TaxiCosts.co.uk exists because airport taxi fares are genuinely confusing, and most of the information online is either outdated, vague, or written by someone trying to sell you a booking. We built this site to give passengers one straightforward resource: accurate fare estimates, realistic journey times, and honest comparisons with public transport — before you book anything.
Who We Are
TaxiCosts is run by a small UK-based team with a background in London transport and travel research. We have no commercial relationships with taxi operators, private hire firms, or booking platforms. No route guide on this site is sponsored or affiliated with any transport provider. We do not take bookings and earn no commission from any journey you make.
How We Research Fares
Every fare guide on this site starts with the regulated tariff structure set by Transport for London for licensed black cabs — Tariff 1, 2 and 3 rates, the base charge, the per-mile rate, and how waiting time affects the meter. We cross-reference these against current market rates from licensed private hire operators and app-based services including Uber and Bolt, and compare journey times and costs against public transport alternatives including National Rail services, the London Underground, Gatwick Express and National Express coaches.
For routes outside the London black cab licensing area, such as Gatwick Airport transfers, we research fixed-price private hire rates from multiple operators and verify these against published market data.
Our guides are produced with AI writing assistance and reviewed by our editorial team before publication. Fare estimates, journey times, transport comparisons and route information are independently researched and verified. Every page carries a “Fare estimates last updated” date so you know exactly when figures were last checked. We update pages when fares change or when new information affects the accuracy of our guides.
What We Cover
We currently focus on the UK’s busiest airports — Heathrow and Gatwick — with guides covering the most common routes into central London and beyond. Each guide covers:
- Typical fare ranges for standard, peak and late night journeys
- Realistic journey times by time of day
- The routes drivers actually take and where congestion adds to the cost
- An honest comparison with public transport alternatives including trains, coaches and rideshare
- Practical tips specific to that route based on real journey knowledge
Why We Built This
Whether you are comparing a black cab against the Gatwick Express, working out whether three people should split a taxi or take the Tube, or simply checking whether a quote you have received is reasonable — this site gives you the numbers to make that decision yourself.
We are not here to sell you a taxi. We are here to make sure you know what one should cost.
Our Commitment to Accuracy
Taxi fares change. Tariff structures are updated, new services launch, and traffic patterns shift. We take accuracy seriously because people use this information to make real spending decisions. If you spot an error or believe a fare estimate is out of date, please get in touch via our Contact page and we will review it promptly.
All fares shown on this site are estimates based on standard tariffs and current market rates. Actual fares depend on traffic conditions, route taken, vehicle type and time of travel. Our figures are a guide, not a guarantee.