If you are learning the taxi knowledge of london to become a licensed black cab driver you will need to complete the 320 blue book runs. London s cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber and a gps. This is why taxi drivers have to learn and pass the worldfamous knowledge. Its not a requirement but as a private hire driver you should do as a minimum the 320 blue book runs of the taxi london knowledge. It consists of 7 stages, including a selfassessment, a written exam, 3 oral exams, a driving exam, and a series of talks to test your knowledge of londons roads, landmarks, and destinations. Take the all london knowledge which, once passed, allows you to work anywhere in greater london become a taxi driver in one of the nine suburban sectors.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading taxi knowledge of london. I understand that all students get a blue book from which to memorize 300some routes. As a member of the london knowledge school you will always have a call over partner and be treated as a team member, you will be part of our growing community and make some good friends on the way. Written by a licensed london cab driver and tour guide, the knowledge is the first ever book to take readers inside the legendarily difficult and fastvanishing set of skills that all licensed cab drivers must have. The knowledge, london s legendary taxi driver test, puts up a fight in the age of gps. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken. I am an experienced licensed london taxi driver, having completed the knowledge in 1957. The knowledge blue book run 320 there are over 24,000 licensed taxi drivers in london. This is where the blue book is required, a handbook for budding taxi drivers which contains all of these routes and landmarks. Blue book runs are the basic training aid that sets out the foundation for learning the knowledge of london.
This is where you will find a list of the 320 routes across london, as well as other information to help you during your studies. Guide to learning the knowledge of london suburban drivers edition the guide to learning the knowledge of london is commonly known as the blue book. And it was a date special for other reasons tooit was 24 th december. Nov 10, 2014 londons taxi driver test enshrines knowledge as to use the au courant term an artisanal commodity, a thing thats local and homespun, thriving ideally in the individual hippocampus. Prospective cabbies sometimes study the blue book that contains the routes for years before becoming proficient. Ive ordered the blue book of 320 runs which should arrive this week.
Jun 01, 20 london taxi knowledge blog london taxi knowledge this is my record of the journey that starts with me buying a scooter to receiving my green badge so i can work as an all london taxi driver share my highs and lows as i work my way through the 25000 streets and learn every point on them. Londons cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber. All london drivers, also known as green badge drivers, need a detailed knowledge of london within a six mile radius of charing cross. The knowledge all london taxi drivers are required to have a detailed knowledge of london within a 6 mile radius of charing cross. Nov 10, 2014 taxidriver candidates known as knowledge boys and, increasingly today, knowledge girls are issued a copy of the socalled blue book. The knowledge has evolved and grown since then, although the initial intention of the system remains the same. This spatial learning is known as acquiring the knowledge and typically. The london knowledge run 299 black taxi cab duration. How do aspiring london taxi drivers pass the knowledge.
Two types of badge to become a licensed london taxi driver, you can either. Learn how to pass the london taxi knowledge and become a london taxi driver. Created specially for the knowledge knowledgepics helps individuals to revise and learn the blue book to become an all london taxi driver. Many qualified taxi drivers go on to take the blue badge exam to become accredited tour guides considering they already know so much about the city. The knowledge requires candidates to learn a total of 320 routes that crisscross london and are. As a taxi driver, you can choose when and where you work and how much you earn. This is the only knowledge website with picture points. Private hire drivers, learn the 320 blue book runs uber.
The knowledge was filmed on location around london, including many scenes within the penton street pco. No shortcuts to cab drivers knowledge the guardian. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts up a. Taxi drivers and the importance of the knowledge visitors to the london olympics can be assured of one thing their cab driver will know where they are going thanks to a rigorous test that. Mastering the knowledge typically takes students three to four years. Before you can start learning the knowledge, you need to apply to be a licensed taxi driver and have your application approved. I recently decided that seeing as finding a job is quite difficult at the moment i would use my time constructively and start doing the knowledge to become a london taxi driver. The london knowledge school licensed london taxi driver. Every knowledge boygirl the term for aspiringstudying cabbies has to driveride the 320 blue book runs and commit these streetsroads, runs and points on these roads to memory.
