 7-10 days from loading to delivery for groupage and 5-7 days for a full load, give or take a day or two for customs and Channel-crossing queues.
Can I ship cargo from the UK to Turkey?
Yes. Parcels dropped at our London depot or collected from your address travel on the return departure to Istanbul and are distributed to any province in Turkey. Personal effects use the Turkish exemption; commercial goods need an import declaration.
Do I need a whole truck for a small shipment?
No. On our groupage departures you pay only for the space you use, from a single pallet to fifteen, and there is a cargo service for a few cartons.
Is an EORI number required to ship goods to the UK after Brexit?
A business importing commercially needs a UK EORI number; a private individual receiving personal belongings uses the ToR1 route instead. We confirm the right route at quotation stage.
Can you store my goods until departure day?
Yes. Both the Istanbul and London depots offer short and long-term storage, and goods arriving in parts are consolidated into one shipment.
Do you collect from Ankara, Izmir or Bursa for London?
Yes. We collect from every province in Turkey; the goods are brought to the Istanbul depot and added to the weekly departure.
Get an Istanbul–London Logistics Quote
Tell us the type and volume of your goods and the collection and delivery addresses, and we will prepare a written quote for either direction the same day. Regular shippers can agree a monthly departure plan at a fixed rate.
