Henry08

Hi,
I am struggling to choose right kind of heathrow airport taxi services, will anyone suggest me to right kind of service..

md95065

Generally I would try to avoid using taxis to or from Heathrow. Where are you trying to get to or from?

AlphaTangoMike

I have no affiliation with this company, but have used Heathrow Airport Cars on several occasions. London Heathrow Cars | Heathrow Taxis | Heathrow to London | Airport Transfers

Pulaski

Why? We used a taxi from and to LHR on our recent trip, it made for a very relaxed experience in both directions, though not a cheap one. We were picked up at LHR by a taxi from the city we were going to, and the same driver took us back.

robin1234

Was this an actual taxi? I thought for longer journeys, prebooked, there would be some kind of hire car type option that would be cheaper and equally reliable.

Pulaski

An actual taxi, with a Hackney Cab badge, but charging a fixed fee (not on the clock). It was the driver my mother normally uses, locally (on the clock, she doesn't drive - never has) and for airport runs.

dunroving

I have recent experience with this and I'd say DO NOT USE A BLACK CAB!

I had to go to High Wycombe (Bucks New University) yesterday to conduct a PhD viva. I was told to take a cab because it would not be much different than the cost of a train.

Being used to taking taxis from airports in the US, after landing at LHR, I naively followed the signs for "Taxis", and was led to a Black cab taxi rank.

Long story short: Black cab from LHR to High Wycombe cost £115.50. "Regular" taxi back to LHR from High Wycombe the next day was £30.

I'd say Google and find some local taxi companies and call/email them to ask whether you can call them from LHR to order a taxi, then use that number when you land. Or pre-order a taxi.

I think the mark-up by the London taxi cabs is disgracefully extortionate. I was also pissed off at the driver's attitude when I asked him (before we left) if I could pay by credit card.

Pulaski

Holy cow! You paid more than three times the rate/ per mile than I did! The rate back was very similar, actually slightly less per mile.

dunroving

I plan to call the London taxi cab company (there is a phone number on the receipt), because the driver also added a 10% surcharge, I presume for using a credit card. However, that wasn't explained when I was paying. I was told the fee would be £105. I saw him type £105.00 into the handset, but when he handed it to me, there was just a screen that said "Enter your PIN code". It wasn't until I got into the hotel and looked at the receipt that I realised I had been charged £115.50.

I will never ever use a black cab again in my life.

audio

Yes black cabs are very expensive, especially from LHR. About 12,000 recently demonstated about the competition of mobile apps UBER, who are about 70% cheaper I think.
You won't find a poor black cabbie unless he only works 2 hours/week.
Try and get a quote first.

dunroving

I think it was a learning experience for the university (I won't pay ultimately as they have to reimburse me). I don't think they realised how much of a mark-up there is on black cabs.

theOAP

We live slightly over 100 miles from Heathrow, and use a local firm for a private chauffeur. Look under car hire - private chauffeur or airport transfers in the yellow (?) pages. Best is a local reference (for example, ours doesn't advertise).

Always nice cars with courteous and professional (uniformed) drivers. We leave for Heathrow at 5:00 am, and on return to the UK are collected at Heathrow at 7:00 am. They have always been on time to collect or meet us, and we use the service at least once a year.

Cost is £110 to Heathrow (delivered to terminal) and £120 return from Heathrow (driver stands in that group of people you always see holding up names outside arrivals), so £230 (plus tip) round trip.

The spouse grew tired of lugging baggage on and off transfer buses, and I objected somewhat the first time we used them. After that first trip, I never objected again. It's worth it for the stress free travel.

christmasoompa

Sounds lovely, albeit a luxury I couldn't afford/justify at the mo! You don't drive I take it? So it's either public transport or this?

audio

I agree, I take a rental.

theOAP

Yes, I do drive and the car's large enough to take all the luggage.

Given the cost to leave a car at a (safe) Heathrow car park for two weeks, or the cost of a rental car for both trips; the cost isn't that much additional.

We usually book cattle car class on the flight and I don't sleep well in those seats. Arriving at 6:30 am at Heathrow with only a few catnaps on the flight back doesn't leave me at my best. Therefore I view the cost of the return from Heathrow to our house as a 'life saving' investment.