Dartford to Tilbury Cruise Terminal Taxi
Tilbury is the closest cruise port to Dartford by a distance: eight miles over the Dartford Crossing to the London International Cruise Terminal. Taxi On The Go runs it for a fixed fare from £30 with the Dart Charge already paid, so the holiday starts fifteen minutes after you shut the front door. Book online or see our cruise transfers overview.
A taxi from Dartford to Tilbury cruise terminal costs from £30 one way in a standard saloon, including the Dartford Crossing charge. The 8-mile trip through the tunnel and along the A1089 takes 15–25 minutes. Taxi On The Go drops you outside the London International Cruise Terminal, collects on disembarkation day, and runs MPVs and 8-seat minibuses for groups, 24 hours a day.
Dartford to Tilbury cruise taxi fares
Guide prices for a standard saloon, one way, to the London International Cruise Terminal, each including the £2.50 Dart Charge. Because the trip is so short, the pickup postcode makes a bigger proportional difference here than on the Dover or Southampton runs, so the DA and BR areas are listed separately.
| Pickup area | Fixed fare (from) | Journey time |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford town centre DA1 | £30 | 15–25 min |
| Dartford DA2 Darent Valley, Wilmington, Joyce Green | £30 | 15–25 min |
| Greenhithe / Bluewater DA9 | £32 | 15–25 min |
| Ebbsfleet / Swanscombe DA10 | £34 | 20–30 min |
| Sutton-at-Hone / Farningham DA4 | £36 | 20–30 min |
| Crayford / Bexleyheath DA1, DA6, DA7 | £36 | 20–35 min |
| Welling / Sidcup DA16, DA14, DA15 | £42 | 30–40 min |
| Gravesend DA11, DA12 (by road via the crossing) | £40 | 25–35 min |
| Swanley / Hextable BR8 | £42 | 30–40 min |
| Bromley BR1 | £55 | 40–55 min |
Guide prices, saloon, one way, Dart Charge included. MPV approximately +25%, 8-seat minibus approximately +50%. Disembarkation pickups back to the same areas cost the same. No booking fee, no card surcharge.
Over the crossing and into the terminal
The route could hardly be simpler. From Dartford the driver joins the A282 and heads north through the Dartford Tunnel (the QEII Bridge carries southbound traffic; northbound uses the twin tunnels). At Junction 30 on the Essex side the car takes the A13 east for a short stretch, then the A1089 south through Chadwell St Mary and Tilbury town to the docks. The London International Cruise Terminal sits on the riverfront at the end of Ferry Road, beside the landing stage for the Gravesend passenger ferry.
The whole thing is eight miles and takes a quarter of an hour at a quiet time. Weekday mornings can queue at the tunnel approach, and on an overnight closure the driver goes round via the A13; either way the fare is fixed.
At the terminal
The building is a restored 1930s baggage hall. Cars set down directly outside the doors and porters take the cases at the entrance. Tilbury has one cruise terminal and every ship uses it, so there is no multi-terminal confusion.
- A282 → Dartford Tunnel → A13 → A1089 → Ferry Road
- Dart Charge £2.50 paid by us and included
- Kerbside drop-off at the terminal entrance
- 15–25 minutes from DA1 in normal traffic
Timing a Tilbury embarkation from Dartford
The short distance takes most of the stress out of this trip, but the crossing is worth respecting. A stalled lorry in the tunnel can stack traffic back to the A2 for forty minutes, and it happens more often than the mileage suggests. We therefore plan Tilbury runs with a margin that looks generous for an eight-mile hop.
Ships from Tilbury typically ask you to arrive between 12 and 3 pm, sometimes staggered by deck.
Plan on 25 minutes even though it is often 15.
Add 30 minutes for the tunnel. If it is clear, you simply arrive early.
Check-in from 1 pm: a 12.05 pm pickup from DA1 is sensible; 11.45 am if you like a cushion.
Some itineraries board from 10 am. We run around the clock.
Add 10–15 minutes for Sidcup, Welling or Bromley.
Arriving an hour early is no problem at a terminal this size. The driver confirms the tunnel status on the morning; if there is a closure, we set off earlier rather than hope it clears.
Why a fixed-fare car beats the alternatives to Tilbury
The rail route from Dartford to Tilbury is peculiar. Tilbury Town station is on the Essex side, Dartford on the Kent side, and no train crosses the river between them. You would go via London, or take the train to Gravesend and the passenger ferry across to Tilbury, then a walk with the cases along Ferry Road. Fine with a rucksack; not with two suitcases each.
Driving yourself means the Dart Charge twice and port parking for the length of the cruise, which soon outweighs a from £30 fare each way.
A pre-booked car removes the ferry, the parking and the doubt. For a couple it is from £30 in a saloon with two large cases; an estate takes four cases, the 6-seat MPV five, and the 8-seat minibus carries eight people and eight cases for about £45, under £6 a head. Child seats are free, a wheelchair accessible vehicle is available with notice, and the group minibus page has the larger-vehicle details.
