London's iconic black cab industry is staging a remarkable fightback, with new figures revealing a surge in interest from aspiring drivers. Applications to undertake the legendary 'Knowledge of London' test have reached their highest level in a decade, offering a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered trade.
A Renaissance for the World's Toughest Taxi Test
Transport for London (TfL) has announced that by the end of last month, 742 people had applied to start The Knowledge. This represents a staggering 426 per cent increase compared to the low of 174 in 2021 and is the highest annual total seen in ten years. The figure is also 55 per cent above the last pre-pandemic total of 477 recorded in 2019.
This revival follows years of steep decline for the capital's distinctive hackney carriages, which have faced intense pressure from private hire firms like Uber. The number of licensed taxi drivers in London fell to a new low of 16,676 in 2024/25, down nearly 10,000 from a decade ago. Meanwhile, private hire driver licences have soared to over 106,000.
Reforms Fuel a New Generation of Cabbies
The dramatic uptick is widely attributed to concerted efforts by TfL to make the notoriously gruelling qualification more accessible. Earlier this year, TfL launched a plan to protect the taxi trade by making The Knowledge 'more accessible and appealing to a wider range of people'.
A key reform has been slashing the average time it takes to complete the process. As of 2020, candidates faced an average of 5.2 years to get through the seven-stage exam. TfL now reports that the average completion time has fallen to just three years in 2025. One major change has been to reduce the waiting time between exams, known as 'appearances'.
The recent successful candidates showcase the new appeal of the profession. The youngest to pass this year was 20-year-old Connor Dill from Bromley, while the oldest was 72-year-old Peter Laszlo from Fulham. Mr Laszlo told BBC London he practiced the routes by bicycle, fulfilling a childhood fantasy. 'I love it,' he said of his new career. 'It's my little space... The customers so far, have been wonderful.'
The Enduring Legacy of a London Institution
First introduced in 1865 following complaints about cabbies at the Great Exhibition of 1851, The Knowledge remains the world's most respected taxi driver qualification. It requires aspirants to memorise 25,000 streets and 100,000 landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross, learning 320 set routes.
The test's cultural status was cemented by a 1979 TV comedy drama written by Jack Rosenthal, starring Maureen Lipman and Nigel Hawthorne. It has since been featured in several documentaries, most recently a Channel 4 film in 2017 titled 'The Knowledge: The World's Toughest Taxi Test'.
Despite the current optimism, challenges remain. A report by the Centre for London think tank in March warned that London black cabs could become extinct by 2045 without action. However, TfL officials are now more hopeful. Helen Chapman, TfL's director of licensing and regulation, said: 'We are proud to see a renewed interest in this London icon during its 160th anniversary year. This is a fascinating, varied career where, as your own boss, you choose where and when to work.'
With over 1,390 candidates actively undertaking The Knowledge as of last month, the iconic black cab appears to be navigating its way towards a more secure future on London's bustling streets.
