Why Choose White & Company?
Planning to move to Lyon in the near future? Here’s just a few of the reasons why you should consider choosing White & Company as your designated removals specialist:
- offices & storage depots in Lyon & UK
- door-to-door packing & removals
- founder member of BAR, FIDI
- Members of OMNI
- award winning service
- established in the UK since 1871
- fully insured
- dedicated team of trained professionals
- tailored removals package
We’re founder members of the British Association of Removers & FIDI. Members of OMNI and have been providing removal and shipping services to destinations all over the world for over 135 years.
White & Company have been transporting household items and goods to Lyon for many years and can make the process run smoothly on the day.
Our knowledge of parking rules and local customs means we can delivery your move without a hitch.
Throughout the process our experienced moving team will be on hand to put you at ease and answer any questions you might have about the process of moving abroad.
Our removals service
We offer weekly removals services to and from Lyon.
This includes either full load consignments that take your belongings direct from point A to B, or part loads that are delivered shortly after your arrival.
Our extensive fleet of vehicles, specialist local knowledge and experienced staff make us the standout choice for all removals to Lyon.
We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation, carried out by one of our qualified surveyors. They will answer any questions you have and offer advice where necessary.
The survey will determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The total cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in our vehicles.
Regular removals to Lyon
Our dedicated team in the UK & Lyon will ensure that all the relevant paperwork and customs clearance is processed correctly and arrange the unloading and unpacking of your household goods.
Upon arrival at your local depot all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container.
Depot Locations
White & Company offers secure containerised storage facilities via its own depots, with 19 strategically placed storage facilities throughout the UK and France to choose from.
Recognition
White & Company are members of the British Association of Removers, FIDI & OMNI, the voices of the removals industry both in the UK and internationally.
All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European Standard BS EN 14873.
Insurance
Despite our best efforts sometimes items get damaged or things go amiss. White & Company always try to minimise problems during the moving process, that’s why we offer limited liability insurance.
Marine insurance is a key consideration when shipping overseas. We recommend that you consider protecting your valuable personal possessions while in transit and/or storage with our ‘All Risk’ Marine Standard Liability cover.
Marine Insurance Cover is offered to you on receipt of a completed Overseas Valuation Form. Such Marine Insurance Cover is ‘Comprehensive’ and ‘All Risk’ and is based on the values as declared by you on the Overseas Valuation Form.
Moving to Lyon? Get a removals quote
Preparing for Your Move
Moving to Lyon from the UK is a different prospect than moving locally.
Choosing where to live in the ‘city of light’ will depend on a number of factors, including your budget, working needs and distance from local schools.
Below are some useful tips to consider before you move to Lyon:
- Register – If the UK leaves the EU you will need to register with the French authorities through a new registration system. If the implementation period agreed between the EU and the UK in the Withdrawal Agreement comes into effect, you would have until at least July 2021 to apply for the new residency status in France.
- Research – before you buy a property and consult independent legal advice – the further outside of the centre you venture you’ll find larger plots of lands and even some estates.
- Rent before you buy – 94.5% of the properties in Lyon are apartments. If you are interested in a house, you should look towards the outskirts in the suburbs and rent before you buy.
- Secure work before you leave – Lyon is one of Europe’s most important banking centres and La Part-Dieu (the CBD) is home to the headquarters of many large companies.
- Consider if public healthcare will suffice for your family or whether you’ll need private cover instead.
- Research customs restrictions on certain items that cannot be brought into Lyon.
- Vaccinate and microchip your pets and obtain the necessary paperwork they need to move with you.
- Lyon is an international city and many people speak some degree of English but if you want to integrate into life and access higher paid employment you will need to gain a firm grasp of the French language.
Popular Destinations We Cover in Lyon
- The 1st arrondissement : Around the Place des Terreaux, many bars and pubs: this is one of the liveliest districts of the city. You can also find in this disctrict the Hotel de Ville de Lyon, the Opera House, Church St. Nizier.
- The 2nd district is located at the southern tip of the peninsula formed by the rivers Saône and Rhône. It’s a the heart of Lyons, a shopping district with many stores and malls, the largest square in Europe, the Place Bellecour ( in the center of which the famous statue of Louis XIV).
A portion of this district to the south has just seen the birth of the famous project “Confluence”, an urban renewal project in the downtown Lyon with all-new housing, offices and shopping centers.
- The 3rd district, a district with many offices and residential buildings, the train station La Part-Dieu, the largest shopping center in Europe (Centre Commercial de la Part-Dieu) and the new Oxygen Tour.
- The 4th district and the plateau of the Croix-Rousse well known for its alleyways, stairways, its market, its creators and its history related to silk.
- The 5th district, the historic center of Lyon, with the Saint John Cathedral, St. Paul and St. George areas known under the name of the “Old Lyon”, Saint Just and his Fourviere Basilica which dominates and protects the city. There are still many traces of the Roman past of the city, including the Gallo-Roman theater.
