There's no single answer to "how much is a London minicab?", but the price comes from a small number of factors you can understand and plan around. This guide explains what moves our prices, and shows real fixed fares for some common airport journeys.
For any other journey, enter your pickup and destination in the booking form: it shows your estimated fare straight away, and we confirm the final price when you book.
What changes the price
- Distance is the biggest part of the fare. Longer journeys work out cheaper per mile, because the fixed cost of each job is spread over more miles.
- Traffic doesn't. Our estimate is worked out from the road distance, not from how long the drive takes, so a slow journey doesn't cost more.
- Airports: a journey to or from an airport costs a little more, unless it's on our fixed price list (below).
- Night travel: pickups between 22:00 and 06:00 cost a little more.
- Central London at both ends: when the pickup and the drop-off are both in the most congested central streets, the price is higher, because those journeys are slow and busy.
- Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day carry a holiday rate.
- Extra passengers and bags: the first of each is included, and each extra one adds a small amount.
- Vehicle size: a saloon is the baseline; an estate, executive car, MPV or minibus costs progressively more.
The booking form shows the effect of each of these as you change the journey, so you can compare a saloon with an estate, or a 21:30 pickup with a 22:30 one, before you book.
Fixed airport fares: some examples
Many airport journeys from south, east and west London and Surrey are on our fixed price list, with nothing added for the airport, night travel, extra passengers or extra bags. Some examples for a saloon, one way, going to the airport:
| From | To Heathrow | To Gatwick |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster (SW1) | £65 | £90 |
| Streatham (SW16) | £65 | £65 |
| Kingston (KT1) | £60 | £60 |
| Croydon (CR0) | £70 | £60 |
| Greenwich (SE10) | £75 | £75 |
Coming back from the airport costs a little more, because the driver tracks your flight, parks and waits for you. Find your own area, every vehicle and both directions on our airport transfer pages, and see how fixed airport prices work for what's included.
Black cab meter vs private-hire quote
This is the key difference for keeping the cost under control:
- A black cab runs on a regulated meter that counts time as well as distance, so a slow journey in heavy traffic costs more than expected.
- A licensed private-hire operator like us gives you the price before you travel, so traffic on the day doesn't change it.
For predictable budgeting, especially for airport transfers, a price agreed in advance is usually the safer choice. Our guide to paying and tipping in a black cab or minicab covers what each type accepts and what the fare does and doesn't include.
How to get an accurate number
The only way to know the price for your journey is to enter the exact pickup and destination. Get a London minicab estimate, then send us the request and we confirm the final fare.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does a minicab cost in London? A: It depends mainly on the distance, plus the time of day, the vehicle and whether an airport or central London is involved. Enter your journey in the booking form for an estimated fare; we confirm the final price when you book.
Q: How much is a minicab from central London to Heathrow? A: From Westminster (SW1) our fixed fare to Heathrow is £65 for a saloon, with nothing added for night travel, extra passengers or bags. For other parts of central London, enter your address for an estimate.
Q: Is there a per-mile rate? A: Not a single one. The price is worked out from the road distance for your journey, and longer journeys cost less per mile. The booking form shows the estimate for your exact journey.
Q: Is a minicab more expensive at night in London? A: A little, for pickups between 22:00 and 06:00. Fixed airport fares don't change at night.
Q: Does traffic change the price of a booked minicab? A: Not with us. Our estimate is worked out from the road distance, not the time the drive takes. A black cab's meter, by contrast, counts time as well as distance.
Q: Does a bigger vehicle cost more? A: Yes. An estate, executive car, MPV or minibus each cost more than a saloon. Book for the luggage and passengers you actually have, rather than the smallest vehicle.
For ways to bring the cost down, see our London minicab savings guide.
We provide your journey directly, and the prices shown are estimates that may vary.