Southall

Somewhere real to practise

6 circuits from the test centre on 295 Allenby Road, Southall, each one 27 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Southall test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Straight to the routes Swap your Southall test

Is your test on the right date? If it is too soon or too far off, a learner at Southall who wants the opposite could swap with you. Get an email when one joins

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 and road types the test actually assesses. Drive the roads, not a sequence.

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Nobody can read a numbered list while driving, 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 them on WhatsApp. Either way they call the turns and you drive.

If the phone and the written steps disagree, the written steps are the route. Google plots its own line between the places we hand it, and it will sometimes take a turn this page would not print.

About the Google Maps links

Google does not follow our route. It draws its own between the places we give it, and it is bound by none of the rules these pages are built on, two of which matter here: no turn in the road and no motorway.

So a route goes to Google in legs, and each leg ends at a real place to stop: a car park, a quiet side street, a loop road, with a manoeuvre to do there. The next leg starts from a parked car, so there is nothing behind you for Google to turn round for. Every leg is opened in Google Maps and checked by hand before its button goes on the page.

A route whose legs have not been checked yet has no Google Maps button. Drive it with the written directions read out, which is how the test itself works anyway.

Two other things Google 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 · Target Roundabout → White Hart

Target and White Hart

The two big A312 roundabouts either side of the centre, and little else. The shortest of the six by a long way and the one to drive first.

5.1 milesabout 33 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 1.2 milesTo Northala Fields car park Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards

Left off Kensington Road, before Target roundabout
A free park car park with about forty bays. Busy at weekends, quiet on a weekday morning.
Directions for the passenger, leg 14 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kensington Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Northala Fields car park.
5. Stop here: Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards.
Leg 2 · 0.9 milesTo Makepeace Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Church Road heading down from Target roundabout, opposite Northolt Gardens
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Church Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 26 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Northala Fields car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  Turn left into Kensington Road 100 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into the slip road 0.3 miles
4. 4
  At Target Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Church Road 0.2 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn left into Makepeace Road 180 yards
6. 6
  Turn right to stay on Makepeace Road 110 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 3 · 1 milesTo Hughenden Gardens Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse park behind a parked car

Right off Yeading Lane, a loop road that brings you back out at the roundabout
This is where the route turns for home. Follow the loop round rather than turning in the road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 35 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Makepeace Road to the end 110 yards
2. 2
  Turn left to stay on Makepeace Road 180 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Church Road 0.5 miles
4. 4
  At White Hart, take the 3rd exit onto Yeading Lane 320 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn right into Hughenden Gardens 220 yards
6. Stop here: Reverse park behind a parked car.
Leg 4 · 2.1 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 45 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Hughenden Gardens 60 yards
2. 2
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Yeading Lane 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3. 3
  At White Hart, take the 3rd exit onto Ruislip Road 0.9 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn right into Allenby Road 0.5 miles
6. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Route 2 · Target Roundabout → John Lyon Roundabout

Target and John Lyon

North from Target up to Sudbury, on roads that stay at town speeds nearly the whole way. A steady second drive once the A312 has stopped being an event.

10.1 milesabout 59 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 1.2 milesTo Northala Fields car park Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards

Left off Kensington Road, before Target roundabout
A free park car park with about forty bays. Busy at weekends, quiet on a weekday morning.
Directions for the passenger, leg 14 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kensington Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Northala Fields car park.
5. Stop here: Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards.
Leg 2 · 4.2 milesTo The Fairway Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car

Residential Sudbury Court estate, between Carlton Avenue West and East Lane
A long leg through Northolt village, Wood End Lane and Whitton Avenue West. Wide and quiet at the far end, with cars along the kerb.
Directions for the passenger, leg 212 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Northala Fields car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  Turn left into Kensington Road 100 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into the slip road 0.4 miles
4. 4
  At Target Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A312 1.0 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn right into Wood End Lane 0.2 miles
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Whitton Avenue West 0.8 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.6 miles
8. 8
  Turn right into Sudbury Hill 50 yards
9. 9
  Turn left into Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
10. 10
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto The Crescent 80 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
11. 11
  Turn right into Paxford Road 0.2 miles
12. 12
  Turn right into The Fairway 100 yards
13. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car.
Leg 3 · 2.5 milesTo Westway Cross car park Open inGoogle Maps

