As of 7 April 2025, the Blackwall Tunnel is no longer free during the day. A charge applies to both the Blackwall and new Silvertown tunnels from 06:00 to 22:00, seven days a week, with higher fees during peak times. Overnight, the tunnels remain free to use.
No, the Blackwall Tunnel is not currently free; charges apply daily between 06:00 and 22:00 for most vehicles, with different peak (weekdays) and off-peak (evenings, weekends) rates, though it remains free overnight (22:00-06:00) and on Christmas Day, with discounts for some local residents and specific vehicles. A charge was introduced in April 2025 to coincide with the opening of the new Silvertown Tunnel.
Who is eligible for the Blackwall Tunnel discount?
Vehicles with 9 or more seats are eligible for 100% discount of the Congestion Charge and the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge. While some 9+ seater vehicles are automatically exempt from certain charges, others will need to apply to receive a discount.
Until the opening of the nearby Silvertown Tunnel in April 2025, it was the easternmost free fixed road crossing of the Thames, and regularly suffered congestion, to the extent that tidal flow schemes were in place from 1978 until their controversial removal in 2007.
The tour now includes a trip down to the White House basement where you will enter an unmarked storage closet that leads to the secret White House tunnel system. Visitors will have access to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) which is located within a hardened bunker deep below the East Wing.
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Why is the Blackwall Tunnel free?
You need to pay a charge to drive through Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel unless your vehicle is exempt or has a 100% discount. This charge will help manage traffic levels across both tunnels, repay the build costs and go towards maintenance and operation of both tunnels.
Transport for London (TfL) has announced plans to introduce a toll for drivers using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels starting in spring 2025. The new toll, which is expected to be £4 per trip during peak times, aims to manage traffic levels and help repay the £2bn cost of constructing the Silvertown Tunnel.
Crossings are free between 22:00 - 06:00. Both tunnels are open 24 hours a day. If you drive through either Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel during charging hours, you will need to pay each time you cross, unless your vehicle is exempt. These charges apply in both directions.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, except Christmas Day (25 December). The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including weekends and all public and bank holidays. Charging days run from midnight to midnight.
Is Dartford Crossing the same as Blackwall Tunnel?
The dart charge is for using the Dartford crossing not the Blackwall tunnel. Both are separate entities. DartfordTunnel/Bridge is GOV.UK. Knowing what route you're taking and what tolls to pay should be the driver's responsibility for exactly this reason.
Can I check to see if I need to pay Congestion Charge?
Using the congestion charge checker is as easy as entering your number plate. This will tell you whether or not you need to pay the charge. You can also enter a London postcode or address to see if it falls within the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ).
Do You Pay for Both Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels? Yes. The same charges apply to both tunnels, and each crossing is charged separately. Using both tunnels in one day means you'll pay twice.
No, the Blackwall Tunnel is not free today (Monday, January 20, 2026); charges apply daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM in both directions, with higher peak charges on weekdays (6-10 AM northbound, 4-7 PM southbound) and lower off-peak/weekend rates, except on Christmas Day when it's free. You pay each time you cross, either by setting up Auto Pay for automatic lower rates or by paying online within three days, or face a penalty charge.
Yes, there are extensive signs for the Blackwall Tunnel charge, with regulatory signs at all entry/exit points and advance warnings several miles out on major roads, though they don't list specific prices to avoid confusion; drivers are expected to know the charges via TfL's website and marketing, with signage directing them to pay or find alternative routes, but many drivers still get caught out by the variable charges.
How much did Sadiq Khan charge for the Blackwall Tunnel?
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan introduced the charges – £4 per crossing at peak times and £1.50 during other charging hours – six months ago as a way of restricting traffic flows while generating revenue to repay the £2.2bn cost of building the Silvertown tunnel.
The original Blackwall Tunnel took 6 years to build, and when it opened in 1897, it was the longest underwater tunnel in the world. It was an expensive process, with 600 people rehoused in order to clear the site in Greenwich, and total costs reaching £1.4million.
Their job is to rush forward, not wait for intruders to reach their zone. The Secret Service won't say how many agents there are. They carry semiautomatic pistols, shotguns and machine guns. On the White House roof, teams of snipers keep watch.
The ghost of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln, also known as the White House Ghost, is said to have haunted the White House since Lincoln's assassination in 1865. Lincoln's ghost has also been said to haunt many of his former residences in Springfield, Illinois, including his former law office.
