Edinburgh Taxi Service
Getting a reliable taxi in Edinburgh isn't always as simple as it should be. Between the tram works around Princes Street, the one-way system through the Old Town, and airport traffic that spikes without warning, visitors and locals alike often end up waiting longer than expected, or paying more than they'd planned for a ride that should have been simple.
Onward Travels runs a licensed Edinburgh taxi service built around solving that exact problem: getting you from A to B on time, at a price agreed before you get in the car. Catching an early flight from Edinburgh Airport , heading into the city for a meeting, or getting home after a night out on George Street, our drivers know the routes, the road closures, and the shortcuts that make the difference between a smooth journey and a stressful one.
We cover Edinburgh and the Lothians, with regular runs out to Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee, and St Andrews. Every booking comes with a fixed fare agreed in advance, a driver who has been through background checks and vehicle inspections, and a car that turns up when it says it will. No surge pricing, no unexplained detours, and no guessing what the fare will be when you arrive.
Why Choose Onward Travels
Plenty of taxi firms in Edinburgh promise good service. Here's what actually sets ours apart, and why it matters for your journey.
Professional, Licensed Drivers
Every driver holds a valid private hire licence issued through the relevant Scottish licensing authority, and each one goes through identity verification and a criminal record check before they're allowed to carry passengers.
Fixed Pricing, Agreed Upfront
You'll know the fare before the journey starts. There's no meter running up unexpectedly in traffic, and no last-minute add-ons once you've arrived at your destination.
24/7 Availability
Flights land at odd hours, and shifts don't always finish at a sensible time. Our dispatch line and online booking system operate around the clock, every day of the year.
Meet and Greet at Edinburgh Airport
Arriving passengers are met inside the terminal with a name board, so there's no standing in the rain at the pick-up zone trying to spot your driver among a dozen others.
Flight Monitoring
We track your flight's arrival time automatically. If your flight is delayed, your driver adjusts their schedule accordingly, so you're never charged for circumstances outside your control.
Executive and Family-Sized Vehicles
From a standard saloon for a solo business trip to an MPV for a family with luggage and a pushchair, the vehicle you book is sized for the journey you're actually taking.
Door-to-Door Service
Drivers help with luggage where needed and take you directly to your destination, rather than the nearest drop-off point.
Online and Phone Booking
Book through our website in a couple of minutes, or call our team directly if you'd rather speak to someone. Both routes give you the same confirmed booking and fixed fare.
No Hidden Charges
The price you're quoted includes tolls, standard waiting time, and luggage handling. Anything unusual, such as an extra stop, is agreed with you before it's added.
Local Route Knowledge
Our drivers live and work in and around Edinburgh, so they know which routes to avoid during festival season, tram diversions, or match days at Murrayfield.
Comprehensive Service Overview
Here's exactly how a booking with Onward Travels works, from the moment you get in touch to the moment you step out of the car.
Booking
You can book online through our website or by phone, giving your pickup point, destination, and preferred time. For airport pickups, we ask for your flight number so we can track it.
Journey
Your driver plans the route in advance, factoring in current road closures and typical traffic patterns for that time of day. You'll receive driver details and vehicle information ahead of the pickup.
Arrival
For airport meet and greet bookings, your driver waits inside the terminal building. For all other pickups, the driver arrives at the agreed time and location, with a short buffer built in for Edinburgh's traffic.
Safety
Vehicles are maintained to a set schedule and checked regularly for roadworthiness. Drivers are trained in safe driving practices specific to city and motorway conditions.
Comfort
Vehicles are cleaned between journeys, and climate control is adjusted to suit the weather rather than left on a default setting.
Reliability
Bookings are confirmed in writing, and drivers are tracked in real time by our dispatch team so we know exactly where every car is.
Communication
You can contact your driver directly once a booking is confirmed, and our office team is reachable throughout the journey if plans change.
Payment
Pay by card online at the time of booking, or in the vehicle by card or cash. Corporate accounts can arrange monthly invoicing.
Customer Support
Our support line is staffed continuously, so if a flight changes or a meeting overruns, you can update your booking without starting from scratch.
