Yeading

Somewhere real to practise

6 circuits from the test centre on Cygnet Way, Willow Tree Lane, Yeading, each one 44 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Yeading test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Swap your Yeading 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 · Barra Hall Circus → Colham Roundabout

Barra Hall and Colham

Barra Hall Circus in Hayes and then west to Colham on the A408, with something to negotiate every few hundred yards. The shortest of the six and the one to drive first.

9 milesabout 44 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 0.5 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
Turn left to stay on The Parkway 0.3 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
8
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Uxbridge Road 0.8 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
9
Turn left into Church Road 0.4 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
10
Turn right into Freemans Lane 0.3 miles 30?
11
At Barra Hall Circus, take the 3rd exit onto Judge Heath Lane 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
At Judge Heath Lane, take the 2nd exit onto Harlington Road
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
13
Turn right to stay on Harlington Road 0.4 miles 30
14
Turn left into West Drayton Road 320 yards 30?
15
Turn left to stay on West Drayton Road 0.3 miles 30
16
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 330 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
17
At Colham Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A408 330 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
18
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Stockley Road
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
19
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
21
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.8 miles 30?
22
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 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.
23
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
24
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 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.
25
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
26
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
27
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
28
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 yards 30?

Route 2 · White Hart → Colham Roundabout

White Hart and Colham

White Hart on the A312 and then the run west to Colham. A steady drive that spends most of its time on ordinary town roads.

9.7 milesabout 47 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto The Parkway 0.7 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
At White Hart, take the 1st exit onto Yeading Lane 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
8
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Kingshill Avenue 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9
Turn left into Lansbury Drive 0.7 miles 30?
10
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 0.8 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
11
Turn left into West Drayton Road 0.7 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
12
Turn left to stay on West Drayton Road 0.3 miles 30
13
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 330 yards50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
14
At Colham Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A408 330 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
15
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Stockley Road
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
16
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.8 miles 30?
19
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 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.
20
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
21
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 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.
22
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
23
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
24
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
25
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 yards 30?

Route 3 · Apple Tree Roundabout → Colham Roundabout → Barra Hall Circus

Apple Tree, Colham and Barra Hall

Three named roundabouts west of the centre, one after another. Drive this one twice if exits and lane discipline are where the faults come from.

9.7 milesabout 48 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 0.5 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
Turn left to stay on The Parkway 0.3 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
8
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Uxbridge Road 2.3 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
9
Turn left into Lees Road 0.3 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
10
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A437 30 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
11
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Pield Heath Road 0.5 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
Turn left into Royal Lane 0.5 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
13
Turn left into Birch Avenue 170 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
14
Turn right into Apple Tree Avenue 330 yards 30?
15
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Stockley Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
16
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 0.5 miles50
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 50 mph, up from 30.
18
Turn right into Harlington Road 0.5 miles 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 50.
19
Turn left into Judge Heath Lane 0.2 miles 30?
20
At Judge Heath Lane, take the 2nd exit onto Freemans Lane
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
21
At Barra Hall Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Freemans Lane 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
22
Turn left into Church Road 0.4 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
23
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 0.8 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 20.
24
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 0.3 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
25
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
26
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 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.
27
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
28
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
29
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
30
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 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 · White Hart → Apple Tree Roundabout → Colham Roundabout

White Hart, Apple Tree and Colham

East to White Hart first and then the full run west through Yiewsley. Longer than the first three, and holding concentration is most of what it asks for.

10.4 milesabout 50 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto The Parkway 0.7 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
At White Hart, take the 1st exit onto Yeading Lane 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
8
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Kingshill Avenue 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9
Turn left into Lansbury Drive 0.7 miles 30?
10
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.3 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
11
Turn left into Lees Road 0.3 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
12
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A437 30 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
13
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Pield Heath Road 0.5 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
14
Turn left into Royal Lane 0.5 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
15
Turn left into Birch Avenue 170 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
16
Turn right into Apple Tree Avenue 330 yards 30?
17
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Stockley Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.8 miles 30?
21
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 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.
22
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
23
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 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.
24
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
25
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
26
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
27
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 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 · Apple Tree Roundabout → White Hart

Apple Tree and White Hart

Out to Yiewsley and back across to the A312, which puts the two far ends of the area into one drive. A dozen roundabouts and no fast road anywhere in it.

