Taxi Preston β€” 24-Hour Private Hire

Looking for a reliable taxi in Preston? Ride Taxis is Preston's trusted 24/7 private hire service, covering all of East Lancashire and every major UK airport. Book instantly through our app with upfront pricing, no surge charges, and real-time driver tracking.

140+Areas Covered
24/7Availability
5 minAvg. Pickup

Why Choose Ride Taxis in Preston?

Preston is Lancashire's only city, sitting at the junction of the M6, M55 and M65 motorways. The railway station is a major West Coast Main Line interchange with direct services to London, Glasgow and Manchester. UCLan brings over 36,000 students into the city, the Harris Museum reopened in 2025 after a Β£19 million renovation, and Deepdale has been home to Preston North End since 1875. With a population of nearly 150,000, the city centre stays busy from the early commuter rush through to the late-night taxi runs from Fishergate and Friargate.

Where We Take You in Preston

These are the places our drivers know best, the destinations Preston passengers book most, with pickup tips you won't find on Google Maps.

πŸ“

Preston City Centre & Flag Market

Town centre
β€Ί

The Flag Market is the centre of everything in Preston. The Harris Museum and Art Gallery sits on one side, the covered market hall on another, and the main shopping streets radiate outward from here. Fishergate heading south, Friargate heading west, Church Street heading north. Market days pack the area on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and the restaurants along Winckley Street keep things busy into the evening. For taxi collections, the Guildhall end of Lancaster Road is the most reliable pickup spot.

πŸ’‘Use Lancaster Road or Friargate for pickup. Flag Market itself is pedestrianised and vehicles cannot enter.
πŸ“

Deepdale. Preston North End FC

5 min from city centre
β€Ί

Home of PNE and one of English football's most historic grounds. The Football League was founded here in 1888. The stadium sits off Sir Tom Finney Way, and matchdays turn the Blackpool Road corridor into gridlock from about an hour before kick-off. The Invincibles Pavilion side has the easiest drop-off, but post-match you want the Lowthorpe Road end to avoid the worst of the traffic. Book your return via the app at half-time. By full-time, demand across the city spikes.

πŸ’‘Book your return before kick-off. Sir Tom Finney Way gridlocks within five minutes of the final whistle.
πŸ“

Preston Railway Station

Town centre
β€Ί

A major stop on the West Coast Main Line, handling direct services to London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Edinburgh Waverley, and Glasgow Central. The station sits on Fishergate, a five-minute walk from the city centre but worth a taxi if you are carrying luggage or catching the early London train. The drop-off loop on Butler Street is the quickest option. Connecting to a flight? Our airport transfers run from the station to Manchester Airport in around 50 minutes.

πŸ’‘The taxi rank is on Fishergate Hill. Head for the main exit and turn left for the shortest walk.
πŸ“

UCLan Campus

Town centre
β€Ί

The University of Central Lancashire occupies a sprawling campus across the north side of the city centre, centred around Adelphi Street and Foster Building. With over 30,000 students, UCLan generates constant taxi demand. Late lectures, library sessions that run past the last bus, nights out on Friargate, and the term-time commute from digs in Fulwood and Ashton. The main campus entrance on Adelphi Street is the standard pickup. Freshers week and graduation week are peak periods.

πŸ’‘Set your pin on Adelphi Street near Foster Building. The campus is large and drivers need a specific building.
πŸ“

Avenham & Miller Parks

3 min from city centre
β€Ί

Two Victorian parks that drop down from the city centre to the River Ribble. Connected, landscaped, and genuinely impressive for a city park. Avenham Colonnade marks the entrance from East Cliff, and the Japanese Garden in Miller Park draws visitors year-round. The parks host the annual fireworks display, summer events, and the Avenham Park pavilion cafe stays busy on weekends. Taxi pickups work best from the Ribblesdale Place entrance on the Avenham side or Syke Street on the Miller Park side.

πŸ’‘Get dropped at Avenham Colonnade on East Cliff for the main entrance. The riverside gates have no road access.

Taxi Fares from Preston

Approximate fares from Preston town centre to popular destinations. Prices shown are a guide for a standard saloon (RideX, up to 4 passengers). For a guaranteed, fixed price, enter your journey in the app. No surge pricing, no meter anxiety.

DestinationDistanceEst. TimeFrom
Preston β†’ Burnleyvia M6524 miles35 minfrom Β£34Book β†’
Preston β†’ Manchester City Centrevia M6 & M6135 miles50 minfrom Β£48Book β†’
Preston β†’ Blackpoolvia M5518 miles25 minfrom Β£26Book β†’
Preston β†’ Leylandvia A roads6 miles10 minfrom Β£10Book β†’

These are approximate fares from Preston town centre to give you a rough idea of cost. All prices shown are subject to change. For a 100% guaranteed, fixed price, download our app and enter your journey details.

