Dartford Crossing
ANPREssex ↔ Kent (A282 / M25)
Two tunnels southbound, QEII Bridge northbound. £2.50 cars / £3.00 light goods / £6.00 HGVs. Pay via Dart Charge by midnight next day.
Crossings
Tolled crossings and road tunnels.
The UK keeps a small number of strategic tolled crossings — mostly estuary tunnels and bridges where construction was funded by user charges.
Most UK tolls are now collected automatically by number plate recognition (ANPR). The Dartford Crossing led the way in 2014, removing physical toll booths entirely. Drivers must pay online by midnight the day after travel or face a Penalty Charge Notice.
A few crossings — including the Mersey Tunnels and Tyne Tunnel — still mix automatic payment with tag accounts. Tag accounts almost always offer a discount over casual payment.
Where & what to know
Mersey Gateway
ANPRRuncorn ↔ Widnes
Six-lane bridge opened 2017. £2.00 for cars. Free for registered Halton residents. Pay via merseyflow.co.uk.
Mersey Tunnels (Kingsway & Queensway)
Cash/TagLiverpool ↔ Wirral
Two tunnels under the Mersey. £2.10 for cars (cash) or £1.80 with a Fast Tag. Cash booths still operate.
Tyne Tunnel
ANPRNorth & South Tyneside
£2.20 for cars. Now fully ANPR — pay online before midnight the next day. Discount for tag accounts.
Clyde Tunnel
FreeGlasgow
Free for road vehicles. Restrictions: no pedestrians, cyclists or motorcycles under 50cc. Height limit 4.0 m.
Blackwall Tunnel
FreeEast London (A102)
Free northbound and southbound. Strict height (4.0 m northbound, 4.7 m southbound) and width limits. No HGVs over 5 m height in the northbound bore.
Silvertown Tunnel
ComingEast London
Opens 2025 as a tolled twin to Blackwall. Both crossings will be tolled together once Silvertown opens.
Rotherhithe Tunnel
FreeCentral London
Free. Strict 2 m height and 2 m width limits — effectively cars and small vans only. 20 mph limit throughout.
Conwy Tunnel (A55)
FreeNorth Wales
Free. Carries the main A55 Expressway under the Conwy estuary.
Penmaenbach & Pen-y-Clip
FreeNorth Wales (A55)
Free. Coastal tunnels east of Bangor. Subject to maintenance closures — diversion via Sychnant Pass.
Hindhead Tunnel (A3)
FreeSurrey
1.9 km twin-bore tunnel under the Devil's Punch Bowl. Free, opened 2011. No pedestrians or cycles.
Saltash Tunnel (A38)
FreeCornwall
Short tunnel approaching the Tamar Bridge. Free to use but the bridge beyond is tolled westbound.
Practical tips
Pay on time
ANPR crossings only give you until midnight the following day. Missed Dart Charge payments start at £35 and can escalate to £105.
Tag accounts
If you use a tolled crossing regularly, a Dart Charge, Merseyflow or Tyne Pass tag account saves money and avoids fines.
Height limits
Blackwall and Rotherhithe in London are surprisingly tight. Vans with roof racks should check before approaching.