The guide to learning the knowledge of london is commonly known as the blue book. Aug 09, 2014 in may, london s guardian newspaper pitted a cabbie against a satnavequipped driver from uber, the new taxi company thats taking the worlds cities by storm by allowing passengers to book. Apr 19, 2017 this potential cab driver has his knowledge of london s streets thoroughly tested. In may, london s guardian newspaper pitted a cabbie against a satnavequipped driver from uber, the new taxi company thats taking the worlds cities by storm by allowing passengers to book. If you want to become a london taxi driver you need to send an application to the tfl. Both, which are sat at the same time, must be passed before a theory test certificate will be issued. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken by london s black cab drivers so tough. Taxi knowledge course details the 320 main standard routes, or runs, through central london of the knowledge are contained within the blue book of. The knowledge was introduced as a requirement for taxi drivers in 1865. The knowledge is the test that drivers of london black cabs must pass to. The long road to becoming a london black cab driver duration. May 25, 2009 i am not interested in becoming a professional taxi driver, but would like to learn some of the routes used by the professionals to move about london. I am not interested in becoming a professional taxi driver, but would like to learn some of the routes used by the professionals to move about london. If you want to tour london with a experienced blue badge tour guide then please contact me to book.
Chilly london, tower bridge, lars plougmann, ccbysa. The following day was to be my first as a working london taxi driver. This is not the knowledge itself but the main learning tool on the. London s black cabs are easily recognized and a bit of a city attraction. The knowledge, a test that all blackcab drivers in london must pass to secure a licence, should be scrapped in its current form, the capitals conservatives say.
Oct 17, 2017 what is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken by londons black cab drivers so tough. To become a london taxi driver you need to send us an application. Parallels the drivers of londons licensed black cabs must memorize every street to navigate the city. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading how to become a london taxi driver london taxi knowledge training how2become. How to become a london taxi driver london taxi knowledge training how2become kindle edition by richard mcmunn.
Blue book run 1 london taxi knowledge photgrapher pictureit. Learn the knowledge of london with knowledgepics, become a green badge london taxi driver. Mar 10, 2001 it would be nice if more of us got to benefit from the extraordinary knowledge of the london taxi driver, but it would be a shame if it was at the cost of that knowledge being downgraded. Oct 21, 2015 londons cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber and a gps. The blue lamp trust has been a leading provider of assessments for taxi licence applicants and existing taxi drivers since 2011. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Starting my london taxi knowledge posted in motor mouth section. To apply for a licence, you will need to meet the following criteria. Blue book runs to learn for the knowledge of london. Following satisfactory character and medical checks, you will be sent a knowledge of london introductory pack. Taxi drivers have to also remember all places of interest or note en route.
In order to obtain this candidates have to pass through the world renowned knowledge of london. A look into whats involved in learning the knowledge of london. In the chasthe knowledge miniseries, which was a spinoff from the comic book hellblazer, chas chandlers job as a taxi driver is the basis for various plot elements of the series. Where do i find a copy of the london taxi knowledge blue book. Knowledgepics helps individuals to revise and learn the blue book to become an all london taxi driver. The knowledge is a reflection of the enlightenment ideal of learning as an end in itself by following the map the knowledge boys undertake a journey that changes them. The citys cabdrivers are justly renowned for their mastery of what is called the knowledge, a book of 400 routes around the complicated city streets of london. The green badge knowledge is the name of the training needed to be undertaken to become a licenced taxi driver for the all london area which will allow you to ply for hire anywhere in the greater london authority area. From the beautiful villages of the cotswold, to the historical castles of windsor, hampton court, warwick, leeds and hever you will not be disappointed.
London to enable you to qualify as an all london taxi driver. Where do i find a copy of the london taxi knowledge blue. Londons cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber and. As the brain remembers image more effectively than words we associate all of our points with pictures helping you to memorize points easier. England is rich is history and charm and you will experience the very best it has to offer in style and comfort. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts. Call to scrap current london cab driver knowledge test. The knowledge requires candidates to learn a total of 320 routes that crisscross london and are specifically designed to leave no gaps. However, one thing which people visiting the capital might sometimes fail to notice is the amount of moped riders zipping around the capital with a map fixed to the handlebars, occasionally stopping to. Taxi driver candidates known as knowledge boys and, increasingly today, knowledge girls are issued a copy of the socalled blue book. It consists of 7 stages, including a selfassessment, a written.
The routes are simply a list of journeys and the following three are example runs. London taxi knowledge blue book runs as part of the london taxi driver knowledge test you will be required to learn the blue book runs. Learning the london knowledge the knowledge taxi london. These new transport for london approved runs have been professionally produced and offer the following features. The knowledge can be done in 2 5 years, being 18 at the moment and hoping to take about 3 years to learn it it means by time i am 21 and able to. Aug 15, 20 blue book run 1 london taxi knowledge photgrapher pictureit. Taxi drivers and the importance of the knowledge telegraph.