11.5 milesabout 54 minup to 50 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 0.5 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
Turn left to stay on The Parkway 0.3 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
8
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Uxbridge Road 2.3 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, down from 50.
9
Turn left into Lees Road 0.3 miles 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
10
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A437 30 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
11
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Pield Heath Road 0.5 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
Turn left into Royal Lane 0.5 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
13
Turn left into Birch Avenue 170 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
14
Turn right into Apple Tree Avenue 330 yards 30?
15
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Stockley Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
16
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.8 miles 30?
19
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 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.
20
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
21
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto The Parkway 0.7 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.
22
At White Hart, take the 3rd exit onto Church Road 360 yards40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
23
Carry on into Langtry Road 100 yards 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
24
Turn left into Hawtrey Avenue 0.2 miles 20

The limit here is 20 mph, down from 30.
25
Turn left into Newdene Villas 70 yards 30?

The limit here is 30 mph, up from 20, inferred from the map rather than a sign.
26
Turn left into Ruislip Road 100 yards 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
27
At White Hart, take the 3rd exit onto The Parkway 0.7 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
28
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 30 mph, down from 40.
29
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
30
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
31
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
32
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 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 · Target Roundabout → Colham Roundabout

The long way round by Target

North to Target on the A40 and then the long way west to Colham, which makes it longer than a real test and the only one of the six to reach a fast road. Worth driving once in the fortnight before the date, because tiredness is what turns a good drive into a careless fault.

15.5 milesabout 64 minup to 70 mph

Open in Maps

1
Start on the test centre access road 30 yards 30?
2
Turn right into an unnamed road 180 yards 30?
3
Turn left to stay on an unnamed road 80 yards 30?
4
Turn right into Cygnet Way 140 yards 30?
5
Turn left into Willow Tree Lane 80 yards 30
6
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto The Parkway 0.7 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left. The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
7
At White Hart, take the 3rd exit onto Church Road 0.7 miles40
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
8
At Target Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Western Avenue 170 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.
9
Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 1.1 miles 40

The limit here is 40 mph, up from 30.
10
Turn left to stay on Western Avenue 0.2 miles 40

This is where the route turns back on itself, so you carry on the other way from here.
11
At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Western Avenue 0.2 miles40
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
12
Turn right to stay on Western Avenue 3.7 miles 40
13
Turn left into an unnamed road 0.6 miles 70

The limit here is 70 mph, up from 40.
14
Carry on into Freezeland Way 170 yards 30

The limit here is 30 mph, down from 70.
15
Turn left into Long Lane 1.3 miles 30
16
Turn left to stay on Long Lane 70 yards 30
17
Turn left into Uxbridge Road 0.3 miles 30?
18
Turn right into Lees Road 0.3 miles 30?
19
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A437 30 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Pield Heath Road 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
21
Turn left into Colham Green Road 0.4 miles 30?
22
Turn right into Park View Road 270 yards 30?
23
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A408 330 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
24
At Apple Tree Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Stockley Road
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
25
At Colham Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Stockley Road 320 yards30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
26
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto West Drayton Road 1.0 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
27
Turn right into Uxbridge Road 1.8 miles 30?
28
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto The Parkway 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.
29
Turn right to stay on The Parkway 0.5 miles 50

The limit here is 50 mph, up from 40.
30
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Willow Tree Lane 150 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.
31
Turn right to stay on Willow Tree Lane 70 yards 30
32
Turn left into Cygnet Way 130 yards 30?
33
Turn left into the test centre access road 80 yards 30?
34
Turn left to stay on the test centre access road 70 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 Yeading 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 Yeading 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.