How far can a London taxi go?

Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles (20 miles for cabs at the Heathrow Airport taxi ranks) or up to one-hour duration.



In 2026, the legal and practical limits for a London "Black Cab" (Hackney Carriage) depend on where the journey starts. Legally, under Transport for London (TfL) regulations, a driver is obliged to accept any fare for a journey of up to 12 miles (or 20 miles if starting from a Heathrow Airport taxi rank) as long as the destination is within the Greater London area and the trip doesn't exceed one hour. This is known as the "compulsory distance." However, practically speaking, there is no maximum physical limit to how far a taxi can go if the driver agrees to the fare. You could technically hire a Black Cab to drive you to Edinburgh or Paris, provided you and the driver negotiate a fixed price beforehand, as the meter is typically only mandatory for journeys within the "compulsory" zone. For these long-distance trips, drivers often charge a premium to cover the "dead mile" return journey. Always remember that while a Black Cab can go far, it is grounded peer advice to use a pre-booked private hire vehicle for long trips to save significantly on cost.

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That's right, three friends from England decided to take a 20-year-old black cab named Hannah on an epic adventure that lasted 15 months and covered 43,319.5 miles (69,716.12 km) across four continents and 50 countries.

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London taxis (black cabs) are the safest, most honest and best in the world. Mini-cabs are not as safe as London taxis.

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“Take me from Park Lane to Earl's Court,” a customer might say. And a cab driver in London is required to know the quickest way off by heart. That is because they know the center of the British capital; they'll have committed 320 runs across 25,000 streets, encompassing at least 20,000 landmarks, to memory.

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Drivers who own their cabs as opposed to renting from a garage are known as mushers and those who have just passed the knowledge are known as butter boys. There are currently around 21,000 black cabs in London, licensed by the Public Carriage Office.

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Tipping taxi drivers It is polite to tip 10 to 15% of the taxi fare for black cabs and licensed minicabs in London. However, most people simply round up the fare to the nearest £1 and tell the driver to keep the change.

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The distance you are travelling should impact your choice. Hiring a cab in London is quite economical if you are travelling small distances within the city. The fares will usually stay under your budget for short distance travelling. However, for longer routes, the prices can go a little higher when compared with Uber.

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Between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022, vehicles that are older than 12 years will be ineligible for licensing. Transport for London's (TfL) latest figures, from 31 August 2021, show that 1,228 vehicles will be over 12 years of age and will not be eligible for licensing from 1 November 2021.

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Yes, you can hail a London black taxi in the street and pay the driver in cash at the end of your journey. Most cabs also accept credit and debit cards now.

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Private hire vehicles must never stop or wait in taxi ranks, or the driver will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice and potentially licensing action.

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Black cabs are very spacious and there is plenty of space for your luggage. You can take 4 medium and 4 hand luggages on our black cabs. How many passengers can travel on a black cab? All our black cabs have seating for up to 6 passengers.

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London taxis offer great value as 5 passengers can all travel at no more cost than one person-as there are no extra charges for additional passengers or luggage. For a family of 5 travelling to Heathrow you can save up to 20% by taking a taxi rather than direct train services.

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The price of diesel, inspections, maintenance, and getting the license all play a role, and the cabs themselves are not cheap. Only certain kinds of cars may be used as cabs and they're quite specialized. I believe the basic model is about £40,000. Taxis are best used if you're sharing with others (they can hold 5).

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Seating for 6 passengers. Spacious passenger compartment with ample luggage capacity. Factory-fitted protection screen between driver and passengers. Independent temperature and fan controls.

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The best and the most convenient way to get from heathrow airport to london are taxis. It is easily available outside each terminal. The taxi fare to central London from heathrow is around £45–£70 with a journey time of approx one hour.

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As a ballpark figure, average taxi fares are likely to cost somewhere between £1.20 to £3 per mile. But this will depend on the location, day of the week, time of day, and whether there are any special events or holidays taking place. You'll really need to refer to your local authority for more detail.

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