How much is a black cab fare in London?
Black cab fares in London are based on how long the journey takes rather than the distance travelled, so the same journey can have different prices depending on the traffic.
The price is always 10% higher late at night (8 PM to 10 PM, Mon-Fri) and during the weekend (5 AM to 10 PM, Sat-Sun), and 20% higher in the early hours of the morning (10 PM to 5 AM, Mon-Sun). The highest price shown in the table includes the 20%.
| Around London | Journey time | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 6–13 mins | £7 to £12 |
| 2 miles | 10–20 mins | £10.60 to £18.20 |
| 3 miles | 13–25 mins | £14.30 to £24.60 |
| 4 miles | 16–30 mins | £18 to £31 |
| 5 miles | 21–35 mins | £23 to £35.50 |
| 6 miles | 28–40 mins | £28 to £40 |
These are the typical fares to/from London’s airports. An extra few pounds is usually added to the meter before your journey begins to cover the driver’s parking costs.
| Airport ↔ central London | Journey time | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 30–80 mins | £56 to £105 |
| Gatwick | 70–90 mins | £114 to £158 |
| Stansted | 60–90 mins | £139 to £163 |
| Luton | 60–80 mins | £119 to £143 |
| London City | 30–50 mins | £34 to £98 |
Note: If you pre-book the cab over the phone then you’ll have to pay another £2 on top. (Note: the booking fee differs between taxi companies, so you should always ask when you book it.)
Journeys that start from a taxi rank at Heathrow airport will have an extra £3.60 added on top. And they charge an extra £5.20 to drop off passengers at any of the terminals.
You’ll also have to pay an extra £4 over the Christmas and New Year holidays (8 PM on 24th to 6 AM on 27th Dec, and 8 PM on 31st to 6 AM on 2nd Jan).
Can you pre-book a black taxi?
You can pre-book a black taxi over the phone and have it meet you at a particular time. TFL provides some telephone numbers and web addresses for reputable cab companies on their website: tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/.
Be aware that pre-booking a taxi will add some money onto the meter before you start. This might be a fixed fee of a couple of pounds, or it might depend on how far the driver had to travel to meet you. You should always ask the phone controller how much extra they charge when you book it.
If you want to pre-book a minicab online then try using TFL’s online form: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/. You can also download their ‘Cabwise’ app from iTunes and the Google Play store. Most pubs and restaurants will happily recommend a few trusted companies as well.
Do London taxis accept credit cards?
Yes. London taxis accept payment by cash, debit card or credit card. No surcharges are added on top for contactless card payments.
What is the minimum fare for a black taxi?
The minimum fare in a black taxi cab is £3.80, which will appear on the meter before your journey begins.
Can you haggle with London taxi drivers?
You cannot haggle with taxi drivers. You always have to pay the fare showing on the meter at the end of your journey.
The only exception is when your taxi journey takes you outside central London, in which case a black cab driver might be prepared to agree a fee with you before the journey begins – but he is under no obligation to. If you want the certainty of a fixed fare then you really should be using a minicab.
Do taxi drivers expect a tip?
Taxi drivers are not entitled to a tip, but it is customary to give them 10% of the fare. In practice most people will just round up to the nearest pound, or the nearest £5 or £10, so the driver doesn’t have to root around for change.
Why are black cabs so expensive?
London taxi cabs are certainly expensive if you’re travelling alone, and you can easily blow ten pounds in ten minutes just travelling one mile between Trafalgar Square and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Black taxis become much more cost-effective when you’re in a group of three or more because the cabs can fit up to five people, and you only have to pay one fare between all five of you.
How many passengers can a black taxi carry?
A black taxi can carry five people – three on the forward-facing sofa seat, and two more on the fold-down jump seats.
But remember that you have to squeeze all of your luggage inside the exact same space (taxis don’t have a boot), so if you’re travelling with some bulky bags then you might struggle to fold down one of the seats. For safety reasons the driver will not allow you to sit on one of your bags.
Are black taxis wheelchair accessible?
Yes. All modern black taxis are wheelchair accessible. The driver can place a ramp between the street and the floor of the vehicle, allowing you to ride up and park your wheelchair inside. You don’t even have to get out of the chair if you don’t want to, and it can be securely fastened into place with seat belts.
Most taxis also come equipped with the following accessibility aids: a swivel seat, seat sight patches, intermediate step, large coloured grab handles, plus an intercom and induction loop.
They also carry assistance dogs at no extra charge.
Can you hail a black taxi in the street?
Yes, you can always hail a black taxi in the street, but the easiest places to pick them up are from taxi-ranks outside the airports, popular tourist spots, and big mainline train stations like Charing Cross, Euston, King’s Cross, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo.
