Knowledge test seeing rise in applications
TfL is celebrating the 160th anniversary of the Knowledge of London, the test to become a licensed taxi driver in London, and is reporting a “significant rise” in the number of applications, from 440 in 2022 to 742 in the end of November 2025, a 68.6 increase. This puts it on track to be the highest number in a decade, reflecting “renewed interest in the profession,” according to TfL.
Updates to the Knowledge process have aimed at making it more accessible and appealing to a wider range of people, enabling dedicated applicants to progress by reducing the time between examinations, known as “appearances.”
In 2025, TfL set out plans to allow the taxi trade and private hire industry in London to meet the challenges of the next five years. The new Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan outlines 14 measures designed to “support services, drive positive change across the industry and ensure it continues to deliver excellent service for Londoners.”
The Knowledge has continued to evolve to “stay relevant in a city that is constantly changing,” with the new measures forming part of the commitments outlined in TfL’s Action Plan. While the process looks different to how it did in 1865 when it began, TfL says it “continues to ensure that drivers are fully equipped to help Londoners travel across the city every day,” adding that “TfL remains committed to keeping the Knowledge relevant for the future.”
The average time to complete the test has also fallen from 5.25 years in 2020 to 3 in 2025, reflecting the impact of the measures in the Action Plan, streamlining the process while “maintaining its rigorous standards.” Shorter completion times “not only make the profession more accessible to new entrants but also help ensure that London’s taxi trade can continue to attract and retain talent in a competitive transport market.”
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