Gatwick to Silvertown & Blackwall Tunnel — 2026 Charges, Tips & Best Transfer Routes

Opened 7 April 2025 · £1.50 off-peak · £4.00 peak · Free 22:00–06:00

Written by Gatwick Taxi Transfer · TfL-licensed · E14 8PX · 4.9★ · 56 reviews · Updated: 5 June 2026

The opening of the Silvertown Tunnel in April 2025 changed how drivers, taxi operators, and passengers travel between south London and East London — including the Gatwick airport corridor. For the first time in its 120-year history, the Blackwall Tunnel began charging. This guide explains exactly what the charges are, who is exempt, how to pay the cheapest way, and how they affect GTT's Gatwick airport transfers to East London postcodes including Canary Wharf (E14), Royal Docks (E16), Whitechapel (E1), and Greenwich (SE10).

What Is the Silvertown Tunnel and Why Did Blackwall Tunnel Start Charging?

The Silvertown Tunnel is a twin-bore road tunnel built by Riverlinx Limited for Transport for London (TfL). It runs approximately 1.4 kilometres beneath the River Thames, connecting Silvertown in the London Borough of Newham (north entrance, E16) to the Greenwich Peninsula (south entrance, SE10 — near the O2 arena). It opened on 7 April 2025.

The tunnel was built to address two longstanding problems: the Blackwall Tunnel carries over 60,000 vehicles daily and is chronically congested, with frequent overnight closures for maintenance creating major disruption. The Silvertown Tunnel adds a second two-lane crossing at the same pinch-point. Journey time savings of up to 20 minutes at peak times were forecast by TfL.

The Blackwall Tunnel charge is the key change for existing road users. Under the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Silvertown project — first proposed in 2012 — TfL was required to toll both tunnels to manage traffic demand and fund the construction. The Blackwall Tunnel, which had been free since it opened in 1897, began charging the moment Silvertown opened on 7 April 2025.

2026 Charge Structure — Full Table

Who Is Exempt — Full Exemption List

Discounts Available — Local Residents and Businesses

The 12 eligible boroughs for the low-income resident discount are: Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest — plus the City of London. Residents in these areas who receive a qualifying income-related benefit can apply for the 50% reduction, cutting the off-peak Auto Pay charge from £1.50 to £0.75 and the peak charge from £4.00 to £2.00.

Auto Pay Setup — How to Pay the Cheapest Rate

TfL Auto Pay is the cheapest and most convenient way to pay for both tunnels. With Auto Pay registered, the ANPR cameras read your number plate automatically — no stopping, no payment at the tunnel. The correct charge is applied to your linked card within 24 to 48 hours. Without Auto Pay, you can pay manually at tfl.gov.uk by midnight the day after your crossing — but the rate is always £4.00 regardless of time of day, eliminating the off-peak saving.

Gatwick to East London — Route Options and Tunnel Timing

For passengers travelling between Gatwick Airport and East London destinations — Canary Wharf (E14), Royal Docks (E16), Isle of Dogs, Whitechapel (E1), Shadwell, Wapping, or Greenwich (SE10) — the standard GTT route uses the M23 northbound from Gatwick, M25 anticlockwise to Junction 2 (Dartford area), then the A2/A102(M) north to the Blackwall Tunnel, emerging in Poplar (E14).

GTT Fixed Fares — Gatwick to East London

All GTT fares from Gatwick to East London postcodes include any applicable tunnel charge. The price confirmed at booking is the total amount charged — the Auto Pay tunnel cost is absorbed in the fare and never added as a supplement on the day.

Timing Tips — How to Minimise Tunnel Costs

New Bus Routes via Silvertown — Free Until April 2026

When the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025, TfL launched three new zero-emission cross-river bus routes through the tunnel, all free to use for the first year (until at least April 2026). The number of buses crossing the river at this point increased from 6 to 21 per hour. Key new routes include:

After April 2026, normal TfL bus fares apply to the SL4 and Route 129 services. The cycle shuttle remains free for at least three years from opening. Note: cyclists cannot ride their bikes through either the Silvertown or Blackwall Tunnel — the cycle shuttle is the only cycling river crossing option at this location.

Canary Wharf Corporate Travel — GTT Fixed-Fare Airport Transfers

Canary Wharf (E14) is London's second major financial centre, home to HSBC, Barclays, JP Morgan, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and hundreds of professional services firms. The estate sits 400 metres north of the Blackwall Tunnel portal — directly above the crossing that connects it to Gatwick, the south-eastern motorway network, and the rest of the UK. For Canary Wharf-based organisations, GTT provides the most geographically logical airport transfer service in London.

