London taxi drivers have to take this 160-year-old test to drive in the city

To drive a black cab, London taxi drivers face one of the toughest exams in the world.

Known as ‘The Knowledge’, this 160-year-old challenge asks every aspiring cabbie to memorize 25,000 streets and 320 routes. 

It’s not optional. No pass, no license.

And more than a century later, it’s still going strong. Turns out, real knowledge still beats Google Maps.

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Only the toughest become London taxi drivers

The London taxi driving test dates back to 1865, created after visitors to the Great Exhibition complained that cab drivers had no clue where they were going.

Today, the system is almost identical. 

Every would-be London taxi driver studies from the Blue Book, which maps out 320 runs across the capital. 

Along the way, they must memorize more than 25,000 streets and thousands of landmarks within a 6mi radius of Charing Cross.

Most aspiring London taxi drivers spend three to four years training, memorizing routes and studying the city’s layout in detail.

Once they’re ready, The Knowledge features seven official stages: a written test, several verbal ‘appearances’ where they must describe the shortest route between random points, and a suburban exam for areas beyond central London.

Even after passing all of that, a candidate must apply for their license, pass a criminal background check, and complete a practical driving test. 

They also have to demonstrate they can safely load and transport a wheelchair – because every black cab must be accessible by law.

Why The Knowledge test still matters in the age of Google Maps

It’s already been established that UK road rules are tougher than the US – just ask the American man who tried to take the UK driving test just to see if he could pass. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go well.

In New York, you can become a taxi driver after just one day of training. In London, it can take four years. One system teaches you how to drive – the other turns you into a human sat nav.

Step into a black cab, and your London taxi driver won’t be checking an app. They already know the fastest route – every shortcut, backstreet, and detour, stored in their head.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said it best: “We have… the best and most qualified cabbies in the world.”

While other cities chase shortcuts and software, London backs something better – real expertise.

London’s taxi driving test is still one of the hardest exams in transport, and every London taxi driver has earned their badge the hard way.

So next time you hop in a black cab, just sit back – you’re in the hands of a pro.

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