It's not been much of a secret we both have a love affair with the Black taxis in London. But, we know NOTHING about them! And what is "The Knowledge?" In this episode we have a fun time learning about the history of these iconic black taxis or cabs. We also take a driving tour through different parts of London. This only makes us love them even more! Let us know if you learn anything with us. We do have a few questions we would love your comments on. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!
A gaggle is the name for a group of geese or a group of disorganised people. Hackney is used in the expression "a hackneyed phrase" or "That's a bit hackneyed" meaning over used or worn out.
Every year on Remembrance Sunday hundreds of black cabs collect veterans from Waterloo station and take them to Whitehall, free of charge. To see all the cabs lined up on Westminster bridge is an amazing and heart warming sight.
Morning girls Richard the london black cabbie here. We have to memorise approx 7000 roads in london. When we pass its bigger than a masters degree and law degree. Im a very proud cabbie and if you ever come to london id love to give you a tour x😊
You rock! The IQ of cabbies like you are higher than average. Can folk book you by phone, etc? How much is a half day tour of some of the London sights? Best wishes.
My husband Paul is a Black Taxi Driver. He doesn’t charge anyone from the armed forces or nurses out of respect, no matter where they want to go. He has had the weird and wonderful on board, including many famous faces. He doesn’t get star stuck, but always drops me a call to let me know he has had so and so in the back of his cab. I love your channel girls, keep up the great work 💜
My late father was often rushed into hospital from work at all hours. So me and mum would get the train into London and get a cab from the station rank. So many times those lovely drivers have waived our fare. It was gratefully appreciated and never forgotten. Also I once came home from holiday to an empty house and the driver insisted on waiting while I went in and checked that it was all OK indoors before he left. These guys are real gems.
@@joebloggs396 In the last few years I have been to London twice, to a planned event, and as a connection while traveling via train, using a cab was easier and a lot less stressful. I think if I went into London a lot or lived there, then I would use public transport more, but not for the odd once a year visit and just for an overnight stay.
What makes "the knowledge" so special is the fact that London streets aren't in the grid pattern that many large American cities are. I've never been to New York, but even I could probably manage to get from East 35th Street to West 57th with nothing more than a compass. Millbank to Kensington High Street is a bit more of a challenge.
You've witnessed the best of an off the cuff piece of British humour. With the quip, 'Have you got anything smaller?' A typical cabby question when given a too larger note in payment. Genius.😂
Lots of comments on the black cabs but the guys that do the knowledge are usually great, chatty and friendly. It takes them approximately 3 years to qualify to be a Black Cab driver. They really earn their money, and must keep their cabs inside and out spotless. I would never take anything else always a black cab for me in London. We must support them they really are the real deal. Love the cabbies, keep up the amazing good work.
Gaggle, as in gaggle of geese. In English English there are different nouns for each group of animals, as in murmuration of starlings, or murder of crows. You would be taught them at school as a curiosity (in my day, in black and white) and only ever use the common ones. So a gaggle of women, after a gaggle of geese, picture it, is not complementary.
Not complimentary but, at times, very appropriate. Back in the 70s, we were waiting to go through Bray lock on the Thames. On the other bank, one of the Salters steamers was also waiting with a party of elderly women on an outing. I said it sounded like the parrot house at the zoo, after that the kids always called them parrot boats.
A Gaggle of geese when they are on the ground. When flying in the classic 'V' formation, as geese usually do, they're called a Skene of geese (pronounced, skeen).
You’ve never heard the word “hack” used to describe a bad news reporter or novelist? It comes from the word Hackney (nothing to do with teenage spots😁) meaning more or less the same thing, tired and worn out.
Tommy Cooper was an iconic British comedian with a madcap style. Yep, he collapsed on stage and the audience, expecting that kind of comedy laughed and applauded. So, Tommy's last act in this life was to get a laugh. Respect.
Black Cabs have a fixed tariff (with variants for time of day, Christmas etc) - Uber has dynamic pricing - so sometimes it's cheaper to take a Uber and sometimes cheaper to get a Black Cab. Every Black Cab driver I have ever met (including an ex-neighbour) has always been self-employed - most often they own their own cab, but some drivers who only work a couple of days a week would rent them instead.
When I was a child I used to see many cabbies "doing the knowledge" they usually drove around London on small motor-scooters with a chipboard on the handlebars in front of them. I saw so many because I lived opposite "Marcantonio's" Café in Lambeth Road where many would call in for a cup of tea or meal when they needed it. I guess this is all gone now, and no-one would remember it.
So to address a lot of your questions at the end of the video: The cabs can be independently owned by the drivers, in which case they set their own hours. They can also be "shared ownership" where two or three drivers will own one cab and will operate it at different hours (so one may do mornings, one may do daytime, one may do nights) and they all contribute to the upkeep of the vehicle. Some are owned by leasing companies in which case the driver pays them a % of their takings to upkeep the vehicle, some (very few) are owned by firms in which case the driver gets a % of the takings. There are the same vehicles in other towns/cities in the UK but they aren't regulated in the same way so they operate the same as any other taxi or private hire vehicle outside of London. The length of time taken to do "the knowledge" varies on the person but it's usually about 12 months full time - you'll see loads of aspirant drivers on scooters driving the routes to memorise them. I don't know the pass rate but there's a high dropout rate on the course of people who can't make sufficient progress to pass.
Tom Scott is a brilliant UA-camr and one of his video is he tries to use a satnav to beat a black cab driver using “The Knowledge” round some famous places in London. It’s a great fun video which shows how much black cab drivers know about London roads and their nuances
Rather spacious cars, and the drivers are the salt of the earth. We have them in major cities and large towns too, not just in London. Another amazing video. ❤
My funniest cab story...a group of five of us had been out on the town in central London..we were going down Oxford Street and one of the girls suddenly shouted for the cabbie to stop, thinking she was going to be ill, he slammed on the brakes, but she had seen McDonald's was still open and in her drunken stupour decided she wanted one.now! She flung open the cab door ran full pelt towards the main entrance thinking it was an automatic door...it wasnt! We all sat there in the cab and watched as she ran straight into the closed door, bounced off the glass and fell backwards onto the pavement..rather than just sit there whilst one of us went to her aid, she immediately jumped to her feet and legged it down the street at high speed (she said later it was because she was embarrassed..lol.) we were all astounded, including the cabbie, who said very matter of factly, 'where's she going?'...one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed..lol 😁👍🇬🇧
i’m shocked that you’ve never come across Jules‘s videos, they are addictive and absolutely educational to the point of being too much at times. I would watch every single one of his videos, particularly the music tours
I lost it when he started singing Joe Le Taxi. 😂 A popular French song in the 80’s by Pop singer Vanessa Paradis (who would go on to marrry Johnny Depp). The song was a hit in the UK, going top 5 on the singles charts.
