Black Cab London Christmas Lights Tour: Is It Worth It?

Right then, you’re likely wondering if zipping around London in a Black Cab, checking out the Christmas lights, is all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe you’ve spotted one of those ads promising a winter wonderland on wheels, or perhaps your friends have been buzzing about it. So, I’m here to give you the lowdown, based on actually experiencing the tour myself. To be honest, going into it, I was pretty much just wanting to dodge the crowds and maybe get a few decent photos, but I ended up getting way more than that. I thought, how cool it would be to view it all from an iconic vehicle. I’ll explain how it went!

What’s the Big Idea With a Black Cab Christmas Lights Tour?

First off, you might be asking yourself, like, why a Black Cab? It’s simple, yet quite brilliant. See, these cabs are practically institutions in London, you know. What that really means, is that the drivers seriously know their stuff, and not just in a GPS kind of way. They know the shortcuts, the little-known spots, and more importantly, they’ve pretty much seen it all. Plus, that, they can weave through traffic a lot better than, you know, a tour bus. So, for a Christmas lights tour, that kind of translates into skipping the jammed-up sidewalks and really getting up close and comfy with the twinkling displays. What happens, is you hop in, and it is like you’ve got your own sleigh. I mean, almost like it. No reindeer, yet! In fact, some tours even toss in extras, sort of, like a glass of mulled wine, to kind of keep things cozy.

Setting Off: My Personal Experience

Alright, so, I booked my tour for an evening mid-December, kinda just hoping it would be a good distraction from all the holiday shopping stress. Turns out, it was exactly that and so much more. My cabbie, his name was Dave, he greeted me with a wide grin, very jolly he was, very Santa-like, in a way! The cab was surprisingly warm, which was already a win, let’s face it. As we started, he asked what I was hoping to see and then, to my surprise, sort of started spinning yarns about the different lights. Like, did you know some of those displays have little stories behind them? Stories of quirky shops, the buildings involved or something? Honestly, that immediately raised the entire tour from a simple sightseeing trip into something, perhaps, way more engaging. So, as we moved from Regent Street’s shimmering angels to the over-the-top displays in Oxford Street, he kind of kept feeding me interesting tidbits and facts. The streets can become congested so, so slowly, especially around big landmarks. Being in the cab, however, meant we bypassed most of the madness, and in turn, spent more time appreciating the show.

Must-See Locations on the Tour

Obviously, your tour might vary slightly depending on the company, but here are pretty much a few spots that should, like, be on everyone’s list. Of course, there’s Regent Street, maybe with those stunning angel installations. Very divine, honestly, sort of breathtaking when you see them all lit up. Then, you have Oxford Street, pretty bold, let’s say, maybe a bit more flashy. It usually gets overcrowded, yet, being in the cab means you don’t really need to contend with the crowds pushing and shoving to grab a picture. Plus, there is Covent Garden, a little more charming and quirky with its decorations, so festive it is. This place is awesome; it has this festive spirit, a little village, it really comes alive around the holiday. Carnaby Street too, usually has some pretty awesome, imaginative themes, each year they surprise you. Something that might appeal to you or otherwise is, depending on the tour, there might be stops for photo ops at places like Trafalgar Square with its massive Christmas tree, potentially from Norway. What I learned, you see, is that the tree has sort of become a symbol of gratitude from Norway to Britain for its help during World War II. Every location just oozes Christmas glee.

What Sets a Black Cab Tour Apart?

Okay, so why choose this, maybe, over a walking tour, or one of those open-top bus situations? The main reason is this: Comfort and the inside information. What I mean, a walking tour might seem nice, yet, in December in London? Maybe it won’t. You know what I mean? Also, you’ll probably be too busy watching your feet and avoiding puddles to really soak it all in. Now, as for the open-top buses, they might give you some great views, yet, that is also dependent on the rain holding off and you wearing lots and lots of layers! In contrast, that, the Black Cab is so toasty warm and it will take you down the smaller streets and hidden gems a big bus couldn’t. As well as this, you get a tour guide who is, too, very entertaining with facts, and quite able to tailor the experience to suit you. Basically, you could ask to stop at a certain shop to stock up on, maybe, some chocolates or request a slightly longer pause in front of a particularly impressive light display. Also, if you just wanna sit back, zone out, and take some great photos, you definitely can!

Things to Think About Before You Book

Right, so, before you go reaching for your credit card, what is something that could cause issues? I suppose this: Do your homework. Various companies all run these tours, yet, they are very dissimilar in terms of price, what they include, and even the length of the trip. And by that, I do, basically, mean look at reviews, compare a couple of options, and pay pretty close attention to what’s included. See, some tours could chuck in things like, maybe, a hot drink or a small snack, while others maybe won’t. Likewise, tour lengths might also vary. So, you’d wanna make sure it covers all the areas you seriously wanna see. One thing to keep in mind, is that these tours probably will be quite popular, you see, especially closer to Christmas. Booking in advance is quite an important thing so, to secure your spot and pretty much swerve any disappointment. That aside, if there are, let’s say, little kids or someone with mobility issues in your group, just kind of make sure to check with the tour operator. Ask to be absolutely sure the tour is a good fit and find out about things like step-free access. Very key that is to ensure you and your party have a great time.

Is the Black Cab Christmas Lights Tour Worth the Money?

The golden question really is, maybe it’s pretty steep in price. To answer that, for me, it kind of boiled down to the whole package, to the general feeling you get on the tour. See, it’s not just a means of getting to a location and taking a pic, it is pretty more personal, it’s far cozier than most other touring arrangements. Sure, it might cost more than, let’s say, hopping on the tube and just wandering around, yet, consider it for what it is: An investment in experience. I got to escape the crush, I felt personally connected to what I was looking at, and I saw London from an entirely different perspective. Think of the value being not just the transport yet the experience itself. Basically, are you okay with investing in an experience, it kind of feels a world away from doing the whole thing on your own.

Other Ways to Enjoy London’s Christmas Lights

Suppose, you’re maybe not totally sold on the Black Cab idea. Or say it’s a bit outside your price range. No biggie, right? So, the capital offers a ton of ways of seeing the lights without necessarily needing to break the bank. The first being a bit of planning, grab a map of some kind and choose some main locations for lights, plan your route out beforehand, or it’s going to be time-consuming! Walking might take you longer and be hard work yet you might find somewhere amazing that no one knows about yet. Otherwise you may use the Underground, to save time. Maybe take your journey into a festive-themed bar afterwards. Loads of stuff you can do if you choose not to travel in a taxi.

In all honestly, the Black Cab tour is really quite an amazing treat, but with a plan, and imagination, you can create great experiences for half the costs. At the end of the day, enjoy Christmas time wherever you are!

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