WALKING the Rotherhithe Road Tunnel (NOT recommended)

[@Falloutman216]

The guy on the moped waving at you haha!

[@albertbatfinder5240]

Exhaust Fumes Do Not Loiter. I rather think they do.

[@OvalDrive]

I've walked, thumbed a lift and drove through Rotherhithe tunnel many times. I've also used the ventilation shaft entrances when they were in use. Lorries and double decker buses (number 82) used to run through it. At the two staircases just before the southern entrance, those low walls are hiding the Rotherhithe Overground (formally East London Line) station and is very close to Marc Brunel's tunnel. If anybody isn't aware Brunel's tunnel is part of the rail system and you can journey through it by train. My favourite tunnel!

[@jimnicholls1678]

My father in the 1960s took me for a walk through this tunnel. His inspiration was the “Pool of London”, a 1950’s British film about the river underworld of London. The film is set in the tunnel with scenes and stunt work focussed on the ventilation shafts. Visiting London, I’d rather have gone to the Zoo. Strange man with strange interests. You’d have obviously got along very well!!!

[@teejays1038]

I used to drive thro it at nights in the early 80's, driving a station shuttle bus from the city to the island. and for a long time there was a guy that looked like ben gunn actually living in it! great vid.........!

[@bbiggs6474]

You must love the smell of exhaust fumes in the morning. Ever wondered what its like to stand inside an exhaust pipe? A stroll through Rotherhithe tunnel will give you a good idea.

[@PaulFisher]

an interesting follow-up for some enterprising pedestrian would be to walk through the tunnel wearing a high-grade mask and see what the filler looks like after the trip!

[@victorthompson7331]

I Just picked up this video on you tube, took me right back to 1988 & 1989 when I was delivering joinery to building site on the old Surry docks. Even worse fumes in those day as there was not so many environmental rules in those days.

[@tombaxter6228]

I took a long wheelbase Transit through there, back in the day. That dog-leg in the middle is fun. Especially if another van is coming the other way......

[@villageorganist]

I walked through there in the seventies. I would definitely recommend the London Overground from Rotherhithe to Wapping as a better alternative, through Brunell’s tunnel.

[@BrassicGamer]

When I was little my Dad used to drive us through here nearly every weekend when he played football in Ewell. This was pre-M25 (which I saw being constructed). The Rotherhithe tunnel always fascinated me because of how narrow it is and how precarious the bends were. I also wanted to know where the steps went, so this video has tied up a few loose ends for me, thanks! I have driven through it myself latterly for old time's sake.

[@ACELog]

In the 1960's, this is one of the local walks my dad used to take us on. I was always thrilled to be able to climb up and down the ventialtioin shaft stairs! Sadly, no longer possible, as this video says. Also, there were probably far fewer vehicles using it back in those days. It was normally a Sunday afternoon walk we were on.

[@tonys1636]

I wonder how many of the special Double Deck Buses that were built for use through the tunnel still exist.

[@nxea170201]

I've walked though this tunnel once in my teens, not knowing how long it was etc. The air quality is horrific and when I got home in the evening I fell ill and was sick too. Not a good idea!

[@delta.australia]

I might try it one day!

[@morthren]

That was the first and last time I'm walking it. I felt sick for the rest of the day after walking through it.

[@delta.australia]

@@morthren Yeah! I bet it's not pleasant!

[@Divinearchangel1]

I can feel the exhaust fumes from here O_O Well done for walking this so we don't have to? And well informative too :D

[@whisperingbob]

Back in the 60s I used to drive through in a removal lorry - Too long, too high, too wide and too heavy now. Those bends are tight for such a narrow roadway and I often had to stop and wait for traffic in the opposite direction to break, so that I could cross the centre line.

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

One of the examples where you want to admit emission-less vehicles only.

[@jeroenl8352]

I nearly got an asthma attack by just watching this...

[@dronespace]

3:51 friendly biker Bet the pollution in the tunnel was terrible

[@RebeccaFarquharson]

I didn't spot that.

