Forest Hill Taxi and Minicab Service in SE23

Written by the Sydenham Mini Cabs team. Last updated 3 October 2026.

Minicabs on London Road and Dartmouth Road

Two roads carry most of Forest Hill's traffic, and they behave very differently.

London Road is part of the A205 South Circular. It runs past the Horniman Museum, the station and the Sainsbury's, and it is busy from early morning until evening. Lorries, buses and through traffic all share one lane each way. Getting a car to stop here needs a driver who knows the side roads, such as Devonshire Road and Havelock Walk.

Dartmouth Road is the local high street. It has the swimming pools, the library, cafes and independent shops. Traffic is lighter but parking is tight. Drivers usually pull into a bay or a side turning such as Thorpewood Avenue to collect you safely.

Pickups from Forest Hill station

Forest Hill station has Overground trains on the Windrush line and Southern trains to London Bridge. It is a common place to ask for a cab, especially after dark or in the rain.

The station has two exits. The main one faces the South Circular at the junction with Dartmouth Road. The other opens onto Perry Vale on the far side of the tracks. Tell us which you are using. Perry Vale is usually the easier place for a driver to wait, since the main forecourt is small and often full.

If your train is delayed, send us a quick call on 020 8778 8888 and we will hold the car.

Getting up and down the hills

Forest Hill earns its name. Honor Oak Road, Canonbie Road, Westwood Park and the Tewkesbury Lodge estate are steep enough to make a bag of shopping feel like three.

That is the reason a lot of our SE23 trips are short. A five minute ride from the Sainsbury's on London Road to a house near the top of the hill. A lift home from the station for someone with a bad knee. Older residents on Sydenham Rise who want to reach the shops and return without the climb.

No journey is too short to book. We would much rather take you 600 yards up a hill than have you struggle.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens

The Horniman is the best known attraction in the area. Families come for the aquarium, the natural history gallery, the gardens and the view across London from the bandstand.

The museum has very little parking, and the surrounding streets are permit controlled. A cab is the practical way to visit with small children or grandparents. We drop at the entrance on London Road and collect from the same spot or from the gate on Horniman Drive.

On summer weekends and during school holidays, book your return in advance. Demand jumps when the gardens close.

Everyday journeys in SE23

Most bookings are ordinary, and that suits us fine. Here are the ones we see most.

• Forest Hill Pools on Dartmouth Road, for lessons and early swims
• Doctors' surgeries and the health centres around Perry Vale and Jenner Road
• The supermarkets on London Road and at Bell Green
• Evenings at the pubs and restaurants around the station
• Trips to see friends in Honor Oak, Catford and Brockley

For regular appointments, ask us to set up a repeat booking so the car comes at the same time each week.

Hospital trips from Forest Hill

Forest Hill sits between several hospitals, and choosing a route matters when you are not feeling your best.

Typical drive times from Forest Hill station

These are typical off peak figures. In the morning rush, add ten minutes for the South Circular.

Tell us the department you are visiting. Large hospitals have several entrances, and being dropped at the right one saves a long walk indoors.

School transport in Forest Hill

The area has a cluster of schools, including Forest Hill School on Dacres Road, Sydenham School on Dartmouth Road and primaries on Kilmorie Road, Dalmain Road and Perry Rise. Between 8.15am and 9am the side roads fill quickly.

Parents who need a regular car can read about our school run taxi service. It explains standing bookings, child seats and how term dates are handled.

Nights out and late returns

Forest Hill has a lively evening scene for its size, and it is also well placed for Peckham, Brixton and East Dulwich. Lordship Lane is ten minutes away. Peckham Rye is about fifteen.

Late at night, the Overground thins out and stops. A booked minicab is the dependable way home. Tell us where you will be and roughly when you want collecting. If you are in a group, our 7 seater taxi keeps everyone together.

Private hire cars cannot be hailed on the street. Book through the office and you will know who is coming.

Station and airport journeys from SE23

Heading further? We take Forest Hill customers to every London terminal and airport.

For trains, the closest big terminals are covered on our Sydenham to London Bridge Station taxi and Sydenham to Victoria Station taxi pages. Journey times from SE23 are a few minutes shorter than from Sydenham.

For flights, start with the minicab from Sydenham to Gatwick Airport page for the southern route, or the Sydenham to Heathrow Airport taxi page for the western one. The South Circular through Forest Hill is the first leg of that western trip, so you are already on the way.

Cars for every size of group

A saloon carries up to four passengers. An estate adds luggage space. MPVs seat six or seven, and an 8 seater minibus is available for larger parties.

Child seats and wheelchair accessible vehicles can be requested when you book. If you are travelling with a dog to the park, see our pet friendly taxi page.

Roads our drivers watch in Forest Hill

Local knowledge saves minutes. Our drivers know that Stanstead Road queues towards Catford in the evening, that Waldram Park Road backs up at the lights, and that Sunderland Road and Vancouver Road offer a calmer line across to Perry Hill.

They also know the width restrictions and the low traffic measures on the residential streets. You will not be taken on a detour because a sat nav did not know about a closed junction.

Neighbouring areas we also cover

Forest Hill blends into its neighbours. To the north is Honor Oak, covered on our Honor Oak taxi page. To the east is Catford, with its own Catford taxi page. West over the ridge is Dulwich, on the Dulwich taxi page.

You can see the full list on our areas we cover page.

How to book in Forest Hill

Call 020 8778 8888 at any time, or use the booking form at the top of this page. Give us the pickup address, the destination and the time. We will quote the fare before you confirm.

You can pay by card or cash. Regular customers and local businesses can open an account.

Forest Hill taxi questions