The A21 is a major road in Southern England that connects London and various commuter towns to the south coast. It runs for about 63 miles (101 km) from Lewisham in south-east London to Hastings in East Sussex, passing through Kent and the towns of Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Robertsbridge.
The A21 is a trunk road for most of its length, meaning that it is maintained and managed by National Highways. It is also part of the European route E15, which links Inverness in Scotland to Algeciras in Spain.
The A21 has a varied character, with some sections being dual carriageways and some being single carriageways. It also has some areas with variable speed limits and smart motorway schemes that use the hard shoulder as a running lane at peak times. The speed limit on the A21 is generally 70mph for cars and motorcycles on dual carriageways and motorways and 60mph on single carriageways. However, there are some exceptions and variations depending on the type of vehicle and the road conditions.
The A21 is an important route for commuters, tourists and businesses, providing access to many towns, villages and attractions. It is also an alternative route to the M20 and M25 motorways for traffic heading to or from the Channel Tunnel or Dover ferry port.
However, the A21 is also known for its congestion, especially on weekdays and holidays. Some parts of the A21 are prone to accidents and delays due to narrow lanes, sharp bends, hills and junctions. Many proposals and projects have been made to upgrade parts of the A21 to improve its safety and capacity, such as the Pembury bypass, the Lamberhurst bypass and the Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement scheme.
A21 Congestion Reports
- No Reported Congestion
If you are planning to travel on the A21, you should check the latest traffic updates and roadworks before you set off.
Live A21 Accident Updates
- No Reported Accidents
Northbound A21 Roadworks, Delays
A21 northbound between A28 and A2100 near Battle (north) | Northbound | Vehicle Fire | East Sussex
Location : The A21 northbound between the junctions with the A28 and the A2100 north of Battle. Reason : Vehicle fire. Status : Currently Active. Time To Clear : The event is expected to clear between 03:30 and 03:45 on 2 December 2023. Return To Normal : Normal traffic conditions are expected between 03:30 and 03:45 on 2 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes are closed.
A21 East Sussex Live Travel News
Sat, 02 Dec 2023 02:22:45 GMTA21 northbound between B2160 and A228 | Northbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 northbound between the junctions with the A262 and the A228 . Lane Closures : Lane one is closed. Reason : Roadworks. Status : Currently Active. Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 2 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:08:35 GMTA21 northbound between B2160 and A228 | Northbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 northbound between the junctions with the A262 and the A228 . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 5 December 2023 to 06:00 on 6 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 northbound between B2160 and A228 | Northbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 northbound between the A262 and the junction with the A228 . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Roadside drains works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 7 December 2023 to 06:00 on 8 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 northbound between A28 and A2100 near Battle (north) | Northbound | Road Works | East Sussex
Location : The A21 northbound between the junctions with the A28 and the A2100 north of Battle. Reason : Roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 7 December 2023 to 06:00 on 8 December 2023.
A21 East Sussex Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 northbound between B2160 and A228 | Northbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 northbound between the A262 and the junction with the A228 . Reason : Roadworks scheme. Status : Currently Active. Period : from 20:06 on 28 November 2023 to 06:00 on 2 December 2023.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:07:03 GMT
Southbound A21 Roadworks
A21 southbound between A2100 near Battle (north) and A28 | Southbound | Vehicle Fire | East Sussex
Location : The A21 southbound between the junctions with the A2100 north of Battle and the A28 . Reason : Vehicle fire. Status : Currently Active. Time To Clear : The event is expected to clear between 03:30 and 03:45 on 2 December 2023. Return To Normal : Normal traffic conditions are expected between 03:30 and 03:45 on 2 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes are closed.
A21 East Sussex Live Travel News
Sat, 02 Dec 2023 02:22:49 GMTA21 southbound access from A228 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound entry slip from the A228 . Reason : Horticultural works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 8 December 2023 to 06:00 on 9 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:25:13 GMTA21 southbound exit for A228 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound exit slip to the A228 . Reason : Horticultural works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 8 December 2023 to 06:00 on 9 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:25:13 GMTA21 southbound between A228 and B2160 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound between the A26 and the junction with the A262 . Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Horticultural works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 8 December 2023 to 06:00 on 9 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:25:13 GMTA21 southbound access at a minor junction between A26 near Tonbridge (east) and A228 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound. Reason : Horticultural works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 8 December 2023 to 06:00 on 9 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:25:13 GMTA21 southbound exit at a minor junction between A26 near Tonbridge (east) and A228 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound. Reason : Horticultural works are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 8 December 2023 to 06:00 on 9 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:25:13 GMTA21 southbound between A228 and B2160 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound between the A228 and the junction with the A262 . Lane Closures : Lane one is closed. Reason : Roadworks. Status : Currently Active. Period : expect disruption until 06:00 on 2 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There is one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 20:08:37 GMTA21 southbound exit for A26 near Tonbridge (east) | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound exit slip to the A26 . Reason : Emergency roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 10:00 on 8 December 2023 to 13:00 on 8 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 15 December 2023 to 13:00 on 15 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 22 December 2023 to 13:00 on 22 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 29 December 2023 to 13:00 on 29 December 2023. Lanes Closed : All lanes will be closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 southbound between A26 near Tonbridge (west) and A26 near Tonbridge (east) | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound between the junctions with the A26 Tonbridge West and the A26 Tonbridge East. Lane Closures : Lane one will be closed. Reason : Emergency roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 10:00 on 8 December 2023 to 13:00 on 8 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 15 December 2023 to 13:00 on 15 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 22 December 2023 to 13:00 on 22 December 2023. Schedule : From 10:00 on 29 December 2023 to 13:00 on 29 December 2023. Lanes Closed : There will be one of two lanes closed.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 southbound between A2100 near Battle (north) and A28 | Southbound | Road Works | East Sussex
Location : The A21 southbound between the junctions with the A2100 north of Battle and the A28 . Reason : Roadworks are planned. Status : Pending. Schedule : From 20:00 on 7 December 2023 to 06:00 on 8 December 2023.
