London’s black cabs have a reputation for being expensive, and the meter can climb fast if you’re stuck in traffic. But the reputation is only half the story: fares are strictly regulated by Transport for London, every cab charges exactly the same rate, and there are no surge prices, no surprise commission cuts, and no unlicensed driver risk. This guide covers exactly how the meter works, what the current TfL tariffs actually are, every extra charge you might see, and how black cabs stack up against Uber and minicabs — so you know roughly what to expect before you get in.

What Counts as a “Black Cab”?

A London black cab is, officially, a Hackney Carriage — a specific, licensed vehicle type that’s legally allowed to be hailed on the street or picked up at a taxi rank without being pre-booked. This is the key legal distinction from Uber, Bolt, FreeNow and traditional minicabs, which are all classed as Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) and can only legally be used if booked in advance, even if that booking happens seconds before you get in. Standing in the street and putting your arm out only works for a genuine black cab; doing the same to an unbooked minicab is illegal for both driver and passenger.

To be licensed as a black cab driver, you have to pass “the Knowledge of London” — widely regarded as the hardest taxi licensing test in the world. Candidates spend an average of three to four years memorising around 25,000 streets and thousands of landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross, and have to be able to recite the shortest legal route between any two points on demand, in a series of oral exams called “Appearances.” There are currently around 21,000 licensed black cabs on London’s streets. This is also why black cab fares don’t come with the same route-uncertainty as an app-based ride: the driver genuinely knows the fastest way, without relying on satnav.

How the Meter Actually Works

Every fare starts with the minimum fare, then increases based on a combination of distance and time, not distance alone. This matters more than it sounds: when the cab is moving above roughly 10–11 mph, you’re charged by distance; when it slows below that (stuck in traffic, waiting at lights, crawling through central London congestion), the meter switches to charging by time instead. This is precisely why the same short journey can cost noticeably more on a Friday evening than at 7am on a Sunday — you’re not paying more per mile, you’re paying for the extra minutes spent not moving.

Which tariff applies depends purely on the day and time you travel, not the driver’s discretion:

• Tariff 1 — Monday to Friday, 05:00 to 20:00. The cheapest rate.
• Tariff 2 — Monday to Friday 20:00 to 22:00, and Saturday and Sunday 05:00 to 22:00.
• Tariff 3 — every night from 22:00 to 05:00, and all public holidays. The most expensive rate.

The tariff that applies is whichever one is in effect when the meter starts running, and once a journey passes roughly six miles, the per-mile rate changes again. None of this is negotiable or up to the driver — the meter enforces it automatically, and by law the passenger only has to pay what’s shown on the meter at the end of the journey (unless you agreed a fixed price with the driver before setting off, which is allowed for journeys outside Greater London).

Current TfL Taxi Tariffs

Verified against the official TfL taxi fare card, effective from 25 April 2026, checked 3 September 2026.

There is a minimum fare of £4.40 at all times, regardless of tariff. Beyond that, here’s what typical journeys actually cost, based on TfL’s own published figures (fares can run higher than shown if there are delays or heavy traffic):

Distance	Approx. journey time	Tariff 1 (Mon–Fri 05:00–20:00)	Tariff 2 (Mon–Fri eve / weekends)	Tariff 3 (nights / holidays)
1 mile	6–13 mins	£8.40–£13.00	£8.40–£13.20	£9.00–£13.20
2 miles	10–20 mins	£12.60–£20.20	£13.40–£20.40	£13.60–£20.40
4 miles	16–30 mins	£21.00–£31.00	£23.00–£32.00	£23.00–£35.00
6 miles	28–40 mins	£33.00–£42.00	£41.00–£45.00	£41.00–£45.00
Heathrow to central London	30–60 mins	£70.00–£120.00

The wide ranges reflect how much traffic conditions genuinely affect the fare — the same distance can cost noticeably different amounts depending on how much of the journey is spent moving versus stationary.

Extra Charges You Might See on the Meter

Beyond the base tariff, TfL permits a specific, fixed list of extras — anything outside this list isn’t legitimate:

• Phone, app or online bookings: up to £2.00 extra, if you book rather than hail.
• No charge for luggage, additional passengers, or paying by card — all of these are free by law.
• Christmas and New Year surcharge: £4.00, applied for journeys between 20:00 on 24 December and 06:00 on 27 December, and between 20:00 on 31 December and 06:00 on 2 January.
• Soiling charge: drivers can charge up to £60.00 if a passenger’s mess requires the cab to be taken out of service for cleaning.

If a driver adds any charge that isn’t on this list, you’re entitled to query it — and to report the driver to TfL if they insist.

Black Cab Fares To and From the Airports

Airport journeys carry their own specific extra charges on top of the standard metered fare:

• Heathrow Airport: £1.60 for journeys starting from the airport taxi ranks, plus £6.00 if the driver drops you off in a terminal drop-off zone (rather than the ranks or a different set-down point).
• London City Airport: no extra charge from the airport taxi rank, but £6.00 for dropping off at the terminal forecourt.
• Blue Badge holders can apply for a full exemption from both airports’ drop-off charges.

A metered black cab between Heathrow and central London typically runs £70–£120, taking 30–60 minutes depending on traffic — this is genuinely one of the more expensive ways to make that specific trip. The Elizabeth line covers the same route in around 30 minutes for a fraction of the price, and is worth strongly considering if you’re not weighed down with luggage or travelling as a larger group. See Heathrow to Central London: Every Way to Get There for the full comparison across all transport options.

