Hendon

Somewhere real to practise

6 circuits from the test centre on 3 Aviation Drive, Beaufort Park, Hendon, each one 24 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Hendon test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Swap your Hendon 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 · Holders Hill Circus → Mill Hill Circus

Holders Hill and Mill Hill Circus

Two roundabouts at town scale rather than trunk-road scale, with ordinary residential streets in between. The one to drive first.

7.7 milesabout 31 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
Turn left into Watford Way 0.6 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
4
Turn left into Great North Way 0.9 miles 50
5
Turn left into Holders Hill Road 0.8 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
6
At Holders Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Bittacy Hill 0.6 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7
Turn left into Engel Park 0.4 miles 30
8
Turn right into Bittacy Rise 150 yards 30
9
Turn right into Pursley Road 0.5 miles 30
10
Turn right into Page Street 60 yards 30
11
Turn left into Bunn's Lane 0.6 miles 30
12
Turn right to stay on Bunn's Lane 0.3 miles 30
13
Turn right into The Broadway 0.3 miles 30
14
At Mill Hill Circus, take the 3rd exit onto Watford Way 1.2 miles50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
15
Turn right to stay on Watford Way 70 yards 50
16
Turn left to stay on Watford Way 0.6 miles 50

This is where the route turns back on itself, so you carry on the other way from here.
17
Turn right into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
18
Turn right into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 · Brent Cross Interchange → Holders Hill Circus

Brent Cross and Holders Hill

Brent Cross is where a Hendon test first asks for lane discipline at speed, and this route meets it early and then drops back onto town roads. A sensible second drive, because the hard part comes while you are still fresh.

8.1 milesabout 33 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
Turn right into Watford Way 0.9 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
4
Carry on into Hendon Way 0.4 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
5
Turn left into A41 270 yards 40
6
At Brent Cross Interchange, take the 2nd exit onto A41 330 yards40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
7
Carry on into Woodville Gardens 70 yards 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
8
Turn left into Hamilton Road 100 yards 30
9
Turn right into Highfield Avenue 180 yards 30
10
Turn left into Heathfield Gardens 290 yards 30
11
Turn left into North Circular Road 60 yards 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
12
Turn left into A406 190 yards 40
13
At Brent Cross Interchange, take the 4th exit onto A406 200 yards30?
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
14
Turn right into North Circular Road 0.9 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
15
Turn left into Great North Way (Barnet By-Pass) 50 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
16
Turn left into Great North Way 0.6 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
17
Turn right into an unnamed road 40 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
18
Turn right into Holders Hill Road 0.8 miles 30
19
At Holders Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Bittacy Hill 0.2 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
Turn left into an unnamed road 30 yards 30
21
Turn right to stay on an unnamed road 30 yards 30
22
Turn right into Bittacy Hill 0.3 miles 30
23
At Holders Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Holders Hill Road 0.8 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
24
Turn right into Great North Way 0.7 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
25
Turn left into Westside 260 yards 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
26
Turn right into Watford Way 0.4 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
27
Turn right into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
28
Turn right into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 · Brent Cross Interchange → Staples Corner West Roundabout

Brent Cross and Staples Corner West

The North Circular between two of its largest junctions, so most of this one is dual carriageway. Drive it when lane changes and reading the signs early are what you want the practice on.

5.3 milesabout 24 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
Turn right into Watford Way 0.9 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
4
Carry on into Hendon Way 0.4 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
5
Turn left into A41 270 yards 40
6
At Brent Cross Interchange, take the 3rd exit onto A406 220 yards40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
7
Turn right into North Circular Road 240 yards 40
8
Turn left to stay on North Circular Road 380 yards 40
9
Turn left into an unnamed road 290 yards 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
10
Leave the roundabout onto an unnamed road 180 yards 30
11
At Staples Corner West Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto North Circular Road 330 yards40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
12
Carry on into Coles Green Road 130 yards 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 40.
13
Turn left into an unnamed road 310 yards 20
14
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 50 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
15
Turn left into Edgware Road 130 yards 30
16
At Staples Corner West Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Edgware Road West Hendon Broadway 170 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
Carry on into A5 0.5 miles 30?

Signed an unnamed road along the way, and it is the same road.
18
Turn right into Station Road 0.7 miles 30
19
Turn left into Watford Way 0.6 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
20
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
21
Turn right into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 · Staples Corner West Roundabout → Kingsbury Circle

Staples Corner West and Kingsbury Circle

South on the Edgware Road, then Kingsbury Circle, where five roads meet. Busy rather than fast, and the traffic is the difficulty.

