Find out when Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel tolls apply, how much they cost, and how to avoid penalties.
Written by Tristan Bacon — Updated 8 September 2026
If you’re a courier working across East London, there’s a good chance you’ve used the Blackwall Tunnel to get from one job to the next. Whether you’re heading from South London to a pickup near Canary Wharf, or delivering to the O2 Arena in Greenwich, the tunnel can be a handy route.
Since 7 April 2025, drivers have had to pay to use both the Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel during charging hours. The charges apply to most vehicles, including courier vans, and will increase from 21 September 2026.
If you’re doing courier driver jobs in and around central London, here’s what you need to know before your next delivery.
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The Blackwall Tunnel has been around since 1897 and remains one of the busiest river crossings in London, linking Tower Hamlets on the north side of the Thames to Greenwich on the south.
The Silvertown Tunnel sits just east of Blackwall and opened in April 2025. It’s designed to ease traffic pressure and provide an alternative for drivers moving between Silvertown and the Greenwich Peninsula. If you’re planning routes for time-sensitive jobs or responding to last-minute load requests, especially if you’re doing live event courier jobs in and around the O2 Arena, it gives you a second option.
Together, the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels now carry an average of 94,084 vehicles on a typical weekday. Cars and vans account for more than 85% of the traffic using the two crossings.
As of April 2025, charges apply every day between 06:00 and 22:00, including weekends and bank holidays. The only exception is Christmas Day, when the tunnels remain free.
Outside of these hours, you can use both tunnels without paying. This makes them a useful option for anyone doing overnight courier work in East or South East London.
Charges vary depending on when you travel. Peak hours are:
All other times (06:00–22:00 outside of these windows, plus weekends and bank holidays) are classed as off-peak.
But there’s a catch: off-peak rates only apply if you’re registered for Auto Pay.
The amount you’ll pay depends on your vehicle type, the time of travel, and whether or not you’re using Auto Pay.
From 21 September 2026, the charges will be:
If you’re a self-employed courier, TfL uses your vehicle’s DVLA classification to decide whether it is a small or large van. Don’t assume that a standard-looking courier van will fall into the cheaper category: use TfL’s vehicle checker before travelling.
Manual payments (online, app or phone) are always charged at the peak rate, no matter what time you travel.
There’s currently no daily cap, so each crossing is charged separately—even if you’re only popping across to collect a forgotten signature.
These tunnel tolls apply to both the Blackwall Tunnel and the Silvertown Tunnel, and are charged per journey, in both directions.
As outlined in TfL’s own guide, the following vehicle and user types are exempt from tunnel charges:
Pedestrians and cyclists cannot travel directly through either tunnel. However, TfL operates a dedicated Silvertown Tunnel cycle shuttle, which is free until further notice and can accommodate eligible cargo bikes.
The fastest and cheapest option is to set up Auto Pay through Transport for London (TfL). It works the same way as the congestion charge zones, where your card is billed automatically.
Auto Pay gives you:
It’s worth setting this up if you use the Blackwall Tunnel regularly, especially during quieter delivery times. If you’re running early morning loads or late-night returns, Auto Pay can save you a few pounds per job.
If you’re not using Auto Pay, you can still pay:
But remember, you’ll always be charged the higher peak rate if you pay manually, no matter what time you cross.
This also applies to the Silvertown Tunnel charges.
If you forget to pay by midnight on the third day after the crossing, you’ll be issued a £180 penalty charge notice. This drops to £90 if you pay within 14 days.
TfL uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to log every vehicle entering either tunnel. So there’s no way to bypass the system.
Only one PCN is issued per vehicle per day, but it can quickly become expensive if you’re making multiple crossings as part of a job.
If you’re new to driving in London, make sure you’re aware of other charges like the Dartford crossing or toll roads further out of the city. They’re easy to forget, especially on longer courier runs.
Most courier drivers will need to pay the full tunnel charge, but discounts and reimbursements are available for some residents, businesses and NHS journeys.
Drivers receiving certain benefits can apply for a 50% discount on Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel charges if they live in one of the following areas:
Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support and Pension Credit. The discount is available until at least April 2028, but you must register with TfL before travelling.
Eligible small businesses, charities and sole traders that are registered in and operate from Greenwich, Newham or Tower Hamlets can apply for a £1 discount on each off-peak crossing.
The discount can cover up to three vehicles and only applies to crossings paid through Auto Pay. This could be particularly useful if you operate as a sole trader or run a small limited courier company near the tunnels.
You must set up a London Road User Charging account and apply for the business discount before it can be applied.
Some NHS staff and patients can have their tunnel charges reimbursed, but the scheme only covers certain journeys.
Patients may qualify if they have been assessed as too ill, weak or disabled to use public transport and meet TfL’s additional medical criteria.
NHS staff may qualify when using their own vehicle to carry specified clinical materials or equipment, or when responding to an emergency while on call.
The relevant NHS trust or hospital must be registered for the scheme and will manage the reimbursement. You can check the full NHS reimbursement criteria on TfL’s website.
If you’re doing a lot of courier work in London, it pays to be tactical about when and how you use these crossings.
Here are a few quick tips:
If you’re already using route planning apps, add the Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel charging times to your filters to avoid surprise costs.
The Woolwich Ferry is free option. It’s currently scheduled to run between 06:00 and 22:00 every day, but queues and service disruption can make journey times unpredictable, so check its status before rerouting.
The Rotherhithe Tunnel is another option, but it’s unsuitable for most vans due to height and width restrictions. You can’t use it if your vehicle is:
Other crossings like Tower Bridge or London Bridge are usually too central for most courier work unless your job falls within congestion charge zones.
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If you’re using Auto Pay, you’ll pay £1.55 off-peak and £4.20 peak. If you’re not registered, you’ll always pay £4.00 regardless of the time.
The tunnel is free to use overnight, from 22:00 to 06:00. This includes weekends and bank holidays, and is free for all of Christmas Day. It’s a handy window for those running late collections or overnight work.
Yes. Charges apply to both tunnels during operating hours. Rates are the same across both tunnels, so the cheapest option is to register for Auto Pay and travel during off-peak hours.
If you’re working late, you can avoid charges by crossing between 22:00 and 06:00. You could also use the Woolwich Ferry (free but slower), or reroute jobs via Tower Bridge if you’re already in Central London.
Auto Pay is the most convenient and offers lower charges. It also helps reduce admin and avoids mistakes that lead to penalty charge notices.