GTT's corporate account provides Canary Wharf businesses with monthly invoice billing, removing per-journey card payment administration. All tunnel charges are included in confirmed fixed fares — finance teams receive a clean monthly statement with no variable tunnel supplements. Bookings can be made online, by email, or by WhatsApp at any hour.

Missed Payment — Penalty Charge Notices Explained

TfL issued warning notices rather than official Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for the first 28 days after the tunnels opened — from 7 April to 4 May 2025. From 5 May 2025, full enforcement began. A driver who passes through either tunnel during charging hours without paying — whether by failing to set up Auto Pay or missing the midnight deadline for manual payment — will receive a Penalty Charge Notice.

Alternative Crossings — Free Options and Their Limitations

Zero-Emission PHV Exemption — How to Register with TfL

Approximately 40% of TfL's 93,000-strong private hire vehicle fleet was Zero-Emission Capable (ZEC) at the time the Silvertown Tunnel opened. ZEC PHVs — fully battery-electric vehicles licensed by TfL as private hire — are completely exempt from both tunnel charges. This exemption is automatic once TfL has the vehicle on record as ZEC. As the London PHV fleet continues its transition toward 100% zero-emission by 2030, an increasing share of journeys through both tunnels will be charge-free.

PHV drivers unsure whether their vehicle qualifies for the ZEC exemption can check using TfL's vehicle checker tool on the tunnel charges page at tfl.gov.uk. If a vehicle is ZEC-registered with TfL and the exemption is not being applied automatically, contact TfL's Auto Pay team directly to confirm the vehicle record.

O2 Arena Taxi via Silvertown Tunnel — Event Night Guide

The Silvertown Tunnel's south exit emerges on the Greenwich Peninsula — approximately 1 kilometre from the O2 Arena (SE10 0DX), London's largest indoor entertainment venue. The O2 hosts over 200 events per year — concerts, boxing, exhibitions, and corporate events attracting audiences of up to 20,000. For passengers travelling from Gatwick or Heathrow to an O2 event, the Silvertown Tunnel is the most direct route.

For event nights at the O2, post-event traffic is heavy on the A102(M) approach from 21:00 to 23:00. GTT recommends pre-booking the return journey at the same time as the outbound to guarantee a vehicle at the end of the event. The Silvertown Tunnel exit road connects directly to the O2 peninsula road network — GTT drivers are familiar with the post-event collection point at the main O2 Arena gate on Peninsula Square.

Blackwall Tunnel Overnight Closures — What to Do

The Blackwall Tunnel has a well-documented history of frequent overnight closures for maintenance work — particularly on the older 1897 southbound bore. When the tunnel closes, all traffic is redirected, causing cascading congestion on the Rotherhithe Tunnel, Tower Bridge, and surrounding roads. With the Silvertown Tunnel now open, some overnight maintenance can be shared, but closures at either crossing still affect the entire East London river-crossing network significantly.

GTT drivers check TfL's live traffic data before every late-night Gatwick or Heathrow run — if the Blackwall Tunnel shows an overnight closure advisory, the route is adjusted automatically to the Silvertown Tunnel (same charge, slightly different approach road) or Tower Bridge for central London connections. Passengers booking GTT never need to monitor tunnel closures themselves — the driver manages it. Check live Blackwall Tunnel status at tfl.gov.uk or via the JamCams real-time feed.

Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnel — Common Questions

Other GTT Transfer Guides

GTT operates from its base at 10-16 Tiller Road, London E14 8PX — directly north of the Blackwall Tunnel portal on the Poplar side. This means every GTT driver on a Gatwick-bound journey from East London passes through the Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel as a routine part of their route. All applicable tunnel charges are included in the confirmed fixed fare shown at the time of booking. GTT uses TfL Auto Pay on all tunnel crossings.

For passengers travelling to or from Gatwick across the full London area — including East London, Central London, North London, and intercity routes — the following guides cover routes, fares, and transport comparisons in detail.

• Gatwick Airport Taxi Transfer — All London Areas
• Heathrow Airport Taxi Transfer — All Terminals
• King's Cross to Heathrow Airport — Transfer Guide
• Christmas Day Taxi and Transport Guide London
• Taxi Driver Seatbelt Law UK — GTT Guide
• Taxi Near Me Chatham — Airport Transfers ME4 ME5
• Taxi from Milton Keynes to London — from £95
• Harrow Taxis and Minicabs — Airport Transfers
• Book Any Airport Transfer — Instant Fixed Fare