[@vincentdeguard4726]

the pollution outside is terrible ...inside the tunnel it horrific

[@dronespace]

@@vincentdeguard4726 not surprised! Also id feel nervous with vehicles passing so close by and not being able to get out until the other end

[@hiddenkent6933]

Slight correction, Rotherhithe is on the South East. Not the South West :)

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

I always close the air vents when I drive through. I've always imagined the air to be unbreathable but I suppose the movement of vehicles must aid ventilation a bit.

[@EASYTIGER10]

Rather you than me! I'm surprised there's not some kind of barrier protecting pedestrians from vehicles.

[@carlavision6143]

Really enjoyed your video!

[@jacksugden8190]

What a bloody racket, all those fumes and guard rails, one day I will try it.

[@navinbabji]

Man that was just dumb to go into a mile long tunnel underground... but super fun and awesome to watch though...👍👍👍🙂

[@Dosedmonkey]

Surely traffic emissions are probably lower now then 20 years ago as better technology?

[@markwright3161]

The volume probably cancels that out. 10 times better emissions but 10 time the traffic.

[@paulturner1707]

Your on a looser mate, the anti car brigade rule the planet. I bet they would even put negative comments if all cars were electric. Something like!! Rubber tyres leaving residue kills people or fumes from the paint! Lol.

[@4468]

Do you know what the tannoy / speakers are for on the walls soon after exiting the tunnel? They line the walls at regular intervals along the roadside.

[@morthren]

Something like this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3ysaoaJrbmEmZY

[@NELincsTransport]

Would it ever be possible to see those warning lights active?

[@morthren]

They use them when the tunnel is closed for maintenance or if there is an accident in the tunnel. I guess it would be if you're there at the right time they can be seen operating.

[@andrewbatty8954]

Good video. What sort of camera do you use?

[@martyspencer3466]

Very interesting.

[@bradderslondon]

I used to cycle through here frequently. When I first moved to London back in 2006 I did walk through the tunnel....once, that was enough.

[@sitedrm]

I used to cycle through this when going home to Plaistow from my friends' house in Surrey Quays. Bit weird to go through on a bike when you're drunk and stoned. I used the pavement, not the road, obviously!

[@kippen64]

That looks like a stressful walk.

[@smogmonster1876]

No. Just NO! Absolutely NO WAY would you get me in there or any other tunnel for that matter. I’d rather swim across, no really I’m not joking. I would rather swim across than walk or even drive thru THAT.

[@funkyjunkyjai]

You were brave walking on the left side !

[@tomstickland]

Close it to traffic and make it a cycle and pedestrian tunnel. Hopefully that's the future for it.

[@mattdandex]

Why do you think the van is going to be charged?

[@morthren]

It's a commercial vehicle over 2m high and over 2t Maximum Gross Weight. That restriction has been in place since February 2019

[@Dosedmonkey]

If on foot just use a boat to cross. Much more pleasant and just as fast.

[@steviebaby2857]

And breath nice video

[@mightybeanstick9872]

This tunnel also featured in the latest Royal Jordanian YT video... :)

[@morthren]

I saw it... and there was someone walking through too! That wasn't me though 🙂

[@RichardsAdventures]

Yeah I've tryed this few times both ways

[@CharlieEdward25]

Wasn't it in made in England to

[@novaworld1297]

Yer classic con.gone on here they removed all vehicle over a certain size without any notice then watched hundreds go through then sent them fines after they got enough they then desided to add norices.our company for a few and on camera you see there's no signs but they still had to pay

[@sparkles9868]

Seeing as you like walking in tunnels how about the dartford crossing seeing as the road from the A2 to the A13 is a A road

[@morthren]

Can't unfortunately. Same with the Medway tunnel, pedestrians aren't allowed to walk through.

[@parjacpar3077]

@@morthren Never mind . . 1st time i went throw it on a motorbike i hit the kill switch by mistake. . . you be surprised how many people started using there horns which made it scary even tho id been throw there thousands of times in a car

[@jameshyndman5326]

Where is this Tunnel

[@sddsddean]

Use Google Earth. From 51°29'57.46"N 0° 3'15.28"W to 51°30'41.46"N 0° 2'22.01"W

[@MartinZero]

That was interesting I never knew about that tunnel. It certainly does look scary. The pavement so narrow !!! I bet they never envisaged 34, 000 vehicles a day in 1908

[@Paul_Lucas]

Driven through this a few times, not sure I would walk it! Jeez :)

[@morthren]

That was the first and last time for me! 🙂

[@Nooticus]

Nice to see you on other videos haha!