You should check out a video about 'doing the knowledge' It's not just as simple as knowing all the street names and buildings, they have to call out every restriction, one-way direction etc. etc. It's amazing to see someone taking the test as the examiner plots the route on a massive map as the student calls out every road, street, points of interest, right turn, left turn, exit number from roundabouts and so on.
My mums friends husband was a black cab driver and would take us all over the place in his, he would pick up my grandparents Christmas day and bring them to us along with their colour television as we only had black and white. Alot of wonderful memories even my wedding day I was taken to church in his Taxi. Great video girlies xx❤
The last time I got in a taxi to go to Northampton, the taxi driver asked me where the venue was. I was stunned, and said "aren't you supposed to know that?". He replied "No, we just drive you". I wish we had taxi drivers with "any knowledge".
I’ve travelled in taxis all over the world and have often been amazed by the fact they don’t know where they’re going. I’ve had them stop and ask directions! Once in Chennai in India it took the driver 1.5 hours of driving to get us the less than a mile from our hotel to a restaurant on the beach. But London cab drivers are a different animal - they know exactly where they’re going, they keep their cabs immaculate and I’ve always found them unfailingly polite and obliging. True they are not cheap but you pay for quality. It’s just a shame we’ve lost the old FX4 cabs like your model and got these modern ones - some of which are, heaven forfend, electric.
I staggered out of a central London nightclub back in the day, and my cousin called another cousin who was a black can driver. 5 minutes later he swung by and drive us all the way back home to the farthest reaches of south London at around 3am; unheard off. He didn't even charge us, bless him - thanks Jimmy!
I left London about 30 years ago, but I still remember seeing guys riding around on mopeds with a clipboard attached to the handlebar. That was people doing the Knowledge.
Richard D'Oyly Carte,was the Impresario behind all the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.He built the Savoy Theatre to house them.He also built (next door to the theatre) The Savoy Hotel. It was the first hotel in the world to have all bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. His builder said to him"My lord Mr Carte,what's your guests gonna be then,amphibians?"LOL
27:55 When I was at university, I lived in student accommodation in Hampsted, North London, where there was an old cabbie's shelter called the "Wharrie Shelter". I'd call in there every morning en route to lectures, to get my regular order of a sausage sandwich (aka a "dog sandwich") and a coffee. Four or five years later, I visited London on a tour of my old haunts, including the Wharrie Shelter, which was still run by the same gentleman. "'Ello mate, long time no see!", he said, "Dog sandwich and a cup of coffee?". I was very impressed!
Some black cabbies will be open to negotiate a half or full day tour of some of the top sights. It won’t be cheap, but boy is it comfortably convenient and exclusive. They will be able to take you to the lesser known places, as there are an endless array of excellent sites, sights, and sounds. My top pick of the smaller galleries, containing masses of furniture and interior wow factors, is The Wallace Collection. It is my favourite. Wonderful place. Free too! The Laughing Cavalier, by Hals, is the UK equivalent to The Mona Lisa, and it’s sensational!
Enjoyed this one. I was a student in London, so The Black Cab was a little out of my budget until the day I overslept and nearly missed my viva voce. One Day a Black Cab Saved My Life. Thanks guys.
I live in S/East London adn there are black cabs outside the train station. I treated myself to a black cab instead of the bus a couple of days ago. I love the black cabs and will always take one in the city (of London) when I'm up there.
Unfortunately since Ubers came the Black Cabs have lost a lot of business which is such a shame. However I would always use a black cab because they are helpful and knowledgeable but also a laugh from some of the things they tell you. I am disabled although not in a wheelchair I need the ramp is really helpful to me. Just another note I have never used an Uber and at one stage didn’t know what it was. However one day I noticed money had gone out my bank account on two Ubers in Manchester and I live in the south of England. Thankfully I got the money back £79 and £45 but it put me off Ubers for life even though it was not their fault. That was a great video ladies once again.
We have black hackneys in most city’s in the UK. I prefer them to normal taxis as they are much roomier. In these days now with the cost of living crisis they are not more expensive than a normal car taxi. But still expensive enough. My mates hubby is a Hackney driver here in Liverpool. He’s also worked in London. The stories he tells honestly. Soo funny. X
The bit about the urinating on the wheel is true, although from what I have read it is only legal as long as it is the back left wheel (so it is on the pavement side) and your right hand is in contact with the car.
Yes, from first hand I can confirm that Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and Glasgow all use these taxis. Lots of other towns and cities too, no doubt.
I haven't been to London for many years, but I do remember that you could always spot someone who was doing the knowledge, because they would be riding a small Honda, or something similar, with a clipboard on the handlebars.
There is a vintage comedy film called carry on cabby . most of the drivers own their cabs and for years if not now all taxi cabs were only sold by the company Mann & Overton
There are hackney cabs outside London and they can operate as the London cabs by just hailing them off the street but they need a special licence. All other taxis have to be pre ordered/booked by phone or app. The song/music video he’s doing is a parody of Joe Le Taxi a song from the 80s by Vanessa Paradis
all taxi's including those with "normal" cars can be hailed, the other are called private hire cars - which still have to have a licence from the Local Authority.
Ladies, gaggle is the collective noun for geese. Also, you need to search Vanessa Paradis who had a hit with Joe Le Taxi when she was about 15. She later became Jonny Depp’s wife and the mother of his two children. She is a model actress and singer and still looks stunning.
Loved this one has i was a Taxi Driver in Leeds for many years we do have black cabs in city centre , but also alot of Private hire cars but you can only Hail down a black cab Private hire must be a booking
That was a fun and interesting way to share all the history, information on the black cabs of London. and the funny and disgusting stories of what goes on in the back seats . We have black cabs in Lincoln the rank is outside the train station. Another great reaction from a great reaction channel / show so thank you 👍❤️
You girls always crack me up, you're so funny and wholesome with your reactions. Please never change your style. There are "black cabs" in other cities around the UK, not just in London. Yes Uber and Lyft are here too, but they have to abide by a different set of rules to Black cabs - If I understand correctly a "minicab" (which includes Uber etc) has to be pre-booked, where you can hail or "flag down" a black cab on the street.
We have black cabs in Glasgow and have black cabs in the suburbs around Glasgow. A black cab can pick anyone up anywhere but a private taxi can only pick up whomever calls the company for the taxi usually the surname would be given when the taxi collects you. My friends dad before he passed away was a black cabbie another friends husband is a retired policeman and a private taxi driver.
My son's partner's dad is a black cab driver, but never met him, as they live 50 miles away. Black cabs are safe, but expensive. You get what you pay for. Some of my ancestors in London were Watermen, which in the day, were the equivalent of a black cab driver. Before the bridges (apart from London Bridge) were built, the best way for rich people was to cross the river, or travel along it by boat. They had to do a seven year apprenticeship, before being allowed to ferry passengers safely on the Thames.
