Gallery: Inside the London School Where Cabbies Learn the Fabled Knowledge
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The Knowledge Point’s new location in Islington, north London. The school recently moved from their headquarters to a smaller building in a parking garage after the land was sold to build luxury apartments.
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Malcolm Linskey founded Knowledge Point in 1985. He also runs Taxi Trade Promotions, which prints and sells Knowledge literature to help students learn the 320 “runs,” or routes through the city.
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Students will spend hours driving around London in order to memorize all 25,000 streets.
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Pat Linskey, Malcolm’s wife, works at her computer in the new headquarters. She’s worked at Knowledge Point since 1987. “I came to help out on a Friday afternoon to type up the 320 different runs on an old typewriter. We actually drove them on weekends – I’ve done them all!” she says.
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Students often need quiet in order to concentrate.
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Students participating in “call outs.” One person names two random points in the city, and the other must choose from memory the most direct route to get there.
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A Knowledge teacher working with students.
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Along with 320 "runs" or routes around the city, drivers must memorize points of interest including monuments, theaters, and hotels.
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Tahir was originally a plumber looking for a new career. After three years, he says The Knowledge is the hardest thing he’s ever done. “When I have an exam I work seven days a week. It’s very hard - it’s a constant thing," he says. "Sometimes you dream about it."
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The Knowledge Point kitchen where students have their meals. Many prospective drivers study all day, often long into the evening.
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Knowledge learning material in the shop.
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Cab repair in the London Taxi Company, where the Knowledge Point is located. All cabbies either own or rent their cabs.
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London cabs lined up on top of the parking garage.
