Taxi ranks

Taxi rank There are approximately 500 taxi ranks in the London area. The purpose of taxi ranks is to provide the public with a set location where they can hire a licensed taxi.

The rank is the only situation where a taxi may ply for hire in a stationary position. Ranks are situated in locations where the public most need taxis, e.g. mainline London rail termini, hotels and major shopping areas. 50% of ranks are within the boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.

Stations

Ranks in Central London where you can reasonably expect to see a taxi regularly, include the following railway stations:

Kings Cross
Euston
St. Pancras
Marylebone
Liverpool Street
Fenchurch Street
Waterloo
Charing Cross
London Bridge
Victoria and Paddington

At most times, during the working week, Blackfriars and Cannon Street will also provide taxi service.

Hotels

Most of the major hotels in London have working ranks, including:

The Dorchester
The Hilton
The Ritz
Le Meridian (Piccadilly)
Intercontinental (Park Lane)
Grosvenor House Hotel

Stores

The major London stores also have ranks outside their premises:

Harrods
Selfridges
John Lewis
Marks & Spencer (Marble Arch)

Attractions

Other locations within the central area where ranks offer a regular service include underground stations and major tourist attractions including:

Sloane Square (in the central island)
South Kensington Underground station (Harrington Road)
V & A Museum (Cromwell Gardens)
Tower of London
Tate Gallery Britain (Millbank
Tate Gallery Modern (private facility- service by taxis)

Shopping centres

Outside of central London major taxi ranks are normally focused on railway stations and key shopping centres. For example:

Harrow
Richmond
Wimbledon
Sutton
East Croydon
Romford
Upminster
Uxbridge
Ealing Broadway
Woolwich
Bromley
Wembley Park
Lewisham
Stratford

Taxi ranks are appointed by the Public Carriage Office under Section 4 of the 1850 London Hackney Carriages Act as amended by Schedule 20 of The Greater London Authority Act 1999.

The ranks detailed above are a small sample of those existing in London and are intended for general guidance. In order to provide the best service for passengers we constantly look for new and better locations for taxi ranks to provide a safe and accessible means of transport.

Any queries not answered on the taxi licensing pages can be e-mailed to the Public Carriage Office directly.