Black cabs, unlike private hire taxis, don't have to be pre-booked. So if you need one at short notice you can go to a taxi rank (usually found in city centres or stations) or hail a passing cab if their light's on. A lot of people say they're more expensive, but I've never found a huge difference and feel safer in a black cab. They also fit more people, or can fit a wheelchair without the user needed to get out of it.
A gaggle usually refers to a flock of geese (not flying) or an unruly gang. Fun fact: Back in the Charles Dickens era the biggest selling fowl used to be geese so much so that they used to be raised in the surrounding countryside and then, because there was no other way they were driven as a herd into the butcheries in London so at Christmas no Turkey just geese or of course anything the poor could their hands on.
When I was younger, the term Hakneyed was used quite a lot. As in, "They churn out the same old hackneyed tunes every Christmas." I never really associated it with its origin until now, though, so thanks for the info. I love word etymology. ❤
The taxi-driver's hippocampus: yes. It's been found to link in with PTSD, oddly enough. Basically, any knowledge of locations and events that's vital to your profession or to your life in the case of soldiers, tends to be recorded in the hippocampus, leading to it developing to be larger and more convoluted. To a Taxi driver, this means spacial knowledge and sequences of turns and routes; to an ex-soldier, it means events and places are remembered unchangingly, which can be a major pain in normal life, as the mind associates those places with life-threatening moments. It just shows how much the human brain does not develop in the modern world, and how much it can be influenced by simple events of sufficient importance.
Very proud to say several members of my extended family passed 'The Knowledge' and worked as cabbies in London over the last 50 years. Yes, they are more expensive than an Uber, but they have extensive knowledge of the city, and are safer because they are regulated, vetted and licensed and are usually friendly and chatty and will happily share their knowledge about the history of the city or pleasantly pass the time of day. Cabs are expensive to buy and so is the license, and it takes a long time to study. I do tip because I respect and appreciate their knowledge, just how much pressure cabbies are now under and value the service they provide. I have never used Uber.
I laughed my head off when the amazing Tommy Cooper died on stage I thought it was part of the act until it went on a bit longer than expected. I felt so guilty laughing but what a wonderful way to go doing what you love
Former taxi driver of 30 years here , from Aberdeen Scotland . Yes you do see Black Cabs even here but mainly saloon cars and more common these days especially here is vehicles either adapted or purpose built to carry wheel chairs and to be easier for persons with disabilities to use . As to the urinating against the rear wheel that used to actually be a thing in the horse drawn days because you were not allowed to leave the horse unattended . The stories that I'm guessing pretty much every taxi driver collects over the years could curl you hair with either laughter or shock , I loved the many many varied conversations I've had over the years with people from all walks of life and I miss doing it every day since ill health forced me to give it up . Love you ladies .
I've never heard the term "hackney" used to describe a person, but we do use the term "a hackneyed phrase" which means, basically, overused to the point of being dull, boring or meaningless.
Yes ladies there are black cabs in all the towns and cities in the UK. Even here in our small rural town we have them. fun fact. the Governor of the Falkland Islands official car is (or was at the time of the conflict with the Argentinians [Argy Bargy, look it up] was a black cab.
The Wheel Chair access has been around known for years. Every thing and I mean everything, has too have wheele chare assess of some type. Every single shop, bus , taxi and train. ❤❤❤❤
Hello ladies, good morning from Liverpool! There are Hackney (black)cabs in most cities in the UK, although loads of them are painted other colours and have advertising. When I was a child and we lived in London for a few years, some of the old cabs had a space next to the drive that was open for luggage. Come and visit Liverpool; you can do the Beatles tour in a black cab! They're cheaper up here than in London, or anywhere south of the Watford Gap. The south of the country is so expensive. Love your channel by the way.
I don't know if anyone else has answered the 'gaggle' question, but just in case no one has.... Gaggle is a collective noun used to describe a particular group of animals. When a bunch of geese waddle around on the ground, that's a gaggle of geese. If those same geese were flying overhead, you'd call them a flock or a skein instead. Gaggle is also useful for describing a disorderly or chaotic group of people: "I was surrounded by a gaggle of three-year-olds eager to pet my puppy." other forms of the word gaggle are, gaggles; gaggling; gaggled
In 1972 I lived in Tooting Bec in south London, very near Tooting Common. At the time the British Museum had a wonderful special show of Egyptian treasures from the tomb of Tutankamun. Pronounced by the British Museum as tu TAN ka MUN, but by American tourists as TU tan KA mun. The popular joke at the time was about the American tourists who got in a black cab and asked to be taken to TU tan KA mun. Much later, the cab finally arrived at Tooting Common. Was it a true story?? Who knows.
Afternoon ladies, in answer to your query regarding if the xabs are only in London the answer is no, they are found all across the UK. Most large towns and almoat all cities have whatvis called a 'taxi rank' which is an area where taxis park up and passengers just get in the one at the front of the queue. Usually they are near bus exchanges, railwaybstatioms and main shopping areas.
I once spalshed out on a black cab from Heathrow to my parent's house in Cheam, Surrey and it cost an arm and a leg! The humour of London cab drivers is great!
It's important to note that London isn't on a grid system like a lot of American cities. So for instance, it's easier to find "The corner of 17th and 5th" from "45th and 1st" than it is one of the thousands of winding roads in London.
Fun fact: London cabs were once yellow. In the 17th century, all London's cabs were painted bright yellow with, I believe, orange roofs, and carried a plate on the back with the driver's name and licence number. There's a painting from the 1660s showing them. Presumably they were yet another old-English-ism exported to the New World which we now think of as purely "American" (alongside such classics as "sidewalk", "fall", "gotten", the "-ize" suffix and other 17th century English spellings (color, savior, etc.), and of course apple pie!)...
Hi girls. A gaggle is a collective name for a large group of geese. It is often used as a term for a large gathering of anything colloquially . There are many collective nouns for animals and birds for eg a "murder of crows".
'Hackney' carriage does come from Hackney, East London. The marshland that used to be there were known as Hackney Marshes, and people kept horses there, but not fine horses for knights and dames, nor heavy-duty working horses. They were common, everyday horses for general purpose use. They were called Hackney nags. Eventually the name 'hackney' (usually as 'hack') became applied to any routine, repetitive task - we still use the term 'hack' for press reporters, but at one time it was used for many trades, including prostitutes. The sort of work that might leave you 'hacked off'. Hackney became very famous for this, which explains how the French got hold of the term.
Hacknied also means worn out. Hackney was named after a Dane during the time of the Danelaw and Vikings. In earliest records, it was a piece of land owned by a man called Hakon. "Ey" is the middle English word for an island or raised ground in marshland. Put them together and you get.....
