London is one of the world’s busiest cities, housing the second highest number of tourists of any city in the world. Getting around the city can be very convenient with the help of London taxis. You will find that London taxi services are very efficient and reliable. There are various types of London taxis ranging from top class minicabs, to smaller yet comfortable hire cars. All the larger London cabs are required by the London Transport system for the transport of passengers from and to all parts of London.
London taxis are generally charged different depending on whether you go for a standard black cab or a privately owned minicab. Because minicabs are generally privately owned, it is up to the discretion of that business to set the price of your trip, however, most of them are standard. The basic fare in London for a standard cab will normally be about 40 pence per hour. For a journey of two to four hours, the rate could go up to a hundred and fifty pence per hour.
Obtaining a taxi service in London is not difficult. If you are living in the city then it should not be a problem obtaining a London taxi. London cabs are generally licensed and have to follow all the rules and regulations. Even though the drivers have to be licensed, they work on the basis of their ability to provide service and not on whether they have a license. So if you happen to live in London and you need a taxi, you should approach the right drivers who will provide you good service at affordable prices.
However, many people who are new to London and do not have a license often get into accidents on the roads. One major reason for this is lack of driving experience on the part of a passenger. London cabs require a valid driving license from a holder in order to operate the vehicle. To obtain a license, one must pass a driving test with a perfect grade. This is one way of ensuring that you are not inexperienced when using London’s public transportation system like the London black cabs. Many people who live in London have expressed surprise when they were told that it takes around three years to acquire a license to drive London black cabs.
Getting a taxi in London does not mean that you are likely to end up being abused by the taxi drivers. You should also consider hiring a private hire taxi if you want to travel around London without going through the traffic like lorries. Private hire cabs, unlike taxicabs, are allowed to pick and drop passengers at their own discretion. They are also not bound by the restrictions that apply on taxicabs. A private hire cabs driver can pick any passenger from the airport and take them to their address at their own convenience. They can go directly to your place of stay or hotel if you so wish.
Taxis in London are also very popular. Most travellers prefer using taxis over the private hire cabs because the latter has a very unpleasant connotation. The hackney carriage, on the other hand, is a classic example of an old-style taxi that is very popular in the city. These cabins are old, quaint and beautiful and the interior has that quaint English feel. Taxis in London can be seen everywhere in the city and you will not find it hard to locate one.
Taxis in London have two different classifications. There are red cabs that are very expensive and you can only find these in the central business district (CBD). The other type is the pink taxis which are very affordable and you can see them all over central London. If you are travelling to other parts of the UK or abroad you may find London Hackney Carriage services a better choice for travelling.
When travelling in London you need to know that there are two kinds of taxi cabs. You have the private hire taxis and then there are the licensed taxi cabs. The private hire taxis are those who are allowed to pick and drop passengers from the road and there are also many car rental companies who provide their customers with shuttle buses from their hotels to their destinations. The licensed taxis on the other hand are allowed to pick and drop passengers from the road but they are not allowed to ply for their own transport needs as they are primarily designated for the transportation of passengers who have a license to drive a cab. All in all, you should make sure that you get the right kind of taxi service by doing proper research and making sure that you are hiring the right kind of taxi cab.
