Knowledge of London

Overview

The Knowledge of London is the route and landmark test that Transport for London (TfL) requires from anyone who wants to become a licensed London black cab driver. Candidates learn the streets, routes and places in a 6-mile radius of Charing Cross, and are tested in writing and then in one-to-one oral examinations.

TfL says most candidates need about three to four years to finish it. Passing leads to one of two licences.

• All London (green badge): you may ply for hire anywhere in the Greater London Authority area.

• Suburban (yellow badge): you may ply for hire in one of nine suburban sectors.

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 to apply, but you cannot be licensed until you are 21. There is no upper age limit.

• You need a full DVLA or EEA driving licence.

• You need the right to live and work in the UK.

• You must pass an enhanced DBS check, join the DBS Update Service and stay subscribed.

• You must meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard.

• TfL has also added a Certificate of Good Conduct for applicants who have spent three months or more abroad in the last ten years, and an HMRC tax check with a valid tax code.

Levels or stages

Stage 1: self-assessment

A compulsory check of your progress on the first 80 runs in the Blue Book, to be done within six months of starting. The result is not recorded.

Stage 2: written examination

• 30 multiple-choice questions: 5 on Blue Book routes and 25 on major landmarks.

• The pass mark is 60%.

• You must sit it within two years of being sent your introductory pack.

Stages 3 to 5: oral appearances

You meet an examiner one to one. An appearance usually has four questions and lasts about 20 minutes. You are asked for the shortest route between two points in London. Answers are graded with letters that convert to points, and you must collect enough points to move up a stage. TfL says you will on average need to score on four appearances to advance.

Oral assessments are audio recorded on Microsoft Teams for monitoring and training, and TfL keeps the recordings for three months.

Stage 6: suburban examination

You learn a further 25 routes covering London's suburbs.

Stage 7: licence application and pre-licensing talk

You make the final licence application and attend a group talk with an examiner about a driver's responsibilities. You then receive your badge and licence.

Exam pattern

The study material is the Blue Book. It lists 320 routes, called runs, inside the 6-mile radius of Charing Cross. You must also know every road and landmark within a quarter of a mile of the start and end point of each run. The stages above show how this is tested.

Marking and results

Written paper: 60% to pass. Appearances: each answer earns a letter grade, which is turned into points, and the points decide when you move to the next stage.

Fees

The TfL application page lists these charges. Check the page for the current amounts before paying.

• Licence application: £138

• Grant of licence: £205

• Knowledge written exam: £225

• Enhanced DBS check: £52 online

How to apply

Apply online for a taxi driver licence through TfL. You create an online account to follow your application.

After the exam

Every licensed London taxi driver must also pass a taxi driving test of about an hour. It has a driving part of roughly 38 to 40 minutes with two manoeuvres, a wheelchair exercise in which you load and secure an empty wheelchair using ramps, harnesses and seatbelts, and questions on the Highway Code, vehicle safety and traffic signs.

Preparation tips

• Work through the Blue Book runs steadily and check your knowledge of the roads around each start and end point.

• Independent Knowledge schools exist, and TfL lists six of them.

• Tell TfL about changes of name or address and about any caution, conviction or charge.

FAQs