Esskay Cars runs long-distance taxis from Surrey, Sussex and London to anywhere in mainland UK, at a fixed price agreed before you travel. Sample fares from our Reigate base include £141 to Oxford, £218 to Birmingham and £328 to Manchester in a saloon. The price covers the whole car, so for a family or group a long-distance taxi can cost less than separate train tickets. It also goes door to door with all your luggage.
Quick answers
- How far will you go? Anywhere in mainland UK.
- Fixed price? Yes, agreed before you travel.
- Per person or per car? Per car.
- Can we stop on the way? Yes. Add stops when booking, or ask the driver for a comfort break.
- Larger groups? Yes. 8-seater minivans and 12 to 16-seater minibuses.
How much is a long-distance taxi?
From Reigate, a saloon costs about £141 to Oxford, £218 to Birmingham and £328 to Manchester, fixed per car.
These fares were checked in our booking system on 24 October 2026 for a weekday journey. Prices from central London or elsewhere in the South East will be similar. Enter your exact addresses in the booking form for a fixed quote.
| Reigate to | Saloon | Estate | People carrier | 8-seater | 16-seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | £141 | £160 | £188 | £252 | £462 |
| Southampton | £142 | £161 | £190 | £254 | £473 |
| Cambridge | £159 | £180 | £212 | £283 | £507 |
| Bournemouth | £174 | £197 | £231 | £309 | £549 |
| Birmingham | £218 | £246 | £288 | £385 | £633 |
| Norwich | £235 | £265 | £311 | £415 | £675 |
| Cardiff | £253 | £285 | £334 | £446 | £720 |
| Exeter | £263 | £297 | £348 | £464 | £735 |
| Manchester | £328 | £370 | £432 | £576 | £889 |
| Leeds | £328 | £370 | £433 | £577 | £887 |
Is a long-distance taxi cheaper than the train?
For one person, the train is usually cheaper. For three or more people, a taxi can cost the same or less, and it goes door to door.
Train fares are per person, and peak-time long-distance tickets are expensive. Four people in an estate from Reigate to Birmingham pay about £62 each, with no changes and no taxi at either end. For six people in a people carrier to Manchester, it is about £72 each.
Why do people book long-distance taxis?
For moves, medical appointments, family events, university runs, missed connections, and anyone who cannot or would rather not drive.
- Students and parents taking a term’s worth of luggage to university.
- Families travelling to weddings, funerals and reunions.
- Older travellers who no longer drive long distances.
- Hospital appointments at specialist centres in other cities.
- Business travellers heading to meetings outside London.
- Travellers whose flights are diverted to another UK airport.
How long will the journey take?
Roughly an hour for every 50 to 60 miles on motorways, plus time for breaks and city traffic.
| Reigate to | Approximate drive time |
|---|---|
| Oxford | 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours |
| Southampton | 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours |
| Cambridge | 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Birmingham | 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours |
| Cardiff | 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Exeter | 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Manchester | 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Leeds | 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes |
Can we stop on the way?
Yes. Add planned stops in the booking form, or tell the driver you need a short comfort break at a services.
Planned stops, such as collecting another passenger, add a small fee each. For journeys of more than two or three hours, a short break at a motorway services is normal and expected. Just mention it when you book so the timing allows for it.
Which vehicle is best for a long journey?
For comfort over several hours, an estate or executive saloon for two to four people, and a people carrier or executive minivan for families.
- Saloon: 3 passengers, 3 large cases.
- Estate: 4 passengers, 4 large cases. It has more room to stretch out.
- Executive saloon: a Mercedes E-Class or similar, for business trips.
- Executive minivan: a Mercedes V-Class or similar, seating 6 in individual seats.
- 8-seater minivan and minibuses: for larger groups.
Do you do long-distance airport transfers?
Yes. We drive to and from any UK airport, including Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and East Midlands, as well as the London airports.
Long-distance airport runs are useful when a flight is diverted, when a cheaper flight leaves from a regional airport, or for passengers connecting to a domestic flight. For the London airports, see our Heathrow taxi prices and cheap Gatwick taxi pages.
Is the price fixed even if there is traffic?
Yes. The fare is agreed when you book and does not change with traffic, diversions or roadworks.
On long routes, delays on the M1, M6 or M4 are common. With a fixed fare, the cost of any hold-up is ours, not yours.
Can you take a large group a long way?
Yes. 12 and 16-seater minibuses can take groups anywhere in the UK at one fixed price.
From Reigate to Birmingham, a 16-seater minibus is £633, about £40 each when full. That suits sports teams, choirs, wedding parties and day trips.
Can you help with a university move?
Yes. An estate or people carrier holds a student’s luggage, bedding and boxes, with room for a parent too.
From Reigate, an estate to Oxford is £160, and to Cambridge £180. For a full move with lots of boxes, the 8-seater minivan has much more space. Tell us roughly how much you are bringing so we send the right vehicle.
Can you take patients to hospital appointments in other cities?
Yes. We take patients and relatives to specialist hospitals across the UK, and can wait or return later.
Tell us the hospital, the appointment time and whether you need help getting in and out of the car. For long appointments, it is often best to book the return as a separate pickup at a set time.
What if our flight is diverted to another airport?
Call or WhatsApp us, and we will quote a fixed price to collect you from the new airport and bring you home.
Diversions to Birmingham, Manchester or Stansted happen in fog or storms. A long-distance taxi home avoids hours of waiting for coaches, and the fixed price means you know the cost before you agree.
Do you take pets on long journeys?
Ask when you book. Tell us about the animal, its size and whether it travels in a carrier, and we will check what we can arrange.
Assistance dogs are always welcome.
Is a one-way long-distance taxi possible?
Yes. All the fares above are one way.
For a return, book both legs. The booking form applies any return discount automatically. If you are staying away, add the return date and time when you book.
Do you pick up from London as well as Surrey?
Yes. We collect from anywhere in London and the South East for long-distance journeys.
From central London, fares to the Midlands and the North are similar to the Reigate prices above, sometimes a little lower for routes heading north. Enter your London address in the booking form for an exact fixed price. We also collect from the London airports, for example if you land at Heathrow and want to go straight to Birmingham or Oxford.
Are your drivers used to long journeys?
Yes. Our drivers are experienced on motorway journeys, and they plan breaks on longer trips.
All are licensed private hire drivers, insured and DBS-checked. They will choose the best route on the day, and the fixed fare means a longer route never costs you more.
How do I book a long-distance taxi?
Enter your pickup and destination in the booking form at the top of this page for an instant fixed price, then choose a vehicle and confirm.
For complex trips with several stops, call 0207 8400 344 or WhatsApp 020 3355 8186. We run 24 hours a day.
Long distance taxi: common questions
How much is a long-distance taxi from Surrey to Birmingham?
From £218 in a saloon from Reigate, fixed.
How much is a taxi from Reigate to Manchester?
From £328 in a saloon.
Is a long-distance taxi cheaper than the train?
For three or more people sharing, it can be similar or cheaper, and it goes door to door.
Can we stop on the way?
Yes, for comfort breaks or extra pickups.
Do you go anywhere in the UK?
Yes, anywhere in mainland UK.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed before you travel.