9 milesabout 42 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
Turn right into Watford Way 0.6 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
4
Turn right into Station Road 0.7 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
5
Turn left into West Hendon Broadway 190 yards 30
6
Carry on into Edgware Road 0.5 miles 30

Signed Edgware Road West Hendon Broadway along the way, and it is the same road.
7
At Staples Corner West Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto North Circular Road 0.3 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
8
Turn right to stay on North Circular Road 1.0 miles 40
9
Turn left into A406 190 yards 40
10
Carry on into Neasden Lane North 0.7 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40. Signed Neasden Underpass and Blackbird Hill along the way, and it is the same road.
11
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Salmon Street 50 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
Turn left to stay on Salmon Street 0.4 miles 30
13
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Fryent Way 1.1 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
14
At Kingsbury Circle, take the 2nd exit onto Kenton Road 0.2 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
15
Turn left into Lindsay Drive 30 yards 30
16
Turn right to stay on Lindsay Drive 40 yards 30
17
Turn right into Kenton Road 0.2 miles 30
18
At Kingsbury Circle, take the 2nd exit onto Kingsbury Road 0.7 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
Turn left into Roe Green 0.3 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
20
Turn right into Hay Lane 0.4 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20.
21
Turn left to stay on Hay Lane 50 yards 30
22
Carry on into The Hyde 320 yards 30
23
Turn right into Colindale Avenue 0.5 miles 30
24
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
25
Turn left into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 · Mill Hill Circus → Apex Corner → Canons Corner

Mill Hill Circus, Apex and Canons Corner

Roundabout after roundabout, three of them big enough to need a plan before you reach them. Drive this one twice if exits and lane discipline are where the faults come from.

9.8 milesabout 35 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn left into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
Turn left into Watford Way 1.8 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
4
At Mill Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Lawrence Street 310 yards30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
5
Carry on into Uphill Grove 0.2 miles 30
6
Turn right into Tretawn Gardens 0.3 miles 30
7
Turn left into Marsh Lane 0.4 miles 30
8
Turn left into Barnet Way 70 yards 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
9
At Apex Corner, take the 3rd exit onto Watford By-pass 190 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10
Carry on into Edgware Way 1.3 miles 50

Signed Watford By-pass along the way, and it is the same road.
11
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Spur Road 0.2 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours. The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
12
At Canons Corner, take the 2nd exit onto London Road 90 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
13
Turn left into Court Drive 20 yards 30
14
Turn right into London Road 0.3 miles 30
15
At Canons Corner, take the 2nd exit onto Spur Road 0.2 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
16
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Watford By-pass 50 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
17
Carry on into Edgware Way 1.4 miles 50
18
At Apex Corner, take the 2nd exit onto A1 0.5 miles50
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
At Mill Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Watford Way 1.2 miles50
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
Turn right to stay on Watford Way 70 yards 50
21
Turn left to stay on Watford Way 0.6 miles 50

This is where the route turns back on itself, so you carry on the other way from here.
22
Turn right into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
23
Turn right into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 6 · Kingsbury Circle → Canons Corner → Apex Corner

The long way round the west

Out to Kingsbury, up to Canons Corner and back across the top, 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.

10.4 milesabout 44 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on Caversham Road 20 yards 30?
2
Turn right into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30
3
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Colindale Avenue 0.5 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4
Turn left into The Hyde 360 yards 30
5
Turn right into Hay Lane 0.5 miles 30
6
Turn left into Roe Green 0.3 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
7
Turn right into Kingsbury Road 0.7 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20.
8
At Kingsbury Circle, take the 4th exit onto Honeypot Lane 0.9 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Honeypot Lane 0.9 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10
Carry on into Marsh Lane 0.8 miles 30
11
Turn right into London Road 0.7 miles 30
12
At Canons Corner, take the 2nd exit onto Spur Road 0.2 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
13
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Watford By-pass 50 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
14
Carry on into Edgware Way 1.4 miles 50
15
At Apex Corner, take the 2nd exit onto A1 350 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
16
Carry on into Watford Way 0.3 miles 50
17
At Mill Hill Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Watford Way 1.2 miles50
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
Turn right to stay on Watford Way 70 yards 50
19
Turn left to stay on Watford Way 0.6 miles 50

This is where the route turns back on itself, so you carry on the other way from here.
20
Turn right into Aerodrome Road 0.3 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
21
Turn right into Caversham Road 20 yards 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 Hendon 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 Hendon 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.