Import from China to London
Importing from China to London — the port, the transit time, the duty and the door-to-door route for London businesses and projects.
Get your landed-cost quote
Tell us what you’re importing to UK. We reply on WhatsApp, usually within a working day.
Factory-direct pricing
We buy at the Foshan factory gate — the same piece you see online, without the retail or middleman markup.
Quality checked before it sails
Photos and inspection at the factory and again at our warehouse, so problems are caught in China, not at your door.
Door-to-door to UK
Sea and air freight to Felixstowe, HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) clearance and last-mile — handled end to end.
Import from China to London — sourced factory-direct in Foshan, shipped through Felixstowe / London Gateway, cleared and delivered to your door. London is the primary market, served by the Southeast ports, and here is exactly how a China–London import runs.
The London route at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gateway port | Felixstowe / London Gateway |
| Sea transit from China | 28–38 days |
| Air transit | 4–8 days |
| Duty | low UK Global Tariff duty — much furniture at 0% |
| Tax | 20% VAT |
| Clearance | HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service), 1–3 days with accurate documents |
Why import to London through a China-side partner
The hard part of a China–London import is not the last mile — it is the China side: finding the real factory, classifying the goods, inspecting before loading and landing an accurate cost. We are based in Foshan and handle all of it, then deliver into London via Felixstowe / London Gateway. Since Brexit, a GB EORI number is mandatory for commercial imports and is the most common thing first-time importers are missing at the border.
Wood packaging must meet ISPM-15; solid-wood furniture is generally fine, but the packaging is checked.
What London buyers import most
- Furniture for homes, offices and the hospitality trade (HS 9403)
- Lighting, marble, tiles and sanitaryware for fit-outs and renovations
- Mattresses, décor and outdoor ranges for retail and projects
- Mixed, consolidated loads — several factories combined into one shipment to London
Reviewed by verified import specialists
The London routing and clearance guidance on this page reflects HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) practice and the applicable tariff schedule as of August 2026. Rates and procedures can change — we re-verify this page each quarter and confirm the rate for your specific HS code before you commit to an order. This is practical guidance, not a customs ruling on your particular goods.
Frequently asked questions
How do I import from China to London?
Source the goods (we do this factory-direct in Foshan), ship by sea or air through Felixstowe / London Gateway, clear customs (1–3 days with clean documents) and deliver. We run the whole chain and quote one landed cost to London.
How long does shipping from China to London take?
Sea freight is 28–38 days to Felixstowe / London Gateway, air is 4–8 days. Door to door, a sea order is typically 4–8 weeks including production and clearance.
What duty will I pay importing to London?
Low uk global tariff duty — much furniture at 0%, charged on the customs value. Duty is often 0% on furniture, but 20% import VAT applies to the landed value. If you are VAT-registered you can use Postponed VAT Accounting and reclaim it — so the real cost is mainly the duty and freight.
Can you deliver to my address in London?
Yes — we clear through Felixstowe / London Gateway and deliver to your door anywhere in and around London, with the duty and tax already handled in the quote.
Get your landed cost before you commit to an order
Send us your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the rate against the HS code, and come back with one landed-cost figure delivered to your door in UK — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges in a single number.
Related guides
Get your landed cost before you commit to an order
Send your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the duty against the HS code, and come back with one number to your door in UK — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges.
No obligation · We reply on WhatsApp
Start your quote
One number, no surprises. We usually reply within a working day.