London's Black Cabs vs. Uber: A Complete Guide for Tourists

London Transport can be quite confusing at times, especially when the city is full of people in a hurry. The metro is the most used and what many consider the cheapest form of transportation in London, but you may be wrong. Based on the value and the comfort you get from riding in a taxi, you cannot go wrong on value for money. Tourists always wonder which option is better but in the end they waste a lot of time getting lost in the complicated London Tube.

This is why for tourists we recommend a taxi as in the end it will save a lot of time and money. However, should you use ride sharing or a classic London cab? In this article we will dwell more into the difference between London’s famous black cabs and ride sharing services such as Uber.

What Are London Black Cabs?

These are what we consider the traditional taxis. Did you know that every driver of a classic black cab has to take a knowledge test before becoming a taxi driver? Yes, they actually have to learn all the streets of London before being able to even attempt the exam, so you are covered when it comes to their knowledge of London as a whole. GPS? Nothing is more reliable than a London cab driver as he will never get lost or run out of signal.

Not only that, but they are an iconic part of London and as a tourist visiting England for the first time it is a must to be driven around in one of these black cabs. Such cars can only be found in England and mostly in the London area. The biggest advantage is that these cabs can be hailed on the street, compared to the ride sharing services where you need to wait for them at a certain location. This can be an inconvenience, especially for someone who does not know London and pinpointing the location on the car sharing app is a nightmare.

Never the less, they remain an iconic part of London and this can really immerse you into the experience.

What Is Uber Like in London?

The app based service most popular around the world can be found in London to. It is true that often times an Uber can be cheaper than a classic cab as this is how they stay competitive and have integrated the London market. However, it also comes with a couple of drawbacks. First of all it does require more time, as London traffic can be hectic, especially at rush hours and you can end up waiting 15 minutes for an uber driver that has accepted your ride from the other side of London Bridge.

The Uber drivers do usually driver more modern cars and in some cases electric cars. In London this is an advantage because central zones have restrictions on cars that use petrol or diesel and in some other areas the cars using this type of fuel must pay in order to driver around there. So having an electric car can make the ride faster as they are open to the whole of London and all the shortcuts.

Price Comparison – Black Cabs vs. Uber

At the same time, the price changes with the demand, and usually during rush hour the demand is very high, making Ubers even more expensive than regular cabs. You need to time it right in order to get the best value for money, and as a tourist it is difficult to know when the rush hour is in one of the biggest capitals around the world. Here is a table with some of the pricing factors as a comparison.

One important thing to point out is that black cabs do accept cash as well as credit or debit cards, so do not worry as they have you covered on the payment front.

Which Is Better in London Traffic?

When you are in a big city like London, what matters the most is speed as traffic can be a killer. Please keep in mind that as a tourist time is of the essence as holidays go so quick. Black cabs also have two major advantages, the first one being the wild knowledge of the drivers around the streets of London as they can find great shortcuts. The second one is that black cabs are allowed on bus lanes, giving them a free way around the traffic and making them a much better option.

For Airport arrivals we recommend using a black cab as it can be more spacious and can get faster into London. These can also be found available at taxi points 24/7 or they can be booked ahead of time through our taxi booking services. If you want more budget travel Uber may be a better choice, but at the risk of losing more of the previous time on your holiday.

Please remember that if you would like to live a day in London and ride the iconic London cabs, we at Taxiyo can offer you this services and book it in time with a fixed price so there are no surprises at the end of the ride. For more information please try to reach out for a quote on our main page.