No one wants to spend more money than they have to especially when it comes to airport transfers. If you are flying to or from Heathrow airport you will want to know how to get a taxi from Heathrow to your destination. Heathrow airport taxis are easy enough to get but you could end up spending more than you need to.
In this article, we will look at how you can get a taxi from Heathrow Airport while saving yourself some money and also some tips to improve your inward or outward journey.
Black Cabs
Black cabs can be found just outside Heathrow airport and to get one you just have to hail one down. In the past, you may have heard horror stories about people getting ripped off with black cabs but the opposite is true. Black cabs are highly regulated and to become a black cab driver you need to pass a knowledge exam to become a black cab driver.
You don’t have to worry about being defrauded or taken on longer routes to run the bill up. Black cabs will get you from Heathrow airport to your destination without too much fuss at all. Black cabs can be found outside the departures at Heathrow, all you need to do is look for a cab that has its orange light on.
Black cabs are one of the most expensive ways to get a taxi from Heathrow Airport so just keep that in mind. When you enter a black cab a meter will be running and depending on the length of your journey the price will increase accordingly.
Private airport transfers
Private airport transfers are another great way of getting a taxi from Heathrow airport. Unlike black cabs, private taxis aren’t allowed to pick up business from the street so you will need to book one in advance.
The good thing about private taxis is that you can take your time to research the company at hand to make sure they are reliable and provide a service when you need it best.
Private airport transfers can be as cheap or as expensive as you want to pay as there are different cars you can hire. For example, an executive type car such as a Mercedes Benz E Class or S Class would be more expensive than your standard taxi. This could be important to you if you have a long journey as you are going to be more comfortable when travelling.
For others, you may simply need more space or more seats. When booking I private airport taxi from Heathrow airport you may need more seats and for this, you can book a minibus. This is a far more flexible option for those travelling in larger groups.
For parents, private airport taxis are more convenient too as finding a minicab that has a child seat is often very difficult. Private taxis on the other hand can provide you with a child seat on request. As a parent that travels a lot, I would only use a private taxi for this reason alone.
Private airport transfers as mentioned above need to be booked in advance so they know where to pick you up from and at what times. Depending on the company this could be anything from a few days from your departure to a few hours. I would recommend booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. By booking your airport transfer in advance you may get early bird deals too, but if not private taxis are usually cheaper than black cabs anyway.
To book a private taxi to or from Heathrow you can Google “Heathrow airport taxi” or “Heathrow airport transfers”. Or to save you time and effort you can use our own website to compare the costs of private airport transfers to and from Heathrow today.
Additional tips for getting a taxi from Heathrow Airport
Travellers often worry about getting ripped off or even worse getting in a car with someone who is untrustworthy. When travelling your safety should always be a concern so getting in a licenced black cab or booking with a private airport transfer company with a good reputation is going to give you the best chance of keeping safe when travelling to or from Heathrow airport.
If you do need a taxi when leaving Heathrow you should not be getting in a taxi if someone approaches you asking if you need one. Remember private airport transfer companies cannot solicit business this way and black cab drivers won’t do this either. Therefore this person is breaking the law by asking you and if they are willing to break the law to get you in a cab your safety is then at risk. Do not get in a cab if someone approaches you to do so. It isn’t safe and you more than likely will pay a higher premium too.
Other options than a taxi to Heathrow Airport
If price is of concern there are other options of getting to and from Heathrow airport. In our Heathrow Airport guide, we have highlighted how you can get to each terminal at Heathrow via car, taxi and tube.
Travelling via the tube can be cheaper and maybe the right choice for some travellers but if you need to be picked up at the airport for convenience sake then a private taxi may be the option for you.
If you would like to see how much it costs to travel to or from Heathrow Airport please get in touch and we can provide you with a custom quote. It may be cheaper than you expect.