Solo house move logistics - help needed

[EightyfirstCat]

I'm buying my first flat solo and I need help thinking through the logistics of the move. Would really appreciate any help. I'm due to exchange tomorrow and will hopefully complete in 5 weeks. I am moving from a rented furnished flat to a 2 bed flat 100 miles away.

Is completion day when I should book the removals van for? I will need to clean & check the flat after all the boxes are removed, so who will be at the other end to collect the keys and unload the boxes at the new house?

I don't have a car, so I will either have to go with the removals man or get the train which will take about 3 hours, so I would arrive after the van man.

Is it normal to hand over the place you're leaving on the same day that you move into new home? Could I ask a friend to collect the keys for me ? Still not sure how I would clean flat and then travel 100 miles. Could I clean flat as the boxes are being loaded and then jump into the removal van? I can't get my head around the logistics of it all for some reason and slightly panicking. What's the usual thing to do?

Yes completion day is when you book the removals van for.
It’s not common to travel with the removals van. You could ask them but they may not allow it.

Do you have anyone with a car who could help you travel to the new place after you have cleaned the old place, like a family member or friend? It would be hard to clean the flat before the boxes have all been removed.

You could get a friend to collect the keys for you as long as you have told the estate agent who is doing it. The friend could then let in the removals men and you would have to arrive by train a few hours later.

You can tell the movers that it will take you X hours to get there so they will have to wait. You will obviously pay for their time. Or, can you rent a car? It's always a good idea to pack a suitcase and box with essentials (change of clothes, toiletries, kettle and a few bits for the first night so you aren't routing around boxes).
Normally the movers arrive first thing, move off and you are waiting for your solicitor to tell you monies paid (in your case, you will be en route) and that you can get keys.
However as you are in rented so no waiting for money from a sale, can you get the keys a few days earlier (so complete before you move), check out the property is clean enough for you to move in to? At least then you don't have to worry about having to get the keys on the day.
An estate agent might be amenable to letting movers in, but then the boxes will all over the place and if you e paid for futbito be assembled that would be tricky.
Personally I would hire a car for the day. Get a suitcase and box in there, and follow the movers. You can take an hour after they've left to clean and just tell them to wait, or is it part of your rental agreement to pay for an end of tenancy clean? Then you don't have to worry about it, though make sure all rubbish is removed and the place is completely empty.