Early Starts and Station Ranks: Tom Hutley reveals day in the life of a London cab driver
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
The latest video from popular London cabbie and YouTuber, Tom Hutley, documents a full early shift navigating London’s stations, streets, and heavy traffic.
Starting before sunrise, the cabbie heads straight to Euston Station, hoping for a fast-moving queue. He quickly realises mornings are a waiting game. After nearly an hour, he secures a short fare to Great Ormond Street Hospital, reflecting on the cab tradition of offering free rides for hospital visitors in certain circumstances.
A short hop over to King’s Cross yields another fare, this time to Waterloo. An impromptu pick-up outside Waterloo brings an unexpected longer fare to Canary Wharf. Traffic is light, partly helped by a Jubilee Line shutdown driving up demand for taxis. From there, the cabbie risks a drive out to City Airport in hope of another fare. After a thirty-minute wait, luck strikes with a job across London to White City’s Television Centre.
Navigating cross-city traffic at rush hour proves tough. Detours are needed to dodge snarl-ups and roadworks. Reaching White City, a tempting idea to head to Heathrow is considered but quickly ruled out in favour of sticking closer to central London.
Back towards Shepherd’s Bush, another quick fare to Notting Hill helps keep momentum. London’s roads continue to clog up with the midday traffic and the ceremonial Changing of the Guard adds further complications around Westminster and Buckingham Palace.
Despite multiple closures, diversions, and heavy queues, the driver manages to complete several more fares. One notable trip involves a camera crew needing a lift to Buckingham Palace for a filming assignment.
As the day winds down, Hutley assesses the shift from St James’s Square. Satisfied with the work achieved, he decides against pushing further into the afternoon, instead heading home to beat the worst of the traffic.
The video gives a unique, matter-of-fact look at the realities of day work for London cabbies. It highlights the challenges faced from unpredictable wait times, road closures, and ever-changing traffic patterns, all requiring constant awareness and expert route planning.
