Home FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About JamCams.co.uk

Below are answers to the questions we're asked most often, covering how the camera feeds work, why a specific camera might occasionally show as offline, and how frequently footage refreshes. If you can't find what you're looking for here, our contact page is the fastest way to reach the team directly.

About JamCams.co.uk
What is JamCams.co.uk?
JamCams.co.uk is a free, independent traffic information website that provides instant access to Transport for London's (TfL) JamCam CCTV network. We display live camera feeds, road disruption data, and an interactive map to help Londoners and visitors monitor real-time road conditions across Greater London.
Is JamCams.co.uk affiliated with Transport for London?
No. JamCams.co.uk is a completely independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Transport for London (TfL) or any government body. We are a private service that uses TfL's publicly available Open Data API under the TfL Open Data Licence to display camera data.
Is JamCams.co.uk free to use?
Yes, completely free. No registration, no subscription, no hidden charges. You can access all live camera feeds, the interactive map, road disruptions, and the location explorer at no cost. The service is funded by display advertising via Google AdSense.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is required. All features — including saving favourite cameras and location preferences — work without signing in. Your preferences are stored locally in your browser's storage and never transmitted to our servers.
Traffic Cameras
What are TfL JamCams?
TfL JamCams are a network of over 900 CCTV traffic monitoring cameras operated by Transport for London across Greater London. The name "JamCam" refers to their primary purpose: monitoring traffic jams and congestion. They cover motorways, A-roads, key junctions, tunnels, bridges, and major roads throughout the capital. TfL uses them to manage traffic signal timings, dispatch incident response teams, and provide real-time traffic information to the public.
How often do the camera images update?
TfL JamCam still images refresh every 5 minutes via TfL's Open Data API. Where video feeds are available (indicated by a video player rather than a still image), these stream in real time. The 5-minute refresh rate is set by TfL and cannot be increased by JamCams.co.uk.
How many cameras are available?
TfL's JamCam network currently consists of over 900 cameras. The exact number varies as cameras are added, decommissioned, or temporarily offline for maintenance. Our live camera count on the homepage reflects the current number of active cameras returned by TfL's API at the time you load the page.
Why is a camera showing a black or blank image?
Occasionally, individual cameras may be offline, undergoing maintenance, or temporarily unavailable. This can also occur during poor weather or network connectivity issues at TfL's end. Black images are returned by TfL's API when a camera is not actively transmitting. JamCams.co.uk has no control over individual camera availability — if a feed is down, we recommend checking again after a few minutes.
Are these cameras available 24 hours a day?
Yes, TfL's JamCam network operates continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Camera images may appear darker at night due to low ambient lighting, but most cameras have low-light capability and continue to provide useful visibility in darkness.
Features & How-To
How do I find cameras near my location?
Click the "Use My Location" button in the blue banner at the top of the page, or the GPS icon in the search bar. Your browser will ask permission to access your device's location. If you grant permission, cameras will automatically be re-sorted from nearest to furthest from your current position. Your location is processed entirely within your browser and is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere except optionally in your own browser's local storage.
How do I search for a specific area or postcode?
Use the search bar at the top of the cameras page. Type any London postcode, street name, area name, or camera name. Results will appear in a dropdown — select a location to sort cameras nearest to that point, or select a camera name to jump directly to that feed.
How do I save favourite cameras?
Click the heart icon (♥) on any camera card or in the camera detail view to save it as a favourite. Favourited cameras appear at the top of your camera list and are accessible from the Favourites page. Favourites are stored in your browser's local storage — they are not tied to an account and will persist on your device across sessions.
What does the interactive map show?
The Map View shows the geographical positions of all TfL JamCam cameras (blue square markers) and road disruptions (red circle markers) across London, plotted on an OpenStreetMap base layer. You can:
  • Toggle camera and disruption layers on/off using the filter buttons
  • Click any camera marker to see a preview image and open the live feed
  • Click any disruption marker to see details of the incident
  • Use the "My Location" button to centre the map on your current position
Data & Privacy
Does JamCams.co.uk store my personal data?
No. JamCams.co.uk does not operate any user databases and stores no personal data on our servers. The only data stored is in your own browser's local storage: your saved favourite cameras, your last-used location preference, and your cookie consent choice. This data never leaves your device and can be cleared at any time through your browser settings.
Why does the site use cookies?
JamCams.co.uk uses browser local storage (not traditional cookies) for essential functionality like saving your favourites. We also use Google AdSense to display advertisements, which may set advertising-related cookies on your device if you accept our cookie consent notice. Full details are in our Cookie Policy.
Where does the camera data come from?
All camera images, video feeds, and road disruption data are sourced directly from TfL's Open Data API. When you view a camera on JamCams.co.uk, your browser makes a direct request to TfL's servers to retrieve the image. JamCams.co.uk does not store, proxy, or re-broadcast any camera footage. Camera data is provided under the TfL Open Data Licence.
Why are TfL JamCams not working or showing a blank screen?
If a TfL JamCam is showing a black screen, blank image, or failing to load, the camera is most likely temporarily offline for maintenance or has a connectivity issue at TfL's end. TfL's JamCam network runs at over 95% uptime so most outages are short-lived — try refreshing after a few minutes. If the camera is consistently offline, use the nearby camera strip below the feed to find an alternative view. JamCams.co.uk streams directly from TfL Open Data in real time and cannot display a feed if TfL's own servers are not transmitting it.
Is there a JamCams app for iPhone or Android?
JamCams.co.uk is a fully mobile-optimised web app that works on any smartphone or tablet without downloading anything from the App Store or Google Play. You can add it to your home screen on iPhone (tap Share → Add to Home Screen) or Android (three-dot menu → Add to Home Screen) for an app-like shortcut. The full site — live camera feeds, interactive live map, cameras by location, and favourites — works on all mobile browsers.
Can I find live CCTV street cameras near me in London?
Yes — open the interactive live map and tap the location icon to centre it on your position. Every TfL JamCam in the network appears as a marker; tap any one to watch the live CCTV feed. You can also browse cameras by location which groups all cameras by borough and popular junction. JamCams covers the full TfL network across all 32 London boroughs — it does not include cameras outside Greater London.