[@ericpickles9616]

Especially with the exhaust emissions

[@Nooticus]

@@ericpickles9616 Lol i thought you were the real Eric Pickles for a split second XD

[@JVerschueren]

With such a restrictive speed limit, I'd think twice about doing this by car, sheesh! There's a similar tunnel (pedestrians barred because they have a seperate tunnel) which connects my burrough (Linkeroever) to the rest of the city of Antwerp. It has a 50km/h (roughly 33mph) speedlimit and it's torture if someone ahead actually sticks to that (most people drive 45mph+). At rush hour I take the bus or the pedestrian tunnel, because I just can't be arsed to deal with it.

[@vincentdeguard4726]

...tunnel CCTV control-room: "we got a walker!" ..."oh no, not another one!" ..."yep and looks like he a vlogger too!" "geez...just what we need...another video on KZbin" ..."exactly...just encourages more to perhaps do the same" ...conversation reported by "undisclosed sources" ;)

[@multiManchoo]

Vincent de Guard lol yep we have a another pedestrian not paying attention, best get the shovel ready.

[@tommcgrath2496]

I have had the dubious honour of having broken down during the evening rush hour & completely blocked the Northbound lane of the Rotherhithe Tunnel some years ago. The Police towed me out & when I got going again, I heard on the radio that somebody had broken down in the Tunnel and there were X amount of delays affecting the local area. Whoops!

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

In 1982 I broke down in the centre of Sheffield during rush hour in the centre of five lanes ~(in the same direction) of traffic. Trying to push my car slightly uphill on my own to the left side. Its amazing how many people sound their horn at you in such a situation. However, no matter how many horns were sounded it didn't make my disabled car go! Presumably they are cross because I'm quite clearly holding them up on purpose!

[@flashylite]

Really interesting video, but rather claustrophobic. Another interesting thing to mention about the tunnel is that the bends in it were included so that horses wouldn't see daylight ahead and try to make a bolt for it!

[@tomgruitt6563]

flashylite That’s a myth.

[@mr.berlingo8211]

I've heard the same thing about the old bore of the Blackwall tunnel

[@vincentdeguard4726]

...congrats ...probably more people have been to the top of Everest than have walked thru the tunnel

[@lukeeclair7736]

I walked through with 3 friends last July. Bad idea!

[@vincentdeguard4726]

..were you all sober?

[@edism]

I cycled through this once, I felt like I was coming back to life when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Never, ever again.

[@EricH_1983]

Always walk on the side with traffic flowing towards you, you can't see if a car is coming right at you from behind..

[@RichardsAdventures]

Does help

[@JawTooth]

That is nuts! Awesome that you made this video! You are a real trooper!!

[@morthren]

Thanks!

[@yeahnoway111]

its crazy that at some point this had avarage of 14000 pedestrians per day! now its just 20!

[@QALibrary]

I remember the days when full-size lorries with trailers where allowed to use it and lead was in all car fuel

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

Drove through once and found it fumey and more than slightly claustrophobic. Thank you for videoing your walk-through. You have saved countless thousands the bother of having to do it for themselves, and more than likely, a few lives.

[@ronleitch7788]

You’re a far braver man than me, Morthren! I’ve driven through the Rotherhithe Tunnel a ‘few’ times since the 1980s but would NEVER dream of trying to walk through it!

[@vincentdeguard4726]

think it was in the 80s that i last drove thru it...never again methinks

[@jfreelan1964]

Thank you for the interesting walk. The subtitles gave me enough info, for questions I probably would have asked.

[@MrBnsftrain]

I guess this is the reason the UK wants every car to be electric in a few years!

[@TheMajkla]

At least they should try to lover the number of bloody smoky diesels. They used to be very popular because diesels were deemed to be less harmful and more economic. Some government subsidies were in place too so the UK has the highest percentage of diesel powered cars in Europe. It looks like the taxis are mostly diesels, skunky smoky black cabs.