This book contains the complete set of blue book runs that you will need for the knowledge of london. A copy of the guide to learning the knowledge of london the blue book. It would be nice if more of us got to benefit from the extraordinary knowledge of the london taxi driver, but it would be a shame if it was at the cost of that knowledge being downgraded. The knowledge, its runs, and to a certain extent the role of the pco, form the basis for a future religion in will selfs the book of dave. Starting my london taxi knowledge motor mouth section. An interesting article entitled the knowledge, london s legendary taxi driver test, puts up a fight in the age of gps by jody rosen appeared in the new york times. My first unofficial job was to drive my girlfriend to euston station. Parallels the drivers of london s licensed black cabs must memorize every street to.
This guidebook contains a list of 320 runs, trips from point a to point b. Black london taxi knowledge runs blue book runs blue book run 1. Taxidriver candidates known as knowledge boys and, increasingly today, knowledge girls are issued a copy of the socalled blue book. The knowledge of london taxi knowledge test is considered one of the most rigorous examinations for taxi drivers in the world. The knowledge, the fabled london taxi exam, amounts to learning the minutiae of over 25,000 streets and over 120,000 points. In order to secure a taxi license in london, you have to pass a thorough test, proving that you know the city like the back of your hand. Asher moses, a cabbie of 28 years, is the ceo of sherbet london, a dalstonbased company that rents taxis to drivers, manages a black cab fleet and arranges taxi ads. The routes contain 25,000 streets and around 20,000 monuments. How to become a london taxi driver london taxi knowledge. The knowledge of all 320 runs are contained in a blue book, all of which must be memorized if someone wants to gain their qualification. These basic runs will give you a learning for the framework of geography for central london. First, we do something called the blue book, which is 320 runs that take you all the way around the city.
Learn the knowledge of london transport for london. To qualify as a green badge taxi driver you will be expected to learn everything within a 6 mile radius of charing cross. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken by. It takes the average knowledge boy, as theyre known, four years of intensive study to pass and be awarded the legendary green badge and with it the right to drive a hackney carriage a black cab. The time it takes to become a licensed driver depends on whether you choose to learn the all london knowledge or a suburban sector. Even if you never wish to become a london taxi driver. For londons cabbies, job entails worlds hardest geography test. Proceeds go towards our bobby scheme, the blue lamp trusts charitable arm which provides free home safety and security to elderly and vulnerable people. Part nine, remembering my first day as a london cabbie id finally been awarded the coveted green badge. Tours in uk and france take a trip to some of the loveliest, interesting and historical locations in the uk. Apply for a taxi driver licence transport for london. If you have not yet applied to become a licensed london taxi driver then you should visit the tfl website.
Taxi knowledge of london kindle edition by davies, nigel. It consists of 7 stages, including a selfassessment, a written exam, 3. If you have not yet applied to become a licensed london taxi driver then you should visit the tfl website tfl. Generally one must possess a drivers license, pass a police check, and know the location of the major hospitals and nursing homes and h. These are issued by the public carriage office and in total there are 320 to learn. The london taxi drivers are almost as famous as the black the knowledge taxi london knowledge download your blue book runs and guide to taking the london knowledge.
The london knowledge blue book run 97 of 320 visit uk for the complete 320 runs. Black cabbies in the capital must learn some 320 routes through 25,000 streets off by heart in. Feb 07, 2018 in 2011, a university college of london study found that the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory, had grown in cabbies that had completed the knowledge. Taxi licenses are granted by the municipality so it can be ridiculously easy or about as hard as getting a phd. In order to qualify as a licensed london taxi driver, a trainee must learn the complex and irregular layout of london s. Although over 30 years old and primarily a comedy, the play is a pretty accurate portrayal of what the training of a london taxi driver involves. We are very excited to announce that our new style set blue book runs, containing 40 runs are now available to buy in store and online. Get tips on how to tackle the blue book runs and taxi knowledge at how2become.
It was initiated in 1865, and has changed little since. Want to learn the green badge knowledge of london and become. London taxi knowledge a guide to blue book runs how2become. The licensed taxi drivers association is furious at a proposed change to taxi licensing requirements in london, england. The people who have to remember 25,000 streets youtube. Manor house station to gibson square, jubilee gardens to royal london hospital, dryburgh road to vicarage. Following satisfactory character and medical checks, the tfl will send you a knowledge of london introductory pack. London s taxi driver test enshrines knowledge as to use the au courant term an artisanal commodity, a thing thats local and homespun, thriving ideally in the individual hippocampus. The theory test is made up of two main parts, the multiple choice test and the hazard perception test. It takes the average person between 2 and 4 years to learn the knowledge, a lot however depends on how much time and effort they are willing to dedicate in learning it. Find out more about the process and how to get your own blue book at tfl.