How to Get a Taxi in London

The easiest way to get a taxi in London is to hail a licensed black cab with its yellow TAXI light on, go to a taxi rank outside a major station, or book a private hire car through a licensed app or operator. Only black cabs can be hailed on the street. Minicabs, Uber, Bolt and other private hire vehicles must be booked before the journey starts.

For most visitors, the best rule is simple:

• If you are in central London, use a black cab or a taxi rank.
• If you are at an airport, compare the official rank with a pre-booked private hire quote.
• If you are in a quieter area, use a licensed app or pre-book a local minicab.
• If someone approaches you at an airport, station or venue offering a ride, do not take it.

Best ways to get a taxi in London

Situation	Best option	Why it works
Busy central London street	Hail a black cab	Fast, legal, metered and easy to recognise
Major train station	Use the taxi rank	Clear queue, licensed taxis, no app needed
Airport arrival	Taxi rank or pre-booked private hire	Rank is easy, pre-booking can give a fixed price
Late night after Tube closure	App or pre-booked taxi	Better chance of availability and price visibility
Travelling with luggage	Black cab or MPV private hire	More space than a normal car
Wheelchair user	Black cab or pre-booked WAV	All London black cabs are wheelchair accessible
Budget traveller	Compare Uber, Bolt, Free Now and minicabs	Prices change by route, time and demand
Business trip	Addison Lee, Gett, Free Now or pre-booked executive car	Receipts, tracking and account options

The key London taxi rule: Black cab VS Private hire

This is the part most guides explain badly.

In London, a black cab is a licensed taxi, also called a hackney carriage. It can legally pick you up without a booking. You can hail it from the street, take it from a taxi rank, or book it through a taxi app.

A private hire vehicle, often called a minicab, cannot legally be hailed from the street. It must be booked through a licensed operator before the journey starts. This includes Uber, Bolt, Addison Lee, Blacklane and most local minicab firms.

So from a passenger’s point of view:

• Black cab: you can hail it, use a rank, or book it.
• Private hire/minicab: you must book it first.
• Someone offering you a ride without a booking: avoid it.
• That one rule helps you stay legal, insured and safe.

How to hail a taxi in London

To hail a black cab in London:

• Stand somewhere safe where the driver can pull in without blocking traffic.
• Look for the yellow TAXI sign on the roof.
• If the light is on, the cab is usually available.
• Raise your hand clearly as the cab approaches.
• Tell the driver your destination before you get in or once seated.
• Pay by card, contactless or cash at the end of the journey.

A lit yellow sign means the cab is for hire. If the sign is off, the taxi is either occupied, not taking passengers, or the driver is finishing a shift.

Do not step into the road. Do not wave at private cars. Do not accept offers from drivers who stop without being a licensed black cab or without a booking you made.

How to use a taxi rank in London?

A taxi rank is a marked place where licensed taxis wait for passengers. It is often the easiest option if you are near a railway station, theatre area, hotel zone, shopping street or airport.

You will usually find taxi ranks at or near:

A taxi rank is a marked place where licensed taxis wait for passengers. It is often the easiest option if you are near a railway station, theatre area, hotel zone, shopping street or airport.

What to do if there is no taxi rank nearby

This is common outside central London, in residential areas, small high streets, parks, hospitals, restaurants and quieter neighbourhoods.

If you cannot see a rank or a black cab, do this:

• Use a licensed taxi app such as Free Now, Gett or TaxiApp if you want a black cab.
• Use Uber, Bolt, Addison Lee or a licensed minicab operator if you are happy with private hire.
• Ask your hotel, restaurant or venue to book a licensed cab for you.
• Walk to a main road only if it is safe and well-lit.
• Avoid anyone who approaches you offering a ride.

In quieter areas, pre-booking is usually better than standing outside hoping to hail a cab.

How to book a taxi in London

You can book a taxi or private hire car in four main ways:

1. Black cab app

Use Free Now, Gett or TaxiApp to book a licensed black cab.

2. Private hire app

Use Uber, Bolt, Addison Lee, Blacklane or another licensed operator.

3. Local minicab office

Call or book online with a licensed local minicab firm.

4. Hotel or venue booking

Ask reception, concierge or venue staff to book a licensed vehicle.

For airport transfers, early trains, hospital trips, business travel or Christmas Day journeys, pre-booking is the safer choice because you can confirm the pickup time, fare type, vehicle size and driver details.

Taxi apps in London compared

There is no single “best taxi app in London” for every journey. For a short central London trip, a black cab may be quicker. For a longer trip or airport transfer, a fixed-price private hire quote may be better. For late-night travel, compare at least two apps before booking.

Are Uber and Bolt cheaper than a London taxi?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Uber and Bolt can be cheaper for some off-peak journeys, especially outside central London. But prices can rise during busy periods, poor weather, strikes, events, weekends and late nights. Airport rides can also include pickup, drop-off, waiting and tax-related charges.

Black cabs are metered, so traffic can increase the final fare. The upside is that black cab drivers know London well, can use some bus lanes, and can be hailed without booking.

Private hire is often better when you want a fixed price before you travel. Black cabs are often better when you need a safe, immediate, legal ride from the street or a rank.

London black cab fares explained

London black cabs use a meter. The fare depends on time, distance, traffic and the tariff in use.

