BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / The Knowledge -cabbie training

**Posted by Lilythiell** March 21, 2015 7:12 pm

Here is a link to a very, very interesting article on The Knowledge.
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/10/london-taxi-test-knowledge/?_r=1

I don't know if people can take undertake the training to become a London cabbie and not actually become one (if anyone could, it'd be someone with connections inside the British government, i.e. Sherlock through Mycroft, however minor his position is...).
Sherlock might have thought it interesting to know every street of London to pass the time, to avoid boredom, or because it might come in handy in his line of work (or during his addict period, to avoid/escape the police...?).

What do you people think?

Last edited by Lilythiell (March 23, 2015 12:10 am)

**Posted by ukaunz** March 24, 2015 11:24 am

What I read of the article was interesting, although it was very long and I didn't have time to read it all thanks for posting the link.

I remember seeing the cabbies-in-training while I was living in London: riding around on their motorbikes or scooters with their maps on clipboards, learning their way around that magnificent city.

I think it is very useful to Sherlock to know London inside out. I think he would have taken it as a challenge to learn it so thoroughly, but I don't think he would need to take the London cab driver training to do it. I'm sure anyone can study maps and memorise them if they put their mind to it, and Sherlock is a genius after all

**Posted by Whisky** March 24, 2015 1:34 pm

I cannot really imagine Sherlock cruising round London with a motorbike and a map. I would assume he just strolled the streets, and studied some additional maps at home. As a hobby.

I tried to learn some streets while I was in London (and after). But it's quite a labyrinth. But I find it relaxing to sit down and study my A-Z just for the fun of it. So why not Sherlock ;-)
The tricky part is not to only know the streets via map, but to have a connection to the actual sights and streetviews. But there's always a google maps or the like...

Last edited by Whisky (March 24, 2015 1:35 pm)

**Posted by Davina** March 25, 2015 4:56 pm

You might find the thread from 3 years ago interesting http://sherlock.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?id=1099

**Posted by Lilythiell** March 25, 2015 5:46 pm

Oh, thanks Davina I hadn't seen this thread.
On reflection, I agree with ukaunz in not thinking that Sherlock had registered to take up The Knowledge. I've tried imagining cruising the streets of London on a moped with a map and...no. I do stand by the idea Sherlock would have thought it interesting enough to chase off boredom (and useful, if considering his past), though.

On a side note, that's something I feel I'd be useless about, considering I can't read a map without losing myself -little to no sense of direction...*buried under the weight of my shame*

**Posted by Anttikkhoite** March 1, 2021 11:02 pm

What bird dog training book is best? I know this is a hard question to answer, so maybe just list one that you think is really good- and why.
Hope you all are having a marvolous monday
Mary