Top 10 Longest Tunnels in the UK

The list of longest tunnels in the UK are the Queensway Tunnel, Kingsway Tunnel, Hindhead Tunnel, Limehouse Link Tunnel, Tyne Tunnel, Rotherhithe Tunnel, Dartford Tunnel, Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel, Blackwall Tunnel and Hatfield Tunnel.

In this article, we are going to learn about each of the tunnels in the list.

Longest Tunnels in the UK

The longest tunnel in the United Kingdom is the Queensway Tunnel, which has a length of 3,237 and is considered to be the longest road in the United Kingdom. However, this tunnel was not able to control the rise in traffic during the postwar period, so as an alternative, a second most popular road tunnel was built in 1971, which was called Kingsway Tunnel, with a length of approximately 2,483 meters. These tunnels play major roles in connecting different parts of the country, making lives easy for locals and visitors.

List of Longest Tunnels in the UK

The following table lists the longest tunnels in the UK, including their name, location, length, and year. They keep the UK connected and make travel very convenient for everyone, whether it is a local or a visitor.

Name of Tunnel	Location	Length of Tunnel (in metres)	Year of opening
Queensway Tunnel	Merseyside	3,237	1934
Kingsway Tunnel	Merseyside	2,483	1971
Hindhead Tunnel	Surrey	1,830	2011
Limehouse Link Tunnel	London	1,800	1993
Tyne Tunnel	Tyne and Wear	1,676	1967
Rotherhithe Tunnel	London	1,481	1908
Dartford Tunnel	Essex & Kent	1,436	1963
Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel	London	1,420	2005
Blackwall Tunnel	London	1,350	1897
Hatfield Tunnel	Hertfordshire	1,147	1986

10. Hatfield Tunnel

The Hatfield Tunnel is the tenth longest road tunnel in the UK. It is located on A1(M) motorway and provides a crucial link between London and North England. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• The length is approximately 1,147 meters, and this tunnel was built in 1986.
• This tunnel was opened to solve the problem of congestion and allow the A1(M) to pass through the town.
• This tunnel was developed using the cut-and-cover method, which involves digging a trench, making a tunnel inside it, and then covering it back to its original form.
• This tunnel is provided with a ventilation system for ensuring air and the the safety of drivers.
• The tunnel also provides modern lighting to allow visibility for vehicles that pass through.

9. Blackwall Tunnel

The Blackwall Tunnel consists of two road tunnels that run under the river thames in East London. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• This tunnel links the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, forming a part of A102 road.
• This tunnel was first built in 1897 for horse-driven vehicles and then further upgraded to a new tunnel in 1967 to accommodate increasing traffic and modern vehicles.
• The length of the original tunnel was 1,350 meters and the upgraded tunnel had a length of 1,174 meters.
• This tunnel had certain restrictions on height and weight of vehicles as well as dangerous goods to ensure safety of all users.

8. Heathrow Airside Road Tunnel

The Heathrow Airside road tunnel is a road tunnel which is considered to be an important part of Heathrow Airport infrastructure. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• The length of this tunnel is approximately 1420 meters and it was built in 2005.
• This tunnel allows efficient movement of airport vehicles by connecting the east and west sides of the airfield.
• This tunnel has fire detection systems and suppression systems to ensure the safety of airport staff.
• This tunnel is enabled with sound security to make sure that only authorised airport staff can use its infrastructure.

7. Dartford Tunnel

The Dartford Tunnel is a road tunnel located in the river Thames in England. This tunnel is also called Dartford Crossing. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• The total length of the tunnel is 2,872 meters and it was built on November 18 November 1963.
• This tunnel connects the county of Kent with Essex and is a vital link for travellers and logistics traffic between these two regions.
• This tunnel is enabled by a toll system called Dart Charge Toll. It helps in managing traffic and maintaining the infrastructure.
• This tunnel also provides safety features such as fire detection and emergency refuge to ensure the well-being of travellers.
• The maximum speed limit of the tunnel is 80 mph, and the minimum speed limit is 10 mph.

6. Rotherhithe Tunnel

The Rotherhithe Tunnel is a road tunnel which is located under the river Thames in East London. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• This tunnel is an underwater road tunnel forming a part of A101 road.
• This tunnel connects the areas of Limehouse and Rotherhithe.
• The length is 1,481 meters and this tunnel was built in 1908.
• This tunnel runs under the River Thames and provides a link to both the north bank and south bank of rivers.
• This tunnel also has some restrictions, including limits on vehicle width, height, and weight, as well as restrictions on certain types of vehicles, such as pedestrians and bicycles.
• This tunnel is not built for modern vehicles but only to meet the needs of transport in recent times, due to which it is narrow in design.

