Lyon is France’s third-largest city, about two hours from Paris by TGV. It sits where the Rhône and the Saône meet and is known for its food, its UNESCO-listed old town and a strong job market. Rents are lower than in Paris, so more and more people are moving to Lyon from the UK. Here are our practical tips for moving to Lyon from the UK in 2026.
1. Sort your visa before you book the move
UK nationals can visit France for up to 90 days in any 180 without a visa. To live in Lyon you need a long-stay visa for work, study, family or another reason. The French government’s visa wizard tells you which one fits, and GOV.UK has a full guide to living in France. Get the visa first, then fix your removal date.
2. Validate your visa after you arrive
Many long-stay visas (the VLS-TS) must be validated online once you are in France, and there is a deadline. The steps are on the France-Visas page about your arrival in France. Put it on your list for the first week. Other early jobs:
- Healthcare: register with French health insurance through your job, or arrange cover. Service-Public explains health insurance for foreign nationals.
- Driving licence: GOV.UK says a UK licence issued after 1 January 2021 must be exchanged for a French one within 12 months of arriving. You apply online through ANTS.
- Bank account and utilities: you will need a French bank account (RIB) for rent, electricity and internet.
3. Book a parking space for the removal lorry
Parking in central Lyon is tight. The City of Lyon lets you reserve a temporary parking space in front of your building for a removal. Book it online at least one week before moving day. The city’s fee at the time of writing is €69 for one to two days for a 20-metre space. Put the authorisation behind the windscreen on the day.
When you move with MoveDay Removals, we tell you exactly which dates and vehicle details to put on the booking, so the space matches the lorry.
4. Check the low emission zone
Lyon has a low emission zone (Zone à Faibles Émissions, ZFE). Vehicles need a Crit’Air sticker, and older, more polluting vehicles are banned from the zone. The rules also apply to vans, lorries and foreign-registered vehicles. If you are driving your own car to Lyon, check its Crit’Air class and order the sticker before you travel. The current rules and the map are on the Métropole de Lyon website.
5. Plan for hills, old buildings and narrow streets
Vieux Lyon has narrow, partly pedestrian streets. La Croix-Rousse is on a steep hill, with old silk-workers’ buildings, high ceilings and tight staircases. Many flats have small lifts or none. Measure big furniture before moving day, ask your landlord about access, and tell us about stairs and lifts so we can bring the right crew and equipment.
6. Get the customs paperwork right
Household goods going from the UK to France cross an EU customs border. You will need a full inventory and the right declarations. If you are moving your normal home to France, you may be able to bring your personal belongings in without paying import duty under transfer of residence relief, as long as you meet the conditions. Read our UK Customs Guide 2026 and our guide to what you can and can’t take on a removals lorry to the EU, or let our customs team handle the forms.
7. Choose your neighbourhood
- Presqu’île: the city centre between the two rivers, with shops, restaurants and grand old buildings.
- La Croix-Rousse: village feel, markets and views, but steep streets.
- Vieux Lyon: the historic old town. Beautiful, but hard for vans.
- Part-Dieu: the business district, next to the main TGV station.
- Confluence: modern flats on the river, good for newer buildings with lifts.
- Monplaisir and the 8th arrondissement: quieter, popular with families.
Lyon is easy to get around on its metro, trams and buses. If you are also looking at the capital, read our tips for moving to Paris from the UK. Try to avoid moving during the Fête des Lumières in early December, when the centre is very busy.
Moving to Lyon? We can help
MoveDay Removals moves families and businesses between the UK and France, with full and part loads, and we take care of the customs paperwork too. See our moving to France page or get a free quote.
Website: https://movedayremovals.com
Phone: 07378 626882
Email: office@movedayremovals.co.uk
This article is general guidance, correct as of October 2026. Rules, fees and low emission zone restrictions can change, so always check GOV.UK, France-Visas, the City of Lyon and the Métropole de Lyon before you move.