Do Black Taxis Exist Outside Of London

So there I was, in a tiny town in rural Wales, trying to get to a train station after a wedding. My phone was dead, my wallet was nearly empty, and the local pub was closing. A kind local pointed down the road and said, “Try old Dai, he runs the black cab.”

I laughed, thinking he was joking. A black taxi? In a village with one shop and a sheep problem? But sure enough, a familiar, boxy, London-style hackney carriage rolled around the corner. It was a real black cab, complete with the turning circle and a slightly grumpy driver named Dai. That’s when I started wondering: do black taxis exist outside of London? Let’s dig into this.

The Short Answer: Yes, But It’s Weirdly Complicated

You’d think the iconic black cab is as exclusive to London as double-decker buses and bad weather. But the truth is, they pop up in the most unexpected places. I’ve seen them in Manchester, Birmingham, and even as far north as Edinburgh.

However, they’re not everywhere. You won’t find them cruising the streets of, say, Los Angeles or Paris—unless they’re part of a vintage car show. The key is that these taxis are licensed by local councils, not by Transport for London.

So the cab itself is a London-style vehicle, but the rules are totally different. It’s like seeing a British telephone box in New York City: familiar shape, alien context.

Where Do They Actually Live?

Let’s get specific. You’ll find purpose-built black taxis in most major UK cities like Liverpool, Glasgow, and Cardiff. These cities have taxi licensing laws that require the same kind of vehicle: the TX series (the modern black cab).

But here’s the curveball—they also exist in Belfast (a whole different country, technically) and even in Dublin. Yes, the Irish have adopted them too. In Dublin, they’re not called “black cabs,” they’re just… taxis. But they look the exact same.

Outside the UK and Ireland, the story gets weirder. I’ve seen photos of black cabs in Berlin, Singapore, and even Saudi Arabia. These are usually imported by hotels or private hire companies for a touch of British class. Fake? No. Real London cabs? Yes. Licensed to pick up passengers there? Often, yes.

London maps and guides

The “Knowledge” Problem (Or Why You Can’t Randomly Drive One)

Now, here’s where it gets ironic. In London, driving a black cab requires passing “The Knowledge”—a brutal memory test of 25,000 streets. You can’t just buy a cab and start working. Outside of London, that rule does not apply.

So a black cab in Manchester is driven by someone who passed a local test—probably way easier. The cab itself is the same, but the driver might not know a “blue plaque” from a “bus lane.” It’s like having a Ferrari with a Toyota engine. Looks legit, but the soul is different.

This is why purists get annoyed. They’ll say, “That’s not a real black cab, it’s just a vehicle painted black.” Technically, they’re right. But try telling that to the driver in Wales who saved my bacon.

The Export Adventure: Black Cabs Go Global

London black cabs are exported all over the world. The company that makes them, the London Taxi Company (now LEVC), sells them in over 40 countries. You can buy one in Hong Kong, New Zealand, or even the United States—though in the US, they’re usually used as airport shuttles or wedding cars.

I once saw a row of them parked outside a hotel in Dubai. They were gold, not black, but the shape was unmistakable. Gold taxis? Yes. The rules changed for export. You can paint them any color you want.

There are now more electric taxis than diesel-powered ones in London

So if you’re in Tokyo and you hail a black cab? It’s probably a local version. But a London-style black cab? Only if it’s an imported one. Most Japanese taxis are Toyota Comforts—way smaller.

The Ironic Twist: They’re Actually Becoming Rare in London

Here’s the punchline. While black cabs are spreading globally, they’re actually declining in number in London. Uber, e-bikes, and private hire apps have eaten their market share. Many drivers are switching to greener, less iconic vehicles.

So the next time you see a black cab in Birmingham or Bangkok, smile. It’s a piece of London that escaped. And it’s probably more common there than it is in Central London now. How’s that for irony?

Final reality check: Yes, black taxis exist outside London. They’re just not all black, not always driven by someone who knows the city, and sometimes they’re painted gold. But when you’re stranded in rural Wales with a dead phone, you won’t care about the licensing rules. You’ll just thank Dai, the grumpy man with the black cab—and the generous heart.

So next time you travel, keep an eye out. You might spot one in Paris (yes, really, near the Gare du Nord). And if you do, you can smugly tell your friends: “See? They’re everywhere.” Just don’t expect the driver to know where The Shard is. That’s our secret, okay? Shh.