Goodmayes

Somewhere real to practise

6 circuits from the test centre on 98 Goodmayes Road, Ilford, each one 35 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Goodmayes test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Swap your Goodmayes test Straight to the routes

Before you drive any of these

Practising in your own car is legal and it is the cheapest way to get better. The rules are short:

Whoever sits beside you must be over 21, qualified to drive that type of car, and have held their full licence for three years.
The car needs L plates front and rear, and insurance that covers you as a learner. Some insurers also want the supervisor to be over 25.
No motorways. A learner can only go on one with an approved instructor in a dual-control car, so none of these routes touch one.

The rules on GOV.UK

These are not the examiner's routes, and nobody else's are either.

DVSA stopped publishing test routes in 2010 and refuses freedom-of-information requests for them. Since December 2017 four tests in five are led by a sat nav the examiner sets up, so even the examiner's route is not a fixed thing you could learn.

What these are: loops on the real roads around the centre, put together so you meet the junctions, speeds and road types the test actually assesses. Drive the roads, not a sequence.

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Nobody can read a numbered list at 30 mph, and a sat nav will not tell you which exit to take early enough to get in the right lane. So these routes are written for the person in the passenger seat: the supervising driver who has to be there anyway.

Two ways to do that: print the route and put it on their lap, or send it to their phone. Either way they call the turns and you drive.

About the Google Maps links

Google plots its own line between the corners we give it, so the written steps are the route and the map is for orientation and for getting the thing onto a phone.

Two things it will not tell you: its travel time assumes a confident driver in clear traffic, so expect ours to be closer; and it will happily route you down something a learner should not be on. Look at it before you set off.

The small map on each route is ours, drawn from the same data. It needs no permission, loads instantly and prints, which is why it is the one you see first.

Route 1 · Gants Hill Roundabout → Eastern Roundabout

Gants Hill and Eastern Roundabout

Up to Gants Hill and back down through Ilford on the A118. The shortest of the six and the one to drive first.

7.2 milesabout 35 minup to 40 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn left into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
3
Carry on into Barley Lane 0.3 miles 30
4
Turn left into Percy Road 0.3 miles 30
5
Turn right into Meads Lane 0.5 miles 30
6
Turn right into Aldborough Road South 160 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
7
Turn left into Brook Road 0.2 miles 20
8
Turn left into Eastern Avenue 1.2 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 20.
9
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Cranbrook Road 1.4 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
10
Carry on into Chapel Road 250 yards 30
11
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Winston Way 0.4 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
At Eastern Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Winston Way 0.4 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
13
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Winston Way 0.4 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
14
At Eastern Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Winston Way 130 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
Turn left into A118 100 yards 30
16
Turn right into Green Lane 1.3 miles 30
17
Turn left into Goodmayes Road 130 yards 30
18
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 2 · Eastern Roundabout → Fullwell Cross Roundabout

Eastern Roundabout and Fullwell Cross

North up the A123 to Barkingside and back, and the only one of the six that never leaves thirty. Traffic rather than speed the whole way.

8.3 milesabout 41 minup to 30 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 120 yards 30
3
Turn right into Green Lane 1.4 miles 30
4
At Eastern Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Riches Road 80 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5
Turn right to stay on Riches Road 60 yards 30
6
Turn left into High Road 90 yards 20?

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
7
Turn right into Hainault Street 200 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
8
Carry on into Ley Street 130 yards 30?
9
Turn left to stay on Ley Street 1.0 miles 30?
10
Carry on into Horns Road 0.9 miles 30?
11
Turn right into Craven Gardens 0.5 miles 30?
12
At Fullwell Cross Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Fencepiece Road 180 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
13
Turn left into Tomswood Hill 210 yards 30?
14
Turn right into Addison Road 190 yards 30?
15
Turn right into Fencepiece Road 0.2 miles 30?
16
At Fullwell Cross Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Craven Gardens 0.5 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
Turn left into Horns Road 0.9 miles 30?
18
Carry on into Ley Street 0.5 miles 30?
19
Turn left into Benton Road 0.4 miles 30?
20
Carry on into High Road 0.8 miles 30

Signed Cameron Road along the way, and it is the same road.
21
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
22
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 3 · Gants Hill Roundabout → Fullwell Cross Roundabout

Gants Hill and Fullwell Cross

The two big roundabouts north of the centre, with Cranbrook Road between them. A steady second drive once Gants Hill has stopped being an event.

9.3 milesabout 43 minup to 40 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn left into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
3
Carry on into Barley Lane 0.3 miles 30
4
Turn left into Percy Road 0.3 miles 30
5
Turn right into Meads Lane 0.5 miles 30
6
Turn right into Aldborough Road South 160 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
7
Turn left into Brook Road 0.2 miles 20
8
Turn left into Eastern Avenue 1.2 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 20.
9
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Woodford Avenue 0.2 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
10
Turn left into Wycombe Road 280 yards 30?
11
Turn left into Beehive Lane 210 yards 30?
12
Turn left into Eastern Avenue 0.2 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
13
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Cranbrook Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
14
Carry on into High Street 0.4 miles 30?
15
At Fullwell Cross Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Forest Road 1.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
16
At Hainault Road, take the 2nd exit onto Barley Lane
Approach in the right lane, signal right, then signal left once you pass the exit before yours.
17
Carry on into Barley Lane 1.3 miles 30

Signed Goodmayes Road along the way, and it is the same road.
18
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 4 · Eastern Roundabout → Gants Hill Roundabout → Fullwell Cross Roundabout

Eastern, Gants Hill and Fullwell Cross

Three named roundabouts one after another, working north from Ilford to Barkingside. Drive this one twice if exits and lane discipline are where the faults come from.

