VisitBritain - Welcome
For over 300 years, taxis have been part of London life and both the vehicle and driver are licensed to carry passengers. The famous London 'black taxi' still exists but they now come in a variety of colours.
Taxi fares change depending on time of the day, speed and distance. Fares and any extra charges are always displayed on the meter next to the driver.
You can hail a black taxi in the street by raising your arm when the yellow 'For Hire' sign on the top of the taxi is illuminated. It's advisable to go to a main road to hail a taxi, as they tend not to run in quiet areas.
Taxis or minicabs are available at all UK airports.
If you're travelling with a group of people, you might want to hire a minibus instead of a number of taxis or minicabs. Many larger minicab companies provide minibuses, which can carry from 8 to 18 people.
Taxis and minicabs are not obliged to take passengers on long journeys, for example from one city to another. But most private hire companies will do long journeys if requested (providing there is a driver available).
All black taxis take wheelchairs and should provide a ramp designed to carry most manual and powered wheelchairs. A seatbelt is provided to fit over the wheelchair to secure it during the journey.
When you travel by taxi, make sure it's licensed. On the back of the taxi, there should be a plate with the words 'Taxi License' followed by a number. If the taxi does not have this, it is either a minicab or an illegal taxi.
Log in to access your profile and travel tools
Forgotten your password?