Who Can Use This Service
Our Edinburgh taxi service is built to work for a wide range of passengers, each with slightly different needs:
• Business travellers needing a punctual, professional ride to meetings across the city or into Glasgow
• Families travelling with children, car seats, and luggage who need extra space and a bit more time at pickup
• Students moving between term-time accommodation, campus, and the airport at the start and end of term
• Tourists exploring Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and day trips out to St Andrews or Stirling
• Airport passengers arriving or departing at unusual hours who need a fixed-fare, pre-booked ride
• Corporate clients requiring regular scheduled transfers and monthly account billing
• Hotel guests booked through their accommodation for airport or event transfers
• Cruise passengers arriving at Scottish ports and needing onward transport to Edinburgh or connecting flights
• Event visitors attending fixtures at Murrayfield Stadium or concerts across the city
• Senior citizens who prefer a pre-arranged, door-to-door service over hailing a taxi in the street
Popular Routes and Coverage Areas
We run these routes daily, alongside one-off bookings to anywhere in Scotland:
• Edinburgh Airport to City Centre and City Centre to Edinburgh Airport
• Edinburgh Airport to Glasgow and Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport
• Edinburgh Airport to St Andrews
• Edinburgh Airport to Dundee
• Edinburgh Airport to Perth
• Edinburgh Airport to Stirling
• Edinburgh Airport to Livingston
• Edinburgh Airport to Falkirk
• Edinburgh Airport to Aberdeen
• Edinburgh Airport to Inverness
• Edinburgh Airport to North Berwick
• Edinburgh Airport to Leith, Haymarket, and Waverley Station
Within the city, popular drop-off points include Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Princes Street, Arthur's Seat, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Zoo, Holyrood Palace, and Edinburgh University's central campus. We also cover the main hotel groups along Princes Street and George Street, and connect through to Leith for cruise passengers arriving in the Firth of Forth.
Vehicles Available
Vehicles are matched to passenger numbers and luggage rather than offered as a one-size-fits-all option:
• Standard saloon — up to 4 passengers, 2 large suitcases
• Estate car — up to 4 passengers, 3-4 large suitcases
• Executive saloon — up to 3 passengers, 2 large suitcases, business-class comfort
• MPV — up to 6 passengers, 4-5 large suitcases, suited to families
• Minibus — up to 8 passengers, 6-8 large suitcases, ideal for groups
• Luxury vehicle — up to 3 passengers, chauffeur-driven for events and special occasions
• Business class vehicle — up to 4 passengers, quiet, comfortable transport for client-facing travel
Safety and Reliability
Safety runs through every part of how the service operates, not just as a policy statement but as day-to-day practice.
• All drivers hold current private hire licences and undergo background checks
• Vehicles are serviced on a set maintenance schedule and inspected for roadworthiness
• Full insurance cover is held for every vehicle and every journey
• Vehicles are tracked in real time by our dispatch team
• Drivers follow professional conduct standards set out in their licensing terms
• Punctuality is monitored, with buffer time built into airport pickups to account for traffic
Booking Process
Booking a journey with Onward Travels takes a few straightforward steps:
1. Get a quote online or by phone, giving your pickup location, destination, date, and time
2. Confirm your booking and receive written confirmation with your fixed fare
3. Share your flight number for airport pickups, so we can monitor it automatically
4. Meet your driver at the agreed point, or inside the terminal for meet and greet bookings
5. Pay by card in advance or in the vehicle, and keep your confirmation for reference
Why Customers Trust Onward Travels
Trust in a taxi service comes down to a handful of things repeated consistently over time, and that's what we focus on.
Experience
Our drivers and dispatch team have handled Edinburgh's traffic patterns, festival closures, and airport peaks for years, not months.
Reliability
Cars turn up when they say they will, and if a flight is delayed, we already know before you've landed.
Professionalism
Drivers are courteous, vehicles are clean, and communication is clear from booking through to drop-off.
Customer Satisfaction
Repeat bookings from corporate accounts and regular airport passengers make up a significant share of our work, which reflects consistency rather than one-off good luck.
Transparent Pricing
The fare agreed at booking is the fare paid at the end of the journey.
Communication
You can reach your driver or our office at any point during a booking, not just before it starts.
Availability
Someone is available to take a call or confirm a booking at any hour, any day of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?
A standard saloon transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre is typically a fixed fare agreed at the time of booking, so you know the exact cost before you travel rather than watching a meter. Prices vary slightly depending on vehicle type, time of day, and whether you're booking an executive or family-sized vehicle. Because the fare is fixed rather than metered, there's no surcharge for airport traffic or a slower-than-usual journey. Get an exact quote by entering your pickup and drop-off details online or calling our booking line directly, and the price you're given is the price you'll pay.
Is it cheaper to take a taxi or the tram in Edinburgh?
The tram is usually the cheaper option for a single traveller going directly from the airport to the city centre with light luggage and no time pressure. A taxi becomes better value once you're travelling with two or more people, carrying heavy luggage, arriving late at night, or heading somewhere the tram doesn't reach directly. A pre-booked, fixed-fare taxi also removes the need to queue for tickets or change trams, which matters if you're catching a connecting flight or arriving with young children. For door-to-door convenience, a taxi generally wins; for the lowest possible cost on a simple solo trip, the tram often does.
Can I pre-book an Edinburgh taxi?
Yes, and pre-booking is the best way to guarantee a fixed fare and a specific pickup time, particularly for early flights or late-night arrivals. Bookings can be made online in a couple of minutes or over the phone with our dispatch team, and you'll receive written confirmation with your driver and vehicle details ahead of the journey. Pre-booking also allows us to track your flight automatically if you're arriving at the airport, so delays are handled without you needing to contact us. We'd recommend booking at least a few hours ahead where po…