Forward bay park, then reverse out

Left off Greenford Road into Green Park Way, before the A40
A retail park car park with plenty of empty bays at the far end. Check both blind spots before you back out.
Directions for the passenger, leg 39 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along The Fairway 10 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Blockley Road 380 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Pasture Road 120 yards
4. 4
  Turn left into The Crescent 80 yards
5. 5
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into Greenford Road 1.3 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Green Park Way 200 yards
8. 8
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9. 9
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit into Westway Cross car park 20 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. Stop here: Forward bay park, then reverse out.
Leg 4 · 2.2 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 49 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Westway Cross car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Green Park Way 130 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.5 miles
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Greenford Road 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn right into The Broadway 0.2 miles
7. 7
  Carry on into Ruislip Road 270 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Mornington Road 0.3 miles
9. 9
  Turn right into Allenby Road 90 yards
10. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Practising for the wrong date? A learner at Southall who wants the opposite date could swap with you, and DVSA does the swap on the phone. Tell me when one joins

Route 3 · White Hart → Target Roundabout → John Lyon Roundabout

White Hart, Target and John Lyon

Three named junctions spread right across the area, one after another. Drive this one twice if exits and lane discipline are where the faults come from.

11.0 milesabout 64 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 2.2 milesTo Bengarth Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Church Road, just after Northolt Library and before Target roundabout
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Church Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 15 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Ruislip Road 0.9 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At White Hart, take the 4th exit onto Church Road 0.3 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn left into Bengarth Road 220 yards
6. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 4.2 milesTo The Fairway Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car

Residential Sudbury Court estate, between Carlton Avenue West and East Lane
Straight over Target roundabout, then Northolt village, Wood End Lane and Whitton Avenue West. Wide and quiet at the far end.
Directions for the passenger, leg 211 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Bengarth Road to the end 220 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Church Road 0.4 miles
3. 3
  At Target Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A312 1.0 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4. 4
  Turn right into Wood End Lane 0.2 miles
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Whitton Avenue West 0.8 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.6 miles
7. 7
  Turn right into Sudbury Hill 50 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
9. 9
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto The Crescent 80 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. 10
  Turn right into Paxford Road 0.2 miles
11. 11
  Turn right into The Fairway 100 yards
12. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car.
Leg 3 · 2.5 milesTo Westway Cross car park Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards

Left off Greenford Road into Green Park Way, before the A40
A retail park car park with plenty of empty bays at the far end.
Directions for the passenger, leg 39 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along The Fairway 10 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Blockley Road 380 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Pasture Road 120 yards
4. 4
  Turn left into The Crescent 80 yards
5. 5
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into Greenford Road 1.3 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Green Park Way 200 yards
8. 8
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9. 9
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit into Westway Cross car park 20 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. Stop here: Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards.
Leg 4 · 2.2 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 49 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Westway Cross car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Green Park Way 130 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.5 miles
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Greenford Road 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn right into The Broadway 0.2 miles
7. 7
  Carry on into Ruislip Road 270 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Mornington Road 0.3 miles
9. 9
  Turn right into Allenby Road 90 yards
10. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Route 4 · White Hart → John Lyon Roundabout

White Hart and John Lyon

West to Yeading and then north to Sudbury, putting the two far ends of the area into one drive. Mostly a question of holding concentration once the junctions are behind you.

11.7 milesabout 61 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 2.2 milesTo Bengarth Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Church Road, just after Northolt Library and before Target roundabout
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Church Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 15 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Ruislip Road 0.9 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At White Hart, take the 4th exit onto Church Road 0.3 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn left into Bengarth Road 220 yards
6. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 4.8 milesTo The Fairway Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then rejoin

