Online and mobile cab bookings have increased by 18% as Londoners are getting ready for their Christmas parties , according to this new infographic from taxi booking firm Kabbee.
The research found that last year, December 17, 2011 was the busiest day for bookings in all of 2011. East London in particular has turned out on top as London’s top party area, with bookings in W1 having dropped by 25.5% in the last month alone, suggesting that this year’s Christmas parties are moving North and East.
East London makes up 35 per cent of the capital’s top 20 party hotspots with the highest number of cab journeys taken between 11pm – 6am.
East London also sees a surge in late night bookings – continues to boom after the Olympics, with trendy Haggerston and Whitechapel occupying two of the top five most popular spots for evening cab pickups.
58% of advance bookings are made by women before a night out, the study found. The firm also found that Londoners can save on average £10.29 by comparing minicab fares before booking.
View the infographic below;
Whereas traditionally Londoners are used to arguing over the North vs. South, the data reveals a North-East divide for late night cab bookings, as East London now accounts for 35% of bookings made between 11pm-6am*, compared to the North, which misses out on the nightlife crown by a mere 5%.
The data from Kabbee compares journeys taken with over 60 leading minicab fleets from across Greater London, with access to over 4000 London minicab drivers. While the West End still topped the list as the most popular area for cab bookings, the East End with its vibrant party scene has seen a rapid increase in bookings following the Olympics. Haggerston and Whitechapel now occupy the 2nd and 5th most popular slots, with Whitechapel having moved up 8 places in just 5 months, while Bunhill, Dalston and Millwall all make it into the top 20.
Previous popular hotspots like Holborn and Covent Garden have also fallen from 5th place to 10th as partygoers move east, with Haggerston having seen a 200% year on year increase in bookings.
The results reveal that Sunday morning at 1:59am is the busiest time to book a cab, when the majority of bars and clubs across London close. Women are the best planners when it comes to pre-booking journeys, as over 1 in 2 (58%) of advance bookings are made by women, as they book their cabs before they head out.
The data also highlights that Londoners save an average of £10.29 by shopping around and booking before they head out (based on an average evening minicab journey of 4.25 miles).
Philip Makinson, Co-founder at Kabbee commented: “We all know that London is renowned for its vibrant party scene, and over the past few weeks we’ve seen a real surge in cab bookings as people start downing their tools to get into the party spirit. East London in particular has seen a significant increase in bookings over the last year, suggesting that Christmas parties are moving away from the popular West End, which has seen a 25.5% drop in the last month alone.”
“It’s definitely an interesting trend, but regardless of where the party hotspots are, it’s obvious that Londoners are starting to shy away from spending ages in the cold trying to figure out which night bus to take home. If you’re having an indulgent night out, it can really dampen your spirits if you have to leave early to get the last train home from your work or social parties. With so many minicab firms out there it can be difficult to know which is the best to go with, so make sure you book using a price-comparison service to ensure you always get the best deal up-front, from one of the best London fleets.”
Source: Kabbee.com
