Sources checked 21 October 2026. Nine selected crossing records include both Blackwall directions and the Dartford Crossing outside London. This is a route planning reference, not a live navigation service or vehicle clearance approval.
Find a crossing on the map
Select a marker or choose a crossing. Follow the link to its limits and charges below.
Swipe across the map or use the crossing selector.
Silvertown Tunnel
The southbound Silvertown Tunnel entrance in April 2025.
Approximate crossing locations. The map does not show an approved driving route. View all crossing photographs
London boundary: GLA · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Coordinates: Wikidata · Map data and licencesContains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2015. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2015.
Three route assumptions to avoid
Rotherhithe uses permitted vehicle weight
The relevant figure is the goods vehicle’s GVW or MAM. Driving empty does not remove that restriction.
Blackwall’s two directions differ
The published northbound height is lower than the southbound height. Do not use a single figure for both directions.
The tunnel tariff has changed
Current Auto Pay off peak charges are £1.55 for a small van and £2.60 for a large van. Payment method matters.
Blackwall and Silvertown charge calculator
Use TfL’s confirmed van class. This is a crossing toll estimate using the tariff effective 21 September 2026. Select the period for the actual direction of travel.
Peak: northbound 06:00 to 10:00 and southbound 16:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday. Charging hours: 06:00 to 22:00. A return trip is two crossings.
Per crossing: £2.60
No discounts or exemptions included. Other London road charges are separate.
Worked examples
Large van, two crossings during Auto Pay off peak hours: £2.60 × 2.
The same two large van crossings paid online: £6.80 × 2, even outside peak hours.
Crossing restrictions and practical checks
A blank numerical field in the download means no limit was recorded in this research, not unrestricted access. Read the wording and follow current signs, vehicle documents and live closure notices.
| Crossing and sources | Published limits or access rule | Crossing charge | Check before choosing the route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwall Tunnel northboundOfficial sourceSupporting official sourceChecked | Northbound height limit is 4m. No abnormal loads. | Charged each way from 06:00 to 22:00. Use the tariff tool above. | Use the northbound record when choosing a route. The opposite bore has a different height limit. |
| Blackwall Tunnel southboundOfficial sourceSupporting official sourceChecked | Southbound height limit is 4.72m. No abnormal loads. | Charged each way from 06:00 to 22:00. Use the tariff tool above. | A southbound clearance figure is not a northbound clearance figure. Check the vehicle’s complete travelling height. |
| Silvertown TunnelOfficial sourceSupporting official sourceChecked | TfL lists 5.03m height. Category E dangerous goods restrictions apply. | Charged each way from 06:00 to 22:00. Use the tariff tool above. | Do not assume a removal van qualifies for the dedicated bus, coach and HGV lane. Follow lane signs and vehicle classification. |
| Rotherhithe TunnelOfficial sourceChecked | Maximum height 2m and width 2m. Goods vehicles above 2 tonnes GVW are prohibited. | No separate crossing toll listed. Other road charges may apply. | GVW means the maximum legally permitted loaded weight, also called MAM. An empty 3.5 tonne van does not become eligible just because its actual load is light. |
| Woolwich FerryOfficial sourceSupporting official sourceChecked | Maximum height 4.7m and width 3.5m. Dangerous goods restrictions apply. | No separate crossing toll listed. Other road charges may apply. | Free vehicle crossing, subject to operating times, queues, weather and service availability. Check the live timetable before setting out. |
| Tower BridgeOfficial sourceChecked | TfL lists an 18 tonne weight limit. No abnormal loads. | No separate crossing toll listed. Other road charges may apply. | A road bridge opening can interrupt a time sensitive move. Use live traffic information rather than assuming an uninterrupted crossing. |
| London BridgeOfficial sourceChecked | Closed to general traffic 07:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday. | No separate crossing toll listed. Other road charges may apply. | Passing a height check is not enough. Check the traffic restriction and exemptions before routing a van here. |
| Vauxhall BridgeOfficial sourceChecked | TfL lists an 18 tonne weight limit. No abnormal loads. | No separate crossing toll listed. Other road charges may apply. | Check the complete approach route for road charges, temporary restrictions and access to the destination. |
| Dartford CrossingOfficial sourceSupporting official sourceChecked | For two axle goods vehicles, the published class C toll is £4.20 or £3.60 with pre pay. | Class C two axle goods vehicle: £4.20 standard or £3.60 pre pay per crossing, 06:00 to 22:00 daily. | This crossing is outside Greater London but useful for London routes. It uses Dart Charge, a separate account and payment system. Confirm tunnel restrictions for the actual vehicle; dimensional limits are not recorded here. |
Photographs of the crossings
The bridges, tunnels and ferry in this comparison.
