Guide · 4 min read
M25 traffic guide: junctions, Dartford and delays
The M25 is the 117-mile (188 km) orbital motorway around London and one of the busiest roads in the country. This guide covers its main junctions, the Dartford Crossing, and where delays build.
Where the M25 meets other motorways
Junctions are numbered clockwise from the Dartford Crossing. Traffic is described as clockwise or anticlockwise rather than northbound or southbound.
| Junction | Connects to |
|---|---|
| J3 | M20 (Folkestone, Channel Tunnel) |
| J5 | M26 |
| J7 | M23 (Gatwick, Brighton) |
| J12 | M3 (Southampton) |
| J15 | M4 (Heathrow, Bristol) |
| J16 | M40 (Oxford, Birmingham) |
| J21 | M1 (the North) |
| J23 | A1(M) |
| J27 | M11 (Stansted, Cambridge) |
The busiest stretch
The western section between junctions 12 and 15, which links Heathrow and the M3 and M4 to the rest of the network, is among the busiest stretches of road in the country. Plans to turn junctions 10 to 16 into a smart motorway were cancelled in 2023.
The Dartford Crossing
The Dartford Crossing closes the circle between Essex and Kent. It is not motorway but the A282 trunk road: northbound traffic uses the two tunnels and southbound traffic the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
| Car (class B) | Charge |
|---|---|
| One-off payment | £3.50 |
| Pay as you go account | £3.50 |
| Pre-pay account | £2.80 |
Charged 6am to 10pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays. Pay by midnight the day after you cross. There are no barriers: pay online or by phone.
Checking the M25 before you go
The M25 page on Live Roads lists incidents, roadworks and overnight closures by junction and direction, with the time of each update. The live entries are also shown below.
On the M25 now 11
- M25Full closureclockwise
M25 J20 to J21, clockwise
Starts Tue 6 Oct, overnight 22:00–05:00
Part of works on the M1: M1 northbound Jct 6 to Jct 8 carriageway closure
National Highways · updated 17 min ago
- M25Incidentclockwise
M25 near J5 to J6, clockwise: Debris in road
Since Tue 6 Oct, 19:33
Shown on National Highways signs (M25 clockwise between J5 and J6): "Debris in road".
National Highways · updated 24 min ago
- M25Incidentclockwise
M25 near J5 to J6, clockwise: Debris in road - slow
Since Tue 6 Oct, 19:33
Shown on National Highways signs (M25 clockwise between J5 and J6): "Debris in road - SLOW".
National Highways · updated 24 min ago
- M25Incidentanticlockwise
M25 near J30 to J29, anticlockwise: Delays chorleywood
Since Tue 6 Oct, 19:07
Shown on National Highways signs (M25 anti-clockwise between J30 and J29): "M25 DELAYS CHORLEYWOOD".
National Highways · updated 50 min ago
- M25Incidentanticlockwise
M25 J18 to J16, anticlockwise: Congestion
Since Tue 6 Oct, 18:50
Shown on National Highways signs (M25 anti-clockwise within J30): "M25 J18-J16 CONGESTION".
National Highways · updated 1 h ago
- M25Link road closureclockwise
M25 J21 to J6A, clockwise
Starts Tue 6 Oct, overnight 22:00–05:00
Part of works on the M1: M1 northbound Jct 6 to Jct 8 carriageway closure
National Highways · updated 17 min ago
- M25Slip road closureanticlockwise
M25 J24, anticlockwise
Starts Tue 6 Oct, overnight 22:00–05:00
M25 Anti-clockwise Jct 24 entry slip road closure
National Highways · updated 17 min ago
- M25Slip road closureanticlockwise
M25 J25, anticlockwise
Starts Tue 6 Oct, overnight 22:00–05:00
M25 Anti-clockwise Jct 25 entry slip road closure
National Highways · updated 17 min ago
- 3 less urgent entries not shown. All of them are on the live map.
Questions
- How long is the M25?
- 117 miles (188 km). The Dartford Crossing, which completes the ring, is the A282 rather than motorway.
- How much is the Dartford Crossing?
- For a car, £3.50 for a one-off payment or with a pay-as-you-go account, and £2.80 with a pre-pay account. It applies from 6am to 10pm every day, and must be paid by midnight the day after you cross.
- Is the Dartford Crossing free at night?
- Yes. There is no charge between 10pm and 6am.
Live now
Sources
- Pay the Dartford Crossing charge· GOV.UK
- Dartford Crossing charges· GOV.UK
- Plans for new smart motorways cancelled· GOV.UK
- M25 motorway· Wikipedia