A20 Old Kent Road Traffic and Road Closures
The Old Kent Road carries the A20 out of South East London towards Kent, and its mix of bus lanes, local traffic and through-traffic makes it prone to sudden slow-downs. This guide tracks live conditions along the route, including the Sidcup Road stretch further out.
A20 — All Camera Feeds
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Overview: The A20 in London
The A20 runs from the Elephant and Castle in central London through Old Kent Road, New Cross, Lee, Sidcup and Swanley to Folkestone, where it connects to the Channel Tunnel terminal. Within Greater London, the A20 carries a mix of local South-East London traffic, commuters from Kent and a significant volume of lorries heading to and from the Channel Tunnel and Channel ports. The Old Kent Road section in particular has a strong character as a historic market and high street road.
Where and When Congestion Builds
The A20's busiest section in London is the Old Kent Road, which runs through a dense urban environment with continuous junctions, bus stops and pedestrian crossings. New Cross is another consistent bottleneck, particularly at the A2/A20 interchange near New Cross Gate station. Further south-east, the Sidcup bypass section is generally faster but backs up near the A20/A2 junction and during incidents on the M25 Dartford Crossing, which sends diverted traffic onto both the A20 and A2.
⚠ Worst times on the A20 (weekdays)
Morning peak: 07:30–09:30 · Evening peak: 16:30–19:00
Outside these windows, the A20 typically flows much more freely. Saturdays can be busy between 11:00–15:00.
Traffic Heatmap by Time of Day
Typical congestion levels on the A20 by hour. Green = free-flowing, red/orange = heavy delays.
| 00–05 | 05–07 | 07–08 | 08–09 | 09–10 | 10–12 | 12–14 | 14–16 | 16–17 | 17–18 | 18–19 | 19–21 | 21–24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Thu | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ |
| Friday | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ |
| Saturday | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ |
| Sunday | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ | ▓ |
Journey Planning Tips
Old Kent Road: Busy All Day
Unlike many London roads, the Old Kent Road is slow throughout much of the day — market traffic, deliveries and local journeys mean peaks are less distinct.
Watch Dartford Crossing Status
M25 Dartford Crossing incidents immediately flood the A20 and A2 with diverted HGV traffic — check tunnel/crossing status before heading to Kent.
A2 as Alternative
For Bexley and North Kent destinations, the A2 Rochester Way Relief Road is often a faster option than the A20 Sidcup bypass.
New Cross Gate is the Indicator
Cameras at the New Cross Gate area show the clearest picture of A20 congestion — slow there usually means slow all the way to the Elephant.
Alternative Routes
If the A20 is heavily congested, these alternatives are worth considering:
- A2 via Rochester Way — faster for North Kent and Dartford destinations
- A205 South Circular — for cross-South London journeys, avoids the A20 Old Kent Road
- M20/M25 — for the Channel Tunnel and Kent motorway journeys, faster than the A20 outside peak
ULEZ and Charges
💷 Charges on the A20
The entire A20 within Greater London is inside the ULEZ. The northern end near the Elephant and Castle approaches the Congestion Charge Zone — check your route at tfl.gov.uk. Non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 per day. Check at tfl.gov.uk/ulez.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Kent Road inside the Congestion Charge Zone?
The Old Kent Road itself is outside the Congestion Charge Zone, but the northern end at the Elephant and Castle roundabout approaches the CCZ boundary. Traffic continuing north from the Elephant towards Waterloo or the City will enter the CCZ. The A20 itself — from Elephant and Castle southwards — is outside the CCZ.
Does the A20 go to the Channel Tunnel?
Yes — the A20 is the main surface road route from London to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone. After the M25, the A20 connects to the M20 motorway, which continues directly to the Eurotunnel terminal. For Le Shuttle and Eurostar journeys, follow signs for Junction 11A from the M20.
What is the Old Kent Road famous for?
Old Kent Road is one of London's oldest roads, following a Roman route, and is famous as the cheapest property on the classic UK Monopoly board. It has historically been a working-class area with a strong market culture. The road is undergoing significant regeneration, with major residential and commercial development planned or underway along its length.
What time does the A20 Old Kent Road clear in the morning?
The Old Kent Road does not have a sharp peak and trough like more typical commuter routes. It's generally slow from about 07:30 until around 10:00, then moderately busy through the day until about 19:00. It tends to be at its busiest between 17:30 and 18:30 for the evening commute.