It can be a bit of a scramble right outside the Lyric or Gielgud when a show finishes. Black cabs do line up on Shaftesbury Avenue, but they go quickly. I’ve found it easier to walk a couple of minutes away (towards Soho Square or Golden Square) and then call an Uber. It’ll be much faster and less stressful than trying to get picked up right at the stage door.

Catching a taxi or Uber right after a West End show can indeed be a bit of a challenge due to the sheer volume of people leaving the theatres simultaneously. Black cabs will often queue up on main thoroughfares like Shaftesbury Avenue, but they can be snapped up quickly. For Uber or other ride-sharing services, I highly recommend walking a few minutes away from the immediate theatre exits to a less congested side street or a nearby square (like Soho Square or Golden Square). This makes it much easier for your driver to find you and avoids the gridlock right outside the venues. Planning a slightly delayed pickup can also help avoid the initial rush.

Getting an Uber or taxi after a West End show can be a real headache. With everyone ordering at once, surge pricing kicks in, signal drops, and drivers cancel mid-request. One savvy theatre-goer I know actually waits out front but only opens the app after the crowd has dissipated.

The safest and often quickest option? Walk a short block or two, say toward Leicester Square or Covent Garden and then order the ride. Black cabs are still a decent fallback; you’ll usually find one waiting at nearby ranks, though they’re often competing for attention, too.