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Just back from London where, apart from the tourist crowds, heat and general sense that all public infrastructure is a minor interruption away from extended collapse, we came on a new and noteworthy car service.
A magazine ad for Wheely caught my attention - we had a few instances in our itinerary where a pre-booked car would be the answer - airport services in particular. Wheely have recently re-launched, having first set up as an aggretator for mini-cabs etc. They operates in the black/VIP car sector - similar to Uber Black (now facing a re-organisation ?) - and offering 3 levels; executive, serious limos, and smart mini vans for groups. Like Uber its on-demand, tho you can also pre-book. The app looks like Uber down to little cars crawling around the map, and is dead easy to use.
The first time we wanted a ride from Covent Garden to back to Highgate, selected the basic Executive level and 5 mins later had a very smart hybrid S class Merc roll silently up to the kerb. A feature on Wheely being that you pay for the level you select, not what car decides to do the job. Indeed the driver said he worked both Uber and Wheely, so we were fortunate our fare suited his later work. Anyway, 42 quid later, after a very slow and congested ride we were home, our host saying the same trip by black cab would have been in the 50's, ditto an Uber. Yes, I know the tube would have been 2-3 quid but we had been legging it most of the day and comfort was called for..
We had a mini van for our next trip, back into central London for a similar price, and the final time with Wheely we were able to bring forward our Knightsbridge pre-booked time at short notice via the app, and get out to Heathrow in a near-new E class Merc for 50 pounds. Thats a flat fee, by the way. I had looked at a number of airport services and none was this well-priced.
The drivers are immaculate in black suit and tie, discrete, solicitous asto temperature, comfort, offer a charge cable for our phones, bottle of water etc, and they wont talk unless you want a conversation. We had several London friends say Uber was no longer reliable, with waiting times well past initial booking advice, so we are very happy to report that our small sample of Wheely proved them reliable and relative good value. Recommend !
A magazine ad for Wheely caught my attention - we had a few instances in our itinerary where a pre-booked car would be the answer - airport services in particular. Wheely have recently re-launched, having first set up as an aggretator for mini-cabs etc. They operates in the black/VIP car sector - similar to Uber Black (now facing a re-organisation ?) - and offering 3 levels; executive, serious limos, and smart mini vans for groups. Like Uber its on-demand, tho you can also pre-book. The app looks like Uber down to little cars crawling around the map, and is dead easy to use.
The first time we wanted a ride from Covent Garden to back to Highgate, selected the basic Executive level and 5 mins later had a very smart hybrid S class Merc roll silently up to the kerb. A feature on Wheely being that you pay for the level you select, not what car decides to do the job. Indeed the driver said he worked both Uber and Wheely, so we were fortunate our fare suited his later work. Anyway, 42 quid later, after a very slow and congested ride we were home, our host saying the same trip by black cab would have been in the 50's, ditto an Uber. Yes, I know the tube would have been 2-3 quid but we had been legging it most of the day and comfort was called for..
We had a mini van for our next trip, back into central London for a similar price, and the final time with Wheely we were able to bring forward our Knightsbridge pre-booked time at short notice via the app, and get out to Heathrow in a near-new E class Merc for 50 pounds. Thats a flat fee, by the way. I had looked at a number of airport services and none was this well-priced.
The drivers are immaculate in black suit and tie, discrete, solicitous asto temperature, comfort, offer a charge cable for our phones, bottle of water etc, and they wont talk unless you want a conversation. We had several London friends say Uber was no longer reliable, with waiting times well past initial booking advice, so we are very happy to report that our small sample of Wheely proved them reliable and relative good value. Recommend !
