Taxi Fare Estimator

Practical tips

London draws a firm line between black cabs — which you flag down on the street or find queuing at a rank, driven by people who've passed 'The Knowledge' exam on thousands of London streets — and minicabs or app-based rides like Uber, Bolt, and FreeNow, which by law can only be booked in advance through an app or a licensed operator, never hailed. That distinction matters practically too: a black cab runs on a regulated meter that never surges no matter how busy the night gets, while an app ride shows you a fixed price upfront, but that price can climb sharply during peak demand. At Heathrow and other airports, black cabs queue at a marked rank right outside arrivals so there's rarely a long wait, and the fare is simply whatever the meter reads plus the standard airport surcharge rather than a flat rate. Tipping isn't obligatory, but rounding the fare up to the nearest pound is the everyday habit, with 10-15% considered generous for a longer ride or extra help with luggage.