If you’ve spotted a trail of ants marching across your kitchen worktop, you’re not alone — ants are one of the most common pest complaints in London homes, especially between March and October when warmer weather brings colonies out foraging for food.
The good news: ants are one of the more straightforward pests to deal with, provided the nest itself is treated rather than just the ants you can see. Spraying the trail on your worktop kills the workers in front of you but leaves the colony — and the queen — untouched, which is why DIY sprays so often seem to “come back” within a week or two.
A visible trail of ants, usually following the same route to a food or water source
Small piles of soil or sawdust-like debris near skirting boards, patios, or garden paving (a sign of nest activity)
Ants appearing suddenly indoors after rain (garden colonies often move inside when their nest floods)
Winged ants indoors — this can indicate a mature colony preparing to swarm and establish a new nest
London’s mix of Victorian terraces, converted flats, and gardens backing onto shared walls gives ants easy routes indoors — through worn mortar, gaps around pipework, and cavity walls. Ants are also drawn to the warmth of centrally heated homes during cooler months, and to any kitchen with accessible food, pet bowls, or bins.
Inspection — we identify the ant species (garden black ants and, less commonly, pharaoh ants which require a different approach), locate the nest or likely nest area, and check entry points.
Targeted treatment — gel baiting and non-repellent insecticide are used so worker ants carry the treatment back to the nest and colony, rather than simply killing the ants you can see. This is the single biggest reason professional treatment outperforms shop-bought spray.
Crack and crevice sealing — closing off the entry points ants are using reduces the chance of a repeat problem.
Follow-up — a check-up visit within the guarantee period if activity continues.
Most London ant treatments are priced from around £180–£230, depending on property size and whether the nest is indoors, in the garden, or in a shared wall. Pharaoh ant infestations (more common in flats, food premises, and buildings with shared heating) typically need a more involved, multi-visit approach and are priced separately after inspection. We’ll always confirm the exact price before starting any work — no hidden charges.
Ant activity is a frequent call-out across North West London (older brickwork and gardens), South East London (larger gardens in the outer suburbs), and Central London (period mansion blocks). Check your area page for local detail, or contact us directly.
The Extermination process includes a thorough inspection of your property, sealing off entry points to stop future infestations, using safe and effective pesticides and rodenticides, and providing a warranty.
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With gel baiting, most garden ant infestations are substantially resolved within 1–2 weeks, as the bait works its way through the colony. Visible activity usually drops off noticeably within the first few days.
No — this is the most common mistake. Surface sprays kill the ants in front of you but the nest and queen are untouched, so the colony recovers. Targeted baiting is far more effective long-term.
Common garden ants aren't a health risk, but they do contaminate food surfaces. Pharaoh ants are a different matter — they're known to spread bacteria linked to food poisoning in food premises and require professional treatment, not DIY methods.
For a small, easily identified trail, shop-bought gel bait can help, but if ants keep returning or you can't find the nest, professional treatment (which targets the colony, not just visible ants) will resolve it faster and for good.
Garden ants are black, seasonal, and nest outdoors or in wall cavities, dying back in cold weather. Pharaoh ants are much smaller, pale yellow-brown, active indoors year-round, and need a completely different, multi-visit baiting approach — see our Pharaoh Ant Control page if activity persists through winter.
Not usually — sealing food in airtight containers and wiping down surfaces where ants have been trailing is normally enough. Discard only items ants have directly accessed and contaminated.
Common garden ants don't damage structures. However, large or persistent colonies nesting in cavity walls or under paving can occasionally undermine soil and paving over time, which is another reason to treat an established nest rather than leave it.
Yes — gel bait is placed in discreet, targeted locations rather than sprayed openly, and we'll confirm safe re-entry times for pets and children after treatment.
24/7 emergency response for all common London pests including rodents and insects. Contact us today for a free quotation and guaranteed results.