[@Nodster]

"Finally out" after feeling like you have smoked 200 cigs in rapid succession. Quite a few times i have been through that tunnel in a car and it has looked like the old time Smog had returned, it can get rather thick in there at times although we are talking about 5 to 10 years maybe more was the last time i see that so may have improved heavily since then.

[@djlawlz4041]

I have no idea why I found this so interesting …

[@jayburgh]

I cannot believe that this is open to foot traffic yet there it is! morthren: I'm going inside, I may be some time.

[@TallysVids]

Great video, brave man. Got to admire the brick tiles in the tunnel, that are 111 years old, and still look in good nick now. Quality workmanship for sure.

[@jez5182]

1:25 Although over 100 years old the construction of that arch is still cutting edge.

[@BrassicGamer]

A truly terrible pun. Congratulations.

[@richschindler8731]

Thank you for sacrificing your lungs so we could see this tunnel. Amazing, not a fence or anything what so ever between you and the cars. . Interesting!!!

[@jerviservi]

Wouldn't really need a fence, not often pedestrian to protect, extremely unlikely target for terrorism (running over people). Plus in an emergency it allows room to pull over for emergency vehicles to get past or pull over if you break down (while not strictly legal, I think it would be justified)

[@woowooNeedsFaith]

10:30 - I would have loved to see how the tunnel "looks like" from above... E.g. were would that middle walking entrance be located. Would there be something to see if you went the stairs up? 12:14 - Funny that there are those poles outside the tunnel separating the roadway and the sidewalk but not in the tunnel. When you were walking in it, I was thinking that some kind of separating poles would add sense of security for possible pedestrians.

[@samuelfellows6923]

woowooNeedsFaith - you meant kerb fencing through-out this tunnel, I would agree to that 😉

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Another great video Morthren 👍 I was considering walking this tunnel and videoing it but I probably won't bother with what looks like risking suffocation for myself 😷 Might have a look at the tunnel entrances though.

[@morthren]

Thanks! I would honestly say it was really horrible walking it. The fumes really are bad and make you feel sick afterwards. It'll be nice to see the WigWags working. I didn't include it but the Limehouse end has a narrow Forest City which I've not seen before.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

@@morthren Yeah, I did notice the narrow types as I past the Limehouse entrance on the DLR not long ago. I think the only time you'd see these lights work is when the tunnel is closed for maintenance and they stop traffic.

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

@@morthren I have some video (unfortunately at night) of the wigwags working from earlier this year when the tunnel was closed for "emergency ventilation works' - I might upload them if anybody was interested.

[@morthren]

@@secondbackwaterdivide Sure, it'll be interesting to see

[@secondbackwaterdivide]

@@morthren Here it is - unfortunately not much as my camera failed to record: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIS2Ya2QibxjeZo

[@freebrickproductions]

Great video! Love those steps at the start, always love it when a sunken road has something like that along the sides of it. The "reduce speed now" signs are also interesting. Kinda reminds me of how some towns and counties down here in the SE are too cheap to higher an engineer to determine the safe speeds around sharp curves, so they'll just put a "slow" or "slow down" placard underneath a warning sign.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

Living near Wapping, friends and I used to play down in this tunnel in the early 1970's - the Vent Shaft 3; housing 4 massive extractor fans; used to have around 300 steps leading up to 'Shadwell (King Edward Memorial) Park'. Although probably not as much traffic as now, cars back then were hardly as enviromentally friendly - the fumes were unbelievable. Years of course passed by; my favourite memory was driving a Hillman Avenger through it (around 1982) with only half an exhaust still hanging on. I'm still trying to regain my hearing! Many thanks for this broadcast. Happy, happy memories from when life was so much simpler and oh so much more fun. 👍👍👍👍

[@cramyt]

walk past the old building for that every day, nice on a cold day as the fumes make it quite warm around it haha

[@ACELog]

Yup. Got a penalty fine in June 2021: drove a small hire van through that I didn't realise had a gross weight of 2.3 Tonnes. The weight limit signs are the HGV symbol ones - so at a glance without reading the "2T", you can easily assume it only applies to lorries.

