There are two types of taxicabs you can take to and from Heathrow Airport, as, well, as in and around London, Black Cabs and Minicabs.

London Black Taxicab (photo via Google)

The Black Cabs are the only cabs legally licensed to pickup at will and/or be hailed on a street corner or designated taxi-rank without a pre-booked reservation. The Black Cabs (and they are not always “black.”) have the familiar amber “TAXI” light, and are equiped with a fare-meter. Black cabs charge by distance and by the minute, are non-smoking, and have a minimum charge of £2.20.

They do not charge for extra passengers, or luggage, so, up to five people can travel for the price of one.

These are the current taxi rates authorized by “Transport For London:”

There is a minimum fare of £2.20 at all times.

2009-10 Taxi Rates

Additional charges (which must be added on the meter at the start of the journey):

A) There is an additional £2 for journeys which start from the Heathrow Airport.

B) Christmas/New Year: additional £4 for journeys made between 8pm on 24 December and 6am on 27 December or between 8pm on 31 December and 6am on 2 January.

C) Cabs called by phone: additional £2

D) Soiling Charge: The driver can charge the hirer a soiling charge of up to £40 for soiling that requires the taxi to be taken out of service for cleaning.

Credit / Debit Cards: accepted by SOME taxis. When accepted the typical surcharge is an additional 10% to 15% of the metered fare.

Taxis are legally required to accept any job for a journey up to 6 miles (9.7 kilometers), except from Heathrow Airport where taxis are legally required by law to accept any job for a journey up to 20 miles (32.2 kilometers).

The meter calculates the speed of the taxi, time of day, and distance traveled.

Minicabs, also known as private hire vehicles, must be pre-booked. They can not be hailed, or boarded on a street corners, or be loaded from a rank or from a street. Minicabs are 100% pre-booked only. Minicabs do not have a taxi-light, or meter. Almost all of their rides are flat-rated.

Rates for Minicabs from Heathrow Airport to Central London are less than a taxi. Average price is around £40. On short journeys Minicab prices could be similar to taxis. There are over 1000 different Minicab companies in London. Minicabs can be pre-booked by telephone, on-the-Internet, or, at a Minicab Office.

Find the closest Minicab – “Transport For London” offers two easy options to assist immediately:

Findafare website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/findaride/default.aspx

CabWise: Text CAB to 60835* and we’ll use GPS to text your two nearest minicab numbers and one taxi (black cab) number. (*Text charged at 35p per enquiry plus standard text message rate.)

Tipping: not mandatory.

Tipping amount: figured at around 10%

Additional article regarding Taxis in London:

Taxis In London – The World’s Best

Sources for above article:

http://www.london-taxi.co.uk/taxi/londontariff.htm

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/taxisandminicabs/taxis/1140.aspx

http://wikitravel.org/en/London#By_taxi

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