If you drive a standard petrol car, the tunnel is £4.00 per trip. That’s for the Blackwall Tunnel Charge, paid by Auto Pay. If you forget to set up an account, the fine is way worse.
But wait! There’s more. If your car isn’t ULEZ compliant, you pay an extra £12.50 per day. And if you drive through during Congestion Charge hours? Add another £15.00. Suddenly, your cheap river crossing costs over £30. Ouch.
Here’s a funny fact. The tunnel’s so old, it was designed for horse-drawn carriages. Today, the low clearance means tall vans get stuck. Seriously, there’s a famous sign that says “STOP – Do Not Enter” for vehicles over 13 feet. Some drivers ignore it. They end up scraping the roof.
Who Doesn’t Pay?
Motorcycles, mopeds, and e-bikes get a free pass. So do pedestrians and cyclists. You can even walk through the tunnel, but it’s terrifying. The air is thick, and the noise is deafening. You’ll feel like a mouse in a subway.
London drivers will pay a toll to use the Blackwall Tunnel from 2026
Taxis and private hire vehicles also skip the Blackwall Charge. But they might still pay ULEZ. London’s fee system is a maze of exceptions. It’s like a game where the rules change daily.
Electric cars? They’re exempt from ULEZ, but not the Blackwall Charge. So yes, even silent, green machines have to cough up four quid. Progress costs money, apparently.