London Tunnel Questions

Is the Rotherhithe Tunnel free?

Yes — Rotherhithe Tunnel is completely free. There is no toll, charge or Auto Pay required. It is a free A200 crossing under the Thames between Rotherhithe (Southwark) and Limehouse (Tower Hamlets). Restrictions: maximum 2.0m width and 4.0m height. Wider vehicles must divert to Tower Bridge, London Bridge or Blackwall Tunnel.

Is the Rotherhithe Tunnel open today?

Rotherhithe Tunnel is generally open 24 hours. Occasional overnight maintenance closures do occur. Check the live Rotherhithe Tunnel camera feeds for current conditions, or the road disruptions page for scheduled closures. The barrier camera at the south entrance is the best indicator of current status.

Why is the Rotherhithe Tunnel closed?

Rotherhithe Tunnel closures are usually for maintenance (the tunnel was built in 1908), incidents, or emergency response. The tunnel is closed periodically for maintenance work, often overnight. If you see the barrier down on the live camera, check TfL's traffic news or our road disruptions page for the reason and expected reopening time.

How much does the Blackwall Tunnel cost?

Blackwall Tunnel charges: £1.50 off-peak with Auto Pay, £4.00 peak (Mon–Fri: northbound 06:00–10:00, southbound 16:00–19:00) with Auto Pay, or £4.00 at all times without Auto Pay. Charges apply 06:00–22:00 daily. Free between 22:00–06:00 and on Christmas Day. See our full London tunnel charges guide.

Is the Limehouse Link Tunnel free?

Yes — Limehouse Link is completely free. It is not a Thames crossing — it runs under Tower Hamlets connecting Limehouse with the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf. No charge, no Auto Pay needed. Average speed cameras operate throughout the 1.8km tunnel.

What tunnels in London are free?

Free tunnels: Rotherhithe Tunnel (A200), Limehouse Link (A1203) and the East India Dock Tunnel (A13). Charged tunnels: Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel (both £1.50–£4.00 per crossing).

Dartford Crossing Questions

How much is the Dartford Crossing in 2026?

Cars: £3.50 one-off or £2.80 with a prepay account. Motorcycles: FREE. Buses and large vans (2 axles): £4.20 one-off / £3.60 prepay. Charges apply 06:00–22:00 every day. See our Dartford Crossing guide for full pricing.

Is Dart Charge free after 10pm?

Yes — Dartford Crossing is free after 22:00 (10pm) until 06:00. There are no charges during this window. Note that unlike Blackwall Tunnel, there is no free day on Christmas Day — Dartford charges 06:00–22:00 on all days including 25 December.

Why is Dartford Crossing trending in 2026?

Dartford Crossing has been heavily searched in 2026 due to ongoing news about charge increases, M25 incidents causing severe delays, and widespread PCN (penalty charge notice) awareness. Many drivers receive £70 fines simply because they didn't realise they needed to pay online after crossing. The crossing handles over 50 million vehicles per year.

A406 & London Traffic Questions

Why is there so much traffic on the A406 today?

The A406 North Circular is one of the UK's busiest roads. Chronic bottlenecks at Hanger Lane Gyratory, Henlys Corner, Staples Corner and Bounds Green cause daily congestion. Peak hours are 07:00–09:30 and 16:30–19:00 on weekdays. Check A406 live cameras for current conditions.

What time does rush hour end in London?

Morning rush hour in London is typically 07:00–09:30, with roads clearing significantly by 10:00. Evening rush hour runs from 16:30–19:00, usually easing after 19:30. These times vary by area — central London clears later than outer boroughs. Check live cameras for real-time conditions before you drive.

Can I view London traffic cameras on my phone?

Yes — JamCams.co.uk is fully mobile-optimised. View 900+ live TfL traffic cameras on any smartphone or tablet. No app download required. You can save favourite cameras to your browser for quick access. Over 75% of our visitors use mobile devices to check cameras before and during journeys.

ULEZ Questions

What is the ULEZ daily charge in 2026?

The ULEZ charge is £12.50 per day for non-compliant cars, motorcycles and light vans. HGVs and heavier vehicles pay £100 per day. The charge applies 24/7, 365 days a year across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London. See our full ULEZ guide.

Is my car ULEZ compliant?

Most petrol cars from 2005 onwards comply (Euro 4). Most diesel cars from September 2015 onwards comply (Euro 6). Electric and hydrogen cars always comply. Check your specific vehicle at tfl.gov.uk/ulez using your number plate. The check is free and instant.

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