[@johndufton9686]

I like the tiling on the walls of that tunnel. So much smarter than the boring concrete we have today.

[@morthren]

I like it too. The whole tunnel used to be tiled when it was first built

[@noobgamer-qb3gq]

Would be expensive to do this today.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

noob gamer cos they’re lazy and boring. It used to be possible, therefore it should still be

[@tonys1636]

Not tiles but ceramic glazed engineering bricks, also found in many Underground Stations, fired to a very high temperature they are stronger than normal stock bricks and are non porous. Used in Swimming Pool construction in the 20's and 30's ( Empire Pool, Wembley now Wembley Arena, Earls Court Exhibition Hall, both also used as Ice Rinks ) and Bridge/Embankment construction.

[@johndufton9686]

@@tonys1636 Thanks for the info.

[@Mechanicalrob]

Now up the ante, and do a walk through the Dartford Tunnel! 😂

[@edism]

Then the channel tunnel, lol

[@alexmarshall4331]

Hey!! that REALLY takes me back...I was living on the Pepys estate south east London late 70s early 80s..a mile or so along the Thames from the tunnel..had to cycle to and from the A13 5..sometimes 6 times a week...always remember witnessing a van broadsiding a motor on that sharp right@ 8.30 on your video..completely blocked the tunnel with nothing moving in either direction..including emergency services!! I'm surprised it's still open considering...so thankyou for posting..keep it up⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐👍👜👀

[@samanthamcphie9520]

My aunt lived in Aragon Towers, lifts were always broken 👍

[@alexmarshall4331]

@@samanthamcphie9520 Take me back...Oxestall Rd, Eddystone Tower hahahahaha... Didn't realise how much of a laugh we were having 👉☮️👈👉💎👈

[@samanthamcphie9520]

@@alexmarshall4331 Real lives, just existing. Beautiful people

[@1258-Eckhart]

Wow, here's a man willing to die for his art.

[@davidmuse1351]

I hope everyone has a chance to read Iain Sinclair's description of the approach and on-foot entrance of Rotherhithe Tunnel in his book, Downriver -- absolutely hilarious.

[@Eddiecurrent2000]

As you panned up to the fans I thought "That's the tunnel in the Professionals", five seconds later... Solved a mystery I've had for years!

[@petercroft1901]

If we had more foot/Bicycle tunnels linking north and south London at strategic points, so many people will just leave their cars at home and walk to work. At the moment, there's only Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels

[@AndreiTupolev]

I like the idea of putting a loading gauge at the entrance so if anything won't fit it'd hit that before it gets stuck in the actual tunnel

[@gerrymckenna4878]

Very interesting video. One additional note @ 2:50 the road crosses over the London Overground with Rotherhithe station on your left. I'm surprised they still allow pedestrians given the atmosphere.

[@wacholder5690]

Tunnels with traffic in both directions through one tube generally have a ventilation problem. The vehicles circle the exhaust fumes around and that causes local concentrations of them -depending on the amount and density of the traffic- rather than helping the vents to get them out. Ventilation in tunnels with a one-way traffic generally works better. However: the tunnel and the infrastructure around is meant to use it both ways so there is no way to change that anyway. Maybe it gets better when all people have electric cars ... ;-)

[@davidimhoff2118]

I love your videos. You must be fun to hang out with. Especially since I’m from USA you could show me all sorts of stuff.

[@markwright3161]

At least you got out before that very smokey BMW X3 came through. :)

[@bennyfactor1]

Walked through and back again in 1963 with a couple of mates when I was 12. Decided on the spur of the moment to walk to London from Chatham. A lot less traffic in those days; but probably just as much pollution!

[@PlanesTrainsEverything]

Did I see a sign which said max. speed 20mph? Some of those drivers were flying through the tunnel. Great video.

[@meakinroy4341]

Not only a really good video generally but amazingly stable too, considering that you were walking and, further that you did so in such an highly toxic environment. I do so hope that you continue to produce more highly informative and detailed material along the same lines.

