Fun facts about London England

If you’ve been to London, you will have seen many black taxis driving around the streets. These taxis are a true symbol of London (almost as iconic as a London bus!) but how did they originate and how do you hail one?

London taxis (often called ‘black cabs’) have a very long history. They started out as horse-drawn carriages called ‘hackney carriages’ and the earliest record of these date back to 1662! When motorised cars became popular, the design of the taxis changed many times and it was only after 1945 that the black cab design we all know and love today became common. These days, black cabs don’t have to be black – many cabs are created in different colours and are often covered in advertising!

Cab drivers in London (often known as ‘cabbies’) have to pass a test called ‘The Knowledge’ before they can drive a cab. This is an extremely difficult test as they need to memorise every street in London within six miles from Charing Cross! This means they have to learn 320 routes, 25, 000 streets and 20, 000 landmarks! The average time to study and pass the exam is 3 years!

How to hail a cab like a local

1. If you see a cab with a light on top displaying the word ‘TAXI’, this means they are available for hire. When they are hired, the light is switched off.

2. If you want to hail a cab, you just have to stick out your arm when the taxi is approaching and it will stop next to you. Make sure you are standing in a sensible place on the street (avoid bus stops and pedestrian crossings!)

DO NOT shout ‘TAXI!’ at a moving black cab. This is technically against the law and they will not stop for you!

3. When the cab stops next to you, go to the front window and explain to the driver where you want to go. Remember, London cabbies know every street and landmark in London, so if you are going to a hotel or theatre, you just need to tell them the name, not the actual address! Cabbies will always work out the quickest route, even taking into account the traffic!

4. After you have told the driver where you want to go, you can get in the back. Black cabs can carry five passengers (3 on the back seat and 2 on the fold-down seats opposite).

5. TALK TO THE DRIVER! Black cab drivers drive around the streets every day and meet a wide variety of people so they really know a lot about London! Most cabbies love chatting so don’t be afraid to ask for advice about which sites to visit, places to avoid, London history or even their political views! It’s also a great way to practise your English speaking!

6. When you arrive at your destination, the driver will tell you how much you need to pay. This is calculated automatically by a meter in the cab and is based on the time of day, distance travelled and time taken. You can find more information about cab fares by clicking here.

Black cabs can be quite expensive so you can use minicabs as a cheaper alternative as they tell you the price before they start driving (if they don’t tell you, remember to ask!). Minicabs have to be booked in advance from a licensed minicab office (do not hail one in the street – it is illegal and can be dangerous!).

Although London transport and minicabs are cheaper, I would definitely recommend hailing a black cab at least once during your time in London as it is a great experience and you’re sure to learn something from your driver!

Six interesting facts about black cabs:

1. Most cabs in London are owned by the drivers and are run as independent businesses.

2. London’s taxi industry is often ranked number 1 in the world.

3. There are currently around 21, 000 black cabs in London.

4. Many black cabs have a turning circle of only 25 ft (8m). This means they can turn around in small spaces and go round very tight corners.

5. The name ‘taxi’ comes from the ‘taximeter’ – the tool used to calculate fares.

6. A cab must be tall enough to accommodation someone wearing a bowler hat!

Have fun with English

Black cab wordsearch

Words to find:

black cab – bowler hat – cabbie – chatting – driver – hackney carriage – hail a cab – horse drawn – knowledge test – London – meter – minicab – passengers – sights – taxi – turning circle

Last week’s answers

Clothing vocabulary:
naacdrig – cardigan
atcrniao – raincoat
etosurrs – trousers
sajyapm – pyjamas

