How bad is traffic on A406 in Finchley and Barnet?

Traffic on the A406 in Finchley and Barnet is heaviest during the weekday morning rush (07:30–09:30) and the evening peak (16:30–19:00). School term-time adds additional pressure in the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up windows. The live camera above is the best indicator of current conditions at this specific point — TfL refreshes JamCam images every five minutes, giving you an up-to-date snapshot before you set off.

Does the ULEZ apply on A406 near A406/Great North Way?

Yes — the ULEZ covers all roads in Greater London, including this stretch of A406. The zone operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. There is no Congestion Charge at this location. Most petrol vehicles registered after 2005 and diesel vehicles after 2015 are ULEZ-compliant and won't be charged. Non-compliant cars and vans pay £12.50 per day. TfL's vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk can confirm whether your vehicle needs to pay.

How often does the A406/Great North Way JamCam update?

TfL JamCam images are updated every five minutes. The still image you see on this page is fetched directly from TfL's Open Data API in real time, and is typically 30–90 seconds old by the time it reaches your screen — accounting for the camera's capture interval, TfL's API processing time, and your page load. TfL's JamCam network has over 95% uptime, though individual cameras can occasionally go offline for maintenance or following road damage. If the feed is unavailable, try refreshing the page or checking a nearby camera.

What is the speed limit near A406/Great North Way?

Most roads in Greater London have a 20 mph or 30 mph speed limit, with some A-roads having 40 mph or 50 mph limits in certain sections. The specific limit at A406/Great North Way is indicated by road signs at the location — check the JamCam image or use Google Street View for a clear view of the signage. Speed limits in London are enforced by fixed and mobile cameras as well as average-speed systems on some arterial roads. Always observe the posted limit, as limits can change across short distances.

A406 Great North Way: Live Traffic, Accidents & Delays Now

About This Camera

Camera Location & Hazard Overview

The North Circular meets Great North Way close to the Brent Cross Interchange — one of the most consistently congested junctions on the entire A406, long documented as a traffic blackspot where the North Circular meets the A41 for Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

Traffic Pattern & Congestion Trends

This junction is busy essentially all day given Brent Cross's retail pull, but weekday peaks 07:00–09:30 and 16:00–18:30 see the heaviest combined commuter and shopping traffic. Weekends bring sustained retail-driven congestion from late morning through the afternoon, particularly heavy in the pre-Christmas period.

Traffic Fines & Camera Enforcement

Signal enforcement covers the Brent Cross Interchange approach given its complexity, alongside the North Circular's standard average speed camera zone. No stopping is permitted on the interchange approach roads. ULEZ applies across Barnet 24 hours a day; check tfl.gov.uk/ulez.

Road Closures & Alternative Routes

Drivers not needing Brent Cross specifically should consider routes avoiding the interchange entirely when this junction backs up, since congestion here is persistent rather than occasional. For Brent Cross shoppers, arriving well outside Saturday and pre-Christmas peaks makes a genuine difference. Stop-start congestion of this kind is a classic setting for a car crash claim, since drivers checking phones or navigation while barely moving are a frequent cause of minor rear-end collisions here.

Driver Safety & Local Tips

This interchange has a long-documented reputation as a bottleneck — locals don't treat congestion here as unusual, but build in extra time as standard whenever their route passes through Brent Cross.

ULEZ & Emissions

The London Borough of Barnet operates entirely within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which is active 24/7, every day of the year. Non-compliant vehicles (pre-Euro 6 diesel / pre-Euro 4 petrol) face a £12.50 daily charge. No Congestion Charge applies in this borough. Check your vehicle compliance at tfl.gov.uk/ulez.

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What to do after an accidentSteps to take at the scene, who to call, and how to protect your claim

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Getting CCTV footage for your insurance claimHow to request TfL JamCam footage and use it as accident evidence

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Parking near A406/Great North Way, Finchley and Barnet

Brent Cross Shopping Centre has extensive dedicated customer parking, and visitors heading there are strongly advised to use it directly rather than seeking street parking nearby, which is limited and falls within Barnet's CPZ on the surrounding residential roads. This junction is one of the busiest retail destinations covered by this site, and nearby streets see genuine overspill parking pressure, particularly at weekends and in the pre-Christmas period. Barnet's visitor voucher cap is 200 per household per year across both virtual and scratch card formats. barnet.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.

Compare parking near A406/Great North WayLocal driveways and car parks, pre-bookable from ~£2/hr

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Compare spaces in Finchley and BarnetDaily and long-stay listings from local hosts

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Parking links are affiliate partnerships. JamCams may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Journey Planning Tips

1Check this JamCam before joining the A406 in London — knowing the queue length before you arrive lets you choose an alternative route
2Peak congestion near A406/Great North Way is weekdays 07:30–09:30 and 16:30–19:00 — travelling outside these windows typically cuts journey times by 20–40%
3All vehicles in this area must comply with the ULEZ — check your vehicle at tfl.gov.uk/ulez before driving. Non-compliant vehicles pay £12.50 per day even outside peak hours
4View the JamCams map to see live conditions across the wider London road network and identify the clearest approach route
5Check TfL Road Disruptions for live incidents in this area
6Consider public transport if the JamCam shows heavy congestion

A406 Great North Way Road Delay & Traffic Disruption Camera