By 1625, London innkeepers hired out carriages. In 1635 in England, the Hackney Carriage Act was passed as the first legislation to cover hireable horse-drawn carriages in the country. In 1636, the first London taxi rank appeared at the Strand outside the Maypole Inn.

The concept of the "taxi rank" (a designated place where cabs wait for passengers) originated in London, England, in the mid-17th century. The very first documented taxi rank appeared on The Strand outside the Maypole Inn in 1636. It was established by Captain John Baily, a veteran of Sir Walter Raleigh’s expeditions, who placed four horse-drawn Hackney carriages at the site with drivers in uniform and set fixed prices for various distances. Prior to this, carriages were generally hired from innkeepers or caught by chance. Baily's innovation brought order to the industry and was so successful that King Charles I soon issued a proclamation to limit the number of carriages to prevent traffic congestion. This system of "standing" for hire became the blueprint for modern taxi stands globally, eventually evolving from horse-drawn coaches to the motorized black cabs that define London’s streets in 2026.