Congestion Charge, ULEZ, and Why They Don’t Show Up on Your Fare

Licensed black cabs are fully exempt from both the Congestion Charge and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge, on the basis that they’re purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible vehicles that must meet strict TfL emissions and design standards regardless. This is one genuine cost advantage black cabs have over app-based rides: Uber, for instance, adds a flat £1.50 Central London Fee to every trip that starts, ends, or passes through the Congestion Charge zone, on top of the standard fare — a black cab’s meter simply doesn’t carry that extra charge at all.

How to Pay

Every licensed black cab must have a TfL-approved card payment device fitted in the passenger compartment, accepting American Express, Mastercard and Visa, plus contactless and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Cash is also accepted. Crucially, there is no surcharge for paying by card — you pay exactly the metered fare either way, and a driver charging extra for card payment is breaking the rules. A receipt must be provided at the end of the journey if you ask for one, which is worth doing if you’ll need it for expenses or in case you leave something behind, since it usually has the vehicle’s licence number on it.

Black Cab vs. Uber, Bolt and Minicabs — Which Is Cheapest?

There’s no single answer here — it genuinely depends on the trip:

• Short, central journeys in heavy traffic: a black cab’s regulated, no-surge pricing can actually beat a surging Uber, especially during Friday and Saturday night peaks when app pricing climbs.
• Off-peak, longer journeys: Uber and Bolt are usually cheaper, since their base pricing tends to undercut the black cab tariff when there’s no surge in effect.
• Airport transfers: a pre-booked, fixed-fare minicab is typically the cheapest option, often 25–35% less than a metered black cab for the same route, precisely because you know the price upfront regardless of traffic.
• Unpredictability: a black cab fare is transparent throughout the journey (you can watch the meter), while an app fare is fixed at booking but can vary trip to trip based on demand.

If cost is your main priority and the journey isn’t urgent, it’s worth quickly checking both a ride-hailing app’s quote and the rough black cab tariff for your route before deciding — there’s rarely a single “always cheaper” answer.

How to Hail, Book, or Find a Black Cab

• Street hailing. Look for the yellow “TAXI” sign on the roof — lit up means available, unlit means occupied or off-duty. Simply raise your arm to signal a hail.
• Taxi ranks. Found outside major stations, hotels and attractions — join the queue rather than trying to hail a cab that’s already heading for the rank.
• Apps. FreeNow is the main app specifically for booking licensed black cabs (as opposed to private hire vehicles), and shows an upfront estimate before you confirm.
• Phone or online booking. Adds the permitted up-to-£2.00 booking charge, but guarantees a cab is coming for you rather than relying on hailing one nearby.

Drivers are legally required to accept any hire up to 12 miles or one hour if the destination is within Greater London (up to 20 miles if starting at Heathrow), unless they have a genuinely good reason not to — a driver refusing a valid short trip within London is breaking licensing conditions and can be reported to TfL.

Accessibility & Passenger Rights

All licensed black cabs must be wheelchair-accessible, with a working wheelchair ramp at all times — this is one of the reasons they’re exempt from ULEZ, since the vehicle design itself is heavily regulated to guarantee this. Under the Equality Act 2010, drivers have a legal duty to provide reasonable mobility assistance, accept passengers travelling with an assistance dog at no extra charge, and must not start the meter until a wheelchair user is safely on board — the meter also has to stop the instant the cab arrives at the destination, not when the passenger has finished getting out.

If something goes wrong — a driver overcharging, refusing a fare, or you leave something in the cab — TfL handles complaints and lost property for licensed taxis directly, and having the vehicle’s licence number (visible on the rear plate, and printed on any receipt) makes reporting or tracing lost items considerably easier.

Tipping a Black Cab Driver

Tipping isn’t legally required and won’t affect the fare shown on the meter, but rounding up to the nearest pound or two, or adding roughly 10%, is common and appreciated for good service — particularly on longer journeys or when the driver has helped with luggage. It’s a smaller, more optional gesture than restaurant tipping, not an expected addition to every fare. For the fuller picture of tipping norms across London generally, see Is Tipping Expected in London?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a black cab cost in London?

There’s a minimum fare of £4.40 at all times. A typical 1-mile trip runs roughly £8.40–£13.20 depending on time of day, and Heathrow to central London typically costs £70–£120 on the meter.

Why are London black cabs so expensive?

Partly because of London traffic — the meter charges by time as well as distance once the cab slows below roughly 10–11 mph — and partly because black cab drivers undergo years of licensing training (“the Knowledge”) and operate purpose-built, heavily regulated vehicles, which is reflected in the regulated tariff.

Do black cabs charge extra for card payment?

No. By law, there is no surcharge for paying by card, contactless or mobile payment — you pay exactly the metered fare regardless of payment method.

How much is a black cab from Heathrow to central London?

Typically £70–£120 on the meter, taking 30–60 minutes depending on traffic, plus a £1.60 rank charge or £6.00 terminal drop-off charge. The Elizabeth line covers the same route much more cheaply in around 30 minutes.

Can a black cab refuse a fare?

Only for a genuinely good reason. Drivers are legally required to accept any hire up to 12 miles or one hour within Greater London (20 miles from Heathrow), and refusing a valid short trip is a licensing breach that can be reported to TfL.

Are black cabs cheaper than Uber in London?

It depends on the trip. Black cabs can be cheaper during Uber surge pricing (busy weekend nights), while Uber and Bolt are usually cheaper off-peak. Black cabs also don’t carry the Congestion Charge fee that Uber adds to central London trips.

Do I need to tip a black cab driver?

No, it’s not required. Rounding up or adding roughly 10% is common for good service, but it’s optional rather than expected on every fare.

For getting around the rest of the city day to day, see Oyster Card vs. Contactless and How Much Does the Tube Really Cost? — for most short, everyday journeys, the Tube or bus will beat a black cab on price every time, but for late nights, heavy luggage, or a direct door-to-door trip, the black cab remains one of London’s most reliable options.