9.9 milesabout 46 minup to 40 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 120 yards 30
3
Turn right into Green Lane 1.4 miles 30
4
At Eastern Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Griggs Approach 300 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5
Turn left into Ley Street 130 yards 30?
6
Turn right to stay on Ley Street 300 yards 30?
7
Turn left into Thorold Road 150 yards 20?

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
8
Turn right into Balfour Road 50 yards 20?
9
Turn left into Morland Road 140 yards 20
10
Turn left into Wellesley Road 120 yards 20
11
Turn right into Cranbrook Road 170 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
12
Turn left to stay on Cranbrook Road 1.0 miles 30?
13
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Woodford Avenue 0.2 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
14
Turn left into Wycombe Road 280 yards 30?
15
Turn left into Beehive Lane 210 yards 30?
16
Turn left into Eastern Avenue 0.2 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
17
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Cranbrook Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
18
Carry on into High Street 0.4 miles 30?
19
At Fullwell Cross Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Forest Road 1.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
At Hainault Road, take the 2nd exit onto Barley Lane
Approach in the right lane, signal right, then signal left once you pass the exit before yours.
21
Carry on into Barley Lane 1.3 miles 30

Signed Goodmayes Road along the way, and it is the same road.
22
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 5 · Gants Hill Roundabout → Redbridge Roundabout

Gants Hill and Redbridge

West along the A12 to Redbridge, which is the fastest road these routes use and still stops at fifty. Worth driving when holding a lane is what you want the practice on.

12.1 milesabout 50 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn left into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
3
Carry on into Barley Lane 0.3 miles 30
4
Turn left into Percy Road 0.3 miles 30
5
Turn right into Meads Lane 0.5 miles 30
6
Turn right into Aldborough Road South 160 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
7
Turn left into Brook Road 0.2 miles 20
8
Turn left into Eastern Avenue 1.2 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 20.
9
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Eastern Avenue 0.9 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10
At Redbridge Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto North Circular Road 0.2 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
11
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 0.2 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
12
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 1.6 miles 50
13
Turn left to stay on North Circular Road 0.3 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
14
At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto North Circular Road 0.3 miles30?
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
15
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 0.3 miles 30?
16
Turn left to stay on North Circular Road 0.5 miles 30?
17
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Southend Road 0.4 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
18
Carry on into Woodford Avenue 0.8 miles 40
19
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Woodford Avenue 0.5 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
20
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Avenue 0.7 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
21
Turn right into an unnamed road 90 yards 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
22
Turn right into Ley Street 0.5 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
23
Turn left into Benton Road 0.4 miles 30?
24
Carry on into High Road 0.8 miles 30

Signed Cameron Road along the way, and it is the same road.
25
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
26
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Route 6 · Eastern Roundabout → Gants Hill Roundabout → Redbridge Roundabout

The long way round by Redbridge

Ilford, Gants Hill and out to Redbridge before turning for home, which makes it longer than a real test. Worth driving once in the fortnight before the date, because tiredness is what turns a good drive into a careless fault.

12.7 milesabout 54 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 40 yards 30
2
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 120 yards 30
3
Turn right into Green Lane 1.4 miles 30
4
At Eastern Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Griggs Approach 300 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5
Turn left into Ley Street 130 yards 30?
6
Turn right to stay on Ley Street 300 yards 30?
7
Turn left into Thorold Road 150 yards 20?

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
8
Turn right into Balfour Road 50 yards 20?
9
Turn left into Morland Road 140 yards 20
10
Turn left into Wellesley Road 120 yards 20
11
Turn right into Cranbrook Road 170 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
12
Turn left to stay on Cranbrook Road 1.0 miles 30?
13
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Eastern Avenue 0.9 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
14
At Redbridge Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto North Circular Road 0.2 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 0.2 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
16
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 1.6 miles 50
17
Turn left to stay on North Circular Road 0.3 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
18
At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto North Circular Road 0.3 miles30?
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
19
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 0.3 miles 30?
20
Turn left to stay on North Circular Road 0.5 miles 30?
21
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Southend Road 0.4 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
22
Carry on into Woodford Avenue 0.8 miles 40
23
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Woodford Avenue 0.5 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
24
At Gants Hill Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Avenue 0.7 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
25
Turn right into an unnamed road 90 yards 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
26
Turn right into Ley Street 0.5 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
27
Turn left into Benton Road 0.4 miles 30?
28
Carry on into High Road 0.8 miles 30

Signed Cameron Road along the way, and it is the same road.
29
Turn right into Goodmayes Road 320 yards 30
30
Turn left into the test centre access road 40 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Before you drive it

Watch somebody else drive Goodmayes first

Instructors film these roads constantly. Watch for the roads: which roundabout, which multi-lane approach, where the limit drops. Not for a sequence to memorise, because the sequence is the one thing that changes.

Find more Goodmayes route videos

Opens a YouTube search for this centre. A video only goes on this page once somebody here has watched the whole thing.

Where the roads come from

Every road, speed limit, roundabout and car park named on this page comes from OpenStreetMap, used under the Open Database Licence. A speed shown with a question mark is our inference from the road type rather than a signed limit in the data. Trust the signs, not us.

Distances and times are calculated, not driven. The turns between the junctions are worked out by OSRM, an open source router running on that same map data. The times assume town-centre averages, so treat them as a rough guide.

Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it, or fix it in OpenStreetMap and it corrects itself everywhere.