Taxis
When you need to get across town in a hurry a taxi can be the best option as they give you the door-to-door convenience of a car without having to find a parking space.
Although it is something mostly associated with London, many UK cities have traditional black cabs in operation. In actual fact these taxis are not all black, some are white and many are sponsored by a particular company and will be decorated in with the company's logo and colours. However one thing they do all have in common is that they can be hailed in the street.
There are two types of taxi in the UK, the "black cabs" and the private hire taxis. The main difference between the two is that private hire taxis cannot be hailed in the street while black cabs can. This means that if you are out and about in the city and you see a black cab with its "for hire" light lit, it means they are available and can he hailed. To get their attention stand on the edge of the pavement and raise your hand, the taxi should then pull over and pick you up.
Private hire taxi companies are ideal if you need to be picked up from home, or picked up from your hotel to be taken direct to a destination. You can find phone numbers for local companies in the local phone directory however taxi firms may also leave their cards in supermarkets, guesthouses and other popular locations. All you need to do is ring the number and ask the operator for a taxi, you will then be asked to give your location and your destination and the taxi will be on its way.
Before you get into a taxi you should always check that it is licensed and that the driver has a licence. Some of the major cities do have unlicensed taxis trying to work in the city so if you are unsure check for licences and as an extra precaution ask to speak to the radio operator (unlicensed taxis are unlikely to have a working radio).
Travelling by taxi is one of the more expensive ways to get from A to B but it can be convenient and quick (depending on the traffic) especially for short journeys.