With space at a premium in London, there are plenty of reasons why you might need more storage space. Perhaps you’re looking to downsize, or have moved in with someone and don’t have quite enough space. A self-storage unit offers both accessibility by keeping your stuff close by, and security in knowing it’s in a dedicated unit. Here we’ll take a look at some of your choices in and around London.
Summary of Self-Storage Providers in London
| Provider | EasyStorage | SafeStore | Big Yellow | Shurgard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locations in/around London | 100 | 49 | 58 | 38 |
| Unit Sizes | Pods of 35 sq. feet | 10 sq. feet to 500 sq. feet | 9 sq. feet to 800+ sq. feet | 10 sq. feet to 100 sq. feet |
| Price (based on a 35 sq. feet unit at similar locations) | £18 per Pod weekly as an introductory offer | £36 a week as an introductory offer | £28.35 a week as an introductory offer | £25 a week as an introductory offer |
| Access | 2 days’ notice needed. 1st hour free, additional time charged at £35 an hour. | Free access during opening hours. | Free access during opening hours. Can pay for additional access out of hours. | Free access between 6am and 11pm year-round. |
| Security | CCTV Number sealed pods | CCTV Entry requires signing in or electronic ID Storage units are locked with personal padlocks. | CCTV Entrance alarmed with unique PIN code Unit alarmed with unique PIN code Unit locked with personal padlock | CCTV Staff always onsite during access hours Unique access code to building and your unit. |
| Insurance | Basic insurance is built into the price, can purchase additional insurance to cover more. | Insurance is mandatory and levied after valuing goods. Can use Safestore’s own insurance or a comparable service of your choice. | Insurance is mandatory and levied after valuing goods. Can use Big Yellow’s own insurance or a comparable service of your choice. | Insurance is mandatory and levied after valuing goods. You must use Shurgard’s providers. |
*Weekly prices are based on the provider’s introductory offer.
EasyStorage
Advertising a no-frills service, EasyStorage still offers plenty of features that make them a good storage solution at an affordable price at their hundred London branches. They offer storage in blocks of “EasyPods”, which are 35 sq. feet units – about the size of a garden shed and priced at around £18.00 weekly as an introductory rate. Simply decide how many you need (they offer a space calculator if you need it!), and let them know when you book. A great perk is that they will collect your things for free. This makes EasyStorage ideal if you’re not able to lug your things all the way to an out-of-the-way storage facility.
At the end of your storage period, your items are also returned for free as long as it’s within 10 miles of where they were originally collected. You can have them delivered further away, but there’s a per mile charge past 10 miles. If you need to access your items, EasyStorage requires two working days’ notice to transfer your items out of storage. The first hour of access is free, but subsequent hours are charged at £35.00 an hour.
EasyStorage keeps your stored items secure through numbered seals on your EasyPods, so you can be sure that nobody has accessed them. Their facilities are monitored by 24/7 CCTV, and just in case, they are insured while your goods are in their care. You can read the entire insurance policy here, but note that certain goods are not covered and don’t cover breakage in things you pack. If you want to be extra safe, you can buy additional insurance.
SafeStore
SafeStore offer a flexible and convenient storage solution with a price guarantee to ensure you get the most out of your money. If you can find a comparable quote within 3 miles in London, they will beat it by 10%. With storage spaces as small as 10 sq. feet and up to 500 sq. feet, there’s options for almost any need. You can book a space either online or over the phone, and they’ll inform you when it’s ready. You transport your items to their storage facility and place them in storage. You will need to provide your own padlock for the unit (which SafeStore sells a range of), and lock the unit up. SafeStore can provide a pickup service, but it is at your own expense.
Storage periods with SafeStore start at a minimum of 14 days for short-term storage, so it’s easy enough to find a convenient time to collect your items. You can also access your storage area for free during store opening hours with no notice needed. Just head in with your ID or issued keyfob and unlock your storage area for as long as you need. With 49 stores in London, this offers an accessible local spot to almost anyone.
Visitors have to either sign in or access the SafeStore premises with their keyfob, and your unit is secured with your personal padlock. This ensures that your items are safe and secure, and on the off chance something still goes wrong, you are insured under SafeStore’s insurance. This insurance is mandatory and charged after valuation. It covers damage, theft, and other issues as detailed here. As part of your rental contract, you’ll be asked to value your goods for insurance purposes, so it’s best to have a good idea of what they’re worth.
Big Yellow Self Storage
These eye-catching yellow warehouses can be found dotted all around London, with 58 locations in and around the city. The Big Yellow Self Storage Company is conveniently located for most London residents, and offers solutions from 9 sq. feet to 800+ sq. feet. This range of sizes, as well as their own price match guarantee, makes them an economical and flexible option for almost any use. Much like SafeStore, you can arrange a unit booking online or over the phone. After this is confirmed, you bring your items to the warehouse and are responsible for arranging them in your unit. Big Yellow can provide a list of suggested movers if you need help, but the cost is on you.
Big Yellow is ideal for short term storage, with a minimum rental of only seven days. However, they require seven days’ notice before moving out, so it’s best to know how long you’ll want to stay. If you need to access your items, you can do so for free at any time during the store’s opening hours. These are between 8:30am and 5:30pm on weekdays, 9:00am to 5:30pm on Saturdays, and 10:00 am to 4:30pm on Sundays. If you need access outside these times, you can pay a £5.00 one-off fee for extended hours after discussing your needs with staff.
Security is perhaps the tightest with Big Yellow. Not only is the building monitored by CCTV, but both the building and your unit are alarmed with four-digit PIN codes. These need to be provided to anyone with access, as well as a key for the padlock for your unit. If things do go awry, Big Yellow also has a mandatory insurance policy. You can insure your goods through them, which will involve valuing your goods and paying a monthly insurance premium, or provide insurance meeting their standards.
Shurgard
Exclusively offering self-storage options in London, Shurgard’s 38 locations are ideal for city folk who are low on space. The company itself makes a point of noting that their locations are all close to both major roads and public transport options. Shurgard offers storage units from 10 sq. feet to 100 sq. feet, with prices starting from £6.99 a week for the smallest units. Storage units can be booked and rented online or over the phone, with Shurgard often making the unit available immediately. Just pack up your things and move right in – ideal if you need the space in a hurry.
Shurgard offers Londoners the choice between short- and long-term storage options as well. A short-term rental with Shurgard is up to seven days, while longer rentals can continue indefinitely. Note that longer term rentals will need two weeks’ notice before moving out, so plan accordingly. Shurgard also provides free access to all storage units 7 days a week, year-round, so it’s ideal if you think you’ll need to take things out constantly. Access hours for the units are from 6am to 11pm, so unless you’re a real night owl access should be no issue at all.
Security at Shurgard is also tight, with an array of safety measures. Staff are always on-site during access hours, and the building is constantly monitored by CCTV. You are given a unique access code to the building and lock for your unit, ensuring only you have access to your items. Like the other solutions on this list, however, you will also need to insure your items while in storage at Shurgard. Shurgard offers a customised insurance policy from £3.50 depending on the value of your items, which will be arranged when you first rent your unit. You can access the full insurance policy here.