[@brianwilder5878]

I used to walk through here in the eighties after a night out in Limehouse, it was bad with time at one o'clock in the morning, could write your name on the tiles which where thick with diesel/petrol dirt,ya must be mad, but it brings back good memories

[@Corks-ti4vz]

Brian Wilder bloody hell that would be even scarier at that time with all the drink drivers!

[@trainrover]

cheesh! Finally, my first time e v e r at watching somebody's recording of c l e a r blue sky over GB, and the fella's compelled to film some dark, dank tunnel..oh well.

[@fletch61]

The amount of times I have walked across the mouth of the tunnel ..and never had the nerve to walk through it let alone cycle it !!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Well, for one thing I can say I am quite a fan of the halogen Forest City lights at either end of the tunnel, but the tunnel itself just seems HELL. My dad has always been saying that this is a horrible tunnel to even drive through, let alone walk through. I can't even imagine what it's like down there with all those noxious fumes as well, and I bet 9 times out of 10 doing what you did in filming yourself walking through the tunnel you'll get some geyser blast his horn or shout out the window at you. Pretty much my idea of hell that would be. I guess even when driving I'll stay clear of this horrid tunnel.

[@morthren]

I'd like to see the WigWags working, that would be good. I was expecting someone to beep or shout something (as always) but thankfully all I got was a wave from a biker at 3:51. The tunnel really was horrible to walk through with the fumes, they made me feel ill for the rest of the day 🤢

[@TheAlfsterino]

A brilliant video: well shot, no music, informative sub-titles. Thanks for going through that experience! The house behind the phone boxes at the end - has that got anything to do with the tunnel? It looked Georgian design but the tunnel was built in Victorian times?

[@jonniejam-shovel6405]

With respect Queen Victoria died in 1901. I suppose we could say it's Edwardian.

[@TheAlfsterino]

AG! . Thanks!

[@jonniejam-shovel6405]

@@TheAlfsterino No worries Alf. I've travelled down the tunnel a few times in the mid 1980s. I was having a go at the London Knowledge to train as a London cabbie. The air down there could get rather thick during traffic holdups. I was on my motorbike and I did feel vulnerable, there was not much room for error, what with that and the odd drop of spilled diesel fuel on the carriageway things could get interesting. 😀👍

[@mattfinchdesign]

It’s a horrible tunnel to drive through.

[@JohnnyX50]

id love to know what is behind the little padlocked doors at the entrances to the tunnel, stunning tile work and funny little alcoves that seem to have no purpose.

[@CyclingSteve]

Hopefully one day this will be a cycle and pedestrian tunnel, it was never designed for motor traffic and is totally unsuited to it.

[@szymongorczynski7621]

Your videos are just so relaxing. Thank you!

[@bmorris5863]

Have you tried asmr?😂

[@michaelmccarthy4615]

You're lucky no special fee to travel through the tunnel...in the US. Any excess usage of bridges or tunnels and they slap on a fee...

[@colinloc]

I walked through once back in the late 1980s from work. There was a story about a homeless guy living there - I think where vent shaft 3 is. If true he could have secreted himself up those stairs, also easier before CCTV?

[@MsGrandunion]

Thank you for posting this, I'm an expat Londoner so these videos make me homesick! I wonder what the tunnel was like in its early days, with horsepower instead of engines?

[@adriananderson4530]

The many bends in the tunnel ,we’re for the days of horse drawn traffic,to stop the horse bolting if they could see daylight

[@6yjjk]

@Gordon Aitchison Aotocorrect, probably. Apostrophe abuse drives me mental, but autocorrect still makes me do it. Its/it's and were/we're are two of its favourites on my Samsung. It's very easy to miss. No need to assume stupidity.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

Those walls are absolutely fitlhy, you should’ve rubbed your finger and showed us the end of it! I bet you were light headed after that. Gosh. Very bad for you!

[@RJSRdg]

There's another video about the tunnel by 'LONDONIST' where the presenter does that!

[@thomasoakleycornwallis8081]

After seeing this, I am glad that the Clyde Tunnel in Glasgow has separate tunnels for walking/cycling underneath the roadway. I hate to breath air in the tunnel there!