Travelling by taxi or private hire is one of the most flexible ways to get around London. Services operate across the capital, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year subject to local availability.
All taxis and private hire operators take cash, and some accept credit and debit cards.
Taxis
Historically, taxis have been referred to as ‘black cabs’ although many are not black.
These are the only vehicles that should be hailed on the street or picked up at cab ranks, although taxis can also be booked in advance through a telephone service.
Private hire vehicles
Private hire vehicles include limousine and chauffeur services, with most commonly known as ‘minicabs’. Journeys must always be booked in advance, either by visiting a licensed operator’s office or by telephone.
Minicab licensing
Ten women a month are sexually attacked and raped by illegal minicab drivers, and until recently the private hire trade was not regulated.
Following regulation there are now over 2000 fully licensed operators in London. This is intended to give passengers confidence when using a licensed private hire operator that they are dealing with an honest, professional organisation with reliable drivers and safe vehicles.
Follow the link on the right to find out more about licensing of taxis and minicabs.
Finding a taxi or minicab
- there is a texting service for when you need to locate a licensed minicab or taxi - text ‘HOME’ to 60835 to get the numbers of licensed minicab and black cab firms in the area you are texting from direct to your phone.
- London's taxi ranks have joined together so that you book a black taxi using one number - 0871 871 8710. The system uses GPS satellite tracking to locate and despatch the closest available taxi.
- visit the Transport for London – find a ride page (follow the link on the right) for a list of private hire operators in your area.
- visit the TrainTaxi website (follow the link on the right) for details of taxi ranks and companies near to tube, railway, tram and bus stations.
Taxi fares
London taxi fare tariffs are set and regulated by TfL. Fare details can be found on the TfL website - follow the link on the right.
Fares within Greater London depend on the time of day, distance travelled and the taxi speed, and are displayed on the meter.
Drivers must, unless they have good cause, accept any hiring up to 12 miles (20 miles if starting at Heathrow Airport), or up to one hour duration, if the destination is in Greater London.
The driver is not obliged to accept a hiring if the destination is outside Greater London, the fare for such a journey may be negotiated between the driver and hirer.