[goatinaboat]

in Paris, it was pretty common for taxi drivers to refuse to take you somewhere

In London taxi drivers are notorious for never wanting to venture south of the river, but that is a matter of personal safety, that they are a public service doesn’t give anyone the right to compel them to do something ill-advised.

[porknubbins]

Not familiar with south London but might not the real reason be that in a lower income area people won’t hire them for the ride back. NYC cabbies have to drive through dangerous areas as a matter of course and there are more guns there.