WHAT started as a challenge between mates after a few drinks has turned into a 13-month journey around the globe in a taxi.

When three English college buddies pondered how high a taxi fare could go after stumbling home one night, they decided to put their question to the test.

Now - more than a year later - the trio have found themselves arriving in New York Time's Square with the meter hitting $US100,000 ($96,000).

Since leaving the UK in February last year, 25-year-old Paul Archer and his two mates, Leigh Purnell, 24, and Johno Ellison, 28, have travelled more than 51,500km around the globe from London to New York.

The London Black Cab - christened Hannah - has taken them on the scenic route, from the Arctic Circle in Finland, to Dunhuang in China, Moscow, Tehran, Texas, the Iraqi border crossing and the Aussie outback.

They even decided to attempt a second world record for the highest taxi ride by driving to base camp below Mount Everest

"We've raised over £15,000 ($23,727) for the British Red Cross so far - but our target is £20,000 ($31,632)," Archer told Fox News.

As for where to next? "Hannah" is currently being shipped to Israel for the last leg of the journey, while the travelling trio recuperate in London for the week.