- The 6th district is often described as the most “chic” district of Lyon with wide avenues (Boulevard des Belges, Rue Duquesne, Avenue Foch …) lined with beautiful buildings and mansions overlooking the Parc de la Tete d ‘ Or It is also a shopping area, mainly around the Cours Vitton.
- The 7th arrondissement, between the Rhone River (west), the Cours Gambetta north, the 8th district in the east, and the town of Saint-Fons in the south. It is the largest district of Lyon. It is located in an area nearly flat, alluvial plain of the Rhone. There are some universities, the International School, the Halle Tony Garnier, where there are many shows and concerts, the Parc de Gerland. The banks of the Rhone offers a very pleasant walk where bicyclists, rollerbladers, joggers and walkers can wander night and day !
- In the 8th district , “Cinema” was invented by the brothers Louis and Auguste Lumiere, The Light Institute traces the birth of cinema in Lyon.
- The 9th district is located on the Vaise district.
FAQs
Lyon is the capital city of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and offers an interesting mix of old traditions and new innovations which draws in large numbers of expats.
Fourvière Hill is a popular location for expat families. Set amongst the hills above the central Vieux Lyon district, this neighbourhood is tranquil and picturesque with good local schools and stunning views of Lyon’s skyline. It’s a touch on the expensive side mind.
Villeurbanne is a great part of town which is far away enough from the centre to have its own community without feeling disconnected.
There’s lots of metro, bus and tram services that run through it and it’s less expensive than other areas of Lyon.
European citizens can attend and receive medical services from any French doctor using their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if they are visiting France temporarily.
For those moving permanently or longer than three months you must register with a primary doctor (médecins traitant).
To register with a doctor in France you will need to complete a form and return it to your doctor who will register with the local Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM).
Lyon may forever be contesting with Marseille for the title of France’s ‘2nd city’ but when it comes to food and culture there is one clear winner.
Packed with so much history Lyon has plenty to keep its residents and visitors happy when it comes to leisure pursuits. Highlights include:
Vieux Lyon or ‘Old Lyon’ is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is second only to Venice in terms of having the largest intact Renaissance neighbourhood in Europe.
Fête des lumières, ‘The Festival of lights’ has been held every December since 1852 as a way to say thanks to the Virgin Mary for sparing the city from the plague. Streets are closed and around 4 million people converge on the city for late night celebrations.
Traboules – Lyon’s medieval streets contain secret traboule passages. The unique and very Lyonnaise phenomena of hidden passageways connect the old city to the river.
As France’s gastronomical capital Bouchons (restaurants) serve traditional Lyonnaise cuisine such as rosette de Lyon and fish dumplings.
The Fourvière Roman Theatre is the oldest Roman theatre in France, built under the orders of Augustus and expanded in Hadrian’s time. Completed in 17 B.C. with space for 10,000 people, today the Grand Theatre is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lyon.
Lyon is the fastest growing European city in terms of investment potential and attractiveness for property according to a recent study by PWC.
Laws vary depending on the type of property purchased, but there are no restrictions on foreigners buying property in Lyon. The buying process takes 2-3 months.
There are various steps to owning property in France but the major ones are:
Decide which area you’d like to live in.
Find a property that matches your needs and budget.
Engage a French estate agent to draw up the agreement between buyer and seller (Note the buyer covers all of the legal fees and taxes, which usually amount to 7.5 % of the purchase price).
Sign a compromis de vente – a preliminary agreement between both parties.
Engage a notaire (lawyer) to carry out the relevant checks including land registry, ownership rights, boundaries, and rights of way.
Sign an acte de vente (a sale contract).
There are a several schools, colleges and universities in Lyon to choose from. State schools are well thought of and give expat children the opportunity to integrate with local and learn the French language.
For a less daunting introduction to French life for older children it is advised to secure a place for them at an international school. Here they can attend school with other expat children and follow and international programme like the IB.
Click here to search English speaking schools for expat families in Lyon.
With two major railway stations, built to accommodate the TGV, France’s intercity high-speed rail service, Lyon is incredibly well connected to the rest of France and it’s European neighbours.
The Transports en commun lyonnais (TCL) is Lyon’s public transit system and consists of metro, tramways and buses which cover 62 areas throughout Lyon’s thriving metropolis.
All expats who are EU citizens can drive in France using their valid national driving license. Once the UK leaves the EU this will change but it is expected that as a permanent citizen you can apply for a driving permit as you would have done previously.
Visit the RAC website for further information on rules and the law when driving in France.
Bicycle hire has become a popular form of transport with this trend having grown massively in recent years, complete with a cycling infrastructure that is safe, cheap and efficient. You can even hire a bike for less than 30 minutes for free.
Airport Lyon–Saint Exupéry Airport is conveniently located around 18 miles east of the centre of Lyon. The flight time to the UK is less than two hours making it easy for family and friends to visit.
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
