Tariff 1
Monday to Friday, 5 am – 8 pm, except public holidays
- Flag
- £3.50 / first 0.14 mi
- Then
- 20p / 0.10 mi
- Waiting
- 30p / 40s (incl. below 8 mph)
Tongwynlais · Taxi
Tongwynlais taxi fares
What a licensed hackney carriage is allowed to charge in Tongwynlais.
Same Tariff 1 running rate: £1.29/km, £2.07/mile, or 0.12p/yard. Cardiff Council sets this hackney maximum. Private hire fares are agreed when you book.
Source: Cardiff Council · Checked: 2026-10-01 · Licensed hackney carriages in Cardiff Council (includes Tongwynlais). Not private hire.
£7.50
About 2 miles, Tariff 1, no waiting
£13.50
About 5 miles, Tariff 1, no waiting
Calculated from the published bands (flag £3.50 / first 0.14 mi, then 20p / 0.10 mi). Traffic and waiting add more. This is a guide, not a quote.
Official tariff
Distances shown in miles for reading. Councils publish yards or mile fractions on the meter — see the source link above for the original table.
Tariff 2
Monday to Friday 8 pm – 10 pm; Saturday and Sunday 5 am – 10 pm; not public holidays
- Flag
- £3.50 / first 0.14 mi
- Then
- 20p / 0.09 mi
- Waiting
- 30p / 35s (incl. below 8 mph)
Tariff 3
10 pm – 5 am any day, or any time on a public holiday
- Flag
- £3.50 / first 0.14 mi
- Then
- 20p / 0.07 mi
- Waiting
- 30p / 30s (incl. below 8 mph)
| Tariff | When | Flag | Then | Waiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tariff 1 | Monday to Friday, 5 am – 8 pm, except public holidays | £3.50 / first 0.14 mi | 20p / 0.10 mi | 30p / 40s (incl. below 8 mph) |
| Tariff 2 | Monday to Friday 8 pm – 10 pm; Saturday and Sunday 5 am – 10 pm; not public holidays | £3.50 / first 0.14 mi | 20p / 0.09 mi | 30p / 35s (incl. below 8 mph) |
| Tariff 3 | 10 pm – 5 am any day, or any time on a public holiday | £3.50 / first 0.14 mi | 20p / 0.07 mi | 30p / 30s (incl. below 8 mph) |
Extras (from the same council page)
More than 4 passengers+ £1 per extra passenger (tariffs are based on 1–4)
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day+ £3
Soiling the vehicle£60
| More than 4 passengers | + £1 per extra passenger (tariffs are based on 1–4) |
| Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day | + £3 |
| Soiling the vehicle | £60 |
What to know
## Getting around by taxi
Tongwynlais is a small village at the northern edge of Cardiff, 5 miles from the city centre off the A470, immediately below Castell Coch in the Taff Gorge. Cardiff-licensed cabs cover the village — Veezu, Dragon Taxis, and the major Cardiff operators all serve here. For the Castell Coch car park, drop-off on Castle Road works; asking a driver to climb the steep hill to the castle gate adds mileage. The 132 bus from Cardiff city centre (near Cardiff Castle) reaches Tongwynlais village (Bute Street stop) in approximately 45 minutes — from there it is a 15–20 minute steep uphill walk to the castle. The Taff's Well rail station (2km southeast) provides direct services to Cardiff Central in 10 minutes.
Hackney vs private hire
Metered hackney
This table · Rank or hail; tariff applies
Pre-booked private hire
Agreed when booking · Airport runs, accounts, apps — still licensed
| Type | Typical cost | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Metered hackney | This table | Rank or hail; tariff applies |
| Pre-booked private hire | Agreed when booking | Airport runs, accounts, apps — still licensed |
A guide to the official hackney-carriage maximum tariff, not a quote. Private hire vehicles are licensed, but they generally do not use this council tariff — agree the price when you book.
How to read the Tongwynlais taxi table
This page republishes the licensing council’s hackney maximum. It is not a private-hire quote.
- Check you are in a licensed hackneyThe meter must not exceed this table. A private-hire fare is agreed when you book.
- Read the flag, then the incrementFlag is the start. Distance and waiting are added from the published bands for that time of day.
- Check the periodNight, Sunday and bank-holiday tariffs are often higher. Use the period that matches the clock.
- Extras are only what the council publishedExtra passengers or soiling charges apply only if they appear on the official table.
Recommended
No shortlist yet — the facts above still stand.
Also in Tongwynlais
Knowledge chapters for airport runs, groups and accessible vehicles — same bar as our car-care pages.
Also know
Common questions
How do I get to Castell Coch without a car?
Bus 132 from Cardiff city centre reaches Tongwynlais village in about 45 minutes; then a steep 15–20 minute walk up to the castle. Alternatively, train to Taff's Well (10 min from Cardiff Central) and walk 2km along the Taff Trail to the village. Pre-booking a Cardiff cab direct to the castle car park is the easiest option for families.
What if the meter is higher than this table?
It should not be, for a licensed hackney hired from a rank or hail that uses this council's tariff. Note the plate number, time and route, and contact the licensing council. Pre-booked private hire is different: the fare is what you agreed when you booked, not this table.
Is there parking at Castell Coch?
Yes — a free car park at the top of Castle Road, plus an accessible parking area slightly higher. The approach road is very steep (single-track in places); arrive early in summer as the car park fills quickly on sunny weekends.
How much is a taxi in Tongwynlais?
The published figure is the Cardiff Council hackney maximum, not a minicab quote. Tariff 1 starts at £3.50 on the meter. Private hire (pre-booked) uses the price you agree when you book. Night, Sunday and public-holiday periods are higher — they are on this table.
Does this tariff apply to minicabs, Uber or private hire?
No. This table is the maximum metered hackney fare. Private hire and app-booked cars are licensed, but you agree the fare (or a clear estimate) before travel. In Tongwynlais, airport and long jobs are usually private hire.
Does the driver have to use the meter?
In a licensed hackney hired from a rank or hail, the meter should follow this table. Pre-booked private hire is not this table. If the meter is above the published maximum, contact Cardiff Council licensing with the plate number and time.
What about night, Sunday or Christmas extras?
Cardiff Council publishes extra tariff periods (evening, weekend, public holiday). They are separate columns on this page — not a surprise booking fee unless the council table says so. Ask which tariff is running before you sit down.
What if my journey ends outside Tongwynlais?
Out-of-area work may be refused or quoted as private hire. Agree that before you travel. The street table on this page is the licensed hackney maximum for the council that covers Tongwynlais, not a nationwide taxi price.