Based on information.received on another post on this forum, I am concerned about transportAtion back.to.hotel after theater. We were going to.take taxi but learned that they were difficult at that time of night and location.
Please advise us as to safest and easiest travel option from.and to.hotel for play.
Thank you.
Posted by
Costa Mesa, CA, USA
503 posts
We always just take the Tube - the circle line from Mansion house to the South Kensington station.
Posted by
Land of La
8728 posts
How are you getting there? If by taxi arrange for him to pick you up.
I always walk across the Millinieum Bridge, up to Queen Victoria Street , Turn left, and Walk to Blackfriars Station. 15 minute walk. Oh and I’m a female who was born when Truman was in office.
The above advice to tube from Mansion Station to S Kensington is probably the easiest route for you.
And the fact that you are worried about finding a cab is based solely on one posters naive assumption. You want to take a cab? Walk over to the Southwark bridge and hail a black cab.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32929 posts
I wouldn't be concerned. I've said why on your eating at the Globe thread.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
22 posts
We couldn't find any taxis after the performance. Luckily, a black van was sitting there and the driver said his client had canceled, so we got in. It was a great ride, but when we arrived he told us he only takes cash, and as it was the last night of our trip we had only five pounds. Luckily we had some American cash.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Luckily, a black van was sitting there and the driver said his client had canceled, so we got in.
Never, never do this. That is far more dangerous than taking the tube or walking in central London streets.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32929 posts
When you did that, naively expecting that you were doing nothing wrong, almost certainly you were contributing to the breaking of the law by the driver. If it didn't have an illuminated sign on the roof reading TAXI in orange, it wasn't one. If it was a licensed minicab (formally known as private hire) there would have been a blue London taxi roundel in the back window and a license number on a plaque on the back bumper or affixed to the back of the vehicle. They are not allowed to ply for trade and can only pick up a passenger who has pre-booked through their dispatcher. If they take a non-booked passenger they automatically have no insurance - that puts you in peril - and are breaking the law.
It also means that they can force you to pay whatever they want - effectively robbery - and are breaking the law.
If on the other hand the black van was simply a black van with no identification on it, no taxi sign, no blue roundel, no license plaque, you are being driven by who-knows-who the same if you flagged down any passing driver by hitchhiking with all the protections that affords. Criminals often do that to make money, sometimes much worse. They lurk near places with unwary people with the specific goal of taking advantage.
You are quite lucky to have come out of the experience as well as you did.
Just out of curiosity - how much did you end up paying? Did you tip?