Uber rolling out expansion across the UK
Once rolled out, the option will be available in all major UK locations served by Uber except London.
What is UberX Share? Service to be expanded across UK
Uber said that its UberX Share has been popular with people making leisure trips at night and commuters during its trial in Bristol.
The service enables passengers to share cars with other users travelling in the same direction, in return for a cost reduction of up to 20%.
The service is designed to add no more than an average of eight minutes to journeys, Uber said.
The company added that pairing up passengers aligns with its 'efforts to reduce congestion and emissions in urban areas', as sharing journeys means 'fewer cars are needed to complete trips'.
The expansion of the UberX Share service has been hailed as 'a game-changer for affordable, sustainable travel'.
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Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
Leeds Festival 2025: Pick up and drop-off points and local taxi companies in Leeds
Make that transfer from train to taxi that much easier with our guide to getting a taxi or private hire to Leeds Festival this year. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For those of you using public transport, in particular a train, to get to Leeds this year - this one is for you. If the prospect of getting on another crowded form of public transport to get to the festival site is not your idea of fun, you could take a taxi or private hire instead. Here's what you need to know when getting a taxi to Leeds Festival this year, from where the collection points are to how much it could set you back. Heading to Leeds Festival can be an adventure in itself, but with so many people descending on Bramham Park, navigating the travel can be a daunting task. The logistical nightmare of hopping off the train and then running to transfer to a shuttle bus after a particularly long journey, and one to come, and setting up camp (unless you're glamping, in which case it's slightly easier) is not one you want to contend with. Where are the correct pick-up points at Leeds Train Station? Where are the designated drop-off zones at the festival grounds? Sounds stressful, right? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So to aid you with a smooth transfer from train to private hire or local taxi, here's our guide to where your chariot to get to Bramham Park from Leeds Train Station, where you'll need to be dropped off when you get closer to the festival site, and an idea how much it 'could' cost you for the ride - and why it seems so expensive this year. We've also included a few local taxi companies also, if you're not having much luck with Uber and the throng of other people, no doubt in the same boat as you, waiting for surge pricing to calm down. Where are the taxi pick-up points at Leeds Train Station? Can't stomach another ride on public transport when it comes to that last leg to get to Leeds Festival this year? Let us help you out with your guide to private hire and taxis available in the city this year - and those all important pick up points. | Canva/Getty Images Taxis and private hires can pick you up from the Leeds Train Station car park, situated just off New Station Street. To make your way to that area: Come out through the main gates at Leeds Train Station, and walk towards the main exit. Take a left where you see the ticketing offices, ticketing machines and a selection of shops such as Sainsbury's Local and Starbucks. Keep walking in that direction until you see on your left-hand side a pair of electric doors, leading to the car park. Be aware that the level of traffic that will be around that area, especially during the Friday morning of the festival, means that some taxis and private hires may have to either drive into the car park itself to wait (you'll see the parking spaces when you walk outside, to your left hand side) or on other occasions you may need to exit the station (right hand side) to identify your private hire. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Where are the drop-off points at Leeds Festival for taxis? Leeds Festival has a specific, designated Pick Up and Drop Off zone for all private vehicles and taxis. This zone is located off York Road (A64) and is marked with dedicated signage. For your return journey from the festival, there is a dedicated taxi rank at the site, which is typically located near the Red Gate. Marshals are on-site to help organise queues and manage the flow of people and vehicles. How much could the trip from Leeds Train Station to Bramham Park cost me? The cost can vary significantly based on traffic, demand, and time of day. However, official fare information from the Leeds Hackney Carriage Drivers Association suggests a standard taxi fare for a car with up to four passengers is approximately £40 - £45 for the journey from Leeds Train Station to the festival. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is important to note that this is a guide price, and the final cost may fluctuate, especially if you're using Uber, which can bring surge pricing due to the demand for transport. I don't use Uber - what other local taxi companies can I use to get to Leeds Festival? Leeds has several well-established local taxi companies that you can use. Some of the most prominent ones include: Veezu (formerly Amber Cars and Wheels Private Hire) - 0113 202 2112. Central Cars - 01132 523 523 Streamline-Telecabs - 0113 244 3322 Leeds Cab - 0113 455 5888 These companies operate through phone bookings and dedicated mobile apps, and they are typically the most reliable alternatives to Uber in the Leeds area. Why are the Uber and taxi fares so expensive to get to Leeds Festival this year? Inflation, petrol prices and demand. Take your pick. Ride-hailing services like Uber operate on a surge pricing model. With tens of thousands of people descending on a single location at the same time, demand far outstrips supply, causing fares to increase dramatically. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The route to Bramham Park is always subject to heavy traffic congestion, especially on peak days. Taxi meters and app-based fares are calculated based on both distance and time, so sitting in a traffic jam for an hour can significantly drive up the final cost. However, many local taxi services, including hackney carriages, will implement a fixed fare for the festival route to bypass the meter and account for the guaranteed traffic and long queues for drop-offs and pick-ups - for better or for worse.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
I visited Christmassy Lapland in the middle of summer – with reindeer rides & Santa meet-and-greets in 27C temperatures
