 | London Taxis Reviews | 1 - 10 of 81 |  |
2am is not the best time to start arguing with London cabbies about fares. They have seen it all, heard it all and are not interested. Petra and I are at Victoria Station - no tubes, no trains - there is a night bus - but it never appeared. The area around the station is no place to be hanging around waiting for buses, all forms of human life have crawled out of the woodwork and are either drunk or drugged or both.
I approached a cabbie who was *on a break* and asked him how much, roughly to Bayswater - *about 12 quid love, but you have to queue over there*. So we queued - with a New Zealand family with 4 very young children and several large suitcases. When it came to our turn I approached a cab - *How much to Bayswater?* *15 quid* GASP! *15 quid??? but that cabbie over there said around 12!* He was in no mood to argue and with that he made no further eye contact and accelerated at high speed to the NZ family who needed two cabs!
The next cab in the queue pulled up - I asked the same question and he replied - *Why wouldn't the other cab take you?* so I told him what had happened and even he was shocked - he said *15 quid?? It's about 5 to Bayswater!* So I said *That'll do* and we jumped in. The meter read £3.30 before we had gone anywhere and he apologised as he said *Errrm... actually it will probably be more like £8-10* so we said ok and he took us all the way to our hostel (only about a couple of miles or so away and in the end the meter read £11.30. He said *just give us a tenner love* - what a nice guy!
London cabs late are night are VERY expensive! Night buses are only £1.20 per journey but you don't want to be hanging around late at night waiting for buses in seedy places. Leave a Comment
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While most people find the tube the most efficient means of getting around London, I think this is the perfect place to splurge and take the famous London Black Cabs!
It's easy to hail one, once you get the hang of it. Just watch for the taxi that has it's light indicating that it's available and stick up your hand. I find the cabbies incredibly watchful for people wishing to ride. In July we just finished our visit to the London Eye, stepped onto the sidewalk and raised our hand. A cabbie coming the other direction swung into a UTurn and picked us up.
While some feel them to be expensive, every ride is a mini tour. We nearly always pass something interesting, and Cabbies are always anxious to impart a little history and local color. While in many foreign cities the taxi drivers are known for trying to trick you into paying a steeper fare, London Cabbies are always professional and forthright.
Can you imagine a NYC taxi driver calling you "luv" and not being seriously creeped out?! Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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The well-known Black Cabs of London are almost as famous as the red buses. They are also being modernized and you may see more green, blue, red or even white cabs. I read that the cab drivers in London are considered among the safest drivers, so you are in good hands.
They can be quite expensive, I should know, I spent a bomb on my last trip.
Finding a Cab: You can ring them, hail them or find them at ranks (stands).
Ladycabs (women drivers only) 020-7254 3501
Radio Taxis: 020 7272 0272
Computer Cabs: 020 7286 0286
Lost Property: 020-7941 7800
Complaints: 020-7941 7900 Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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If you want to get somewhere easily with the least hassle in London, then a Licensed Black Cab is they way to do it.
However it does come at a cost. I almost never use them as the premium is just to high in comparison to buying a travelcard that lets you use the buses, trains and underground in London, but if you really don't want to travel with the great unwashed and you have a big wallet, then taxi is your transport! Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Piece of cake! It's easy to hail one of LONDON'S BLACK TAXIS. Just look for a taxi that has it's "TAXI" sign lit, indicating that it is available and stick out your hand and flag it down.
But as you can see in this accompanying picture, London's famous black Taxis now come in a myriad of colours --- even baby blue.
All fares are metered and all drivers are registered and licensed, so no need to worry about being "ripped off". Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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My travel friend offered to pay to get us to our hotel in London, and she chose one of London's black taxis as the fastest, most direct way to get into the city at the end of a long continental flight.
It still took about an hour in the traffic in mid-afternoon, and we seemed to have circled Hyde Park at least twice because of some traffic snafu.
The cab driver was very nice and polite, and the taxi ride though long was fun because it offered my first chance to see London. I was fascinated just to see all the traffic with all the drivers on the right and the license plates with the huge numbers.
However, it was very expensive -- I think about 45 pounds plus tip. The convenience was nice, but on a budget trip the subway (express) would have been a better deal. Though when I think about navigating the luggage up those stairs ....
We had no trouble getting a cab outside the airport. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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When you get off the planes at Heathrow, you may be approached by people looking to give you a ride to your hotel. Dont do it! - I dont have any bad experiences to share. But it was strongly recommended to me to only take what they call the Black Cabs. My sister and I used both the Tube and the Black Cabs exclusively to get around, when we werent being driven by our British friend. The Cabs can be a bit expensive, but they are safe, honest and quick.
Oh hint: When we heard 'only take black cabs" we were a bit confused - we werent sure if that meant the color black or the style of cab.. it's the style. - sometimes they do come in other colors or sometimes they have an advertisement on them.. those are ok too! Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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I had been warned about the London cabbies being rude. Oh and they're not all black...grey, blue, green...whatever. However my experience with them [ admittedly just the one ] was quite pleasant. My trip from Kings Cross Station to the hotel in Bayswater cost me 15 pounds and the driver was very helpful with my luggage. Unfortuneately I had no spare change for a tip but he took it well. I think perhaps he picked up on my situation and condition at that time. A bit travel weary and frazzled! Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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I think it's best to leave getting a taxi in London for only when you need it, like: when you've just arrived or leaving and you've got all your luggage, or if you're out late at night.
This is because a taxi is an expensive way to travel in London. Also if you are going to get a taxi get a Black one or one that you know is from a reputable company so as not to be charged too much for the ride (aka get 'ripped off').
And as suggested by my dear friend Henrik, I will add that in London you *do not* sit in the front seat of a taxi, you always sit in the back seat! I think mainly this is for security measures for the taxi drivers.
For more information about taxis in London see the website below. Leave a Comment
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Altough it sounds very much like a low-cost airline, Zingo is actually a taxi firm with about a thousand drivers.
What is unusual about them is that they have embraced modern technology.
You can ring them up - and speak directly to the nearest available driver, not an operator.
If they then pick you up they will charge £1.60 for the pick up, and only begin the meter when you get in.
If you look at their website, they also often put up downloadable discount vouchers. Leave a Comment
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Destinations near London- Buckingham Palace, 1.16 km / 0.72 miles
- Holborn, 1.84 km / 1.15 miles
- Saint Marylebone, 2.31 km / 1.44 miles
- Spitalfields, 2.95 km / 1.83 miles
- Bermondsey, 3.46 km / 2.15 miles
- Brixton, 3.89 km / 2.41 miles
- Shoreditch, 4.36 km / 2.71 miles
- Paddington, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Hyde Park, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Bethnal Green, 4.96 km / 3.08 miles
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