National Geographic:
The Knowledge of London is a real-time, street-level test of memorization skills so intense that it physically alters the brains of those who pass it.
To qualify for that elusive green badge, you need to learn by heart all 320 sample runs that are listed in the Blue Book, the would-be cabbie’s bible. You will also have to commit to memory the 25,000 streets, roads, avenues, courts, lanes, crescents, places, mews, yards, hills, and alleys that lie within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.
I am severely directionally challenged and couldn’t complete The Knowledge on pain of death but reading about the process they have to go through is fascinating.
I remember catching a Discovery/NatGeo/whatever program a few years ago on this and being, to use the lingo, gobsmacked.
Bloody hard as hell!
There’s a bbc drama with the civil servant from yes, minister playing the examiner that is fantastically realised. It’s called “the knowledge”. Highly recommended
No kidding. These guys should get some sort of college degree in something after successfully completely that test!
In fairness, from what I recall of the last time I used a London cabbie, they’re making a very decent wage.
Bloody pound!
Read the article to see just how decent.
The only problem being, as I recall, is that London is one of the most expensive cities in the world.
It was before the 2008 crash, but I remember what was essentially a big closet in the City going for (eh, hellwith, easier to type) 800,000 pounds.
£70,000 in London doesn’t get you that far anymore. Not unlike Manhattan at the same amount.
I wonder if all the map apps could pass that test
The linked article answers that question. You should give it a read. It’s very interesting.