Taxi drivers branch out this festive season to offer COVID safe Christmas light tours post lockdown

Taxi image credit: @MMogardo

Taxi drivers are branching out this festive season offering COVID safe Christmas light tours in a bid to raise extra income and also bring some festive cheer.

Many cabbies have taken to social media offering a partitioned service to families looking to take in London’s sights in the safety of an iconic black cab.

On 5 November England went back into a strict national lockdown with new restrictions replacing local COVID alert level measures. The new measures apply nationally for four weeks up to and including Wednesday 2 December.

At the end of this period, many are hoping there will be a return to the regional approach, based on the latest data.

The Christmas taxi tours are likely to be seen as a non essential journey during lockdown, so will start to take place once restrictions ease. Taxi drivers are however seeking bookings in anticipation of an easing in restrictions before Christmas Day.

The police will be able to issue fixed penalty notices starting at £200 for those who participate in ‘illegal gatherings’. People aged 18 or over can be fined £200 for the first offence, lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days. The fine then jumps to £400 for the second offence, then doubling for each further offence up to a maximum of £6,400

Rob Woodford, Company Director at the established Black Cab Heritage Tours, said: “Once the current lockdown ends 2nd December, Black Cab Heritage Tour Guides are looking forward to providing our guests with a memorable London tour experience guaranteed to put the sparkle into their festive season!”