Estonian start-up Taxify is to go head to head with Uber in London's highly competitive taxi-hailing market, and also has Paris in its sights.

Taxify said it will launch services across London on Tuesday after signing up 3,000 private hire taxi drivers, who have been vetted to ensure they meet local licensing requirements.

It marks a major move forward for Taxify after missteps by the Silicon Valley giant already allowed it to make inroads in several cities in Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.