What are the taxi options in London? [closed]

I'm traveling to London and would like to use taxis several times while I'm there. What are my options? Should I pre-book? Use an app like Uber? Hail a taxi on the street?

Do the taxi options depend on the time of the day? And would I have issues calling a cab early in the morning/late at night? What about heavy afternoon traffic?

Finally, are there specific issues with getting a taxi to/from London's airports?

NB: This question is a replacement for the Kings Cross-specific question, so that we have a canonical on London taxis.

london taxis

Best Answer

The best way to get a feel for a whole aspect of a city like this is with a good guidebook. There are also free online wikis - for a big city like London, they're usually quite up to date.

Lonely Planet's page on London taxis is a good place to start, and has lots of detail, but isn't very clear on the difference between minicabs and Uber/Kabbee, so I've quoted from Wikivoyage's section on London taxis (note - their jump link functionality is a bit skewy at the moment and their link to By_taxi goes to the wrong place, ctrl-f to "By taxi" to find the appropriate section). It'd be pointless to duplicate the article here, since this is a Q&A not an encyclopedia, but here are some quotes outlining the main three types:

The famous black cab of London (not always black!) can be hailed from the kerb or found at one of the many designated taxi ranks. It is possible to book black cabs by phone, for a fee, but if you are in central London it will usually be quicker to hail one from the street. ...Black cabs charge by distance and by the minute, are non-smoking, and have a minimum charge of £2.20

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Minicabs are normal cars which are licensed hire vehicles that you need to book by phone or at a minicab office. They generally charge a fixed fare for a journey, best agreed before you get in the car. Minicabs are usually cheaper than black cabs, although this is not necessarily the case for short journeys.

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Uber is available in London and generally charge cheaper fares than black cabs, although higher "surge" prices are charged at times of high demand. Vehicles can only be booked via the smartphone app.

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Always remember: if it's not licensed and it's not pre-booked, it's just a stranger's car. Never get into an un-booked minicab.

If you want more specific advice from people who know London about what is best for a particular situation, please ask a more focused question outlining what you're trying to do. Answers may vary depending on where you are, time of day, whether you've got kids with you, how much you prioritise price over reliability, etc.

We've got around 10 questions on London taxis right now and (so long as it's not a duplicate of an existing one!) there's always room for more.

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Are London taxis running?

As of now, barely a fifth of London's taxis are currently operating, Mr. McNamara said, and the drivers still on the road are averaging just a quarter of their pre-pandemic fares. The city estimates that 3,500 taxis have left the streets since June.

Do London taxis run 24 7?

Our service is 24 hours, every single day of the year. Whether you need to be at the airport for a 6 AM flight with your family or getting a late car home from a work summer party, Green Tomato Cars have got you covered.

Can a London taxi refuse to take you?

Short journeysA driver of a taxi (or hackney carriage) can only refuse to carry passengers within a controlled district if he has reasonable excuse to do so.

What are taxis called in London?

The London Taxi, or Hackney Carriage, has been a celebrated icon of British life since the 17 th century. It is loved and respected in equal measure around the world.

London Taxis and Lots of Spiffing Stuff About Them

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