London's youngest black-cab driver

At just 21 years old, Bahrain Mujagata has achieved something few young Londoners would consider attempting — becoming a licensed London black-cab driver while studying at university and pursuing acting.

Mujagata became London's youngest licensed black-cab driver in late 2025 after completing the famous Knowledge of London, one of the world's most demanding professional taxi qualifications.

While many aspiring black-cab drivers take several years to complete the qualification, Mujagata finished his in around two years and five months.

His achievement is particularly notable at a time when London's traditional taxi industry is facing an ageing workforce and increasing competition from private-hire and emerging autonomous transport services.

For Mujagata, driving a black cab is not simply a job.

His father and brother are also black-cab drivers, meaning he grew up seeing the profession at close quarters.

He was particularly attracted to the independence that comes with the job. Rather than following a conventional fixed working schedule, licensed taxi drivers have greater control over when they work.

That flexibility has allowed Mujagata to combine driving with his studies and other ambitions.

He currently studies computer science at university in London and also attends acting classes. His typical routine can involve university lectures during the day, followed by several hours behind the wheel from the afternoon into the evening.

Becoming a London black-cab driver requires an extraordinary understanding of the capital.

The Knowledge requires candidates to learn London's extensive network of streets, together with thousands of important locations including hotels, railway stations, hospitals, theatres and public buildings.

Candidates must demonstrate that they can identify appropriate routes between locations, often without relying on modern navigation technology.

For Mujagata, the preparation began while he was still studying for his A-levels.

He reportedly spent long hours studying London's streets and would sometimes travel around the capital on a moped in the early hours of the morning, using quieter roads to practise routes.

The process came at a personal cost. He has described struggling with sleep during the years of preparation and dealing with the challenges of learning London's complex road network while also keeping up with his education.

Today, the hard work has paid off.

Mujagata drives his own black cab around London and has quickly become something of a curiosity among passengers and other road users because of his age.

People who discover that their driver is only 21 have reportedly reacted with surprise, with some passengers offering gifts, tips and other gestures of appreciation.

His young age also attracts attention from other drivers.

For a profession traditionally associated with older generations, seeing a young driver behind the wheel of a London taxi is increasingly unusual.

Transport for London figures indicate that the number of licensed black-cab drivers has declined significantly over the past decade, while the average age of drivers remains relatively high.

Mujagata has entered the industry at a particularly interesting time.

London's taxi and private-hire market is undergoing significant change, with traditional black cabs competing alongside app-based private-hire services and new technologies.

Self-driving vehicles are also moving closer to becoming part of everyday transport in Britain, raising questions about what the taxi industry could look like in the future.

However, Mujagata does not believe technology will necessarily eliminate the need for human drivers.

For him, one of the most important aspects of the profession is the interaction between driver and passenger.

A taxi journey can involve much more than simply travelling from one location to another. Passengers may want local advice, assistance with their journey or simply someone to talk to.

Despite the challenges facing London's taxi industry, Mujagata remains optimistic about the future of the black cab.

He sees the vehicles as an important part of London's identity — much like the iconic yellow taxis of New York.

The profession may evolve, and the economics of driving a traditional taxi may change, but he believes the human element of the service will remain valuable.

His story also highlights another important issue for the industry: attracting younger people into professional driving.

With many experienced drivers approaching retirement, the future of London's taxi network will depend partly on whether a new generation is prepared to take their place.

At 21, Mujagata has already taken that step.

While he continues his university studies and explores acting, he also has a profession that he can return to whenever he needs it — a qualification that required years of dedication and an encyclopaedic knowledge of London.

For a city whose roads are constantly changing, London's newest generation of cab drivers may have an important role in keeping one of its oldest transport traditions alive.

It is a reminder of the gap between the two trades that share London's roads: our own drivers are licensed private hire, vetted and trained for point-to-point transfers, while a black-cab driver like Mujagata has passed the Knowledge and can be hailed on the street or picked up at a rank. Both keep London moving, in different ways.

Written by Airports Transfer for passengers travelling to and from London airports.