Taxi Call Lights

London, like every city and town, is full of street lamps, some of which are affixed to buildings, while others sit atop lampposts. 

While the majority of these are powered by electricity a small percentage are still powered by gas, like the one below..

However, unlike anywhere else that I know of, London also has taxi call lights. These call lights are usually attached to hotels, private residences and the occasional Government building, like the one below at the Palace of Westminster.

The taxi call light alerts passing or waiting Hackney Carriages (Black Cabs) that "guests are waiting for cabs.” As taxicabs are allowed to ply for trade, on the streets of London, this aided their ability to pick up fares. Private Hire vehicles (minicabs), on the other hand, must be pre-booked, so are not allowed to collect passengers from a taxi call light.

While many taxi call lights are based on the glass street lamp design, newer hotels and buildings have newly designed call lights, such as at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington.

In recent years, taxi call lights have seen a resurgence in popularity and use throughout London. 

In November 2023, the Park Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge, reintroduced the use of its taxi call light, in an effort to provide an efficient transportation experience for their guests.