Blackwall Tunnel
The historic Blackwall Tunnel entrance building, photographed in 2012.
Photo: Entrance to Blackwall Tunnel by N Chadwick · CC BY SA 2.0 · Resized.
Silvertown Tunnel
The southbound Silvertown Tunnel entrance in April 2025.
Rotherhithe Tunnel
The northern Rotherhithe Tunnel entrance in 2019.
Photo: Hjamesberglen · CC BY SA 4.0 · Resized.
Woolwich Ferry
The Ben Woollacott ferry at the terminal in 2019.
Photo: Paul W · CC BY SA 4.0 · Resized.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge viewed from City Hall in 2015.
Photo: © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY SA 4.0 · Resized.
London Bridge
London Bridge and the City of London in 2011.
Photo: The River Thames and London Bridge by Philip Halling · CC BY SA 2.0 · Resized.
Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge and St George Wharf Tower, viewed from Lambeth Bridge in 2019.
Photo: Ввласенко · CC BY SA 3.0 · Resized.
Dartford Crossing
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at the Dartford Crossing in 2009.
Photo: Kenneth Yarham · CC BY SA 2.0 · Resized.
Before you drive
Measure the whole travelling vehicle
Use actual overall height and width, including roof equipment and the carried load. Check the vehicle plate for permitted weights. Van model names and rental size labels do not establish clearance.
Check the complete route
A crossing toll is separate from ULEZ, LEZ and Congestion Charge. Temporary works, bridge openings, approach roads, timed traffic restrictions and destination loading access can still change the route.
Use the official classification
Select the small or large van class only after checking TfL’s vehicle checker. A large looking van is not automatically in the large van charging class. This comparison does not determine your vehicle’s registration category.
Keep payment systems separate
TfL Auto Pay covers the Blackwall and Silvertown charge for registered vehicles. Dart Charge is separate. Paying one provider does not pay the other. Approved discounts and exemptions must be checked with the relevant provider.
Sources and method
A selected comparison of official sources
We checked TfL restriction tables, the Rotherhithe and Woolwich service pages, current tunnel tariffs and GOV.UK Dart Charge pages on 21 October 2026. The table is selected for useful London van routing questions. It is not a comprehensive bridge inventory and does not report live operating status.
Units and missing information
Dimensions are metres and weight figures are tonnes. TfL’s Rotherhithe guidance explicitly defines goods vehicle GVW as maximum permitted loaded weight. Other crossings’ weight bases must be checked against their signs and orders. Blank numeric fields remain blank in the CSV; they never become a permission to drive.
How the charge estimate works
The calculator multiplies the tariff for your selected van class, payment method and charging period by the number of crossings. It uses the tariff effective from 21 September 2026. Peak periods are Monday to Friday northbound 06:00 to 10:00 and southbound 16:00 to 19:00. Other charging hours are off peak only for Auto Pay. All other payment methods use the higher tariff throughout charging hours.
What the estimate excludes
TfL charging hours are 06:00 to 22:00. Christmas Day has no tunnel charge. Overnight journeys are also uncharged. The tool assumes the selected period applies to every crossing entered; calculate different periods separately. It excludes approved discounts, exemptions, penalties and other road charges. It does not include Dart Charge or predict travel time.
Download, cite or share this research
Use the CSV in a local guide, customer welcome pack or article. Keep the checked date and conditions with any figure you quote. Each entry has a stable link and direct official sources.
Suggested citation
Copy the citation and link to an individual entry for a specific claim.
East London Man With A Van, London river crossings for vans. Sources checked 21 October 2026; TfL tariff effective 21 September 2026. https://eastlondonmanwithavan.com/london-river-crossings-for-vans
Our original comparison wording and data arrangement are available under CC BY 4.0. Photographs and map layers retain their individual licences, linked with each image and map source. CC BY 4.0
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