I don't know the situation in London, but Uber in general has improved 2 situations immensely: 1. Normal cabs are horrible. The drivers are often rude, always

I don't know the situation in London, but Uber in general has improved 2 situations immensely: 1. Normal cabs are horrible. The drivers are often rude, always try to price gouge or even outright trick you. There is no rating system, meaning no public 'oversight'. Hell, cabbies always tried to get rid of regulations, but now that there's Uber they use it like a weapon: that alone should tell you enough about how scummy and opportunistic they are. 2. Booking a ride in a foreign country. Many drivers don't speak English, so good luck explaining where you want to go. You also usually have no idea what a typical fare should be, so (especially around airports) prepare to be hoodwinked. In contrast, Uber has a set price, easy way to hail and a rating system that works beautifully. Before Uber, I hated cab rides. Now it's a pleasure.