There are three main tariff periods:

• Tariff 1: standard daytime rate, mainly weekdays and Saturday daytime.
• Tariff 2: evening, Sunday and some weekend periods.
• Tariff 3: late night and public holiday rate.
  

The minimum black cab fare in London is now £4.40. This is sometimes called the flag fall because the fare starts as soon as the journey begins.

You may pay more when:

• The journey is slow because of traffic.
• You travel late at night.
• You travel on a public holiday.
• You start from some airport taxi ranks.
• There is an airport drop-off or pickup charge.
• You ask the driver to wait.

There is no extra charge for normal luggage or extra passengers within the legal passenger limit.

Do London taxis take cards?

Yes. Licensed London black cabs accept debit cards, credit cards and contactless payments. There should be no card surcharge.

Most app and private hire journeys are paid through the app, although some local minicab firms may still allow cash or card. If you are booking a minicab by phone, ask how payment works before the driver arrives.

Do you tip taxi drivers in London?

Tipping is polite but not compulsory.

A common approach is to round up the fare to the nearest pound or add about 10% for good service, luggage help or a smooth airport transfer. If the fare is already high, rounding up is enough.

Examples:

How many people fit in a London taxi?

A standard London black cab usually carries up to five passengers, and some models can carry six. They are also built with luggage space, though very large suitcases, prams, wheelchairs or sports equipment may reduce the number of passengers that can fit comfortably.

For four or more people with large suitcases, consider a black cab, MPV private hire, or pre-booked airport transfer.

Are London taxis wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All licensed London black cabs are wheelchair accessible. They also have accessibility features such as ramps, space for a wheelchair, and other passenger access requirements.

Private hire wheelchair-accessible vehicles are also available, but you should request a WAV when booking. Do not assume every Uber, Bolt or minicab vehicle will be wheelchair accessible.

Disabled London residents may also be eligible for Taxicard, a concessionary scheme that helps with subsidised taxi journeys. Visitors usually cannot use Taxicard unless they are part of an eligible London borough scheme, but it is worth knowing about if you live in London or care for someone who does.

Are London taxis safe?

Licensed London taxis are generally safe, but you still need to use common sense.

A safe London taxi or private hire journey should have:

Avoid:

• Anyone who approaches you inside an airport or station offering a ride
• Drivers who say the taxi rank is closed when it clearly is not
• Cars with no licence disc or app booking
• Cash-only “special price” offers from strangers
• Getting into a private hire car you did not book

Unbooked minicabs are illegal and may not be insured to carry passengers. This is one of the biggest safety warnings tourists need to understand.

How to spot a legitimate taxi or private hire vehicle

For a black cab, look for:

• The classic taxi shape
• Yellow TAXI roof sign
• Official taxi licence details
• A driver badge
• A working meter
• Card payment device

For private hire, look for:

• Booking confirmation from the operator or app
• Driver name and photo where provided
• Vehicle registration matching your booking
• TfL private hire licence disc
• No street hailing or rank pickup unless pre-booked

If the details do not match, do not get in. Cancel and book again.

Can black cabs use bus lanes?

London black cabs can use many bus lanes, which can help on busy routes. Private hire vehicles usually cannot use bus lanes unless signs specifically allow it.

This does not mean a black cab is always faster, but in central London traffic it can make a real difference.

Are London taxis expensive?

London taxis are not the cheapest way to travel, but they are convenient, safe and regulated.

A black cab can be worth it when:

For longer trips, especially airport transfers, always compare a black cab, private hire quote and public transport. The cheapest option is not always the least stressful one.

What about VAT on Uber and Bolt in London?

Since 2026, online private hire fares in London have been affected by VAT treatment on full fares. For passengers, the practical point is simple: Uber, Bolt and other app prices may look higher than older guides suggest, especially for airport trips.

Do not rely on old “Uber is always cheaper” advice. Open two or three apps, compare the final price, check airport pickup or drop-off charges, and then book.

Free Now, Gett and black cab apps

Free Now and Gett are useful if you specifically want a licensed black cab but prefer booking through an app.

Free Now was acquired by Lyft in 2025. For everyday passengers, the key point is that it remains a major taxi-booking app, but ownership and platform integration may develop over time.

Gett is popular with business travellers and corporate accounts. TaxiApp UK is a driver-owned black cab app and may appeal to passengers who want to support licensed taxi drivers directly.

The safest taxi choice for tourists

If you are visiting London for the first time, use this simple checklist:

• Can I see a licensed black cab? Hail it only if the yellow TAXI light is on.
• Am I at a station or airport? Use the official taxi rank or a pre-booked ride.
• Am I using Uber, Bolt or a minicab? Make sure it is booked before you get in.
• Did someone approach me offering a ride? Say no.
• Do the car and driver details match my app? If not, cancel.
• Do I feel unsure? Go back inside the station, hotel or airport and ask the staff.

The safest taxi is not always the cheapest one. It is the one you can identify, trace and book legally.

Best option by traveller type

• Can I see a licensed black cab? Hail it only if the yellow TAXI light is on.
• Am I at a station or airport? Use the official taxi rank or a pre-booked ride.
• Am I using Uber, Bolt or a minicab? Make sure it is booked before you get in.
• Did someone approach me offering a ride? Say no.
• Do the car and driver details match my app? If not, cancel.
• Do I feel unsure? Go back inside the station, hotel or airport and ask the staff.