Black cabs can be anywhere. To get one is just like purchasing a normal car. I used to drive one in Canterbury, Kent for a local taxi company in the 70's.
The black cab, which has been continuously manufactured in Coventry since the 1940s, is used by millions of people in the UK each year as well as being exported across the world. (I'm from Coventry)
London Taxis are built in Coventry (historically the home of a lot of motor companies so there's loads in the Midlands. And there's a rank (queue of taxis) outside Coventry Station.
Black cabs by law used to have carry a bale of hay (none did), this was a throw back to the Hansom Horse drawn cabs the black cabs replaced and the mistreatment of the horses and the birth of the RSPCA
Hello ladies! A 'gaggle' is a collective noun for anything which makes an annoying or irritating noise. The proper usage is a 'gaggle' of geese (as they make an annoying noise when together). You can surmise the connotation when applied to a group of women..... 🙂
I've lived in London for over 45 years. I never take a black cab unless absolutely necessary due to the expense. On that chart that was shown from Heathrow to central London £48-£90 (it's more now if you look at TFL website), the Lizzy Line will do the same trip for £13ish and the normal tube is about half the price of the Lizzy Line. Of course, there are situations where a black cab is necessary for some people, depending on their own circumstances, but London, for the average person by themselves, especially central London, can be done quite easily via walking, bus, tube or train at a fraction of the cost. If you are in a group of 3+ then it can make sense financially, but for a single individual, it's expensive.
The Knowledge takes an average of 2 to 3 years to complete. There are multiple tests called appearances where an examiner asks usually four questions of their choosing with a start point and an end point. The knowledge student has to orally describe the way using every road/ street en route without hesitation or illegal turns to get to the destination. The tests initially are set 56 days apart, when the examiner feels you are more proficient you are moved to 28 days with more intricate questions and eventually it is reduced to 21 days between appearances. If you get to the end, you then have to take a suburban test to show you know the surrounding areas, if you pass all that you get given a badge and licence to work. It's not just the roads they need to know but about 15.000 points of interest on these roads too. This is why it takes so long. The Knowledge is not just a map test over the three years it gives the authority time to access whether the candidate has the right temperament to handle working with general public and is also an assessment to determine if you are a "fit and proper" (their words) person in all aspects of life.
I was in a cab the other night as the busses were cancelled and I was frozen. Expensive but worth it. I was walking to an appointment in London and passed a small group of Cabbies chatting on a corner. I asked directions to the street I wanted and one of them immediately replied, "Eleventh on the right, mate." He was correct. At some London fairs you used to be able to make a donation to charity in exchange for five minutes driving a cab around an obstacle course. There used to be a day every summer when Cabbies would take poor children to the seaside for the day free of charge. Nubar Gulbenkian, probably the richest man in Britain, owned a taxi. When asked why he said, "Because they can turn on a sixpence - whatever that is!"
This brought a smile to my face. It was informative both locational and historical as well as presented in a fun, enjoyable way. I hope the Black Cabs are here for a long time as they and the London red buses are a cultural part of London and its history. Love, hugs and prayers from Sussex, UK
As others have pointed out the "Black Cab" vehicles are found in many cities and towns across the UK. One place where the taxis stand out is Brighton and next door Hove, where any vehicle can be used, but they must be painted white except for the two front doors, the bonnet/hood and boot/trunk (the moving/opening parts) which must be coloured turquoise green.
my brother John was a black cab driver and every year the black cabs in London used to ferry handicapped children down to Margate for a day at the seaside from london, he also used to pick me up from Victoria coach station to take me to my mum's in Abbey Wood and never once got caught in traffic cos he knew all the short cuts nor did he ever charge. . When he was doing the knowledge they have tests every few months then as they progressed more frequent, but by law they can only have so many thousand licenced black cab drivers, and you always knew when it was close to the number allowed as they asked you to take them to a club that was down an alley of one of the roads and you were expected to know where that club was and describe the route to get there. They would also try to put you off by doing something outrageous during the test, waiting for you to comment as a black cab driver is expected to not react to anything (legally)weird going on in his cab nor express an opinion, which if you know black cab drivers is rubbish, they ALL do.
The 'Taxi Service' was available everywhere but London used one particular make of car and painted them all one colour, black. Just as the London 'Bus Service' uses red. Other areas have the same services but normally with different colours for the buses and taxis were normal large cars with an extra license plate and a logo. 😊
It's not been much of a secret we both have a love affair with the Black taxis in London. But, we know NOTHING about them! And what is "The Knowledge?" In this episode we have a fun time learning about the history of these iconic black taxis or cabs. We also take a driving tour through different parts of London. This only makes us love them even more! Let us know if you learn anything with us. We do have a few questions we would love your comments on. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!
A gaggle is the name for a group of geese or a group of disorganised people. Hackney is used in the expression "a hackneyed phrase" or "That's a bit hackneyed" meaning over used or worn out.
There are black cabs and red double decker buses all over Britain. That wasn't always the case.
London black.taxis, made in Coventry
you should defiantly have a look at an in depth video on the knowledge - its insane how much drivers have to remember to pass the test
You are 100% correct, of course. Debbie and Natasha would appreciate your knowledge, I am sure!
Every year on Remembrance Sunday hundreds of black cabs collect veterans from Waterloo station and take them to Whitehall, free of charge. To see all the cabs lined up on Westminster bridge is an amazing and heart warming sight.
No seat belt You can be fined up to £500 if you do not wear a seat belt when you’re supposed to the Muslim Uber are trying to destroy any thing UK
Morning girls Richard the london black cabbie here. We have to memorise approx 7000 roads in london. When we pass its bigger than a masters degree and law degree. Im a very proud cabbie and if you ever come to london id love to give you a tour x😊
We would LOVE that!!!! ❤️
Love you guys! You all have high IQs. 🎉
At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.
@@neilgayleard3842😂
You rock! The IQ of cabbies like you are higher than average. Can folk book you by phone, etc? How much is a half day tour of some of the London sights? Best wishes.
My husband Paul is a Black Taxi Driver. He doesn’t charge anyone from the armed forces or nurses out of respect, no matter where they want to go. He has had the weird and wonderful on board, including many famous faces. He doesn’t get star stuck, but always drops me a call to let me know he has had so and so in the back of his cab. I love your channel girls, keep up the great work 💜
Your husband is a LEGEND!!
After Cunk on Earth I can't believe anyone saying "my mate Paul"
Your fella sounds like an absolute gent.
My late father was often rushed into hospital from work at all hours. So me and mum would get the train into London and get a cab from the station rank. So many times those lovely drivers have waived our fare. It was gratefully appreciated and never forgotten. Also I once came home from holiday to an empty house and the driver insisted on waiting while I went in and checked that it was all OK indoors before he left. These guys are real gems.
