This is a developing story. This article will be updated as new information arrives about the closure.
Key facts: what we know so far
- Where: A23 London Road, Thornton Heath, south London
- What happened: The road is closed in both directions following a crash
- When: Reported on Monday morning, 28 September 2026
- Impact: Long delays expected; drivers urged to avoid the area
- Buses: Routes through Thornton Heath may be diverted or delayed
- Latest: No reopening time has been confirmed
The A23 Thornton Heath crash has closed the road in both directions on Monday morning, with drivers warned to expect long delays.
London Road, the busy stretch of the A23 running through the south London town, was reported shut following the incident, which was first flagged early on Monday, 28 September 2026.
Details of the collision remain limited at this early stage. It is not yet known how many vehicles were involved or whether anyone was hurt, and no time has been given for when the road might reopen.
Motorists travelling through the area are being urged to avoid London Road and use alternative routes where possible, with congestion expected to build through the morning rush hour.
At this stage it is unclear exactly where on London Road the crash happened or how long the closure is expected to last. A clearer picture is expected as the morning goes on and more information becomes available.
Timeline: Monday morning’s events so far
- Early on Monday 28 September 2026: Reports emerge of a crash on the A23 London Road in the Thornton Heath area.
- Around 7.46am: The closure is reported, with London Road shut in both directions near Thornton Heath.
- Monday morning rush hour: Drivers are warned to expect long delays while the closure remains in place.
- Ongoing: Further updates to follow as the incident is dealt with and more details emerge.
What drivers should do
Anyone planning to travel through Thornton Heath on Monday morning is advised to check their route before setting off and to allow plenty of extra time for the journey.
Drivers heading south towards Croydon or north towards Streatham may want to consider alternative routes, as traffic is likely to be heavy on surrounding roads while the closure is in place.
Anyone who does need to drive through south London is advised to follow local diversion signs and to avoid blocking junctions, as queues are likely to stretch back from the closure.
Bus passengers should also expect disruption, with services through the area likely to be diverted or delayed until the road reopens. London’s buses have faced similar disruption elsewhere recently, including when buses were diverted after a crash shut the A2 at Old Kent Road.
Travellers can also keep up with road closures and bus diversions affecting London as the situation develops.
Where the closure is
The A23 London Road is one of south London’s main routes, running north to south through Thornton Heath between Streatham and Croydon town centre. It is a key commuter corridor, so a closure during the morning rush hour is likely to cause significant disruption across the wider area.
Thornton Heath sits in the London Borough of Croydon, and the stretch of the A23 through the town is lined with shops and businesses and used by several bus routes.
The closure comes during one of the busiest periods on the capital’s roads, with the Monday morning commute already under way when the incident was reported.
Related coverage
Elsewhere on London’s roads, we have been running live updates on a lorry and car collision on the North Circular at Drury Way, where drivers were also warned of long delays.
There was further disruption in north London after a crash shut Tollington Road on the A503, with bus routes in the area affected.
Have you been affected by the closure? This article will continue to be updated through the morning as more details emerge.
