A24 Tooting High Street Traffic: Live Road Closures & Traffic Disruption
The A24 runs from Clapham through Tooting down to Morden, and Tooting High Street's mix of shops, buses and local traffic makes it a common bottleneck. This guide tracks live conditions along the route so you can check before you commit to this stretch.
A24 — All Camera Feeds
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Overview: The A24 in London
The A24 runs from Clapham through Balham, Tooting and Morden before heading south to Dorking and the Surrey Hills. It is the main alternative to the A23 for south-bound traffic leaving central London, carrying a large volume of commuters from the Tooting, Balham and Morden area. The A24 Tooting High Street section is a busy market area with high pedestrian activity, while the Morden Road section is more suburban and generally freer-flowing. The road connects to the A24/A240 Dorking Road for Surrey destinations.
Where and When Congestion Builds
The A24's main bottlenecks in London are the Clapham/Stockwell area where the road meets the A23 and several major side streets, and Tooting High Street, where market activity and pedestrian density slow traffic throughout the day. The approach to Morden tube station is also regularly slow during the morning peak as commuters converge from multiple directions. The junction with the A217 at Tooting Bec is another consistent pinch point.
⚠ Worst times on the A24 (weekdays)
Morning peak: 07:30–09:30 · Evening peak: 16:30–19:00
Outside these windows, the A24 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 A24 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
Morden Road Clears Early
Unlike Brixton Road, the A24 Morden section tends to clear by 09:15 most weekdays — a useful contrast if you need to pick your route.
Balham as Cut-Through
The B303 via Balham High Road runs parallel to the A24 and is sometimes faster during peak hours through this specific stretch.
Market Days Add Congestion
Tooting Market operates throughout the week — Saturday mornings are particularly slow near the market itself.
Tooting High Street Camera
The A24 Tooting cameras give the clearest early view of conditions on this section before committing to it.
Alternative Routes
If the A24 is heavily congested, these alternatives are worth considering:
- A23 Brixton Road — runs parallel east of the A24, though it too can be slow
- A217 via Sutton — for Surrey destinations south of Sutton, avoids the worst of the A24 Tooting section
- A29 via Norbury — for Croydon and south-east Surrey, provides an eastern alternative
ULEZ and Charges
💷 Charges on the A24
The entire A24 within Greater London is inside the ULEZ. There is no Congestion Charge on the A24. Non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 per day. Check at tfl.gov.uk/ulez.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the A24 a faster alternative to the A23?
For some south London journeys, the A24 can be faster than the A23 — particularly through the Tooting/Morden section, which tends to be freer than Brixton Road. However, for journeys starting from central London, the A23 or A3 may be more convenient depending on your origin. Check the live cameras on both routes before departing.
What is the speed limit on Tooting High Street?
Tooting High Street has a 20 mph speed limit, reflecting its busy market and pedestrian environment. Average speed cameras and safety cameras are present. The A24 further south towards Morden reverts to a 30 mph limit.
Does the A24 connect to the M25?
The A24 does not directly connect to the M25 within Greater London. Heading south from Morden, the A24 continues through Epsom and Dorking. From Leatherhead, the A24 connects to the M25 at Junction 9. This makes the A24 a useful route for destinations in the Surrey Hills and the south coast via Worthing.
Why is Tooting High Street busy in the evenings?
Tooting has a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene, making the high street busy in the evenings, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays from around 18:00 to 22:00. This evening leisure traffic combines with the tail end of the commuter peak on weekdays, making 18:00–19:30 particularly slow.