Residential Sudbury Court estate, between Carlton Avenue West and East Lane
The A40 to Greenford, then the whole of Greenford Road. Cross when it is clear both ways and stop with a gap behind you.
Directions for the passenger, leg 212 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Bengarth Road to the end 220 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Church Road 0.4 miles
3. 3
  At Target Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Western Avenue 170 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4. 4
  Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 270 yards
5. 5
  Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 0.9 miles
6. 6
  Turn left to stay on Western Avenue 0.2 miles
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Greenford Road 1.9 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
8. 8
  Turn right into Sudbury Hill 50 yards
9. 9
  Turn left into Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
10. 10
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto The Crescent 80 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
11. 11
  Turn right into Paxford Road 0.2 miles
12. 12
  Turn right into The Fairway 100 yards
13. Stop here: Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then rejoin.
Leg 3 · 2.5 milesTo Westway Cross car park Open inGoogle Maps

Forward bay park, then reverse out

Left off Greenford Road into Green Park Way, before the A40
A retail park car park with plenty of empty bays at the far end. Check both blind spots before you back out.
Directions for the passenger, leg 39 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along The Fairway 10 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Blockley Road 380 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Pasture Road 120 yards
4. 4
  Turn left into The Crescent 80 yards
5. 5
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into Greenford Road 1.3 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Green Park Way 200 yards
8. 8
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9. 9
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit into Westway Cross car park 20 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. Stop here: Forward bay park, then reverse out.
Leg 4 · 2.2 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 49 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Westway Cross car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Green Park Way 130 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.5 miles
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Greenford Road 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn right into The Broadway 0.2 miles
7. 7
  Carry on into Ruislip Road 270 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Mornington Road 0.3 miles
9. 9
  Turn right into Allenby Road 90 yards
10. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Route 5 · White Hart → Target Roundabout → Hanger Lane Gyratory

White Hart, Target and Hanger Lane

Out west, back through Northolt and round Hanger Lane to finish, which is as busy a junction as this part of London has. Worth meeting on a quiet afternoon rather than for the first time on the day.

14.5 milesabout 67 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 2.2 milesTo Bengarth Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Church Road, just after Northolt Library and before Target roundabout
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Church Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 15 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Ruislip Road 0.9 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At White Hart, take the 4th exit onto Church Road 0.3 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn left into Bengarth Road 220 yards
6. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 6.4 milesTo Asda Park Royal car park Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards

Western Road, off Park Royal Road at the far end of the A40 stretch
The A40 all the way through the Hanger Lane gyratory. A big superstore car park, so use the far end where the bays are empty.
Directions for the passenger, leg 29 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Bengarth Road to the end 220 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Church Road 0.4 miles
3. 3
  At Target Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Western Avenue 170 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4. 4
  Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 270 yards
5. 5
  Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 4.9 miles
6. 6
  Turn left into Park Royal Road 0.4 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Trading Estate Road 90 yards
8. 8
  Turn right into Western Trading Estate 140 yards
9. 9
  Carry straight on into Asda Park Royal car park.
10. Stop here: Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards.
Leg 3 · 4.6 milesTo Costons Avenue Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse park behind a parked car

Left off Greenford Road just after the A40 roundabout, a loop road that comes back out on Costons Lane
Back along the A40 and off at Greenford. Follow the loop round to Costons Lane and turn left back onto Greenford Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 313 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Asda Park Royal car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  Turn left into Park Royal Road 160 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Abbey Road 210 yards
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Abbey Road 0.5 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Abbey Road 270 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into the link road 300 yards
7. 7
  Turn right into North Circular Road 0.7 miles
8. 8
  At the Hanger Lane Gyratory roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Western Avenue 0.2 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9. 9
  Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 1.9 miles
10. 10
  Turn left to stay on Western Avenue 350 yards
11. 11
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Greenford Road 260 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
12. 12
  Turn left into Costons Avenue 250 yards
13. 13
  Turn right to stay on Costons Avenue 50 yards
14. Stop here: Reverse park behind a parked car.
Leg 4 · 1.3 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 47 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Costons Avenue 240 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Costons Lane 130 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.3 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into The Broadway 0.2 miles
5. 5
  Carry on into Ruislip Road 270 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Mornington Road 0.3 miles
7. 7
  Turn right into Allenby Road 90 yards
8. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Route 6 · Target Roundabout → White Hart → John Lyon Roundabout

The long way round by Sudbury

Both A312 roundabouts and then north to Sudbury on 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.

