Heathrow Taxis

Heathrow has the highest concentration of taxi cabs anywhere in Europe, and one sight of the holding area from which cabs are called to the Terminals makes that claim easy to believe. London taxis are distinctive and recognised all around the world, and the readiness of the average cabby to comment on any topical issue is almost as legendary.

The licensed carrying of passengers for hire goes back 300 years in London, and the famous 'black cabs' are highly regulated for fares and passenger safety. If you ride in a licensed London cab you are in very safe hands and you will not be ripped off. The emphasis, however, is on the word 'licensed', and there are many cowboys in the city. At Heathrow only licensed cabs are permitted to operate, and although colourful advertising contracts mean not all 'black cabs' are black, the same stringent regulations apply to all.

The main advantage of riding by cab, of course, is that you get a door-to-door service with the minimum lugging of baggage. On the downside, if you are travelling alone the service is expensive with a typical fare of £28.00 for the journey into London. Few of the cabs are air-conditioned, and the journey into London often takes well over an hour during the working day. Less than 40% of the cabs are equipped to take payment by credit card, so you need to pay up front at a taxi point in the Arrivals hall of your Terminal or pay by cash.

If your destination lies to the east (London side) of Heathrow, and is within 20 miles, the cab driver is legally bound to accept the fare and charge the amount shown on the meter. Journeys to the west of Heathrow do not have to be accepted by the driver, and a price should be agreed before setting off. Be warned, such a journey will be expensive and there are many other options.

Should you have any complaint about a black cab (other than the driver's political opinions) you should contact The Public Carriage Office, 15 Penton Street, London N1 9PU, telephone 0171 2301631, or go to your nearest Police Station. Make sure you have noted the taxi's license number, the approximate location of any incident, the date and the time.