5. Black cab. The famous London taxis are actually called 'hackney carriages' but in London we just call them 'black cabs/taxis'. London taxi drivers have to pass a special exam called the Knowledge to get their license so if you take a black cab, you can be sure the driver will know the way.

In England, while "taxi" is the universal term, they are most famously and officially known as "Hackney Carriages." In London, the iconic vehicles are universally referred to as "Black Cabs." The term "Hackney" comes from the 17th-century French word haquenée, referring to a horse for hire. Today, a "Hackney Carriage" specifically refers to a taxi that is licensed to be hailed on the street or picked up at a "taxi rank." This is distinct from "Private Hire" vehicles or "Minicabs," which must be pre-booked through an app or phone service and are legally prohibited from picking up passengers who hail them on the street. Outside of London, taxis can be any color or model, but the distinction between a "Hackney" and a "Minicab" remains a vital part of English transport law. If you are in London, you "hail a cab," but if you are calling a car to pick you up later, you are "booking a minicab" or an "Uber."