English taxis: all about the world’s most recognised vehicles

Taxis in London are, without doubt, world-famous. A symbol of the city’s vast and diverse history, and recognisable no matter where you’re from, English taxis bring in thousands of tourists a day. For many tourists even, taxis in London are a sight to be seen in their own right – and an excellent way to visit the city! This article is dedicated to the history of English taxis. We hope to offer an insight into their uniquely singular design. We’ll answer all your questions about how and when they first appeared in the capital city, and why they have come to all look the same. To begin, get ready to go back 400 years through history!

The black cab: the origins of a timeless symbol

As many of our readers will already know, the real name for a taxi in London is the “black cab” – and this is certainly what you’ll hear Londoners calling them! World-famous, these cabs are classy, timeless, retro and chic. Indeed, they are so unique in their appearance that many films make use of them to represent an obvious symbol of England and the English. Black cabs have been part of British scenery for many years. They first appeared way back in the 16th century, when a sea captain took it upon himself to create a new form of transport linking the centre of London to the famous borough of Westminster. The first “black cab journeys” were actually on chairs on the back of people carrying them! This was the first real instance of more comfortable English taxis.

English taxis: why are they black?

So we’ve learnt a little about the history, but this still doesn’t explain why London taxis are mostly black. In actual fact, “black cabs” are under no requirements to be black! Nothing is written in the law about the colour – and there are actually a fair few red or burgundy ones to be seen on the streets of London. The reason that so many of them are black is because it was the cheapest paint on the market when they first started becoming popular. Even today it’s a cheaper option for the drivers. You may have also noticed that the majority of English taxis are covered in adverts – a way of making a little extra money every month.

English taxis: how do I go about booking one?

If you’re getting ready to go to London in the next few weeks, this section may be of particular interest to you. How can you book a taxi in London? . Firstly, to book an English taxi, we definitely recommend the company Blacklane which has one of the best reputations in London. The basic fare starts at £2.40. Taxis in London usually offer similar tarifs to those in France, as both fall under the European regulations.
To give you an idea of common prices, a taxi from Gatwick Airport to the centre of London would be about €100, or around £80, for a journey that lasts an hour. If you still would like extra information about booking a taxi, you can always check out the following article. For any Bordeaux-based readers wanting to take a trip to the British capital, there are regular and affordable flights from Merignac Airport.
If you’d like to book a taxi in Bordeaux to get to the airport quickly, check out our article. With a journey time of only an hour and a half, what are you waiting for?

Leave a comment :

(Aucun vote)

Loading...