London taxi : the origins of black cabs

It is impossible to go to London as a tourist and pass by a London taxi cab without being impressed by the class and vintage chic of this one of a kind vehicle. The classic London taxi is affectionately known as a black cab or occasionally a mini cab and is as much part of the symbolic landscape of the UK’s capital as Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. Black cab hire is an experience easily available to one and all and is not to be missed under any circumstance. But where did this singular and aesthetically pleasing vehicle come from? Lets rolls back more that 395 years to discover the origins of black cabs.

London taxis : the origins of the taxi in England

The black colour and overall look of the black cab taxi don’t go unnoticed by the many visitors that come to England each year and their history is almost as rich as that of the Tower of London. So between shopping on Brick Lane and wandering down the South Bank it is highly recommended to book a black cab. Its origins date back to the start of the 17th century with the first Hackney Carriages coming into use to transport the public quickly to and fro Westminster and The City of London. Later they became known as Hansom Cabs and taximeters were soon installed, it was this culture of taking taxis in London that gave rise to the beloved black cab taxi that we know today.

London taxi fares : how much does it cost to take a black cab?

London taxis calculate their fares according to the time the journey takes, this is done automatically with the help of a taximeter. It is worth noting that there is an initial base charge of £2.40. The cost per hour will be slightly higher on bank holidays and during the night. It is often said that the life in London is one of the most expensive in Europe but London taxi fares are far from extortionate. In fact the taxi prices in London are relatively similar to those in other major European capitals such as Paris or Madrid. For example if you want to take a black cab for an airport transfer between the centre and Gatwick airport the cost would be around £90 for a journey of over an hour.

Black taxi : the famous colour of an iconic vehicle

The black of taxis in London and UK taxis in general is not, contrary to what you might believe, an obligation. The UK might have some strange laws but there isn’t one that says all taxis must be black! The colour came about from way back in the history of London cabs from the days when black paint was the cheapest and therefore most economically sensible. These days it is not unusual to see a London taxi completely covered in advertising, for much the same reasons.

Becoming a taxi driver in London : a difficult task

Becoming a taxi driver in London is notoriously difficult. In order to become a proper ‘Cabby’ applicants must pass the infamous test known as ‘The Knowledge’. This test means they have to know by heart the map of central London. Once a taxi driver has ‘The knowledge’ only then will they be given their official taxi sign and be allowed to operate officially. A study has suggested that passing the test takes, on average, three years. The driver of a London taxi with the knowledge has to be able to plan 350 routes in the radius of the six miles around Charing Cross (that means being able to recall around 30,000 roads off the top of the head)! Safe to say that a trip in a London taxi is well worth it just to see this incredible feat action.
Discover more here about the origins of New York taxis and taxis in Europe.

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