TfL says they will be working closely with the Metropolitan Police to keep central London moving.

However,  Garrett Emmerson, Transport for London's chief operating officer for surface transport, said that given the scale of the likely disruption, "we would advise drivers to avoid the area if at all possible."

The protest is the latest in a series across Europe as traditional cab services express anger over what they regard as a lack of regulation of Uber, a mobile app that work out the cost of rides .

The protest will start in Trafalgar Square at 2pm and finish at 3pm, and up to 12,000 drivers are expected to take part.

Mr Emmerson said, "A number of taxi drivers are set to cause pointless disruption for Londoners over a legal issue that is down to the courts to decide upon."

The Metropolitan Police says conditions have been imposed on protesters after they failed to meet with officers to discuss their plans.

Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Pippa Mills said organisers had failed to discuss the protest in advance, so the following conditions have been imposed by on the demonstration:

The protestors may assemble in Whitehall SW1, north and southbound carriageways and Parliament Street SW1, north and southbound carriageways.

The demonstration must not start before 14:00

The demonstration must not end later than 15:00

No-one will be allowed to join the demonstration when the area is deemed to be congested by the tactical commander of the event

Uber now serves more than 100 cities in 37 countries and has high-profile backers including Google and Goldman Sachs.

It has 3,000 registered drivers in London.