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. Black cabbies in the capital must learn some 320 routes through 25,000 streets off by heart in. Londons cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber. In london, the blue book is the definitive study guide, containing the 320 routes you will need to memorize. When he was doing blue book runs, mccabe would ride the streets all night, leaving when his wife got home from work at 9. 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. The knowledge comprises 320 routes which stretch across london. A copy of the guide to learning the knowledge of london the blue book. All london drivers, also known as green badge drivers, need a detailed knowledge of london within a. This is where the blue book is required, a handbook for budding taxi drivers which contains all of these routes and landmarks. Get tips on how to tackle the blue book runs and taxi knowledge at how2become.
Train your brain like a cabbie is now available both in shops and online. Learn the knowledge of london transport for london. Little however is known about the regulation by anyone outside the trade. There are 320 blue book runs just simple routes crisscrossing london which are designed to cover most eventualities that you are expected to. These routes, know in the trade as runs can be found in the guide to learning the knowledge of london more commonly known as the blue book, even though for decades the cover has been pink, which is issued to anyone who wants to become a cab driver. Part one, my acceptance interview a question im sometimes asked by passengers in the taxi is how long did it take you to pass. The knowledge was introduced as a requirement for taxi drivers in 1865. The book takes readers inside the secretive world of the knowledge. You could revise the blue book runs while on your way to work, while fishing or just relaxing in the garden. The london knowledge school licensed london taxi driver. 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. In order to obtain this candidates have to pass through the world renowned knowledge of london. These are issued by the public carriage office and in total there are 320 to learn. 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.
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. 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. London s black cabs are easily recognized and a bit of a city attraction. For the sixth consecutive year, london taxis have been voted the best in the world, according to an annual survey of. By this, they mean how long did it take to pass the knowledge of london usually shortened to the knowledge, the process of study and examination which all cabbies are. As the brain remembers image more effectively than words we associate all of our points with pictures helping you to memorize points easier. Where do i find a copy of the london taxi knowledge blue book. The number of city routes contained in the knowledge examination has been cut from 400 to 320 in a new version of the taxi drivers bible, the blue book, to be published tomorrow. And this is how the famous knowledge of london exam came about.
Taxicabs are regulated throughout the united kingdom, but the regulation of taxicabs in london is especially rigorous with regard to mechanical integrity and driver knowledge. Knowledgepics helps individuals to revise and learn the blue book to become an all london taxi driver. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken by london s black cab drivers so tough. Mastering the knowledge typically takes students three to four years. 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. 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.
Blue book run 320 8 april, 2011 gibson square 4 comments there are over 24,000 licensed taxi drivers in london. Even if you never wish to become a london taxi driver. You have to remember all of londons 25,000 streets and roads, after all, as well as all the citys major points of interest. As part of the london taxi driver knowledge test you will be required to learn the blue book runs. London taxi training wizann knowledge school united. If you want to become a london taxi driver you need to send an application to the tfl. The knowledge requires candidates to learn a total of 320 routes that crisscross london and are specifically designed to leave no gaps. Taxi drivers have to also remember all places of interest or note en route. The people who have to remember 25,000 streets the. When you are accepted to start the knowledge you are given the blue book the fact that the cover of mine was pink is somewhat irrelevant, the cover was once blue so it remains forever known as the blue book.
The routes are simply a list of journeys and the following three are example runs. To become a london taxi driver you need to send us an application. Where do i find a copy of the london taxi knowledge blue. Starting my london taxi knowledge posted in motor mouth section.
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 make notes or mark something on the map. 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 london s roads, landmarks, and destinations. If you have not yet applied to become a licensed london taxi driver then you should visit the. Parallels the drivers of london s licensed black cabs must memorize every street to navigate the city. The knowledge requires candidates to learn a total of 320 routes that crisscross london and are. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts. 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. Following satisfactory character and medical checks, the tfl will send you a knowledge of london introductory pack. The public carriage office pco, which regulates and licenses taxis and private hire commonly. First, we do something called the blue book, which is 320 runs that take you all the way around the city. These new transport for london approved runs have been professionally produced and offer the following features. Until the 19th century london s taxi drivers were unregulated. The knowledge of london runs and points recommended for you. Wizann knowledge school, wizann publications limited, wizann is londons leading provider of materials and training for students wishing to become a licensed london taxi driver, black cab driver.
Starting my london taxi knowledge motor mouth section. Other cities and locales may have different study guides for you to use, depending on the intensity of their exam. Be aware that it often takes 34 years to prepare for the all london knowledge. These basic runs will give you a learning for the framework of geography for central london. Taxis can be hailed in the street and asked to go anywhere, so a thorough understanding of londons streets is essential. Mannor house station to gibson square blue book run 2 duration. The metropolitan police were given the task of overseeing london s taxi drivers, making sure they were fit and proper and had sufficient knowledge of london to do their job well. So the appeal of the knowledge goes beyond the lure of selfemployment and a good wage to that of a heroic endeavour to boldly go where no man would think of going, if it wasnt in the blue book. The knowledge of london taxi knowledge test is considered one of the most rigorous examinations for taxi drivers in the world. 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. London captured 22 percent of the vote, leaving the competition far behind.
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. The knowledge all london taxi drivers are required to have a detailed knowledge of london within a 6 mile radius of charing cross. Following satisfactory character and medical checks, you will be sent a knowledge of london introductory pack. Andrew hoylecnet pearsons goal is to drive one of london. Blue book runs to learn for the knowledge of london.
We provide the leading technology and most advanced study environment available. No shortcuts to cab drivers knowledge the guardian. Londons taxis are worldfamous, in part because our taxi drivers know the quickest routes through london s complicated road network. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken. 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. How to become a london taxi driver knowledge of london. Learn how to pass the london taxi knowledge and become a london taxi driver. This potential cab driver has his knowledge of london s streets thoroughly tested. London s cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber and a gps. The knowledge, the fabled london taxi exam, amounts to learning the minutiae of over 25,000 streets and over 120,000 points. Anyone who wants to drive an iconic london cab must memorize them all. Private hire drivers, learn the 320 blue book runs uber. A look into whats involved in learning the knowledge of london. How to race against a london taxi driver on his own turf.