How to change name on instagram? Who is the models in 7 amazing tricks to get any woman into bed? How to schedule booster shot? Tips on how to take care of your car without pictures Airpods pro how to take off tips Tricks to keeping pulse low when nervious Reddit how to pawn stuff tips tricks and hacks How to smoke ribs? How do i determine tips for wedding vendors How long does it take to show symptoms of hiv? How do i turn off wow tips How to cook a burger How to make turkey rib tips How to make a robot How to calculate square feet? Player unknown battlegrounds how to do tricks How to make a compass in minecraft Which is a sentence fragment? doing flip tricks How to soften hard brown sugar? Tips on how to bling out a How to find an apartment? How to drink apple cider vinegar for weight loss? How to not pay tips on carnival cruise How to do tricks in atv 2 gamecube How to download songs on spotify? Tips for parents of big families to tell what clothes belong to which child How to get fortnite? How long to cook potatoes? How to lower systolic blood pressure Tricks when play slot Cool stuff to learn how to do tricks Screen tips will be activaed when the cursor is over the button How to tell if you have appendicitis How many tricks a 3 month old puppy should learn How to get rid of tapeworms in dogs? Why did you bother with so many stars do you ever play tricks on the angels lyrics How to get blood stains out How to recover hacked facebook account? How to part hair for box braids How to cook turkey legs? Why do dogs learn tricks better than cats How to give false tips to.crime stoppers ? How to smoke a ham How do penn and teller figure out the tricks How to parry elden ring How long to cook steak on grill How to stop your period fast? How to draw water? Why are q tips named Naked teens what tiny tips How to make authentic tortillas tips and tricks of juanita youtube How to throw a high pass in madden 22 How to become a veterinarian 7 tips on how to lead a healthy balanced life What hoop size for tricks How to get rid of weevils? What does tips stand for in finance Apple iphone 8 tricks to turn off completely when does not react How to start my own business? How to reset network settings? How to make a bookmark? How to be kind How to disguise grey hair with highlights How to hatch a dragon egg in minecraft Tips on how to remove acrylic nails What is a good cheap board to just cruise with, no tricks How to cut layers in hair How to delete a contact on iphone What surgery aids sleight of hand tricks? Why would manager ask about your cash tips How long does it take spray paint to dry? How to do cool card magic tricks How tod the rising tricks legs Why do the tips of my aloe plant turn brown How to play guitar? Tips on how to imrove aim in csgo How to heal a pulled muscle? How to install a door? How to reset oculus pin? How to train your turtle to do tricks How to bake chicken wings in the oven? How do you do tricks on srl races Tricks on how do you get the best out of a special offer How to become an uber driver How to perform tricks srl How to use google drive How to verify paypal acccount tricks november 2017 What is tips How to do tricks with a magic yoyo How to do cool tricks on skateboard braille How to make jerky? What tricks can you teach a 3 month puppy How to help sunburn? How long does it take for lexapro to work Tips in how to get hire in pg&e bay area? What percent of tips do bussers get How to evolve snom How to delete tips from go sms pro How to do hockey tricks How to write a book report How to get an xbox series x What does a sips and tips card look like in real life How to make buttercream? How to insert a row in excel How long does it take to see results from working out How to stop eye twitching? How to make gasoline? How to remove yourself from a group text iphone? Why do i have to pay social security tax on my tips How to get dog hair out of car How to pronounce water Why do the tips of my toes hurt at night How to do tricks on skate 3 What different welding tips fit a chicago welder How to get rid of cold sore in 24 hours? How to watch avengers in order How to become a tyrant? How long from stage 1 to stage 4 cancer How to make sushi rice Where do i buy replacement tips for my snake How to teach a dog tricks step by step How to make wreaths? Tips on how to sell a crappy guitar How to turn on roku tv without remote? How much castor oil to induce labor Tips on how to not masturbate for 3 weeks Pg tips coffee how to drink What is the likelihood of a bag of tricks being on a low level character in pathfinder Tips on how to pleasure yourself How to turn read receipts off? When is new tricks back on tv How long does it take for potatoes to grow Why does my mind play tricks on me Tricks to learn how to find the range when given domains How to get rid of a mole Tips for students who dont speak english How to make a moscow mule Tips for learning how to shift a clutch How to know if someone blocked you on imessage How to pet a cat How to get married in california What cut do steak tips come from How to clean a cat's ears How to kiss kissing tips How to tell when a cantaloupe is ripe How to tell if someone blocked you on facebook How to get rid of mosquitoes How to become a millionaire? How to eat ginger? How to help a toothache? How to make onion soup? Tips how to get instagram followers How to turn off descale light on keurig How to catch darkrai arceus? How long does it take shrooms to kick in? How to update nvidia drivers How to do bike tricks in pubg Iphone is disabled how to fix tricks How to watch evangelion? How to mirror iphone to tv How to leave a group text? How to calculate average How to cure yeast infection How to cook steak? Why do i only get shitty one tricks on my team How to void a check How to do eyeliner? How to relieve chest pain? Iste’s how to create a one-pager tips and template How to hook up generator to house? How to get coffee stains out of carpet? How to throw a high pass in madden 22? How to kill yourself Which of the following is an example of unearned income? wages interest tips both interest and tips How to add an email to iphone How to check airpod battery on iphone How long does it take a check to clear How to measure volume? Do i enter my bonus as tips when filing my tax return How to oil pull How to ask for letter of recommendation How to clean earphone tips How to clean your liver? Where to find tips in dlm How to make bread in minecraft When trump gets bypassed with dirty tricks get ready for war How to get novie bot to do tricks How to pronounce celtic? How to start seeds indoors? How to make and sell nft? Tips how to use a microphone How to set up google alerts List of skateboard tricks and how to do them New tricks where you want my lipstick Td jakes how to resist the seducing tricks How to watch abc live without cable for free? What do beef tips look like How to reset echo dot? What tips of recources in colorado How does piff do his tricks Why do q tips feel amazing How to do tricks at skyzone How to improve liver function? How to lace af1? How to clean a dishwasher with vinegar? How to log out of google account How to dream How to build an outdoor fireplace How to request a new social security card? How to get your immunization records online? Tips on how to do a 1000 piece puzzle How to trade options on robinhood Who did mind playing tricks on me first How to catch arceus How many career hat tricks messi How to use icing tips What safety travel tips does the cia their employees Outstanding blue heeler who does crazy tricks How to be a better wife? How much do waitresses make before tips What are the points for when you do tricks on golf carts on fortnite Vape tricks and how to do them Tips tricks asians who get red flush How to pass a hard stool How many carbs per day to lose weight What are bart simpson's 'tricks' How to get bigger breasts naturally? How to activate? Tips on how to make your high school soccer team How to delete kik account? Where can i watch how to train your dragon How to say i love you too in spanish? How much to pay a babysitter How to clone larg drive onto smaller drive linus tec tips 2k how often change people tips How to use my massage tips cash How to change out airpod pro tips How old do you have to open a bank account? How to rotate screen on ipad? How to book writing tips credits How to draw dog? How to make a kahoot? How long to steep tea? How to teach a ball python tricks How to make molasses Tricks for getting a screw into hole when you can't see the hole How many tricks in game of spades How to take off nexgen nails with tips at home How to properly address an envelope How to get nail tips to stick to practice hand 70 chevy truck how to chassis/frame traction modifications and tricks How much do gel tips cost How many calories should i eat daily to lose weight? How to reset graphics driver? How to pronounce ubiquitous? How to get rid of fever blisters? How to have better sex What tricks can i teach my sims dog How to watch full house? How to leave discord server? How to do all the tricks in cart surfer on club penguin What are good tricks to get a panda to like me How to gift wrap a box How to keep ants out of house? How to make tostones? How to solve sudoku puzzles tips How to grill salmon? How to offload apps?