Blackwall Tunnel Charge Times: Schedule, Free Hours & Payments

Driving through east London recently, you will have noticed the Blackwall Tunnel isn’t free anymore. After decades of being a no-charge route under the Thames, the introduction of charges in April 2025 caught plenty of regular commuters off guard — and the bills can add up fast if you’re not paying attention to the clock. Knowing exactly when the toll applies, and when you can slip through for nothing, makes a real difference to your monthly transport costs. This guide runs through the official TfL schedule, peak versus off-peak windows, payment options, and a few ways to sidestep the charge if your trip allows it.

Free hours: 22:00 – 06:00 daily · Charge hours: 06:00 – 22:00, 7 days a week · Peak northbound: 06:00-10:00 weekdays · Peak southbound: 16:00-19:00 weekdays

Six key facts define how this charging scheme works, according to Transport for London’s official documentation.

What time is Blackwall Tunnel free?

The Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels are completely free between 22:00 and 06:00 every night. This overnight window applies seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays — the only exception being Christmas Day, when charges are suspended throughout the entire 24-hour period. Both directions are covered, so whether you’re heading north into London or south toward the docks, you pass through without paying a penny during these hours.

Overnight free period

The rationale behind the overnight exemption is straightforward: traffic volumes during these hours are substantially lower, and the tolling infrastructure serves primarily as a demand-management tool during peak commute times. TfL states that charges apply to manage traffic levels across both tunnels, repay the build costs, and fund ongoing maintenance and operation of the crossing (TfL Official Overview). If your schedule allows flexibility — an early morning delivery driver, a night-shift worker, or anyone willing to adjust departure times — the savings compound quickly. A commuter crossing twice daily in peak hours who shifts to 22:00–06:00 windows would eliminate their entire tunnel bill.

Daily schedule

The full charging window runs from 06:00 until 22:00, and TfL charges apply in both directions on each crossing. A round-trip during peak weekday hours costs twice the single-crossing rate: £8 for cars and small vans, and £13 for large vans (RAC Drive Guide). The tunnels themselves remain open 24 hours a day except during planned maintenance closures, which TfL publishes in advance on its travel alerts portal.

Is there a time limit on Blackwall Tunnel charge?

Yes — the charge window is fixed, but it splits into two distinct rate tiers that matter for your wallet. Charges run from 06:00 to 22:00 daily, but not all of that window carries the same price. TfL has established specific peak periods on weekdays when the highest rates apply, with off-peak pricing available during all other charge hours and throughout weekends.

Charge window

The 16-hour daily charging window covers every crossing from 06:00 to 22:00, and charges are applied per crossing — not per journey. This means if you cross northbound in the morning and southbound in the evening, each leg carries its own charge. The payment deadline is midnight on the third day after your journey, giving registered Auto Pay users a three-day grace period while unregistered drivers face the same countdown before penalties kick in.

Peak vs off-peak

Peak rates apply during two distinct weekday windows: northbound traffic faces peak pricing from 06:00 to 10:00 Monday through Friday, while southbound traffic faces peak pricing from 16:00 to 19:00 on the same weekdays. Outside those four-hour windows on weekdays, and throughout the entire weekend from 06:00 to 22:00, the off-peak rate applies — but only if you are registered for Auto Pay. Unregistered drivers pay the peak rate at all times, regardless of when they cross.

How do I know if I need to pay the Blackwall Tunnel charge?

The simplest way to check whether your vehicle type and trip purpose are subject to charges is to use TfL’s official vehicle checker tool, which is available on the main tunnel charges page. The tool asks you to enter your vehicle category and route, then tells you whether charges apply and what rate to expect.

Vehicle checker tool

TfL’s vehicle checker covers both the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels under the same scheme. The tool is particularly useful for drivers of specialist vehicles, classic cars, or adapted vehicles that may fall into ambiguous categories. You can access it directly through the TfL website’s tunnel charges section. For fleet managers or businesses with mixed vehicle types, running each vehicle through the checker before deployment prevents unexpected charges and helps with accurate cost forecasting.

Crossing points

Charges apply at both the Blackwall Tunnel (which has been in operation for decades) and the newer Silvertown Tunnel, which opened on 7 April 2025 and triggered the introduction of charges at Blackwall (Wikipedia Entry). Both tunnels are included in a single charging account, so one registration covers crossings through either route. The Silvertown Tunnel includes a dedicated bus and HGV lane, which is not available at Blackwall — a distinction that affects congestion patterns and overtaking opportunities for certain vehicle types.

