Where are the UK toll roads? How many are there, how they work & speed limits

When planning a motorhome or campervan trip, it’s important to understand where you might come across toll roads on your travels and ensure you can pay the required fee. You may also choose a route that avoids toll roads to save money, even though this may add time to your journey.

In this guide to UK toll roads, we share how they work, where they are, and some information on fees and speed limits to help you plan your next motorhome or campervan adventure.

How do toll roads work in the UK?

Toll roads work by charging drivers a fee when they use the road. These tolls are in place to help pay for the maintenance of the road and offer a convenient route for drivers. Many toll roads are bridges that provide a quick and easy way to get across rivers. Perhaps the most famous is the Dartford Crossing, which crosses the River Thames.

There are different ways to pay the toll depending on which road you’re using. You could be required to pay the fee at a booth, or you may be able to pay online in advance or within a certain timeframe. Some smaller toll roads only accept cash, while others only accept contactless, so be sure to check what’s required before setting off on your journey.

How many UK toll roads are there?

There are around 20 toll roads in the UK depending on whether you include the London Congestion Charge and Durham Road User Charge Zone. While these aren’t technically toll roads, you must pay to access these areas during certain times. Always check before travelling to avoid confusion.

Where are the UK toll roads?

All toll roads are in England. There used to be toll roads in Scotland, but these were abolished in 2008, and there are no toll roads in Northern Ireland. While the Severn Bridge used to be a toll road, this fee was removed in 2018, and you can now cross between England and Wales free of charge. Some private roads in Wales may require a fee, but none of the Welsh main roads are toll roads.

UK toll roads include:

• M6 Toll (West Midlands)
• M25 Dartford Crossing (Dartford)
• A4 Batheaston Bridge (Bath)
• A15 Humber Bridge (Hull)
• A19 Tyne Tunnels (Wallsend)
• A38 Tamar Bridge (Plymouth)
• A41 Mersey Tunnels - Queensway (Birkenhead)
• A57 Dunham Bridge (Lincoln)
• A59 Mersey Tunnels - Kingsway (Wallasey)
• A533 Mersey Gateway (Halton)
• Itchen Bridge (Southampton)
• B471 Whitchurch Bridge (Pangbourne)
• B3129 Clifton Suspension Bridge (Bristol)
• B4350 Whitney-On-Wye Bridge (Whitney-On-Wye)
• B4044 Swinford Bridge (Swinford)
• B5159 Warburton Bridge (Warburton)
• Aldwark Bridge (Aldwark)
• Kingsland Bridge (Shrewsbury)
• Cartford Bridge (Preston)

How much are UK road tolls?

UK road tolls vary depending on which one you’re using. Some may make a considerable dent in your travel budget if you use them frequently, whereas others simply require pocket change.

M6 Toll is the most expensive toll road in the UK and considerably pricier than other major tolls, including the Dartford Crossing. Motorhome and campervan drivers are required to pay slightly more than car owners to use the M6 Toll – travelling through one zone on the M6 Toll in a motorhome will set you back £13.40, while it’s £17.30 to travel through three zones.

Swindon Bridge is the cheapest UK toll road, which costs just 5p for cars and 50p for lorries. This is a cash-only toll, so be sure to have some loose change to hand if you travel through here.

Who owns the toll roads in the UK?

Many of the toll roads in the UK are owned by private companies that collect the tolls and operate the road. For example, the M6 Toll is privately owned. Others, such as the Dartford Crossing, are publicly owned. The money you pay to use a toll road in your motorhome or campervan goes towards the road's upkeep and may also be used to fund the building of new road networks elsewhere.

Toll road speed limits

The speed limit on a toll road generally follows the same rules as regular roads. For example, the M6 toll road speed limit is 70mph as it's a motorway. If you're approaching a toll in a village, the speed limit may be 30mph.

Some tolls may have speed restrictions as you approach the booth or use the bridge or tunnel. When using the Dartford Crossing, you cannot exceed speeds of 50mph despite it being part of the M25 motorway. Always pay close attention to speed limits as you approach tolls to avoid fines, especially when variable speed limits could be in place due to the volume of traffic.

Avoiding UK toll roads

In many instances, you will have the option to avoid toll roads while you travel around. Many sat navs can plan a route that avoids tolls, meaning you won't need to pay these fees. However, be sure to consider how much time avoiding toll roads could add to your journey, as you may find that the convenience offered by these roads is worth the price you pay to use them.

You can save money by registering for an account on some of the UK's larger toll roads, including the M6 Toll and Dartford Crossing. This is especially handy if you use these roads often as savings add up over time. Some toll roads are free to use during certain times, too, so you may not need to pay a fee if you're travelling in a time considered off-peak. It's free to use the Dartford Crossing between 10pm and 6am.

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