About This Camera
Camera Location & Hazard Overview
Where the A2 out of Kidbrooke and Blackheath meets the A102 towards the Blackwall Tunnel, Sun-in-the-Sands roundabout does the work of merging two major flows into one. This camera near the junction is a reliable early signal for what's coming further north on the tunnel approach. It's also where drivers get their first real sense of how busy the day's tunnel traffic is likely to be.
Traffic Pattern & Congestion Trends
Morning traffic arriving from Kidbrooke and Blackheath merges here before the long climb in queue length towards the tunnel, with the roundabout itself often gridlocked from 07:00 to 09:30. Evening flow is generally lighter, since it's dispersing away from the tunnel corridor. Weekend mornings are noticeably quieter, since much of the volume here is generated by weekday commuters rather than leisure traffic.
Traffic Fines & Camera Enforcement
A Red Route is enforced through the roundabout itself, with average speed cameras running along this section of the A2/A102 interchange. Loading or stopping anywhere on the approach results in an automatic penalty regardless of the time of day. The wider Ultra Low Emission Zone charge also applies throughout this stretch, on top of any parking or loading penalty.
Road Closures & Alternative Routes
Drivers who see this roundabout backed up should consider the A205 South Circular via Eltham and Kidbrooke Park Road as an alternative route into Woolwich, rather than pushing on towards an already-congested tunnel approach. Cyclists commuting from Blackheath towards Woolwich generally find the A205 quieter and safer than fighting through this roundabout at peak times. Local drivers generally have a preferred back-up route memorised for exactly this kind of situation, since a low-speed shunt in the queue here can still lead to a non-fault accident claim if you're rear-ended while stationary.
Driver Safety & Local Tips
Sun-in-the-Sands is a genuine pinch point — if you're coming from Blackheath or Kidbrooke and this camera shows heavy queuing, it's usually faster to peel off onto the A205 rather than sit through several roundabout cycles.
ULEZ & Emissions
Greenwich sits inside the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone, which has run 24/7 since August 2023. Non-compliant petrol cars pre-2006 and diesels pre-2015 pay £12.50 a day on top of any Congestion Charge liability. Check a specific plate at tfl.gov.uk/ulez before travelling into the borough.
Parking near A102 Shooters Hill, East London
Sun-in-the-Sands roundabout itself has no parking, but Kidbrooke and Blackheath's residential streets nearby fall under Royal Borough of Greenwich CPZ rules, generally enforced Monday to Saturday during the working day with residents' bays taking priority. Weekend and bank holiday parking is usually freer here than in central Greenwich, though it's still worth checking individual bay signs since some zones include Saturday enforcement. Kidbrooke Village, a short drive south, has its own car parks serving the shops and leisure centre there. Single yellow lines around the roundabout approach roads restrict stopping during peak hours; double yellows are permanent no-stopping. If you're heading into Blackheath village itself, the Blackheath Standard car park is a more reliable option than fighting for kerb space. Permit and appeal details: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/parking.
If on-street parking is hard to find, apps like JustPark and YourParkingSpace let you pre-book a private driveway or car park nearby — typically from around £2–£6 per hour or £10–£25 per day depending on how central the location is.
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