Call : +44 (0)7702 726362
My Job as a Cabbie
​
My name is David and I am an experienced London Black Taxi Driver, as well as being a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers and a Qualified Taxi Guide.
​
Before becoming a London Cabbie, I worked in a wide range of jobs and locations, for the Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide, having started out as a Postman, in Wembley, when I was 18.
​
All London Taxi Drivers are self employed. I am free to choose where and when I work. When my “For Hire” light is on, I can pick up a customer anywhere in Greater London, if they put up their hand to hail me.
​
I love the variety of the work, meeting people from all over the World, often sharing stories about London and my travels elsewhere. Like all Cabbies, I get to take A List and lesser known celebrities around London too. I always respect their privacy and don’t tell them if I recognise them!
​
The Knowledge of London
​
In order to become a London Taxi Driver, every one of us has to undertake an arduous training programme, called “The Knowledge”. The Knowledge was introduced in London in 1865 and it ensures that we all know the quickest routes through London’s complicated and ever changing road network.
​
This involves learning 20,000 streets and 30,000 specific addresses in a six mile radius from Charing Cross (next to Trafalgar Square). We don’t just learn their names and where they are, we also need to know the best route from every place to every other place! This took me 4 years to complete, the first half I did part time at weekends, combined with my previous job and the second half I did full time, like a college course.
​
Every Knowledge student learns the roads and addresses by riding round them, usually on a motor scooter. I did it differently , by cycling around London on my push bike.
​
We are tested in exams called “Appearances”. I did 16 of these. We are asked to verbally tell the examiner the precise route to take from any randomly chosen place to another place. I remember my very first question in my first Appearance … “Take me from The Landmark Hotel to the Tate Modern Art Gallery”. Then it was over to me… “Leave on the Left Melcombe Place, Left Harewood Avenue, etc…”
When I’m not Driving my Taxi…
​
When I’m not driving my Electric Black Taxi, I love to explore Britain and the wider World, with my wife, Jan.
​
I also enjoy watching Football (I’m a life long Queens Park Rangers supporter), discovering new things about London, skiing, keeping fit and gardening.
We have two grown up children, Grace and Sam, as well as 3 grandsons, Albie, Ernie and Wynn. They all keep us busy too!
​
My London Favourites
​
· View - Looking east and west from Waterloo Bridge.
· Area – Hampstead.
· Street - Marylebone High Street.
· Landmark - St Paul’s Cathedral.
· Pub – The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich.​
· Restaurant – Cafe Pacifico, Covent Garden.
· Bar - Cahoots, Carnaby Street.
· Hidden Corner - Postman's Park.
​
Let me show you some of my London favourites and help you to decide yours.