Let’s address the obvious: the tunnel is getting a twin. The Silvertown Tunnel is currently under construction, and when it opens (sometime around 2026), it will have a toll. This means the Blackwall Tunnel might finally start charging, too, or it might remain free as some sort of historical artefact. Nobody knows for sure—it’s London. The city’s transport policy is a secret recipe, like Coca-Cola, but with more traffic cones.
For now, though, the Blackwall Tunnel remains a glorious little loophole in the pay-per-breathe London system. It’s right there, free as a parking space on your street (if you live in a magical fairyland).
How To Get To Blackwall Tunnel at Wendy Glatt blog
I use it every week to visit my mum in south London. Every single time, I brace for a penalty charge. I half-expect a letter from TfL saying, “Dear Motorist, we noticed you enjoying our tunnel for free. Please send £12.50 for emotional damages.” But it never comes.
What If You Try to Avoid It?
You could take the Rotherhithe Tunnel instead. It’s also free, but it’s a twisty, claustrophobic nightmare—the kind of tunnel that makes closing your eyes and hoping for the best seem like a valid strategy. Or you could brave the Woolwich Ferry, which is free but runs on a schedule that seems tied to the phases of the moon and the whim of a bored swan.
So the Blackwall Tunnel, with its long queues and surprising lack of a cash register, is genuinely the best free option. It’s the hero we don’t deserve, but the one we need right now—especially if we forgot our wallet.
Just remember: it’s a narrow, Victorian-era tube. You’ll emerge with slightly less patience and a faint smell of old exhaust. But your bank account won’t shed a tear. And in modern London, that’s about as close to a miracle as you’re going to get.
So next time someone asks, “Do you have to pay for Blackwall Tunnel?” you can smile, nod like a wise old tunnel sage, and say, “Nope. Just bring your best Dungeon Master patience and leave your lorry at home.” It’s one of life’s small, free pleasures—like a public bench on a sunny day, or a dream about winning the lottery. Enjoy it while it lasts.