As a wheelchair user, I always use a black cab in London. Never had a bad journey, always helpful.
You must have a fair amount of money to afford that then.
Of course buses do cater for wheelchair users once you get to the bus stop.
@@joebloggs396 In the last few years I have been to London twice, to a planned event, and as a connection while traveling via train, using a cab was easier and a lot less stressful. I think if I went into London a lot or lived there, then I would use public transport more, but not for the odd once a year visit and just for an overnight stay.
What makes "the knowledge" so special is the fact that London streets aren't in the grid pattern that many large American cities are. I've never been to New York, but even I could probably manage to get from East 35th Street to West 57th with nothing more than a compass. Millbank to Kensington High Street is a bit more of a challenge.
London was never planned. It just grew. Consequently, the streets seem to go in all sorts of directions.
You've witnessed the best of an off the cuff piece of British humour. With the quip, 'Have you got anything smaller?' A typical cabby question when given a too larger note in payment. Genius.😂
Lots of comments on the black cabs but the guys that do the knowledge are usually great, chatty and friendly. It takes them approximately 3 years to qualify to be a Black Cab driver. They really earn their money, and must keep their cabs inside and out spotless. I would never take anything else always a black cab for me in London. We must support them they really are the real deal. Love the cabbies, keep up the amazing good work.
Gaggle, as in gaggle of geese. In English English there are different nouns for each group of animals, as in murmuration of starlings, or murder of crows. You would be taught them at school as a curiosity (in my day, in black and white) and only ever use the common ones.
So a gaggle of women, after a gaggle of geese, picture it, is not complementary.
More of the sound than the picture geese are extremely noisy, so Gaggle in this meaning is a group of noisy or silly people.
Not complimentary but, at times, very appropriate. Back in the 70s, we were waiting to go through Bray lock on the Thames. On the other bank, one of the Salters steamers was also waiting with a party of elderly women on an outing. I said it sounded like the parrot house at the zoo, after that the kids always called them parrot boats.
A Gaggle of geese when they are on the ground. When flying in the classic 'V' formation, as geese usually do, they're called a Skene of geese (pronounced, skeen).
And geese are well known as guards protecting property. They can be vicious!
A Wank of politicians
I was born in London; black cabs are a source of information. The drivers are an encyclopaedia. Invaluable knowledge, generally.
I can confirm this as my dad was a black cabbie he knows everything . 😂
As well as being racist gits 🤣
They aren’t just London taxis. Every major UK city has black Hackney cabs.
You’ve never heard the word “hack” used to describe a bad news reporter or novelist? It comes from the word Hackney (nothing to do with teenage spots😁) meaning more or less the same thing, tired and worn out.
Tommy Cooper was an iconic British comedian with a madcap style.
Yep, he collapsed on stage and the audience, expecting that kind of comedy laughed and applauded.
So, Tommy's last act in this life was to get a laugh.
Respect.
Black Cabs have a fixed tariff (with variants for time of day, Christmas etc) - Uber has dynamic pricing - so sometimes it's cheaper to take a Uber and sometimes cheaper to get a Black Cab.
Every Black Cab driver I have ever met (including an ex-neighbour) has always been self-employed - most often they own their own cab, but some drivers who only work a couple of days a week would rent them instead.
When I was a child I used to see many cabbies "doing the knowledge" they usually drove around London on small motor-scooters with a chipboard on the handlebars in front of them.
I saw so many because I lived opposite "Marcantonio's" Café in Lambeth Road where many would call in for a cup of tea or meal when they needed it.
I guess this is all gone now, and no-one would remember it.
So to address a lot of your questions at the end of the video:
The cabs can be independently owned by the drivers, in which case they set their own hours. They can also be "shared ownership" where two or three drivers will own one cab and will operate it at different hours (so one may do mornings, one may do daytime, one may do nights) and they all contribute to the upkeep of the vehicle. Some are owned by leasing companies in which case the driver pays them a % of their takings to upkeep the vehicle, some (very few) are owned by firms in which case the driver gets a % of the takings.
There are the same vehicles in other towns/cities in the UK but they aren't regulated in the same way so they operate the same as any other taxi or private hire vehicle outside of London.
The length of time taken to do "the knowledge" varies on the person but it's usually about 12 months full time - you'll see loads of aspirant drivers on scooters driving the routes to memorise them. I don't know the pass rate but there's a high dropout rate on the course of people who can't make sufficient progress to pass.
Hi ladies there are black cabs all over the UK but mainly in the big cities.
I love Joolz guides. I live in London and it’s great watching him tell the history of my home whilst actually being at each location
Tom Scott is a brilliant UA-camr and one of his video is he tries to use a satnav to beat a black cab driver using “The Knowledge” round some famous places in London. It’s a great fun video which shows how much black cab drivers know about London roads and their nuances
Rather spacious cars, and the drivers are the salt of the earth. We have them in major cities and large towns too, not just in London. Another amazing video. ❤
But the difficulty in getting a Licence and having to pass The Knowledge is unique to London.
My funniest cab story...a group of five of us had been out on the town in central London..we were going down Oxford Street and one of the girls suddenly shouted for the cabbie to stop, thinking she was going to be ill, he slammed on the brakes, but she had seen McDonald's was still open and in her drunken stupour decided she wanted one.now! She flung open the cab door ran full pelt towards the main entrance thinking it was an automatic door...it wasnt! We all sat there in the cab and watched as she ran straight into the closed door, bounced off the glass and fell backwards onto the pavement..rather than just sit there whilst one of us went to her aid, she immediately jumped to her feet and legged it down the street at high speed (she said later it was because she was embarrassed..lol.) we were all astounded, including the cabbie, who said very matter of factly, 'where's she going?'...one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed..lol 😁👍🇬🇧
i’m shocked that you’ve never come across Jules‘s videos, they are addictive and absolutely educational to the point of being too much at times.
I would watch every single one of his videos, particularly the music tours
A must watch and highly recommended
Agreed. Watched a lot during lockdown 😊
I lost it when he started singing Joe Le Taxi. 😂 A popular French song in the 80’s by Pop singer Vanessa Paradis (who would go on to marrry Johnny Depp). The song was a hit in the UK, going top 5 on the singles charts.
You should check out a video about 'doing the knowledge' It's not just as simple as knowing all the street names and buildings, they have to call out every restriction, one-way direction etc. etc. It's amazing to see someone taking the test as the examiner plots the route on a massive map as the student calls out every road, street, points of interest, right turn, left turn, exit number from roundabouts and so on.
I used to test my dad for practice before he did the knowledge it was pretty unbelievable
The most expensive mode of transport , excepting the space shuttle, known to man !