Typical Preston Journeys

  • Preston city centre to Deepdale~8 minutes
  • Preston Railway Station to UCLan campus~5 minutes
  • Preston city centre to Royal Preston Hospital~10 minutes
  • Preston to Chorley~20 minutes
  • Preston to Leyland~15 minutes
  • Preston to Manchester Airport~50 minutes (Airport Transfers)

The app calculates your fare before you confirm, so there are no surprises.

Nearby Areas We Cover

Chorley 10 miles
10 miles south, covering Chorley town centre, Flat Iron Market, and Duxbury Park
Leyland 6 miles
6 miles south, covering Leyland town centre, the Worden Park area, and the commercial estates
Longridge 7 miles
7 miles north-east, covering the town centre and the Ribble Valley connection

We also cover Fulwood, Bamber Bridge and Longton.

Getting Around Preston

Preston has 1 train station and 1 bus route connecting to the wider area. But there's a big difference between β€œa bus exists” and β€œa bus that gets you where you need to be, when you need to be there.”

Train Stations near Preston

Preston is served by 1 station on the West Coast Main Line, connecting you to London Euston, Manchester, Liverpool and beyond. The station is Preston.

Need to catch a train? We'll get you to the platform on time. Book a ride to the station and skip the parking fees and the walk from the car park.

StationLineKey Destinations
PrestonWest Coast Main Line, East Lancashire Line, Ormskirk LineLondon Euston, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Blackpool, Lancaster, Burnley, Colne

Bus Routes from Preston

Preston is served by 1 bus route connecting to Blackburn. Services run regularly on weekdays but frequencies drop in the evenings and on Sundays.

Buses do run on Sundays and evenings, but frequencies drop significantly, and some local services finish early. If you're relying on a bus after 7pm or on a Sunday, check the timetable carefully. A taxi is available 24/7, 365 days a year.

RouteFrom β†’ ToWeekdaySundayLast Bus
152
Burnley Bus Co
Preston β†’ Blackburn / BurnleyEvery 30 minReduced Sundays~23:00

Timetables verified March 2026 via bustimes.org and operator websites. Frequencies are approximate and may vary by time of day.

Taxi vs Public Transport: The Honest Comparison

We're not going to pretend the bus or train doesn't exist. But when you're travelling with family, carrying luggage, or heading somewhere at an awkward hour, the maths tells a story the timetable doesn't.

πŸš† Train vs Taxi

Walk-up anytime singles from Preston are priced per person. Multiply that by a family of four and the taxi starts looking very different. Factor in lugging suitcases across platforms, waiting for connections, and the walk from the station at the other end, and it's not even close.

Approximate train fares sourced March 2026. Prices may vary.

Swipe to see full table β†’
JourneyTrain
4 x anytime single
Ride Taxi
whole car, door to door
Preston β†’ Manchester Airport~Β£18.90 Γ— 4 = Β£75.60Train, 1 change, ~1h 30mfrom Β£65 totalSave ~Β£11 + 30 min fasterDoor to door, ~72 min
Preston β†’ London Euston~Β£85.00 Γ— 4 = Β£340.00Avanti train, direct, ~2h 08mfrom Β£301 totalSave ~Β£39 + Door to doorDoor to door, ~345 min
Preston β†’ Blackpool~Β£7.20 Γ— 4 = Β£28.80Train, direct, ~25 minfrom Β£26 totalSave ~Β£3 + Door to doorDoor to door, ~27 min

🚌 Bus vs Taxi

For shorter local journeys, the bus can be good value if you're on your own. But add a second person and the gap narrows fast. Add kids, luggage, or a Sunday timetable and it disappears entirely.

Swipe to see full table β†’
JourneyBus
4 x single fare
Ride Taxi
whole car, door to door
Preston β†’ Blackburn~Β£4.50 Γ— 4 = Β£18.00Bus 152 Hotline, every 30 min, ~45 minfrom Β£18 total+Β£0 but 25 min fasterDoor to door, ~18 min

A note on the above: we do our best to keep these times and fares accurate, but we're a busy taxi firm, not a travel agency. If something doesn't look right, give us a shout and we'll fix it. In the meantime, book a Ride and leave the timetables to someone else.

The group pricing advantage: A taxi fare is for the whole car, not per person. With 2+ passengers, a Ride taxi is often cheaper than buying individual train or bus tickets, and you get picked up from your door, taken to the exact address, with your luggage handled. No platforms, no changes, no last service panic.

The Full Picture

Price is only part of the story. Here's what each option actually looks like when you factor in everything else.

Feature
Bus
Train
Ride
Door-to-door
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Reliable after 7pm
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Full Sunday service
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Fixed price
βœ“
βœ—
βœ“
Luggage handled
βœ—
βœ“
βœ“
Safe at night
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
No waiting
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Kids & car seats
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Pet friendly
βœ—
βœ“
βœ“
Wheelchair access
βœ“
βœ“
βœ“
Cheaper for groups
βœ—
βœ—
βœ“
Live tracking
βœ—
βœ“
βœ“
12/12Ride scores full marks
  • Licensed & tracked: every driver DBS checked, every journey GPS logged
  • Real customer support: actual people who pick up the phone, not a chatbot
  • Your driver keeps more: no faceless algorithm skimming 40% off the top
  • Local knowledge: drivers who know which streets flood and which shortcuts work
Book a Ride β†’

Train fares are anytime singles sourced from Northern Railway and National Rail (March 2026). Bus fares sourced from operator websites and bustimes.org. All public transport fares and timetables can change without notice, so please check with your operator for the latest information. Ride Taxis fares shown are approximate. For a guaranteed, fixed price, enter your journey in the app.

