Tourists opt for taxi tours

Visitors to Manchester are delving into the city’s industrial past thanks to a novel programme of taxi tours set up by proud local drivers.

Tourists can pay for a personalised tour of Manchester in a black cab, tailoring it to their own interests and the amount of time they have available.

The rides, which feature running commentary from the driver on local history and landmarks, have proved to be popular with both business people and leisure visitors alike.

The scheme was initially set up ten years ago by cab drivers Geoff Barlow, Harvey Cohen and Terry Pipes, with help from lecturer Steve Little at Manchester Central College on a ten-week course recognised by the North West Tourist Board.

And a decade on, the tours are as popular as ever.

Harvey, who started working as a cabbie in 1975 and is now a sales assistant at Mann & Overton Manchester - the city’s official dealer for London taxi manufacturer LTI Vehicles - said the heritage trips began after he picked up an American tourist from Manchester airport who began asking questions about the city as they drove along.

“I spoke to some other drivers who were interested and a lecturer at the College of Manchester arranged a course for us to learn the facts and figures - well, it was meeting in a pub and a social occasion really!” said Harvey.

“We advertised the tours at an hourly rate and they have been going ever since.

“Manchester has a very important industrial heritage and was at the heart of the industrial revolution. There are the warehouses still here and the canals and railways and people want to learn about these things.

“Taking a tour in a London taxi is ideal because there is plenty of room for a small group and wheelchair users, the intercom means everyone can hear what you are saying and you can tailor the tour to people’s specific interests - some may want to concentrate on industry, others on sport, that sort of thing.

“Manchester’s booming popularity as a tourist destination for both Brits and foreign visitors means the taxi heritage tours are more popular than ever.”

Terry, who has been a driver for 30 years, said there were currently six active members of the Manchester Taxi Drivers’ Heritage Club.

“Manchester is changing all the time, there are lots of different, new things to see so each tour is different,” he said.

“About 75 per cent of our customers are foreign visitors. They want to learn more about the city and they want a trip in a famous London taxi so one of our tours is perfect for them.

“A typical tour lasts about an hour at a cost of £25 per hour. Mind you, I recently had a professor from America who was in the cab for four hours! Every place we went to he wanted to get out and have a look around.

“We are very proud of Manchester. It has a great history with a rich past and showing it off to people in the back of my cab is a great way to promote it.”