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The Rat Runs ONLY London Cabbies Know!

Tom the Taxi Driver

39,098 views

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Cabbies know all the rat runs, here's a few of my favourites!

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WHO AM I:
I’m Tom, a London Taxi driver of 8 years. I also have a keen passion for all things London whether that’s; history, geography or a good spot for coffee!

WHY DO I MAKE VIDEOS?:
To PROMOTE and PROTECT The Knowledge of London
And to PRESERVE the high standards of London Taxi Drivers

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:12 - Lower Robert Street
02:50 - Blackfriars Passage
04:43 - Tear Drop Slip?
05:15 - Wilton Place
05:40 - Old Barrack Yard
08:44 - Hearn Street
09:46 - Smithfield
10:30 - Rivington Street
12:12 - Cumberland Place
14:15 - Harriet Walk
16:15 - Orange Street
18:41 - Shorter Street
19:47 - Angel Street
22:05 - Outro

20 Comments

@TomtheTaxiDriver Creator 1 month ago Pinned

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@nicoshab26 1 month ago

Sorry Tom, but you just know there’s a councillor from Camden council writing all this down to block them off with traffic enforcement cameras!

@Robslondon 2 weeks ago

Great video Tom- and thanks so much for the shout out! Be lucky 😉

@tr1ck5h07 1 month ago

Love the shoutout to Rob’s London. Never knew he was a cabbie too 🎉

@Wetthewhistle 1 month ago (edited)

The first one has signs up saying private road, so really it’s not a real road and the owner could stick an access barrier up anytime.

@EconomicalReefer 1 month ago

Thank god I know all the rat runs on this video ,
Towards the end of the video I thought you would of done the rosewood hotel rat run .
Great video.👍

@jj161173 1 month ago

I’ve been following Rob’s London for a good while - never knew he was also a cabbie. Every day’s a school day.

@johnorchin8567 1 month ago

As a pedestrian I like using these cut through’s to get away from the noise and the crowds in the more obvious routes, have done it for years.

@harrylongley1025 1 month ago

Was hoping the Chelsea Harbour run would’ve been included! Good cut through to avoid Wandsworth bridge road…

@peterpanx1 1 month ago

It's where Batman lives. He drives out in his batmobile from one of those hidden places.

@donnaandrobertrobinson-don4177 1 month ago

Me thinking, wasn't that a Rob's London ep... Tom shouting our Rob and then dropping that his a cabbie as well <3

@NoSignalproto 1 month ago (edited)

I think all these little "rat runs" / ally routes/ways is why the 25 foot turning circle is a thing

@anters1234 1 month ago

Why this hasn't got more views?? I don't know. Such an interesting little video. London is jam-packed with these hidden alleyways and streets which people will just miss because they're not 'special' or 'spoken about'. More of this content please!

I'd love you to collaborate with J. Draper- The London Historian. There must be something you two could conjur up!

Thanks again Tom!

@eddiezetlein6582 1 month ago

My favourite used to be the terrible 10 in Soho. Not sure if you can still do it probably not. So going East on Gt Marlborough St you turned right into Poland St left into Broadwick St left into Wardour St then right into Hollen St right again Gt Chapel St then left into Fareham St then right into Dean St then left into Carlisle St then left into Soho Square going around to leave by Sutton Row which used to bring you out on Charing Cross Road. You could then turn right into New Oxford St and you've escaped from the congestion around Oxford St East side.

@noahshoesmith4106 1 month ago (edited)

Now THIS!!! TOM.. THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL..

Driving in Central ALL THE TIME.. always use Orange Street and Chandos Pl/Bedford St.. amazing

Life saver mate! Keep it up! ❤❤

@howcotube 1 month ago

Having been to London frequently from America, but yet never have driven the streets of London, I still found this video very interesting ! I epecially liked the Blackfriars bridge area as I have walked it many times and going down those stairs and walking along the Thames to our hotel.. It is cool that you find different ways to create your videos and I enjoy them all !! Be back to London in middle of 2027 and can't wait for that...

@JayTee-bc4xm 1 month ago

I will always lament the loss of the Dirty Dozen.

@tims-gy8yz 1 month ago

Wow how cool. Thanks Tom, fascinating.

@ianmason. 1 month ago

Not "rat runs", or "cut-throughs" but "routes for the cognoscenti". Non-cab driver here. I hardly ever drive in town nowadays, but on the odd occasions that I do I find that all my little cut-throughs and "secret" routes seem to have been disappeared by the powers that be. Like you, I think that all the odd little routes improved traffic, got me out of the hair of the people who only knew the Euston Road/City Road, and perhaps the Embankment to go east<->west, and kept them out of mine. I knew quite a few of yours, including ones like Shorter Street that are now Taxi only.