Knowledge of London
Based on Learn the Knowledge of London (Transport for London, undated) and 3 other sources. Checked .
Seven stages over three to four years. Stage 2 is a written multiple-choice exam with 5 questions on Blue Book runs and 25 on points, and the pass mark is 60%.
The test at a glance
| Run by | Transport for London |
|---|---|
| Licences | Hackney carriage |
| Written exam | Multiple choice: 5 questions on Blue Book runs and 25 on points |
| Pass mark | 60% |
| Marks | Each run question is worth 10 marks and each point 2 marks, so 50 marks for each part (TfL's 2022 booklet) |
| Written exam fee | £225 from 9 March 2026, paid for each exam you take |
| Appearance fee | £425 from 9 March 2026. TfL's 2022 booklet calls this a one-off fee, paid at your first appearance |
| Deadline for the written exam | Within 2 years of TfL sending your introductory pack |
| Area | 320 Blue Book runs within 6 miles of Charing Cross |
| Time usually taken | Three to four years |
How to book
- Start by applying for a taxi driver licence. After character and medical checks, TfL sends you the introductory pack and the Blue Book.
- TfL's 2022 booklet says suburban (yellow badge) candidates don't sit the self-assessment or the written exam.
- If you have special needs or a learning difficulty such as dyslexia, ask the Knowledge department about reasonable adjustments: Knowledge@tph.tfl.gov.uk.
- Knowledge candidates can ask TfL for a free Santander Cycles annual pass, using the same email address.
TfL: Learn the Knowledge of London
This site isn't TfL. Booking and payment happen on the official site.
About the Knowledge of London test
The Knowledge of London is how you become a London taxi driver. It usually takes three to four years. All London (green badge) drivers learn 320 routes, called runs, in TfL's Blue Book. They also learn the roads and landmarks within a quarter of a mile of each end of each run. All of this is within six miles of Charing Cross.
This site covers only part of one stage. We have practice for the points questions in the written exam (Stage 2). The written exam also has 5 questions on Blue Book runs, and we don't cover those. We don't publish the Blue Book runs, and no question here quotes one. The appearances are oral exams with an examiner, so they are out of scope too.
Every point here comes from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). We chose the points ourselves, so they are not TfL's points list. The questions are ours and TfL's real questions are set out differently. Use this to help you learn London alongside the Blue Book, not instead of it.
Practise for the Knowledge of London test
- Knowledge of London points mock
- Knowledge of London route drills
- Landmarks and theatres
- Hotels and clubs
- Hospitals and public buildings
- Stations and transport
- Parks, markets and museums
- Embassies and institutions
Download every Knowledge of London question and answer as a PDF
Steps to a licence
- Stage 1, self-assessment: within 6 months of starting, take the self-assessment on the first 80 runs. It is compulsory, and TfL keeps no record of your score.
- Stage 2, written exam: multiple choice, with 5 questions on Blue Book runs and 25 on points. The pass mark is 60%.
- Stage 3, appearances: one-to-one oral exams with an examiner, about 56 days apart. Each usually has 4 questions on the shortest route between two points, takes about 20 minutes and gets a score from A to D.
- Stage 4, appearances: about 28 days apart. On average you score on 4 appearances to move up a stage. Too many Ds can put you back a stage.
- Stage 5, appearances: about 21 days apart.
- Stage 6, suburban exam: learn 25 more routes to show you know London's suburbs well.
- Stage 7, licence: make your final application, then go to a pre-licensing talk, where you get your badge and licence.
Recent changes
- : Written exam fee went up from £200 to £225, and the appearance fee went up from £400 to £425. (source)
What TfL doesn't publish
We couldn't confirm these from TfL's own pages, so ask the licensing team if they matter to you.
- The number of suburban routes at Stage 6. TfL's page says 25 and its 2022 booklet says 27.
- The time limit for the written exam. TfL's page and its 2022 booklet don't give one.
- How the marks work today. The 10 marks for each run question and 2 marks for each point come from TfL's 2022 booklet. TfL's current page gives the number of questions and the pass mark, but not the marks.
- Whether the appearance fee is still paid only once. TfL's 2026 notice gives £425 but doesn't say how often. TfL's 2022 booklet says it is a one-off fee. Ask TfL.
Knowledge of London questions people ask
Will this prepare me for the whole Knowledge?
No. We only have practice for the points questions in the written exam. You still need to learn the Blue Book runs, and the appearances are oral exams with an examiner that we don't cover.
Do you publish the Blue Book runs?
No. We don't publish or quote the runs. TfL sends you the Blue Book in your introductory pack.
Are these TfL's points?
No. We chose well-known places from OpenStreetMap, all within six miles of Charing Cross. They are not taken from TfL's points list, so some of TfL's points won't be here. Some of ours may not be on TfL's list.
Is passing the mock enough to pass the written exam?
No. TfL's 2022 booklet says the 25 points questions are worth 50 of the 100 marks and the pass mark is 60. Even with every point right, you would need at least one run question right as well.
How much does the Knowledge cost?
TfL's notice of March 2026 gives £225 for the written exam and £425 for the appearance fee. Licence fees are extra.
Sources
- Learn the Knowledge of London, Transport for London, undated. Checked 1 November 2026.
- The Knowledge of London: an introduction to learning the Knowledge of London and the examination process, Transport for London, date taken from the file name and file details. Checked 1 November 2026.
- TPH Notice 05/26: taxi and private hire licence fees, Transport for London, published 13 March 2026. Checked 1 November 2026.
- OpenStreetMap map data, © OpenStreetMap contributors, live map data, read through the Overpass API. Checked 1 November 2026.
Councils update their tests and policies, often yearly. If something here no longer matches your council's guidance, the council is right; please tell us so we can fix it.