Black Cabs (Suggested by Sundiszno) 5

London cabs are another one of London's inimitable hallmarks. Although I prefer walking around London as much as possible, and taking the Underground is super convenient at times, there are times when a cab is the best way to go. At least as of the last time I was there (alas, longer ago than I would like, in 2000) cabs were a pretty decent bargain price-wise. The cabbies really do go through a rigorous procedure to obtain their permit and know how to get you where you want to go without consulting maps, asking directions of the passenger, etc. I almost had one unpleasant experience with a so-called special cab. Got into Victoria Station from Heathrow and a reputable looking gent asked if I wanted a cab (which I did, to make a relatively short trip up to the Strand). I thought he was affiliated with the normal cab rank in front of the station; instead, he started walking my wife and I down the street to a special cab (not the ordinary London cab, but a much larger sedan). For once I did something sensible and asked how much the ride was going to cost; the guy wanted ten pounds for basically a ride of a few blocks, so I told him no. Then I almost had to wrestle the bags out of his hand (which meant I had tolug them back to the standard cab rank). Anyway, another one of my long digressions. If you visit London, get a real cab and enjoy the ride. If you have enough people to share a cab (and the cost), it's probably the most convenient way to get from Heathrow to central London.