A note on the Gravesend–Tilbury ferry
The passenger ferry runs from Gravesend Town Pier to Tilbury landing stage, right beside the terminal, but it is foot passengers only. Our Gravesend taxi page covers that side; for most passengers with luggage, the road over the crossing is the practical option at from £40.
Collecting you from Tilbury on disembarkation day
The short distance works in your favour on the way home too: the driver is fifteen minutes away, so a pickup time that slips as disembarkation runs late is easily handled.
- Book the return with the outbound and give us the ship and arrival date.
- Ships into Tilbury usually berth between 6 and 7 am, with passengers off from about 7.30 to 10 am.
- Tell us your disembarkation group or a rough time. The driver waits up to 45 minutes free from that time, the same allowance as our airport pickups.
- Call or WhatsApp when you have your cases and the car is at the doors within a couple of minutes.
If the ship is delayed by weather on the river, we simply move the pickup; because the fare is fixed and the driver is local, a delay does not turn into a bill. Return fares match the outbound. Anyone continuing to an airport for a fly-home connection can be taken straight there; Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are regular onward runs.
Tilbury cruise pickups across DA and BR postcodes
Tilbury suits anyone in north-west Kent and the Bexley side of south-east London who would rather not spend two hours on the M25 to reach a ship.
- Dartford DA1, DA2, DA4 – base fare from £30, including Temple Hill, Wilmington, Hawley and the Darent Valley side. See Dartford taxis.
- Greenhithe, Stone and Bluewater DA9 – a couple of pounds more. See Bluewater taxis.
- Ebbsfleet and Swanscombe DA10 – from £34, handy for passengers arriving on HS1 at Ebbsfleet International.
- Gravesend DA11, DA12 – from £40 by road via the crossing.
- Crayford, Bexleyheath, Erith, Welling and Sidcup – from £36 to £42. See Bexley taxis.
- Swanley, Hextable, Longfield and Bromley – from £36 to £55.
Sailing from elsewhere? Compare the Dover and Southampton pages.
How to book your Dartford to Tilbury cruise taxi
Give us the essentials
Pickup postcode, sailing date, ship name, check-in window, passengers and large cases. WhatsApp, email or the online form.
Fixed fare confirmed
One price with the Dart Charge included, for the vehicle that fits your party. Return leg priced alongside if you want it.
Driver details by text
The evening before, you receive the driver's name, phone number and registration. The driver checks the crossing on the morning.
Door to quayside
Cases loaded at home, through the tunnel, set-down outside the terminal with bags taken to the porter point. Pay by card, cash or invoice.
Every booking includes
- A fixed fare agreed before you travel
- Dartford Crossing Dart Charge included
- Set-down directly outside the cruise terminal doors
- Driver help with luggage at both ends
- 15 minutes free waiting at your home pickup
- 45 minutes free waiting on disembarkation pickups
- Licensed, insured, DBS-checked driver
- Card, cash or invoice, free child seats on request
Dartford to Tilbury cruise taxi — questions
How much is a taxi from Dartford to Tilbury cruise terminal?
From £30 one way in a standard saloon, with the Dartford Crossing charge included. An estate is the same price, a 6-seat MPV from about £38 and an 8-seat minibus from around £45. Bexleyheath is from £36, Gravesend from £40 and Bromley from £55.
How long does it take from Dartford to Tilbury by taxi?
Usually 15–25 minutes for the eight miles through the Dartford Tunnel and along the A13 and A1089. A queue at the crossing can double that, so we plan pickups with an extra half hour.
Is the Dartford Crossing charge included in the fare?
Yes. The £2.50 Dart Charge is paid by us and built into every fixed fare to Tilbury in both directions. The driver will not ask you for it and it does not appear as a separate line on your invoice.
What time should I book the taxi for a Tilbury check-in?
Take the start of your check-in window and book the pickup about 55 minutes before it from Dartford: 25 minutes for the drive and 30 for the crossing margin. Add 10–15 minutes for Bexley or Bromley pickups.
Can you pick us up from Tilbury when the cruise ends?
Yes. Book the return with the outbound, give us the ship name, arrival date and a rough disembarkation time, and the driver waits up to 45 minutes free from that time. Because we are only fifteen minutes away, a late ship is easily accommodated.
Can I get to Tilbury from Dartford by train or ferry instead?
There is no rail link across the river, so the train means going via London or taking the train to Gravesend and the foot-passenger ferry to Tilbury landing stage. With cruise luggage, the car over the crossing is simpler and, for two or more people, usually cheaper.
Do you have a minibus for a group sailing from Tilbury?
Yes. The 8-seat minibus carries eight passengers and eight large cases from about £45 from Dartford, under £6 a head. Larger parties can be split across a minibus and an estate or MPV travelling together, and child seats are free on request.
Can the taxi take us on from Tilbury to an airport?
It can. Passengers finishing a cruise at Tilbury and flying out the same day are taken direct to Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or London City at our standard fixed fares. Book it as a single journey so there is one price and one driver.