Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges rise, with cars paying £4.20 at peak

Crossing the Thames through the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels now costs more. New TfL charges took effect today, Monday 21 September, with increases ranging from 3.3% to 5%. The exact rise is set by the type of vehicle and the time of the crossing.

For a car or small van, the off-peak charge is now £1.55, which is 5p more than before. The peak charge is £4.20, up 20p.

New Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges

• Cars and small vans: £1.55 off-peak (up 5p), £4.20 peak (up 20p)
• Motorcycles and mopeds, including motor tricycles: £1.55 off-peak (up 5p), £2.60 peak (up 10p)
• Large vans: £2.60 off-peak (up 10p), £6.80 peak (up 30p)
• Heavy goods vehicles: £5.25 off-peak (up 25p), £10.50 peak (up 50p)

Drivers are charged in both directions from 6am to 10pm. The peak rate applies on weekdays to northbound crossings from 6am to 10am and to southbound crossings from 4pm to 7pm. The off-peak price is only available through Auto Pay. Paying online or by phone means the higher rate at any hour.

Who gets a discount or travels free

Emergency service vehicles cross without paying, as do taxis licensed by TfL. Certain buses and coaches are exempt too. Blue Badge holders can apply for free crossings. Residents of the City of London and of 12 east London boroughs who receive certain benefits qualify for a 50% discount. Some small firms and charities based in Tower Hamlets, Newham or Greenwich, sole traders included, can take £1 off each off-peak crossing for as many as three vehicles.

Tolls were brought in for both tunnels in April 2025, when Silvertown opened. Until then the Blackwall Tunnel had been free to use since it opened in 1897. TfL says the charges exist to control traffic and pay back the cost of building Silvertown, and that the income also goes towards running and maintaining both crossings.

Christina Calderato of TfL said the small rise was to “account for inflation” and would keep the charge at a level that manages demand at the tunnels. She said removing the charge would bring more traffic onto the roads, and that air quality and journey times would suffer as a result.