Taxis in Fareham
Taxi ranks, cab firms, and ride-hailing services
Fareham has a reasonable taxi provision, with hackney carriages (black cabs) and private hire vehicles available in the town. The provision is adequate for most needs, though late-night availability can be limited.
The main taxi rank is in the town centre, near the bus station on West Street. Taxis are usually available during shopping hours and on Friday and Saturday evenings. At quieter times, the rank may be empty and phoning for a cab is more reliable than waiting.
Fareham railway station has a taxi rank outside the main entrance. Taxis are generally available to meet arriving trains during the day, though late evening arrivals may find the rank empty. Regular commuters who arrive late tend to have a preferred cab firm's number saved in their phone.
Several private hire firms operate in the Fareham area. These need to be booked in advance by phone or through their apps. The established local firms have good knowledge of the area and generally provide a reliable service. Fares are metered or quoted in advance depending on the firm and the journey.
Uber operates in the Fareham area, and the app can be used to book rides. Availability varies depending on the time of day and the number of drivers in the area. During busy periods or late at night, surge pricing may apply, and waiting times can be longer than in the cities.
Typical taxi fares from Fareham town centre: to the railway station, approximately five to six pounds; to Queen Alexandra Hospital, approximately twelve to fifteen pounds; to Portsmouth city centre, approximately twenty to twenty-five pounds; to Southampton city centre, approximately thirty to thirty-five pounds. Fares increase at night and on weekends. These are indicative figures and will vary between operators.
Fareham Borough Council licenses both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles. Licensed vehicles display plates and the drivers carry identification. It is advisable to use only licensed vehicles, particularly late at night.
For airport transfers, specialist firms offer fixed-price services to Southampton Airport, Heathrow, and Gatwick. These should be booked in advance, particularly for early morning departures. Prices vary but a transfer to Southampton Airport will typically cost fifteen to twenty pounds, while Heathrow is in the range of eighty to one hundred pounds.
The taxi trade in Fareham is not as busy as in larger towns, and during quiet periods, particularly on weekday afternoons, response times from private hire firms can be slow. Planning ahead is sensible rather than assuming a cab will be immediately available.