My mums friends husband was a black cab driver and would take us all over the place in his, he would pick up my grandparents Christmas day and bring them to us along with their colour television as we only had black and white. Alot of wonderful memories even my wedding day I was taken to church in his Taxi. Great video girlies xx❤
The Knowledge (film) is an ensemble piece about a group of potential cabbies studying to become London taxi drivers.
Well worth a look.
Nigel Hawthorne sticking a pencil up his nose.
The last time I got in a taxi to go to Northampton, the taxi driver asked me where the venue was. I was stunned, and said "aren't you supposed to know that?". He replied "No, we just drive you". I wish we had taxi drivers with "any knowledge".
@@billyhills9933Thought it was 2 Vicks inhaler sticks 😂
I’ve travelled in taxis all over the world and have often been amazed by the fact they don’t know where they’re going. I’ve had them stop and ask directions! Once in Chennai in India it took the driver 1.5 hours of driving to get us the less than a mile from our hotel to a restaurant on the beach. But London cab drivers are a different animal - they know exactly where they’re going, they keep their cabs immaculate and I’ve always found them unfailingly polite and obliging. True they are not cheap but you pay for quality. It’s just a shame we’ve lost the old FX4 cabs like your model and got these modern ones - some of which are, heaven forfend, electric.
I live 200 miles from London. Pretty much the other side of the country. We have black cabs. And if there is more than 4 of us we still ask for an fx4
I staggered out of a central London nightclub back in the day, and my cousin called another cousin who was a black can driver. 5 minutes later he swung by and drive us all the way back home to the farthest reaches of south London at around 3am; unheard off. He didn't even charge us, bless him - thanks Jimmy!
I left London about 30 years ago, but I still remember seeing guys riding around on mopeds with a clipboard attached to the handlebar. That was people doing the Knowledge.
Try to watch Carry on Cabbie. It’s one of the first Carry On films
Great movie. And with a proper plot, unlike many Carry On films (it was actually based on a stage play).
Richard D'Oyly Carte,was the Impresario behind all the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.He built the Savoy Theatre to house them.He also built (next door to the theatre) The Savoy Hotel.
It was the first hotel in the world to have all bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.
His builder said to him"My lord Mr Carte,what's your guests gonna be then,amphibians?"LOL
27:55 When I was at university, I lived in student accommodation in Hampsted, North London, where there was an old cabbie's shelter called the "Wharrie Shelter". I'd call in there every morning en route to lectures, to get my regular order of a sausage sandwich (aka a "dog sandwich") and a coffee. Four or five years later, I visited London on a tour of my old haunts, including the Wharrie Shelter, which was still run by the same gentleman. "'Ello mate, long time no see!", he said, "Dog sandwich and a cup of coffee?". I was very impressed!
Some black cabbies will be open to negotiate a half or full day tour of some of the top sights. It won’t be cheap, but boy is it comfortably convenient and exclusive. They will be able to take you to the lesser known places, as there are an endless array of excellent sites, sights, and sounds. My top pick of the smaller galleries, containing masses of furniture and interior wow factors, is The Wallace Collection. It is my favourite. Wonderful place. Free too! The Laughing Cavalier, by Hals, is the UK equivalent to The Mona Lisa, and it’s sensational!
Enjoyed this one.
I was a student in London, so The Black Cab was a little out of my budget until the day I overslept and nearly missed my viva voce.
One Day a Black Cab Saved My Life.
Thanks guys.
'A little' out of your budget? How many years ago? :D
@@joebloggs396 It was a question of priorities.
Those pieces of paper with Her Majesty's picture were referred to as 'beer vouchers'.
you got nothing smaller ?! comedy gold
I live in S/East London adn there are black cabs outside the train station. I treated myself to a black cab instead of the bus a couple of days ago. I love the black cabs and will always take one in the city (of London) when I'm up there.
Unfortunately since Ubers came the Black Cabs have lost a lot of business which is such a shame. However I would always use a black cab because they are helpful and knowledgeable but also a laugh from some of the things they tell you. I am disabled although not in a wheelchair I need the ramp is really helpful to me. Just another note I have never used an Uber and at one stage didn’t know what it was. However one day I noticed money had gone out my bank account on two Ubers in Manchester and I live in the south of England. Thankfully I got the money back £79 and £45 but it put me off Ubers for life even though it was not their fault. That was a great video ladies once again.
We have black hackneys in most city’s in the UK. I prefer them to normal taxis as they are much roomier. In these days now with the cost of living crisis they are not more expensive than a normal car taxi. But still expensive enough. My mates hubby is a Hackney driver here in Liverpool. He’s also worked in London. The stories he tells honestly. Soo funny. X
The bit about the urinating on the wheel is true, although from what I have read it is only legal as long as it is the back left wheel (so it is on the pavement side) and your right hand is in contact with the car.
We have these taxis in Liverpool, and most of the big cities have them usually at ranks outside the railway stations
And in Edinburgh
I use them in Norwich.
Yes, from first hand I can confirm that Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, and Glasgow all use these taxis. Lots of other towns and cities too, no doubt.
Seen black cabs in Farnborough station Hampshire
I haven't been to London for many years, but I do remember that you could always spot someone who was doing the knowledge, because they would be riding a small Honda, or something similar, with a clipboard on the handlebars.
There is a vintage comedy film called carry on cabby . most of the drivers own their cabs and for years if not now all taxi cabs were only sold by the company Mann & Overton
There are hackney cabs outside London and they can operate as the London cabs by just hailing them off the street but they need a special licence. All other taxis have to be pre ordered/booked by phone or app.
The song/music video he’s doing is a parody of Joe Le Taxi a song from the 80s by Vanessa Paradis
all taxi's including those with "normal" cars can be hailed, the other are called private hire cars - which still have to have a licence from the Local Authority.
A gaggle is the word for a group of geese.
Ladies, gaggle is the collective noun for geese. Also, you need to search Vanessa Paradis who had a hit with Joe Le Taxi when she was about 15. She later became Jonny Depp’s wife and the mother of his two children. She is a model actress and singer and still looks stunning.
Loved this one has i was a Taxi Driver in Leeds for many years we do have black cabs in city centre , but also alot of Private hire cars but you can only Hail down a black cab Private hire must be a booking
That was a fun and interesting way to share all the history, information on the black cabs of London. and the funny and disgusting stories of what goes on in the back seats . We have black cabs in Lincoln the rank is outside the train station. Another great reaction from a great reaction channel / show so thank you 👍❤️
You girls always crack me up, you're so funny and wholesome with your reactions. Please never change your style. There are "black cabs" in other cities around the UK, not just in London. Yes Uber and Lyft are here too, but they have to abide by a different set of rules to Black cabs - If I understand correctly a "minicab" (which includes Uber etc) has to be pre-booked, where you can hail or "flag down" a black cab on the street.