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT may sound jolly odd, but Santa is a hot attraction for the summer. 'Welcome to Lapland,' says the Uber driver as he flashes a smile. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Mrs Claus knits a scarf Credit: Supplied 6 Reindeer at their most impressive in summer Credit: Getty 6 Santa's mail is organised all year round by busy elves Credit: Alamy It's mid-July, and I've arrived at 'the official home of Santa Claus'. I'd heard whispers about Rovaniemi's summer scene, but I hadn't quite realised how passionately the city upholds its year-round festivities. My first stop is the Santa Claus Village — an immersive Christmassy epicentre north of the Finnish city centre. If it sounds bizarre, it certainly feels it. On the drive to the village, I watch bikini-clad crowds weaving through Rovaniemi's streets towards the Rovaniemen Uimaranta — a sandy beach on the banks of the River Kemijoki. It's 27C and summer is underway. Yet the signs of the city's festive subculture are unmissable. Free-roaming reindeer sunbathe next to roadsides, and we whizz past a barbershop named 'Santa Hair'. I'm basked in sunshine as I step into Santa Claus Village, a collection of red-painted alpine buildings amid fir and pine trees. Aside from Santa meet-and-greets, there's the functioning Main Post Office, Santa's Pets and Arctic Circle Husky Park. With free entrance, you can explore at your own pace. It's not the lack of snow that strikes me first, but the absence of crowds. Rather than hordes of thermal-clad tourists, there's a summery serenity in the air. Best travel money options: currency, cards and tips for spending abroad In the main square, residents casually cross the white line that marks the official Arctic Circle boundary — accompanied by plodding dogs on leads. Last December, there was a three-hour waitlist to begin queuing to see Santa Claus, now I watch a young family walk straight in. Ignorance is bliss and I've decided I'm too anxious to discover if I'm on the 'naughty or nice' list. Instead, I'm focused on meeting some of the four-legged helpers. I dash towards the reindeer, where visitors are promised intimate hand-feeding encounters. Elves serve ice cream Summer is a special season for the reindeer. Their antlers are at their largest and most of the females have calves at foot. Adjoining the reindeer pen is the home of another Christmas celebrity: Mrs Claus. 6 A lad straddles the Arctic Circle boundary Credit: Shutterstock 6 The village in summer Credit: Shutterstock 6 The temperature is displayed in the Arctic Circle Credit: Shutterstock Her lodge is set back from the main walkway and if everyone else is aware that it's July, the elves in charge of decor have not got the memo. A floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree glistens in the corner, while beaming elves serve ice cream and pastries. 'When people visit in winter, I always tell them to visit in summer,' says Mrs Claus, in a lilting voice with a twinkle in her eye. She spins a rhythmical tale: Summers spent swimming, fishing for salmon ('Santa's favourite') and picking blueberries to incorporate into her baking. The thawing of the forest shapes the activities that Santa Claus Village has on offer, though not as dramatically as you might expect. Inside the Post Office, the elves still stamp and mail letters, sorting selected letters into a designated post box marked 'December 2025'. The Husky Park welcomes tourists to play with puppies or take rides on wheeled sledges adapted for snowless conditions. While trainers replace clunky snowshoes for walks along forest trails. Christmas isn't a season, but a mindset. Now, I'm leaving with certainty that the spirit of Santa is as magical in July as it is in December.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
I visited Christmassy Lapland in the middle of summer – with reindeer rides & Santa meet-and-greets in 27C temperatures
IT may sound jolly odd, but Santa is a hot attraction for the summer. 'Welcome to Lapland,' says the Uber driver as he flashes a smile. 6 6 It's mid-July, and I've arrived at 'the official home of Santa Claus'. I'd heard whispers about Rovaniemi's summer scene, but I hadn't quite realised how passionately the city upholds its year-round festivities. My first stop is the Santa Claus Village — an immersive Christmassy epicentre north of the Finnish city centre. If it sounds bizarre, it certainly feels it. On the drive to the village, I watch bikini-clad crowds weaving through Rovaniemi's streets towards the Rovaniemen Uimaranta — a sandy beach on the banks of the River Kemijoki. It's 27C and summer is underway. Yet the signs of the city's festive subculture are unmissable. Free-roaming reindeer sunbathe next to roadsides, and we whizz past a barbershop named 'Santa Hair'. I'm basked in sunshine as I step into Santa Claus Village, a collection of red-painted alpine buildings amid fir and pine trees. Aside from Santa meet-and-greets, there's the functioning Main Post Office, Santa's Pets and Arctic Circle Husky Park. With free entrance, you can explore at your own pace. It's not the lack of snow that strikes me first, but the absence of crowds. Rather than hordes of thermal-clad tourists, there's a summery serenity in the air. In the main square, residents casually cross the white line that marks the official Arctic Circle boundary — accompanied by plodding dogs on leads. Last December, there was a three-hour waitlist to begin queuing to see Santa Claus, now I watch a young family walk straight in. Ignorance is bliss and I've decided I'm too anxious to discover if I'm on the 'naughty or nice' list. Instead, I'm focused on meeting some of the four-legged helpers. I dash towards the reindeer, where visitors are promised intimate hand-feeding encounters. Elves serve ice cream Summer is a special season for the reindeer. Their antlers are at their largest and most of the females have calves at foot. Adjoining the reindeer pen is the home of another Christmas celebrity: Mrs Claus. 6 6 6 Her lodge is set back from the main walkway and if everyone else is aware that it's July, the elves in charge of decor have not got the memo. A floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree glistens in the corner, while beaming elves serve ice cream and pastries. 'When people visit in winter, I always tell them to visit in summer,' says Mrs Claus, in a lilting voice with a twinkle in her eye. She spins a rhythmical tale: Summers spent swimming, fishing for salmon ('Santa's favourite') and picking blueberries to incorporate into her baking. The thawing of the forest shapes the activities that Santa Claus Village has on offer, though not as dramatically as you might expect. Inside the Post Office, the elves still stamp and mail letters, sorting selected letters into a designated post box marked 'December 2025'. The Husky Park welcomes tourists to play with puppies or take rides on wheeled sledges adapted for snowless conditions. While trainers replace clunky snowshoes for walks along forest trails. Christmas isn't a season, but a mindset.
