Have you ever wondered what the small green shelters are that feature on some of London’s streets?
These box-like structures have sparked the curiosity of many a passer-by.
However, what many don’t realise is that some of these cabmen’s shelters are still used to provide much-needed sustenance to London’s taxi drivers, churning out cups of tea, coffee and bacon sandwiches to those with ‘The Knowledge’.
What is a cabmen’s shelter?
A cabmen’s shelter is a small building or shed found at the side or in the middle of roads, usually consisting of a small kitchen and a hatch that food and drinks can be passed through. Some have a few chairs or benches and tables in them, while others may put seating outside on sunny days.
These green shelters first appeared in Victorian London, when the law prohibited horse and carriage drivers from leaving their cabs unattended in a cab rank.
Victorian drivers had nowhere to rest, hide from the rain, or get a hot meal during their working hours. Consequently, many risked leaving their carriages with someone else to mind them while they took refuge in a nearby pub. As a result, carriages could be broken into or stolen by the minder.
Captain George C Armstrong, the editor of ‘The Globe’ newspaper, came up with the idea of establishing cabmen’s shelters after he was unable to get a cab during a storm one evening because all the drivers had gone to the local pub.
Armstrong helped start The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund in London in 1875 with a group of influential philanthropists.
Soon, these small huts began appearing around the city. Cabmen could now use them as rest stops at cab ranks across the capital.
Why are cabmen’s shelters green?
While many of the original shelters have been lost over time, the most recognisable ornamental shelter designs that you see today in London were designed by architect Maximillian Clarke.
All the shelters are similar in size, shape and colour, making it easy for cabmen to spot them.
Some of the shelters that have been recently restored use the same shade of paint as the original shelters: Dulux Buckingham Paradise 1 Green.
How many cabmen’s shelters are there in London?
There are 13 cabmen’s shelters in this style still in the capital.
61 are known to have been built between 1875 and 1950, but the majority have not survived because their roadside positions make them vulnerable to traffic, changing road layouts, and vandalism.
The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund still maintains the upkeep of the shelters.
Where in London can you see the surviving cabmen’s shelters?
Here are the 13 places where you can spot cabmen’s shelters around the capital.
1. Embankment Place/Northumberland Avenue, Westminster
Those walking over Golden Jubilee Bridges or rushing to Embankment Underground Station may have spotted this cabmen’s shelter, which dates from 1915. It was built to replace Clarke’s original ornamental shelter from 1882.
The internal features and fittings have been modernised, but the galley kitchen and seating remain, helping to serve food to hungry taxi drivers.
2. Cadogan Place, Pont Street, Kensington and Chelsea
This cabmen’s shelter was constructed in 1892 by the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund. It replaced one of the earliest cabmen’s shelters that was built on this road in 1875 but fell into poor condition.
The rebuilt shelter was opened by the MP for Chelsea, Algernon Whitmore, and cost approximately £160 to £200, with contributions made by local residents.
The shelter was built in Clarke’s ornamental design, although some features were simplified in the late 20th century following repairs.
3. Cheyne Walk, Kensington and Chelsea
Sometimes referred to as ‘The Pier’ due to its proximity to Cadogan Pier, this shelter was built in 1912 and listed in 2022. It was originally positioned on Royal Hospital Road.
Its latest restoration was funded by the Heritage of London Trust, which meant it could be repurposed into a public kiosk.
4. Temple Place, Westminster
The Temple Place cabmen’s shelter is a rare, relatively unaltered example of these shelters. It was constructed around 1900 and continues to serve takeaway food and drink to London’s taxi drivers.
Blackboards scribbled with chalk show the snack options for drivers. These include bacon rolls, corned beef sandwiches, and even sardines.
5. Russell Square, Camden
The Russell Square cabmen’s shelter can be found adorned with bright flowers and hanging baskets, with large benches outside. The shelter was built in 1897 and restored in 1987.
6. St George’s Square, Pimlico, Westminster
This Grade II listed cabmen’s shelter was built in 1893 and later restored following fire damage.
It sits beside a private park, opposite St Saviour’s Church in Pimlico.
7. Clifton Gardens, Warwick Avenue, Westminster
This cabmen’s shelter can be found near the junction with Clifton Gardens, sitting opposite the entrance to Warwick Avenue Underground Station. Constructed in 1888, it was restored in 1994.
8. Central Garden, Hanover Square, Westminster
This Grade II listed shelter is one of the most elaborate surviving examples of a cabmen’s shelter, dating to 1897, with its groove timber panel infill and prominent rafters to the eaves with decorative ends.
9. Oratory House, Thurloe Place, Kensington and Chelsea
Clarke designed this cabmen’s shelter, which was built in 1897, just down the road from the Victoria and Albert Museum. The shelter once sat in the middle of the road on Thurloe Place but was moved to the side of the road due to local road widening for a nearby hotel.
10. Kensington Park Road, Kensington and Chelsea
This cabmen’s shelter, named ‘Ye Olde Green Hut’, can be found in the middle of Kensington Park Road. It was erected in 1909 to the designs of architect M Starmer Hack.
11. Grosvenor Gardens, Westminster
This cabmen’s shelter was initially built in 1906 on Hobart Place. It was then relocated to Grosvenor Gardens.
The shelter bears decorative ribboned garlands and the ‘CSF’ monogram, giving a nod to the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund, which still maintains the city’s shelters. Many of the shelters feature this decoration.
12. Kensington Road, Westminster
This Grade II listed timber-framed cabmen’s shelter is one of the earliest surviving shelters in London, having been erected in 1888.
13. Wellington Place, Westminster
Known locally as ‘The Chapel’, the cabmen’s shelter on Wellington Place was listed at Grade II in 2024.
It is a later variant of Maximilian Clarke’s 1882 ‘ornamental’ cabin design. Externally, the structural oak frame, deal boarding, ornamental hipped-roof form and the louvered ventilation lantern all remain.
The decorative elements of Clarke’s design survive intact, including the perforated ‘CSF’ monogram panels, reflecting the historic connection with the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund.
The internal fittings are predominantly modern. However, the original open-plan galley kitchen, service hatch and cabmen’s mess arrangement are still intact.
Are there any cabmen’s shelters outside of London?
Cabmen’s shelters can be found in other parts of England, with some incorporating the iconic green exterior of London’s shelters into their designs.
The Grade II listed shelter in the middle of Market Place in Ripon was built in 1911 and paid for by Sarah Carter, the daughter of a former mayor of Ripon. It has been restored numerous times over the decades.
In Ipswich, a Grade II listed former cabmen’s shelter stands in Christchurch Park.
It was built in 1892 and was first used in the town centre before being moved to the park a few years later.
Further reading
- Where Handel Meets Hendrix: London’s Musical History in 7 Places
- The Life and Death of London’s Crystal Palace
- 16 Historic Gardens and Landscapes to Visit
There’s a surviving cabmen’s shelter in the city of Oxford, but sadly it has been painted blue: https://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/stgiles/history/cabmen_shelter.html
There’s one in Dean’s Yard near Westminster Abbey – now painted black. Also a nice one in Hitchin Market Square
It’s slightly surprising that they didn’t have at least basic toilet facilities, though the internet still has various references to a (probably apocryphal, or at least ambiguous) law allowing taxi drivers to urinate on the rear wheel of their vehicle.