Taxis & Transfers

Black Cabs: Wheelchair Accessible by Law

London is one of the very few cities in the world where every licensed taxi is wheelchair accessible. By law, all London black cabs must have a fold-down ramp and enough interior space for a wheelchair user to travel seated in their chair. This is not an optional extra or a special vehicle category. It applies to every single black cab in London.

How It Works

1. Hail a black cab on the street, go to a taxi rank, or book one through an app.
2. Tell the driver you need the ramp. The driver will pull up alongside the curb, open the left-side passenger door, and fold down the built-in ramp.
3. Roll up the ramp into the cab. The interior has a flat floor area and a restraint strap to secure your wheelchair.
4. The ramp handles standard and most power wheelchairs up to about 70 cm wide and 120 cm long. The weight limit is typically around 250 kg (including the user and chair).
5. At your destination, the driver deploys the ramp again for you to exit.

The entire process takes about one to two minutes. London cab drivers are trained in wheelchair boarding as part of their licensing.

Hailing vs. Booking

On the street: If the orange "TAXI" light on the roof is lit, the cab is available. Raise your hand to hail it. This works well in central London where black cabs are plentiful.

At a taxi rank: Major train stations, airports, hotels, and tourist areas have designated taxi ranks. Join the queue and take the next available cab.

By app: Several apps let you book a black cab in advance:

• Gett: The most popular black cab app. Shows nearby available cabs and gives a fare estimate. You can add a note requesting the ramp.
• Free Now: Another large black cab app with similar features.
• Taxi booking by phone: You can call a licensed radio taxi circuit. Dial-a-Cab (+44 20 7253 5000) and Radio Taxis (+44 20 7272 0272) both operate accessible fleets.

Pricing

Black cabs use a meter. The fare depends on distance, time of day, and traffic:

• Minimum fare: 3.80 pounds.
• Short trip (1 to 2 miles in central London): 8 to 15 pounds.
• Longer trip (3 to 5 miles): 15 to 30 pounds.
• Airport runs: Heathrow to central London costs 50 to 100 pounds. Gatwick costs 80 to 120 pounds.
• Night surcharge: Fares increase after 8:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends.

There is no surcharge for using the wheelchair ramp.

Uber WAV

Uber offers a "WAV" (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) option in the London app. These are licensed private hire vehicles with rear-entry ramps, separate from black cabs.

• Open the Uber app, enter your destination, and select the "WAV" option.
• Wait times are typically 10 to 25 minutes, though availability varies by area and time of day.
• Pricing is similar to UberX (the standard car option).
• Vehicles are usually modified vans (Mercedes Vito or similar) with a rear ramp and tie-down straps.

If you use a folding wheelchair and can transfer to a car seat, standard Uber or Uber Comfort work fine. The driver stores the folded chair in the boot.

Private Hire Accessible Vehicles

For pre-booked trips, several private hire companies operate accessible vehicles in London:

• Addison Lee: London's largest private hire company. They have accessible vehicles available by advance booking. Call and request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle at least 24 hours ahead.
• London Hire: Specializes in accessible transport. Ramp-equipped minibuses for groups.

Airport Transfer Services

For a guaranteed accessible vehicle at the airport, consider pre-booking:

• Black cab via app: Book through Gett or Free Now at least 2 hours before your flight lands. Driver meets you at arrivals.
• Uber WAV: Request after you clear customs. Wait time at airports is usually shorter than in the city.
• Private transfer companies: Airport-specific services start at about 60 to 80 pounds for Heathrow to central London, with meet-and-greet and luggage help included.

Tips for Taxi Travel in London

• Tipping is appreciated but not required. Rounding up to the nearest pound or adding 10% is standard.
• All black cabs accept card payments via a contactless reader in the back seat. No minimum charge for card payments.
• Black cabs can carry up to 5 passengers in addition to a wheelchair user (seating folds up when the ramp is in use, so capacity drops to 2 to 3 companions).
• Service dogs are allowed in all taxis and private hire vehicles at no extra charge. Drivers cannot refuse a service dog.
• In busy areas (West End, City of London), it is often faster to hail a cab than to wait for an Uber during peak hours.