The meter on a Heathrow black cab can land anywhere from £75 to £130 for the same central London run, which is a wide enough range to be confusing. Here's what actually drives the fare, and how it stacks up against pre-booking instead.
Quick answer
- Metered black cab to central London: £75–£130, 45–75 minutes
- Pre-booked minicab (fixed price): £45–£75, agreed in advance, drop-off charge included
- Heathrow to Windsor: indicatively £35–£45, 15–25 minutes
- Heathrow to Gatwick: indicatively £59–£110, 60–90 minutes, heavily dependent on M25 traffic
- Only the central London black-cab and minicab ranges are sourced figures; other routes are indicative and should be confirmed with the operator
Why the fare varies so much
A black cab is metered, so the fare reflects actual traffic conditions, not a fixed quote. Heathrow to central London is 14 to 15 miles, and depending on time of day and route, that's anywhere from 45 to 75 minutes — the difference between light traffic and the M4 or A4 at rush hour. That's most of the gap between the £75 low end and the £130 high end. Our taxis guide covers where the ranks are and how metered pricing works.
Pre-booking is usually the cheaper route
A pre-booked minicab to central London commonly runs £45 to £75, fixed before you travel and with the Heathrow drop-off charge already built into the price. That's a real saving over the black-cab meter, particularly at the top end of the metered range. The trade-off is that you lose the walk-up convenience of the rank — you need to book ahead rather than simply queuing at arrivals. See fixed-price vs metered fares for more on how the two pricing models work.
What pushes the fare up
- Traffic — the M4/A4 corridor into London is the main variable; peak-hour travel pushes journeys toward the 75-minute, £130 end
- Distance to your exact destination — a fare to the far side of central London costs more than one to a location near the M4
- Choosing the meter over a fixed quote — a pre-booked minicab removes this variability entirely
Fares beyond central London
Beyond the core central London route, other common trips include:
- Windsor: indicatively £35–£45 for the roughly 7-mile trip, 15–25 minutes
- Oxford: indicatively £90–£110 by taxi (or £26 one-way by National Express coach)
- Gatwick: indicatively £59–£110 for the roughly 45-mile transfer, 60–90 minutes, heavily dependent on M25 traffic
These figures are indicative rather than fixed and should always be confirmed with the operator when you book — our routes guide has more detail on journey times and distances across Heathrow's most common runs.
How to keep the cost down
- Pre-book a minicab rather than taking the metered black-cab rank, for a fixed, usually lower price
- Avoid peak-hour departures where possible, since traffic is the biggest driver of a metered fare
- Confirm indicative fares to non-central destinations with the operator before you travel, since only the central-London range is a checked figure
- Ask whether the drop-off charge is included when comparing minicab quotes, since Heathrow's own drop-off fee can otherwise be an extra cost
FAQs
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to central London?
About £75 to £130 in a metered black cab, taking 45 to 75 minutes, or roughly £45 to £75 for a pre-booked minicab with the price fixed in advance.
Why does the black-cab fare vary so much?
Black cabs are metered, so the fare reflects actual traffic conditions on the day rather than a fixed quote — traffic on the M4/A4 corridor is the main variable.
Is a pre-booked minicab cheaper than a black cab?
Usually yes. A pre-booked saloon to central London is commonly £45 to £75 fixed with the drop-off charge included, against about £75 to £130 on the black-cab meter.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to Windsor?
Indicatively £35 to £45 for the roughly 7-mile trip, taking 15 to 25 minutes. Confirm the exact fare with the operator when you book.
How much is a taxi from Heathrow to Gatwick?
Indicatively £59 to £110 for the roughly 45-mile transfer, taking 60 to 90 minutes and heavily dependent on M25 traffic.
Are fares to places other than central London fixed prices?
No. Only the central London black-cab and pre-booked minicab ranges are sourced, checked figures. Fares to other destinations are indicative and should be confirmed with the operator.