13.8 milesabout 71 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 5 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 1.2 milesTo Northala Fields car park Open inGoogle Maps

Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards

Left off Kensington Road, before Target roundabout
A free park car park with about forty bays. Busy at weekends, quiet on a weekday morning.
Directions for the passenger, leg 14 steps
1. 1
  Start on Allenby Road 0.5 miles
2. 2
  Turn left into Ruislip Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Kensington Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Northala Fields car park.
5. Stop here: Reverse bay park, then drive out forwards.
Leg 2 · 0.9 milesTo Makepeace Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Church Road heading down from Target roundabout, opposite Northolt Gardens
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Church Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 26 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Northala Fields car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  Turn left into Kensington Road 100 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into the slip road 0.4 miles
4. 4
  At Target Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Church Road 0.2 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn left into Makepeace Road 180 yards
6. 6
  Turn right to stay on Makepeace Road 110 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 3 · 7 milesTo The Fairway Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car

Residential Sudbury Court estate, between Carlton Avenue West and East Lane
The long leg: the White Hart, West End Road to the Polish War Memorial, the A40 to Greenford and the whole of Greenford Road. Wide and quiet at the far end.
Directions for the passenger, leg 314 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Makepeace Road to the end 110 yards
2. 2
  Turn left to stay on Makepeace Road 180 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Church Road 0.5 miles
4. 4
  At White Hart, take the 4th exit onto A4180 0.6 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Carry on into West End Road 0.3 miles
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Polish War Memorial 0.3 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
7. 7
  Turn right into Western Avenue 1.9 miles
8. 8
  Turn left to stay on Western Avenue 0.2 miles
9. 9
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Greenford Road 1.9 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
10. 10
  Turn right into Sudbury Hill 50 yards
11. 11
  Turn left into Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
12. 12
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto The Crescent 80 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
13. 13
  Turn right into Paxford Road 0.2 miles
14. 14
  Turn right into The Fairway 100 yards
15. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car.
Leg 4 · 2.5 milesTo Westway Cross car park Open inGoogle Maps

Forward bay park, then reverse out

Left off Greenford Road into Green Park Way, before the A40
A retail park car park with plenty of empty bays at the far end. Check both blind spots before you back out.
Directions for the passenger, leg 49 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along The Fairway 10 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Blockley Road 380 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Pasture Road 120 yards
4. 4
  Turn left into The Crescent 80 yards
5. 5
  At John Lyon Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Sudbury Court Drive 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into Greenford Road 1.3 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Green Park Way 200 yards
8. 8
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9. 9
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit into Westway Cross car park 20 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. Stop here: Forward bay park, then reverse out.
Leg 5 · 2.2 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 59 steps
1. 1
  Drive out of Westway Cross car park slowly, watching for people walking between the cars.
2. 2
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 30 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Green Park Way 130 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Greenford Road 0.5 miles
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Greenford Road 0.6 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn right into The Broadway 0.2 miles
7. 7
  Carry on into Ruislip Road 270 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Mornington Road 0.3 miles
9. 9
  Turn right into Allenby Road 90 yards
10. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Before you drive it

Watch somebody else drive Southall first

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

Find more Southall route videos

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Southall · free

Is your Southall test on the right date?

Practising for a date that is too far off, or one that comes before you are ready? A swap with a learner at Southall who wants the opposite moves both of you, and DVSA does it over the phone. DVSA's median wait from booking to test at Southall was 5.4 weeks in September 2026. Tell us which way you want to move and we email you when a learner who could swap with you joins. Your email is never shown to anyone.

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Where the roads come from

Every road, roundabout and car park named on this page comes from OpenStreetMap, used under the Open Database Licence. 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.

Somewhere real to practise

Before you drive any of these

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Target and White Hart

Drive it in 4 legs

Target and John Lyon

Drive it in 4 legs

White Hart, Target and John Lyon

Drive it in 4 legs

White Hart and John Lyon

Drive it in 4 legs

White Hart, Target and Hanger Lane

Drive it in 4 legs

The long way round by Sudbury

Drive it in 5 legs

Watch somebody else drive Southall first

You are already on Driving Test Hero

Is your Southall test on the right date?

Where the roads come from