TAXI GUIDES: If the Knowledge of London wasn’t hard enough… there’s a Cab Guide Course too!

Badge image credit: Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers

Some black cab drivers, long revered for their encyclopaedic knowledge of the city's streets through the famed 'Knowledge of London', are elevating their expertise to new heights. They are becoming certified tour guides, merging historical wisdom with their unrivalled navigational skills.

For some time now, taxi drivers have been given a unique opportunity - to sign-up to a specialised Cab Guide Course. This program, a collaborative effort between the Museum of London and the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, is not just any course. It’s a journey into the depths of London’s rich history and an exploration of its present form.

Upon successful completion of the course, which includes both written and practical examinations, the drivers achieve a recognised professional Guiding qualification.

The curriculum is as diverse as it is extensive. Participants receive lectures from esteemed Guides, qualified in adult education. The program also features walks presented by the illustrious Blue Badge Guides and City of London Guides, among others. These walks traverse key areas of London including the City of London, Westminster, Southwark, Clerkenwell, and Mayfair, each steeped in history and stories.

However, it's not just the geography that the cabbies master. An integral part of the course involves delving into the history of the Cab Trade itself, and the roles and traditions of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, both in the past and today.

This unique blend of historical knowledge and practical skill is a shining example of the city's continuous evolution, and a tribute to those who keep its heart beating – the London cabbies. It's a ride through history, with the best guides in the driver's seat.