Love Jules walking tours of London with you reacting
We have black cabs in Glasgow and have black cabs in the suburbs around Glasgow. A black cab can pick anyone up anywhere but a private taxi can only pick up whomever calls the company for the taxi usually the surname would be given when the taxi collects you. My friends dad before he passed away was a black cabbie another friends husband is a retired policeman and a private taxi driver.
My son's partner's dad is a black cab driver, but never met him, as they live 50 miles away. Black cabs are safe, but expensive. You get what you pay for.
Some of my ancestors in London were Watermen, which in the day, were the equivalent of a black cab driver. Before the bridges (apart from London Bridge) were built, the best way for rich people was to cross the river, or travel along it by boat. They had to do a seven year apprenticeship, before being allowed to ferry passengers safely on the Thames.
Black cabs are more expensive, but they tend to be safer drivers with more experience.
Tash, you'll be pleased to know that there are a few black cabs in Bristol.
The new cabs really are lovely for driving around London. They’re cleaner, quieter, comfier and have a huge glass roof.
They also use black cab's in Liverpool and Manchester now take a ride it's therapeutic ❤️👍👍
They have black cabs in Edinburgh, my friend has one
I never use Uber at all in London, don't trust them for many reasons, can't beat a Black Cab 🌟
Black cabs, unlike private hire taxis, don't have to be pre-booked. So if you need one at short notice you can go to a taxi rank (usually found in city centres or stations) or hail a passing cab if their light's on. A lot of people say they're more expensive, but I've never found a huge difference and feel safer in a black cab. They also fit more people, or can fit a wheelchair without the user needed to get out of it.
A gaggle usually refers to a flock of geese (not flying) or an unruly gang.
Fun fact: Back in the Charles Dickens era the biggest selling fowl used to be geese so much so that they used to be raised in the surrounding countryside and then, because there was no other way they were driven as a herd into the butcheries in London so at Christmas no Turkey just geese or of course anything the poor could their hands on.
When I was younger, the term Hakneyed was used quite a lot. As in, "They churn out the same old hackneyed tunes every Christmas." I never really associated it with its origin until now, though, so thanks for the info. I love word etymology. ❤
The taxi-driver's hippocampus: yes. It's been found to link in with PTSD, oddly enough.
Basically, any knowledge of locations and events that's vital to your profession or to your life in the case of soldiers, tends to be recorded in the hippocampus, leading to it developing to be larger and more convoluted.
To a Taxi driver, this means spacial knowledge and sequences of turns and routes; to an ex-soldier, it means events and places are remembered unchangingly, which can be a major pain in normal life, as the mind associates those places with life-threatening moments.
It just shows how much the human brain does not develop in the modern world, and how much it can be influenced by simple events of sufficient importance.
Very proud to say several members of my extended family passed 'The Knowledge' and worked as cabbies in London over the last 50 years. Yes, they are more expensive than an Uber, but they have extensive knowledge of the city, and are safer because they are regulated, vetted and licensed and are usually friendly and chatty and will happily share their knowledge about the history of the city or pleasantly pass the time of day. Cabs are expensive to buy and so is the license, and it takes a long time to study. I do tip because I respect and appreciate their knowledge, just how much pressure cabbies are now under and value the service they provide. I have never used Uber.
I love Jooz Guides. He drops a new one monthly.
I laughed my head off when the amazing Tommy Cooper died on stage
I thought it was part of the act until it went on a bit longer than expected. I felt so guilty laughing but what a wonderful way to go doing what you love
Former taxi driver of 30 years here , from Aberdeen Scotland . Yes you do see Black Cabs even here but mainly saloon cars and more common these days especially here is vehicles either adapted or purpose built to carry wheel chairs and to be easier for persons with disabilities to use . As to the urinating against the rear wheel that used to actually be a thing in the horse drawn days because you were not allowed to leave the horse unattended . The stories that I'm guessing pretty much every taxi driver collects over the years could curl you hair with either laughter or shock , I loved the many many varied conversations I've had over the years with people from all walks of life and I miss doing it every day since ill health forced me to give it up . Love you ladies .
I've never heard the term "hackney" used to describe a person, but we do use the term "a hackneyed phrase" which means, basically, overused to the point of being dull, boring or meaningless.
Yes ladies there are black cabs in all the towns and cities in the UK. Even here in our small rural town we have them. fun fact. the Governor of the Falkland Islands official car is (or was at the time of the conflict with the Argentinians [Argy Bargy, look it up] was a black cab.
The Wheel Chair access has been around known for years. Every thing and I mean everything, has too have wheele chare assess of some type. Every single shop, bus , taxi and train. ❤❤❤❤
Hello ladies, good morning from Liverpool! There are Hackney (black)cabs in most cities in the UK, although loads of them are painted other colours and have advertising. When I was a child and we lived in London for a few years, some of the old cabs had a space next to the drive that was open for luggage.
Come and visit Liverpool; you can do the Beatles tour in a black cab! They're cheaper up here than in London, or anywhere south of the Watford Gap. The south of the country is so expensive.
Love your channel by the way.
I don't know if anyone else has answered the 'gaggle' question, but just in case no one has....
Gaggle is a collective noun used to describe a particular group of animals. When a bunch of geese waddle around on the ground, that's a gaggle of geese. If those same geese were flying overhead, you'd call them a flock or a skein instead. Gaggle is also useful for describing a disorderly or chaotic group of people: "I was surrounded by a gaggle of three-year-olds eager to pet my puppy."
other forms of the word gaggle are, gaggles; gaggling; gaggled
The minimum charge might be cheaper than Uber, but as soon as you are 100yds down the road that changes!
In 1972 I lived in Tooting Bec in south London, very near Tooting Common. At the time the British Museum had a wonderful special show of Egyptian treasures from the tomb of Tutankamun. Pronounced by the British Museum as tu TAN ka MUN, but by American tourists as TU tan KA mun. The popular joke at the time was about the American tourists who got in a black cab and asked to be taken to TU tan KA mun. Much later, the cab finally arrived at Tooting Common. Was it a true story?? Who knows.
True story. But the American that got in the taxi had just arrived via plane ✈️ at Heathrow. Terminal 3 and had a southern drawl ( speaking voice)
Afternoon ladies, in answer to your query regarding if the xabs are only in London the answer is no, they are found all across the UK. Most large towns and almoat all cities have whatvis called a 'taxi rank' which is an area where taxis park up and passengers just get in the one at the front of the queue. Usually they are near bus exchanges, railwaybstatioms and main shopping areas.
A "gaggle" is normally the collective noun for geese. eg: A gaggle of geese, and refers to the noise they make when together.
I once spalshed out on a black cab from Heathrow to my parent's house in Cheam, Surrey and it cost an arm and a leg!
The humour of London cab drivers is great!
