The London Cabbie’s Quiz Book

Description

Pay a visit to London and a black cab will probably be one the first things you will see. The London taxi drivers are almost as famous as the black cabs in which they drive, this is mainly due to their in-depth knowledge of London and ability in taking their occupants to their desired destination amid the congestion and the chaos that you often find when travelling through London’s streets. London taxi drivers go through stringent training to obtain their licence, they need to pass “The Knowledge”, a test which is amongst the hardest to pass in the world, and has been described as ‘like having an atlas of London implanted into your brain’.
 
The test requires you to master no fewer than 320 basic routes, all of the 40,000 streets that are scattered within the basic routes and approximately 20,000 landmarks and places of public interest that are located within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. 
 
This book breaks the test down into a series of head-scratching questions and features enough trivia about the capital to surprise even born and bred Londoners. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who thinks they know London inside-out, or wants to learn more!
 Based on the world-famous test undertaken by London’s black cab drivers, 'The Knowledge' quiz book offers up a selection of fiendishly difficult questions and routes straight from the streets of London. 

Hailing from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, Ian studied English at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2000. After a variety of jobs including pizza delivery driver, restaurant pianist, nightclub reviewer and baker’s assistant he set about learning the Knowledge in 2008 while working as an administrator at the Guardian. Ian received his Green Badge – the All London taxi driver’s licence – in 2012, after more than four years of intensive study. Now a licensed London taxi driver, he also contributes to the Guardian, writes a blog called Words on the Street, and performs regularly as lead singer, pianist and songwriter with London-based band Ian Beetlestone & the Drowning Rats.

Introduction
Map Test
 
Stage 1: The 56s
01 Manor House Station to Gibson Square
02 Myddelton Square to Golden Square
03 St John’s Wood Station to Brompton Oratory
04 St Martin’s Lane to Fulham Broadway Station
05 The Boltons to Hill Square
06 Australia High Commission to Paddington Station
07 Parliament Square to Golden Lane
08 Armoury House to Tower Bridge
09 Beaumont Square to Cannon Wharf Business Centre
10 Jubilee Gardens to Royal London Hospital
11 Victoria Station to Liverpool Street Station
12 Bancroft Road to St Peter’s Street
 
Stage 2: The 28s
01 Euston Station to Brixton Prison
02 Overhill Road to Marylebone Station
03 Lorrimore Square to Old Bailey
04 British Museum to Elspeth Road
05 Battersea Church Road to Goodge Street Station
06 Tilling Road to Chetwynd Road
07 Well Street to Finsbury Park Station
08 Cambridge Heath Station to Mudchute Station
09 Parnell Road to North Greenwich Station
10 New Cross Station to the National Maritime Museum
11 Consort Road to the Ministry of Defence
12 Stamford Street to Stamford Hill
 
Stage 3: The 21s
01 Torriano Avenue to The Bishop’s Avenue
02 Crouch End Broadway to Spring Hill
03 Primrose Hill Road to Donnington Road
04 Golborne Road to Pennine Drive
05 Royal College of Music to Crouch Hill Station
06 Woodsford Square to Chiswick Mall
07 Ravenscourt Park to Gwendolen Avenue
08 Wimbledon Park Road to Plough Road
09 Streatham Place to Waldram Park Road
10 Shadwell Station to The Oval
11 Star Lane to Oliver Road
12 Copenhagen Street to Charing Cross Station
 
Stage 4: The Suburbs
01 Heathrow Terminal 1 to RAF Northolt
02 Harlesden to Stanmore
03 East Finchley to Hadley Wood
04 Lea Bridge to Chingford
05 London City Airport to Hornchurch
06 Greenwich to Erith
07 Catford to Biggin Hill Airport
08 Putney to Hampton via Kingston
09 Hammersmith to Hanworth
 
The Answers
Index
Credits

Additional information

Dimensions	0.9 × 6.8 × 9.05 in
Imprint	Frances Lincoln
Format	General Trade
ISBN-13	09780711251052
ISBN-10	0711251053
Author	Ian Beetlestone
Audience	General / adult
BISAC	TRV009070, GAM008000
Subjects	taxi, head scratcher, brain teaser, general knowledge, a to z puzzle book, bletchley park puzzle book, gchq puzzle book, a-z, geography, cab driver, cabbie, gift, knowledge, puzzle, puzzle books, GAM008000, trivia, facts, TRV009070, quiz, father's day, london