490 Commercial Road · Limehouse · London E1 0HX
Troxy: the closest big room to Kent
A three-thousand-capacity art deco hall on Commercial Road, straight through the tunnels from north Kent. On distance alone this is the cheapest large-venue night out on our list, and hardly anybody thinks to book transport for it.
From Dartford, through the Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel and along the A13. Limehouse is closer to us than most of central London, which makes the fare here genuinely small.
Four things that make the Troxy a straightforward night
After the west London venues, this is a relief.
East London, not west
No trip across the centre. The A13 and the tunnels do all the work.
Three thousand people
Big enough for real names, small enough to clear in ten minutes.
A main road with room
Unlike Camden or Brixton, there are usable side streets within a minute's walk.
Gigs, clubs, awards, boxing
A 1930s cinema converted to a hall. It hosts almost everything.
What the Troxy does
One of the most varied programmes in London, and the finish time varies with it.
| Event | Typical finish | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Live music, standing | 23:00 | The main business. Quick, orderly exit. |
| Club nights | 03:00 or later | No rail into Kent at that hour. Book the return. |
| Awards ceremonies and dinners | Late | Black tie, and a room built for it. |
| Boxing and combat sport | Variable | Cards drift. Wider return window. |
| Esports and gaming finals | Varies | Long days rather than late nights. |
| TV and radio recordings | Early | Audiences held for retakes. Allow extra. |
How close it actually is
These are among the shortest London journey times on our whole site.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford & Bluewater | 17 miles | 35–55 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 22 miles | 40–65 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 11 miles | 30–50 min |
| Sidcup & Bexley | 12 miles | 30–50 min |
| Bromley & Orpington | 14 miles | 35–55 min |
| Swanley & Swanscombe | 19 miles | 40–60 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 28 miles | 55–80 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 31 miles | 55–85 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 34 miles | 60–90 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 58 miles | 85–115 min |
Practical notes
The tunnels are the only variable
Everything about this journey depends on the river crossing. Blackwall and Silvertown both carry road user charges and both can queue in the evening peak. We confirm which applies to your date and whether it is inside your quote before you book, and we plan the departure around the crossing rather than the mileage.
Collection sits just off Commercial Road
The frontage fills with three thousand people the moment a show ends, so we hold on a side street a minute's walk away where the vehicle can actually leave. Compared with Camden or Brixton, the Troxy is generous in this respect: there are genuinely usable roads nearby.
Club nights are the reason most people book
The building runs late, and at three in the morning there is nothing at all running from E1 into Kent. Like every venue with a late licence, the return is the leg worth arranging and the outbound is the easy part.
Cheap enough for a spontaneous booking
At thirty-five minutes from Dartford, this is one of the few large-venue fares small enough to book at short notice. Split across six or eight people it is close to trivial, and there is no reason for anyone in the group to be driving.
Troxy travel questions
Short journey, one river crossing.
How far is the Troxy from Kent?
Very close. Thirty-five minutes from Dartford, around forty from Gravesend, under an hour from Medway. Limehouse is nearer to us than most of central London.
Which tunnel do you use?
Whichever is moving. Blackwall and Silvertown both carry road user charges, and we confirm which applies to your route and date and whether it sits inside your quote before you book.
Where will you collect us?
A side street just off Commercial Road, a minute's walk from the doors. The frontage fills the moment a show ends, and a vehicle there cannot pull away.
Do you cover club nights that finish at 3am?
Yes, and they are the main reason people book us here. There is no rail option from E1 into Kent at that hour.
Is it cheaper than other London venues?
Noticeably, because it is closer. Split across a group the fare here is one of the smallest we quote for a venue of this size.
Can you take a group?
Yes, from a saloon up to a forty-nine-seat coach. Eight-seaters and minibuses cover most Troxy bookings.
Do you cover awards dinners and corporate events?
Yes, including collections from several addresses and invoicing on account with a VAT receipt.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, unaffected by the hour, the traffic or a show that overruns.
Other east London venues and guides
Our easiest corner of the city.