A21 East Sussex Live Travel News
Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:16:38 GMTA21 southbound between B2160 and A262 | Southbound | Road Works | Kent
Location : The A21 southbound between the A228 and the junction with the A262 . Reason : Roadworks scheme. Status : Currently Active. Period : from 20:06 on 28 November 2023 to 06:00 on 2 December 2023.
A21 Kent Live Travel News
Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:07:03 GMT
A21 Road Traffic Flow Map
Live traffic flow information. Avoid travel congestion and plan a smarter route.
Busiest Sections of The A21
Traffic volumes on the A21 vary depending on the location, time and day of the week. According to the Department for Transport, the average annual daily flow (AADF) of vehicles on the A21 in 2019 ranged from 5,000 to 95,000, with the highest volumes near London and the lowest volumes near Hastings. The busiest sections of the A21 are:
- Between junction 5 of the M25 and Sevenoaks, where the AADF was 95,000 vehicles in 2019.
- Between Tonbridge and Pembury, where the AADF was 78,000 vehicles in 2019.
- Between Pembury and Tunbridge Wells, where the AADF was 71,000 vehicles in 2019.
The traffic volumes on the A21 tend to be higher during peak hours (7 am-9 am and 4 pm-6 pm) on weekdays, especially on Mondays and Fridays. They also tend to be higher during holidays, such as Easter and summer, when more people travel to or from the south coast. The traffic volumes on the A21 tend to be lower during off-peak hours (10 am-4 pm and 7 pm-10 pm) on weekdays and during weekends and bank holidays.
Traffic incidents and roadworks can also affect the traffic volumes and conditions on the A21. Some of the common causes of delays and congestion on the A21 are:
- Accidents and breakdowns, especially on single carriageway sections or junctions.
- Roadworks and maintenance, such as resurfacing, widening or improvement schemes.
- Variable speed limits and smart motorway schemes, which can change according to traffic flow and congestion.
- Weather conditions, such as fog, rain or snow, which can reduce visibility and traction.
Traffic delays for the A21 road in Southern England. Latest travel news from UK Traffic Delays. Avoid congestion and A21 roadworks with our live travel reports—the latest traffic reports for the UK’s major roads.
Nearby Places To Visit
If you are planning to travel on the A21, you might be interested in some of the attractions that you can find along the way. Here are some of the highlights:
- Knole House: a magnificent stately home and deer park near Sevenoaks, owned by the National Trust. You can explore the historic rooms, gardens and parkland and see one of England’s finest collections of furniture and paintings. Knole House is just off junction 5 of the M25 and about 3 miles (5 km) from the A21.
- Penshurst Place: a medieval manor house and gardens near Tonbridge, dating back to the 14th century. You can admire the architecture, art and history of this ancestral home of the Sidney family and enjoy the formal gardens, adventure playground and woodland trails. Penshurst Place is about 4 miles (6 km) from the A21.
- Scotney Castle: a romantic ruin surrounded by a moat and a landscaped garden near Lamberhurst. You can visit the Victorian country house, the medieval castle and the 780-acre estate, which offers stunning views of the Kentish countryside. Scotney Castle is about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the A21.
- Bewl Water: a reservoir and country park near Lamberhurst, offering a range of outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, fishing, sailing and canoeing. You can also enjoy a scenic boat trip or a meal at one of the cafes or restaurants. Bewl Water is about 2 miles (3 km) from the A21.
- Battle Abbey: a historic site and museum near Battle, marking the famous Battle of Hastings location in 1066. You can learn about the Norman conquest of England, see the abbey ruins built by William the Conqueror, and walk on the battlefield where King Harold fell. Battle Abbey is about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the A21.
These are just some attractions you can find along the A21 road in England. There are many more to discover, such as castles, gardens, museums, vineyards and wildlife parks. Whether looking for history, culture, nature or adventure, you will find something to suit your interests on this scenic route.
Traffic delay information supplied by UK Traffic Delays. The latest A21 road traffic reports, roadworks and travel news for South East England. Our A21 travel news is as up-to-date as possible, but please always check with local radio news sources and allow plenty of time for your journey.
UK Traffic Delays is a reliable source of updated travel information, obtained under licence from official data providers. London travel information is used under license from TfL: Powered by TfL Open Data.
Our website contains public sector travel information licensed under the: Open Government Licence v3.0.
A21 east bound before M25 turn off, traffic static, can’t find any reason on traffic reports
Accident on A21 where have been at a standstill for An hour and a half
Some removal van is causing a massive tailback on the A21 near Lamberhurst absolutely ridiculous…just parked in the road!
That’s awful!!! I’ve been in traffic over an hour now with 6 years old child!!! Have you got any sympathy for people!!!
Why can’t your reports be clear? The A21 is CLOSED in both directions. Why can’t you just say that and make it clear to motorists?
A21 between Pembury and tonbridge northbound stand still traffic
A21 accident just before Tonbridge A26 turn off traffic at a stand still over 20mins now