5. Tyne Tunnel

The Tyne Tunnel is a road tunnel which is located under river tyne in north east England. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• This tunnel provides a fast and convenient way to travel between north and south banks of river Tyne.
• An act called “Tyne Tunnel Act 1946” was enabled to promote the construction of this tunnel.
• The first Tyne motor vehicle tunnel was opened in 1967 which provided a necessary transportation link between Jarrow and Howdon.
• The second Tyne motor vehicle tunnel was opened in 2011 to further promote increased capacity, connectivity and reduction of congestion.
• This tunnel provides various toll payment options like prepaid account, online payments, cash payments etcetera.

4. Limehouse Link Tunnel

The Limehouse Link Tunnel is a road tunnel located on A1203 road under Limehouse in East London. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• This tunnel connects the A13 road in Limehouse to the A12 road in Poplar.
• The length is 1,800 meters, and this tunnel was built in 1993.
• This tunnel saves time by providing a quick and direct route.
• This tunnel reduces congestion on surface roads by providing alternative routes for drivers.
• From cars to buses and commercial vehicles, this tunnel is very accessible for all types of travellers.
• The maximum speed of vehicles in this tunnel is 30 mph.
• The construction of this tunnel is considered to be the most expensive road scheme in Britain.

3. Hindhead Tunnel

Hindhead Tunnel is a road tunnel that connects the cities of London and Portsmouth. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• The tunnel is the third longest road tunnel, and it is best known as the location of Devil’s Punch Bowl.
• This tunnel is part of A3 road improvement project that aim to control traffic congestions and improve road safety.
• The length is about 1,830 metres and this tunnel was built in 2011.
• The maximum depth of this tunnel is 65 metres below ground level and is designed to have two separate bores.
• The maximum speed of vehicles in this tunnel is 70 mph.
• This tunnel includes various safety measures like CCTV surveillance, continuous traffic monitoring, and so on.

2. Kingsway Tunnel

The Kingsway Tunnel is the second longest road tunnel and is located beneath the Mersey River between Liverpool and Wallasey. Here are some key features and specifications for this tunnel:

• The tunnel is a long road tunnel in the UK and is also called the Wallasey Tunnel.
• The total length of the tunnel is 2,483 metres and it was built in year 1971.
• This tunnel was opened because the Queensway tunnel was unable to cope up with the rise in postwar traffic.
• This tunnel has two separate tubes for traffic, one for each direction. This helps keep traffic flowing smoothly.
• This tunnel project was authorised by Mersey Tunnel and Edmund Nuttall Limited, and the complete construction took about five years.
• The maximum speed of vehicles in this tunnel is 40mph and the minimum speed of the vehicles is 10 mph.
• This tunnel provides amazing views of the River Mersey and Liverpool waterfronts.

1. Queensway Tunnel

The Queensway Tunnel is a tunnel located under the Mersey River between Liverpool and Birkenhead. Below are some key features and specifications of this tunnel:

• This tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the UK and is also referred to as the Old Tunnel or Birkenhead Tunnel.
• The length of this old tunnel is around 3,273 metres and was built in 1934.
• This tunnel was opened by King George V after almost nine years of labour.
• This tunnel has a single-carriageway with four lanes, two in each direction.
• The lower deck of this tunnel is used for emergency refuge and ventilation.
• This tunnel offers nice views of the rivers and surrounding areas, which makes it an enjoyable experience for locals and visitors.

FAQs on List of Longest Tunnels in the UK

Which was the First Longest Tunnel in the UK?

The first longest road tunnel in the United Kingdom is the Queensway Tunnel, located in Liverpool. This tunnel has a length of about 3,237 meters and was built in 1934.

What are the Five Longest Tunnels in the UK?

The top five longest road tunnels in the United Kingdom are the Queensway Tunnel, Kingsway Tunnel, Hindhead Tunnel, Limehouse Link Tunnel, and Tyne Tunnel.

What are some of the important tips for driving through the tunnels in the UK?

The most important tip while driving through these tunnels is to obey the speed limits and beware of the instructions or warnings that are provided within the tunnels.

What are restrictions for using road tunnels in the UK?

There are restrictions on hazardous materials, certain types of vehicle and oversized loads. Before using a particular road tunnel, it is important to check their restrictions first.

Are the road tunnels in the UK safe to use?

The road tunnels in the UK go through high inspection and maintenance and so these roads are very safe for traveling. Additionally, these tunnels provide a stunning view of surrounding areas for locals and visitors.