It's important to note that London isn't on a grid system like a lot of American cities. So for instance, it's easier to find "The corner of 17th and 5th" from "45th and 1st" than it is one of the thousands of winding roads in London.
Fun fact: London cabs were once yellow. In the 17th century, all London's cabs were painted bright yellow with, I believe, orange roofs, and carried a plate on the back with the driver's name and licence number. There's a painting from the 1660s showing them.
Presumably they were yet another old-English-ism exported to the New World which we now think of as purely "American" (alongside such classics as "sidewalk", "fall", "gotten", the "-ize" suffix and other 17th century English spellings (color, savior, etc.), and of course apple pie!)...
The Pink cab is for Lady Penelope when she doesn't want to travel in her Roller. Parker gets the evening off.😃
Hi girls. A gaggle is a collective name for a large group of geese. It is often used as a term for a large gathering of anything colloquially . There are many collective nouns for animals and birds for eg a "murder of crows".
"Black Cabs" can be found in all major UK cities and towns.
'Hackney' carriage does come from Hackney, East London. The marshland that used to be there were known as Hackney Marshes, and people kept horses there, but not fine horses for knights and dames, nor heavy-duty working horses. They were common, everyday horses for general purpose use. They were called Hackney nags. Eventually the name 'hackney' (usually as 'hack') became applied to any routine, repetitive task - we still use the term 'hack' for press reporters, but at one time it was used for many trades, including prostitutes. The sort of work that might leave you 'hacked off'.
Hackney became very famous for this, which explains how the French got hold of the term.
Hacknied also means worn out. Hackney was named after a Dane during the time of the Danelaw and Vikings. In earliest records, it was a piece of land owned by a man called Hakon. "Ey" is the middle English word for an island or raised ground in marshland. Put them together and you get.....
Black cabs can be anywhere. To get one is just like purchasing a normal car. I used to drive one in Canterbury, Kent for a local taxi company in the 70's.
The black cab, which has been continuously manufactured in Coventry since the 1940s, is used by millions of people in the UK each year as well as being exported across the world.
(I'm from Coventry)
There's black cabs in Manchester ,Alan Henning murdered by isis was a Salford black can driver. A true gentleman
London Taxis are built in Coventry (historically the home of a lot of motor companies so there's loads in the Midlands. And there's a rank (queue of taxis) outside Coventry Station.
If you’ve not seen Jools videos you have a binge watching treat ahead. Absolutely excellent
Black cabs by law used to have carry a bale of hay (none did), this was a throw back to the Hansom Horse drawn cabs the black cabs replaced and the mistreatment of the horses and the birth of the RSPCA
Hello ladies! A 'gaggle' is a collective noun for anything which makes an annoying or irritating noise. The proper usage is a 'gaggle' of geese (as they make an annoying noise when together). You can surmise the connotation when applied to a group of women..... 🙂
I've lived in London for over 45 years. I never take a black cab unless absolutely necessary due to the expense. On that chart that was shown from Heathrow to central London £48-£90 (it's more now if you look at TFL website), the Lizzy Line will do the same trip for £13ish and the normal tube is about half the price of the Lizzy Line. Of course, there are situations where a black cab is necessary for some people, depending on their own circumstances, but London, for the average person by themselves, especially central London, can be done quite easily via walking, bus, tube or train at a fraction of the cost. If you are in a group of 3+ then it can make sense financially, but for a single individual, it's expensive.
A gaggle is normally a word used to describe a load of geese
Like you get a swarm of bees you have a gaggle of geese
I think in this case he was also alluding to the noise they would also make.
Unless they are in the air when they become known as a skein. (As in a skein/hank of wool)😃
Gaggle when referring to people is a group of noisy (hence referral to gaggle) or silly people.
The Knowledge takes an average of 2 to 3 years to complete. There are multiple tests called appearances where an examiner asks usually four questions of their choosing with a start point and an end point. The knowledge student has to orally describe the way using every road/ street en route without hesitation or illegal turns to get to the destination. The tests initially are set 56 days apart, when the examiner feels you are more proficient you are moved to 28 days with more intricate questions and eventually it is reduced to 21 days between appearances. If you get to the end, you then have to take a suburban test to show you know the surrounding areas, if you pass all that you get given a badge and licence to work. It's not just the roads they need to know but about 15.000 points of interest on these roads too. This is why it takes so long.
The Knowledge is not just a map test over the three years it gives the authority time to access whether the candidate has the right temperament to handle working with general public and is also an assessment to determine if you are a "fit and proper" (their words) person in all aspects of life.
I was in a cab the other night as the busses were cancelled and I was frozen. Expensive but worth it. I was walking to an appointment in London and passed a small group of Cabbies chatting on a corner. I asked directions to the street I wanted and one of them immediately replied, "Eleventh on the right, mate." He was correct. At some London fairs you used to be able to make a donation to charity in exchange for five minutes driving a cab around an obstacle course. There used to be a day every summer when Cabbies would take poor children to the seaside for the day free of charge. Nubar Gulbenkian, probably the richest man in Britain, owned a taxi. When asked why he said, "Because they can turn on a sixpence - whatever that is!"
Prince Philip drove a taxi around London as well. Not for hire obviously 😊
This brought a smile to my face. It was informative both locational and historical as well as presented in a fun, enjoyable way. I hope the Black Cabs are here for a long time as they and the London red buses are a cultural part of London and its history. Love, hugs and prayers from Sussex, UK
As others have pointed out the "Black Cab" vehicles are found in many cities and towns across the UK. One place where the taxis stand out is Brighton and next door Hove, where any vehicle can be used, but they must be painted white except for the two front doors, the bonnet/hood and boot/trunk (the moving/opening parts) which must be coloured turquoise green.
my brother John was a black cab driver and every year the black cabs in London used to ferry handicapped children down to Margate for a day at the seaside from london, he also used to pick me up from Victoria coach station to take me to my mum's in Abbey Wood and never once got caught in traffic cos he knew all the short cuts nor did he ever charge. . When he was doing the knowledge they have tests every few months then as they progressed more frequent, but by law they can only have so many thousand licenced black cab drivers, and you always knew when it was close to the number allowed as they asked you to take them to a club that was down an alley of one of the roads and you were expected to know where that club was and describe the route to get there. They would also try to put you off by doing something outrageous during the test, waiting for you to comment as a black cab driver is expected to not react to anything (legally)weird going on in his cab nor express an opinion, which if you know black cab drivers is rubbish, they ALL do.
You get black hackneys in Glasgow and Edinburgh, identical to the London cabs.
The 'Taxi Service' was available everywhere but London used one particular make of car and painted them all one colour, black. Just as the London 'Bus Service' uses red. Other areas have the same services but normally with different colours for the buses and taxis were normal large cars with an extra license plate and a logo. 😊