Short answer
Ask the seller if they can deliver for £10–£30, or book a single-item service like renwd from £19 that collects from the seller and drops at your door. Uber XL is cheap but drivers can refuse furniture and won't help carry it.
Most Londoners don't own a car: 62% of households in inner London and 33% in outer London have none (TfL, 2024). Since Zipcar stopped taking bookings on 31 December 2025, the cheap hourly van has gone too. Here is what people actually do now, roughly in order of how often it comes up.
1. Ask the seller to deliver
Plenty of sellers would rather drop it off for £10–£30 than keep it. Ask politely, offer the fee up front, and agree a time. It works best for free or cheap items where the seller mainly wants it gone.
2. Book a single-item delivery
renwd collects one item from the seller and brings it to your door, from £19. You get a price in about 30 seconds, pick a day, and send the seller a link with the driver's name and a collection code. It covers anything one person can carry: desks, chests of drawers, coffee tables, TV units, bookcases, armchairs. Get a price.
3. Courier marketplaces (AnyVan, Shiply)
You post the job and drivers bid. Local jobs are often £27–£49 on AnyVan and £34–£88 plus a booking fee on Shiply. Cheap bids can mean waiting days for a driver who is passing anyway, and some customers report charges added after the quote.
4. Man and van
Reliable and they do the lifting, but expect around £100 for one item because of two-hour minimums. Better value if you are moving several things at once.
5. Uber XL
An Uber XL costs about £21 for a typical cross-borough trip. It is a passenger service, so drivers can refuse items that don't fit or might mark the car, and nobody helps you carry. If you try it, message the driver first. More on Uber XL and furniture.
6. Cargo bike
For small items, cargo bike couriers such as Pedal Me can work well in central London. Check size and weight limits first.
Before you agree to buy
- Measure your doorways and stairs, not just the item.
- Agree how long the seller will hold it. Listings go to whoever collects first, so tell them which day your delivery is booked.
- Never let anyone ask the seller for money on your behalf. A common Marketplace scam is a fake courier "insurance fee". How to spot it.
Questions people ask
Can I get Facebook Marketplace furniture delivered in London?
Yes. Ask the seller to deliver, or book renwd from £19 to collect it from the seller and bring it to your door. renwd covers single-lift items across London, opening area by area.
What do I tell the seller when a courier is collecting?
Tell them the courier's name, the day, and that nobody will ask them for an insurance or release fee. With renwd the seller also gets a link showing the driver's name and a collection code.
Is it safe to send a courier to a Marketplace seller?
Yes, if the courier is genuine. Fake couriers ask the seller to pay an "insurance fee". A real courier booked by the buyer never asks the seller for money.