The London Traveler

The black cab is one of London’s icons. And if you’re hailing a taxi on the street, it will be one of these – though it may not be black these days, since they’re allowed to carry advertising on the outside as well as the inside.
But black cabs are not cheap. Heathrow to Central London will cost you about £70. You can expect even a ten minute journey of about a mile or so to cost between a fiver and £8.
So it’s worth having the number of a minicab firm. You can’t hire a minicab off the street, as you …read more

1 Comment

According to the Guardian this could be ‘the end of the road’ for the famous London black cab.
The taxi we all know and love is the FX4. Its friendly rounded curves and satisfying clunky doors are somehow reassuring; we know we’re safe.
The new TX4 just doesn’t have the same feel. It seems to be a bit of a pastiche of the black cab, put together by someone who really wants a top of the range BMW.
Still, there are enough FX4s out there that for the foreseeable future you’ll be able to take a ‘black cab’.
However Ken Livingstone pulled the Routemaster …read more

4 Comments

Flickr photo by Patrick Mayon.
One of the best things about visiting or living in London is having the opportunity to take a Black Cab. They are an efficient way to get around the city, particularly if you need to get somewhere in a hurry.
What’s great about taking a Black Cab?

Space for 5 people, and everyone has leg-room. (Trust me, at 6′4″ I care about this!)
They know everything about Central London. The exam to become a driver is actually called “The Knowledge.”
They’re easy to catch, and drivers are friendly.
Black cabs have permission to use Bus-only lanes, getting …read more

6 Comments