M25

M25 Junction 3: Swanley (M20, A20)

Map of M25 Junction 3: Swanley — M25 Junction 3: Swanley. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Junction 3 at Swanley is where the M20 leaves for Maidstone, Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel, with the A20 alongside. Swanley is about a mile west. Eagle Heights Wildlife Centre is about a mile and a half south, and Lullingstone Roman Villa about two miles south, in the Darent valley.

Holidaymakers bound for the Channel Tunnel and the ferries, lorry drivers heading for the ports and Swanley's own residents all come through here. Check the junction before a trip into Kent.

Check this junction now: live M25 speed flow map · latest M25 traffic news · M25 serious incidents · M25 accidents

M25 Junction 3 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks

Live traffic news at M25 Junction 3

Incidents and roadworks between Junction 2 and Junction 4 that we are aware of.

M25 Anti-clockwise Jct 3 exit slip road 24 Hour lane closure

PlannedRoadworksAnticlockwise Slip road closed

Time now: Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 21:42 (9:42pm)

21:28 (9:28pm)21 Oct 2026reported 14 min ago

Location: M25 J3 anti-clockwise exit
Direction: Anticlockwise
Lanes closed: Slip road closed
Reason: Maintenance work
Schedule: 22:00 (10pm) Mon 19 Oct 2026 → 05:30 (5:30am) Fri 18 Dec 2026

Forecast - not confirmed

🚧HA scheduled: 22:00 (10pm) Mon 19 Oct 2026 → 05:30 (5:30am) Fri 18 Dec 2026 underway until 05:30 (5:30am) Fri 18 Dec 2026

This is the news for Junction 3 only, not the whole M25. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M25 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.

Updated 21:42 (9:42pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026

Live Traffic Speeds at M25 Junction 3

The speed strip below shows the M25 around this junction, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.

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Key

60 mph +50–5930–4915–29under 15

closedM62connecting motorwayA6A road👈M1our site: tap for its map

services, on the side you can reach them

crashincidentqueueroadworksspeed limitspeed shown on the signsstop-startoverhead sign

reported by drivers, which can’t always be relied onconfirmed by National Highways

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Go to our live M25 traffic speed flow map ›

In an emergency call 999. To report a problem on a motorway, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 (24 hours).

NOTE: The speed flow, overhead sign messages or other information shown on our live traffic speed flow map is updated every few minutes. We cross check the data and aim to provide warnings if there could be a delay or an inaccurate speed reading. There can be occasions, beyond our control, and despite our best efforts where the speed flow could be inaccurate. We cannot therefore guarantee the speed you can expect on any stretch of the motorway is always accurately shown. However we hope you will find our live traffic speed flow map a useful tool in trying to plan your journey. Safe driving.

All the latest M25 traffic news →Live M25 traffic speed flow map →

M25 J3 in Our Records

Incidents here, last 13 days44 collisions, 0 breakdowns or obstructions

Typical time to clear24 minutesthe middle value of 4 cleared

Slowest daytime hour clockwise07:00–08:00average 49 mph (typical 50 mph)

Slowest daytime hour anticlockwise16:00–17:00average 37 mph (typical 53 mph)

All 4 incidents we recorded at J3 in the last 13 days were collisions. Clockwise, traffic usually keeps close to its typical speed through the day; the slowest hour is 07:00. Anticlockwise, the daytime traffic here slows most between 16:00 and 17:00, averaging 37 mph against a typical 53 mph.

Average speed by hour of day at J3

our average, last 11 daysNational Highways’ typical speed

Clockwise

Anticlockwise

Incidents per week at J3

collisionsbreakdowns and obstructions* part week: we started recording during it

The latest 4 here

Wed 21 Oct, 14:31 (2:31pm) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 anti-clockwise between junctions J4 and J3
✓ Cleared after about 10 minutes
Tue 20 Oct, 07:08 (7:08am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise at junction J3
✓ Cleared after about 24 minutes
Fri 16 Oct, 11:06 (11:06am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise between junctions J2 and J3
✓ Cleared after about 18 minutes
Wed 14 Oct, 07:06 (7:06am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise at junction J3
✓ Cleared after about 24 minutes

Built from our own records of National Highways’ live data for the M25 either side of J3: speeds from 11 days of five-minute readings, incidents from the last 13 days (we started recording incidents on 09/10/2026). Each incident is counted once. Updated every five minutes.

Junction M25 J3, Swanley
Roads at this junction M20, A20
Nearest town Swanley, 1.2 miles west
Junction before J2, Darenth, about 3.2 miles in a straight line
Junction after J4, Hewitts, about 3.5 miles in a straight line

Around M25 Junction 3: Swanley: Towns and Places on the Map

Map of the area within about 5 miles of M25 Junction 3: Swanley, showing the towns, villages, roads and places to visit — The area within about 5 miles of M25 Junction 3. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Places on the Map Near M25 Junction 3
Place	What it is	From the junction
Eagle Heights Wildlife Centre	Attraction	About 1.5 miles south
Lullingstone Roman Villa	Attraction	About 2 miles south
World Garden	Attraction	About 2.5 miles south
Bexley	Railway station	About 4 miles north-west
Corinthians Sports Club	Venue	About 4.5 miles east
Longfield	Railway station	About 4.5 miles east
Orpington	Railway station	About 5 miles west