How much is the Blackwall Tunnel going to cost?

The cost depends on three factors: your vehicle type, the time of day you cross, and whether you have registered for Auto Pay. The difference between peak and off-peak rates is substantial, and for frequent users, registering for Auto Pay is the single biggest cost-reduction step available.

Peak rates

Peak charges apply during weekday morning (06:00–10:00 northbound) and evening (16:00–19:00 southbound) windows. Cars and small vans are charged £4.00 per crossing at peak, while motorcycles pay £2.50. Larger vehicles face steeper fees: large vans peak at £6.50, and heavy goods vehicles peak at £10.00 per crossing. A round-trip in a car during peak hours costs £8, and a van driver doing the same round-trip pays £13.

Off-peak and Auto Pay discounts

Off-peak rates offer meaningful savings — but they are exclusively available to Auto Pay registered users. For cars and small vans, the off-peak charge drops to £1.50, and for larger vehicles the savings are proportionally similar: large vans fall to £2.50, and heavy goods vehicles to £5.00. Motorcycles receive the same off-peak rate as cars (£1.50) for Auto Pay users. TfL offers Auto Pay via direct debit or card with monthly billing, and the system can be activated the same day you travel if needed.

The financial incentive to register is unambiguous: even occasional users recover the registration effort on their first off-peak crossing.

How to avoid paying Blackwall Tunnel charge?

There are two primary strategies for avoiding the Blackwall Tunnel charge: timing your travel to use the free window, or confirming whether your vehicle and circumstances qualify for an exemption. Beyond these, some alternative routes may suit certain journeys, though they come with their own trade-offs in distance and time.

Timing travel

The most straightforward avoidance method is to cross during the free window between 22:00 and 06:00. For commuters whose schedules allow flexibility, shifting a morning crossing from 07:30 to 22:30 the previous evening eliminates the charge entirely. Evening crossings can similarly be pushed past 22:00. The trade-off is adjustment to personal schedules, which is realistic for some but not all drivers. For delivery drivers, logistics operators, and shift workers who already operate outside conventional hours, this strategy often requires no change at all.

Alternative routes

Alternative routes that avoid both tunnels include the Woolwich Ferry (which remains free but operates less frequently and with longer crossing times) and the DLR for passenger-only trips. The Rotherhithe Tunnel offers a pedestrian and cycle route but is not accessible to most vehicles. For drivers who occasionally need to cross the Thames in this area, plotting a route around the tunnel network before departure and factoring in the Woolwich Ferry schedule can reduce or eliminate charges for certain trip types.

Exemptions and discounts

TfL offers discounts for local residents on qualifying benefits, small businesses, and registered charities. These discounts require separate applications through TfL’s exemptions portal and are not automatic. The application process involves providing proof of eligibility, and approval times vary. Drivers who believe they may qualify should check TfL’s resident discount and business discount pages before assuming full charges apply to them.

The enforcement mechanism is strict: drivers who repeatedly miss payments will face escalating penalties, so registering for Auto Pay is the safest way to avoid the £180 PCN entirely.

Confirmed facts and open questions

Most aspects of the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel charging scheme are clearly documented by TfL, but a few areas remain less transparent as the scheme matures.

What people are saying

“An off-peak charge applies at all other times and during weekends 06:00 to 22:00, and is only available to customers registered with Auto Pay.”

— Transport for London, Official Authority

“Good news, I contacted TFL who informed me that as long as I set up autopay on the day of my travel, even if it was after I went through the Blackwall Tunnel I will only be charged the off-peak rate.”

— Forum contributor, MoneySavingExpert

“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, Official Authority

The pattern is consistent: TfL designed the system to reward early registration and time-flexible travel, while the free overnight window serves as a genuine cost-free alternative for anyone who can adjust their schedule. Auto Pay same-day activation is officially confirmed workable, which removes the main barrier for occasional users who might otherwise pay peak rates. For TfL, the scheme serves a dual purpose: reducing peak-hour congestion and generating revenue for ongoing tunnel maintenance. The implication for drivers is clear — registration takes minutes and pays for itself immediately on the first off-peak crossing.

Navigating Blackwall Tunnel charges requires knowing the schedule, while the TfL online payment guide simplifies settling fees to dodge fines.

Frequently asked questions

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