The Open Guide to London: the free London guide

Unmarked taxis. Normal saloon cars, rather than special models like black cabs. You can't hail them in the street. Generally telephoned for or picked up from a streetside office late at night. No fixed price structure; get a quote from the dispatcher at the office or on the phone, or the driver himself, before you get in.

There are plenty of extremely dodgy unlicensed minicabs about - don't accept a ride from someone who slows down next to you on the street and asks if you want a taxi. These people tend to hang around London's major attractions.

Women travelling alone in a minicab should exercise caution, especially late at night. A decent firm should have some female drivers on its books, so ask for them.

• Lady Cabs is a firm that only employs woman drivers.
  • (020) 7254 3501 / (020) 7923 7599.