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Useful tips for London bus groups with ‘what to see’ and ‘what to do’ items and ‘bus- friendly’ or must see tourist sites in London. Check our list of attractions before planning your bus tour with a stop or departure in London. Let us know if your favourite attraction or ‘bus-stop’ is not there and you think we should add it to our list of London highlights.
London taxis are probably the most famous in the world. The black cabs are everywhere and their story telling drivers are an essential part of the experience. But they"re not the only type of taxi in London, and most people are often confused about the different taxis. We talk you through the options and what to expect.
Seating 5 passengers and looking charming from the outside, the black cab is a London institution. Officially known as a Hackney Carriage, these vehicles have gone on to be copied all over the world. Comfy and spacious on the inside, and polished black on the outside, travelling in one of these is a must when in London. Drivers tell funny tales about famous people they"ve taken, and they seem to have a never-ending store of conversation topics. Ask them to teach you some cockney rhyming slang for a real cultural journey into London history.
All black cabs run on a metre with the price dictated by the time of day, distance travelled, and the time taken for the journey. As a very general rule you should expect to pay around £4 for every mile you travel. It costs more at night and during heavy traffic. By law if you"re going less than 12 miles the driver must take you. Black cabs must be flagged down on the street, they cannot be pre booked.
Private taxis are 4 seater cars that have a license to take passengers. They can be any make or model and will usually have a label on the front door indicating the taxi company and phone number. These taxis must be pre-booked, and you can pre-book all your taxi needs in London through our website. These taxis use a fare calculation system similar to black cabs so you can expect a set fare.
For longer distances private taxis are usually cheaper than black cabs. It"s also possible to negotiate a rate for half day or full day hire so you can see different attractions across London. Our site lists taxi companies in London and you can compare prices for companies like Wanstead Cars on 95 Aldersbrook Rd, OTH Mini Cab on 30 Frankham St, and Switch Radio Cars on 5 Sternhold Ave.
Where to stand: If you"re flagging a taxi it"s best to go to a taxi stand, and you"ll find them outside most tube stations and attractions. There might not be a taxi waiting, but it"s an easy place for them to stop. Some roads are impossible to stop on so if you stand in the wrong place you might find a hundred drivers going straight past shaking their head at you.
While it is not expected to tip a driver, if you"ve been kept entertained by stories and have a good humoured driver, you should round up the fare to the nearest pound.
At night-time, particularly outside busy pubs and clubs, there is a number of illegal unregistered taxis that operate. Every month there is a horror story in the newspapers about these taxis. Avoid them. They"re not even much cheaper than real taxis.
You will find taxis nearly everywhere in London. When you need a taxi the easiest thing to do is head to the nearest underground or train station. Nearly all of these have a taxi stand. You"ll also find taxi stands outside major hotels and near famous busy streets like Oxford Road.
Cab services are one way to get around London. If you are looking for other ways to travel around London, take a look at car rentals with driver in London or mini bus hire in London options. For more information and tips about UK, visit the travel services page. Get ideas for trips in and around London on the transport in Greater London page.
Requesting quotes is free! Start comparing cab services in London today by using our form.
Would you like to organize a bus tour to see all these beautiful highlights? Request quotes and compare the different bus and coach hire companies: