What do you need to learn to pass the Knowledge?

"Regarded as one of the toughest memory and navigational exams in the world, the Knowledge is a test that every London black cab driver has to get through. Since it began 160 years ago, it has thwarted and frustrated prospective drivers and takes roughly three to four years to pass, sometimes more. Speak to a black cab driver about it and you will detect a mix of fear, dread, relief and overwhelming pride that they passed."

"He is 72 and one of the oldest black cabbies to have passed the test. It took him six years. "I found it very, very difficult but I had to keep on persevering and finally made it," he said. He practised the routes by riding on a bicycle, although other cabbies prefer mopeds and scooters. "I did it because first of all as a child I had these childhood fantasies of driving a cab or a bus or train"

"The Knowledge refers to the rigorous memorisation required to become a licensed London black cab driver, involving learning every street and landmark within a six-mile (about 9.6km) radius of Charing Cross. Cabbies have to memorise 320 routes or "runs", about 25,000 streets and 20,000 points of interest such as hotels, hospitals or railway stations. They also have to memorise the quickest route between all of them and are tested on that."

The Knowledge requires learning every street and landmark within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. Candidates must memorise about 25,000 streets, 20,000 points of interest and 320 specific routes, and the quickest paths between them. The qualification has existed since 1865 and typically takes three to four years to pass, sometimes much longer. One recent successful candidate, Peter Laszlo, passed at age 72 after six years, practising routes by bicycle while others use mopeds or scooters. Preparation provokes fear, dread, relief and pride among drivers, reflecting the exam's reputation as one of the world's toughest navigational tests.

Read at www.bbc.com