Make A "black Cab" Driver Your Guide To London
By Gregory Hudson, Thu Dec 8th
Drivers of the classic Black Cab spend most of their daily livestrundling through the streets of London. They are a rare breedand the cars they drive are just as full of character andpersonality as the cabbies who drive them.
Taking the sage advice of a Cabbie is the perfect way to locateany destination. A Cab driver's suggestions can uncover off-beatroutes and help you get the feel for a city. Remember, they arethe folks who hear and see everything!
Travelling in a traditional taxi is a unique, convenient andeasy method of getting from place to place throughout theconvoluted maze of London.
So why are Black Cab Drivers the best travel guides to London?The Reason; Cabbies are famed for possessing a detailedunderstanding of the city, known simply as “The Knowledge”.
“The Knowledge”
All of the official London cab drivers are required to pass atest called “The Knowledge”. What the Knowledge is, cansometimes hard to define. Taking from between 2-4 years toacquire, some say it comes from having an extraordinary memory.London taxi drivers are said to have a part of the braingoverning spatial and visual information that is double the sizeof an average persons.
The fact is, London taxi drivers have a detailed knowledge of atleast 25,000 streets, coupled with a general knowledge of allthe major arterial routes running throughout London.
The Knowledge also stems from a constant Interaction withLondon's people which means they are extremely connected withwhat is happening in the life of the city.
If it's out there, the Cabbie knows!
A Cabbie can find any Street!
The Cabbie's thorough knowledge of London includes the locationof streets, squares, clubs, hospitals, hotels, theatres,government and public buildings, railway stations, policestations, courts, diplomatic buildings, important places ofworship, cemeteries, crematoria, parks and open spaces, sportsand leisure centres, places of learning, restaurants andhistoric buildings; in fact everything you need a driver to knowin order to get you to your destination by the most direct routepossible.
Men and Women of Impeccable Character
It is no coincidence that black cab drivers have a reputationfor providing the best taxi service in the world. Thecredentials of each driver are a spotless reflection of theircharacter and each applicant is the subject of a criminal recordcheck before being issued with a cab driver’s licence.
Beware of Fraudsters and Hustlers
Beware those who claim to have passed the 'Knowledge of London'examinations,