Underground stations do not usually have taxi ranks, but if you hang around for a few minutes then you can usually flag one down in the street (there are over 20,000 of them driving around London, so you never have to wait long). Just stand in a place where it’s safe for the cab driver to stop and stick your arm out into the road when you see it coming. If its orange ‘Taxi’ sign is lit then it should be available for hire. If the light is out then it probably already has a passenger.
Note: It is quite common for taxis to drive around at night with their light switched off. This is so the drivers can pick and choose their passengers and avoid the ones that look like trouble (ie. drunks). So if you see one with its light out at night then it might still be worth sticking your arm out – just don’t be surprised if it drives straight past.
Can a London taxi refuse to take me?
A black cab driver is obliged to accept any journey of up to twelve miles, or within one hour’s driving time, provided it’s within the Greater London area. They should also accept a journey of up to twenty miles if it begins at Heathrow Airport.
The exception is when you’re drunk or misbehaving.
What are the benefits of getting a black taxi?
- You can usually hail a black taxi in the street if you’re close to a train station or tourist hotspot in zone 1, whereas minicabs are banned by law from picking up passengers in the street
- Because you only have to pay for one cab between all of you, if you’re travelling in a group of three or more than it might be the cheapest way to travel
- Taxi cab drivers have to pass one of the toughest training regimes around that takes them three years to complete, giving them an encyclopaedic knowledge of London’s streets
- You can fit up to five people in a black taxi, whereas a lot of minicabs use normal cars which only fit four
- Black taxis are allowed to travel in the bus lanes whereas minicabs are not, so they might be able to skip a bit of the traffic
- All black cabs use the same fare system, and unlike some minicab companies they never hike up their prices during a strike or busy period
What are the downsides of getting a black taxi?
- Black taxis have a minimum fare of £3.80, which is more than double the price of a bus ticket and nearly 50% higher than the cost of an Oyster tube fare
- Black taxis charge by the time taken rather than distance travelled, so if you get stuck in the traffic the price will continue to go up
- Black taxis are often more expensive than minicabs (sometimes by quite a lot)
What’s the difference between a black taxi and a minicab?
There are five main differences between a black taxi and a minicab:
1) The first difference is the shape. Taxis are the ones shown in the photo on this page, with an orange ‘Taxi’ light on the roof. They are usually painted black. Minicabs, on the other hand, have no basic shape at all because they just use normal everyday cars.
2) The second big difference is the way you pay. Black taxis all come equipped with meters so you can see how much you’re spending as you drive along. The driver might be able to give you a rough estimate of the price before you set off, but you will not know the exact amount you’re paying until you reach your destination. The longer it takes, the higher the cost will be.
3) Another big difference is that you can hail down a black taxi in the street, whereas it is technically illegal for minicabs to pick up new passengers in the street – you’re supposed to order one from a minicab office by telephone or email.
Unfortunately a lot of the minicab drivers don’t care about the rules and loiter around tourist hotspots hoping to pick up a fare. You should never get into one of these vehicles because not only is the minicab driver breaking the law, you’re also putting your own safety at risk by stepping into a stranger’s car. How do you know that it’s really a minicab?
4) The fourth difference is that black taxis are allowed to use the bus lanes, so if you’re in a massive rush to get somewhere and you’re worried about the traffic then a taxi might be slightly quicker.
5) And the final difference worth mentioning is that taxi drivers are subjected to an Enhanced Criminal Record check before they receive a licence. (That’s not to say that minicab drivers are unsafe… just that they are not subjected to the same kind of rigorous checks.)
Are minicabs cheaper than black taxis?
Black taxi fares are based on how long the journey takes, rather than the distance travelledm, so you won’t know the final price until you arrive. The driver might be able to give you a rough idea before you set off, but if you get stuck in some traffic then the price will go up.
Some minicabs also have a meter inside, but the vast majority of them will quote you a final price before you begin. It is imperative that you agree this price with the minicab office when you book it, and you should also reconfirm it with the driver before he begins the journey. This price is usually cheaper than a black taxi.
If you want the certainty of a fixed fare then you should certainly be using a minicab.
Where is the taxi Lost Property Office?
If you lose something in a London black taxi (but not a minicab) then it will be dealt with by TFL’s Lost Property Office. You can phone them at 0343 222 1234 or use their online form at tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact. Postal enquiries should be sent to the TFL Lost Property Office, 200 Baker Street, London NW1 5RZ.
You have to give them a description and wait up to 15 working days, and then pay a fee if they find it.