Supporting Local Business

Every Ride booking supports a local driver and their family right here in Preston. Our drivers live in the communities they serve. They know the backroads, the shortcuts, and which streets flood when it rains. When you choose Ride over a national app or a bus company headquartered 200 miles away, that money stays in East Lancashire.

If you've ever used one of the big ride-hailing apps, your driver has probably asked you how much you paid. There's a reason for that. Those faceless algorithms take an ever-growing cut of what your local driver earns, sometimes 40% or more, while offering no real customer support, no local phone number, and no accountability when things go wrong. Convenience shouldn't come at someone else's expense.

With Ride, your driver keeps a fair share. If there's a problem, you speak to a real person, not a chatbot, not a ticket queue, not an automated email. We're a Lancashire business built by people who live here, for people who live here. That matters.

You can only book through our app, but we're always here if you need us. Email support@ride-taxis.co.uk, or message us through the app. Real people, real answers.

Why can't I book by phone?

With over 52,000 jobs a week across Lancashire, we made a choice: put our drivers on the road, not on the phones. The app lets you book in seconds, see your fare upfront, and track your driver in real time. No hold music, no miscommunication, no β€œcan you spell that street again?” It means our team can focus on what actually matters: getting cars to you faster and keeping the service running smoothly.

But if anything goes wrong, whether it's a query, a complaint, or a lost item, you'll always get through to a real person. That's the difference. We streamlined the booking, not the support.

Airport Transfers from Preston

Approximate airport taxi fares from Preston town centre to every major UK airport. Drop-off charges are included where applicable. For a guaranteed, fixed price, enter your journey in the app. Flight delays? We track your flight and wait for free.

Swipe to see full table β†’
AirportDistanceEst. TimeDrop-offFare
✈BlackpoolSingle terminal14 miles20 minFreefrom Β£21Book β†’
✈Liverpool John LennonSingle terminal41 miles50 minΒ£6 inc.from Β£62Book β†’
✈ManchesterT1, T2, T347 miles60 minΒ£5 inc.from Β£69Book β†’
✈Leeds BradfordSingle terminal53 miles65 minΒ£4 inc.from Β£75Book β†’
✈East MidlandsSingle terminal83 miles85 minΒ£5 inc.from Β£115Book β†’
✈NewcastleSingle terminal133 miles2 hrs 15 minΒ£5 inc.from Β£180Book β†’
✈London HeathrowT2, T3, T4, T5236 miles3 hrs 55 minΒ£7 inc.from Β£316Book β†’
✈London GatwickNorth, South266 miles4 hrs 25 minΒ£10 inc.from Β£358Book β†’

These are approximate fares from Preston town centre to give you a rough idea of cost. For an exact, fixed quote, pop your journey into the app. Drop-off charges are included where shown. Prices are for a standard saloon (RideX, up to 4 passengers); larger vehicles available at slightly higher rates. See our full airport transfers page for more details.

Preston Taxi FAQs

Fares, routes, and everything you need to know about booking a taxi in Preston

Download the free Ride Taxis app on iOS or Android. Set your pickup anywhere in Preston, choose your destination, and confirm your booking. A driver is dispatched immediately and you can track them on the map in real time.
Fares depend on the distance and time of day. The Ride Taxis app calculates your exact fare before you confirm, so there are no surprises when you arrive.
Yes. We cover every part of Preston city centre including the Flag Market, Fishergate, Friargate, Church Street, the bus station, Deepdale, UCLan campus, Avenham and Miller Parks, and all residential areas from Fulwood to Penwortham, Ribbleton to Ashton-on-Ribble.
Yes. We run airport transfers from Preston to Manchester Airport daily. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes. Your driver monitors your flight details, so you are covered if schedules change.
Yes. Preston Railway Station is one of our busiest pickup points. We have drivers available around the clock. Early morning departures to London, late-night arrivals from Manchester, and everything between. The station connects to the West Coast Main Line with services across the country.

Why Ride Taxis in Preston?

Preston is Lancashire's hub. The motorway network, the West Coast Main Line, one of the UK's biggest universities, a Championship football club. Everything passes through this city. You need a taxi service that matches the scale.

Ride Taxis operates the largest private hire fleet in Lancashire, and we have drivers across Preston from Fulwood down to Penwortham, from Ribbleton out to Ashton. More drivers means shorter waits, especially at peak times. Matchdays at Deepdale, Friday nights on Friargate, the morning commuter rush at the station.

Every driver is licensed, DBS-checked, and vetted. The app shows your fare upfront, tracks your driver in real time, and works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No reduced hours, no closing time.