For years, the debate over taxis in London was framed as a straightforward battle between black cabs and Ubers.
But in 2026, this dichotomy feels increasingly outdated – instead of one side winning, drivers on both sides say the system is failing them.
London’s black cab trade is shrinking; squeezed by the high cost of licensing, running electric vehicles, and undertaking the Knowledge.
The Knowledge is a notoriously difficult exam that all London taxi drivers must pass to gain their license, and includes memorising over 25,000 streets.
Uber, once seen as the the future of the cab industry, is now facing tighter regulation, higher tax bills, and growing unrest among its own drivers.
Recent VAT changes have pushed fares up, leaving passengers paying more and drivers absorbing the pressure.
For riders, journeys are less predictable and no longer cheap, and efforts to level the playing field for cab companies have left few clear winners.
Find out more in the video below.
Featured image credit: Szabolcs Szarapka via Unsplash
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