Watch driving test routes in Watford

Route 1 from Watford test centre heads out on the A41 and the 70 mph Stephenson Way, then along Bushey Mill Lane with its mini roundabouts and a level crossing. It comes back along St Albans Road and the A41 to the residential roads around Gammons Lane, Longspring and The Harebreaks, with yellow boxes, a bus lane and a 20 mph zone on Balmoral Road.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Otterspool Way

   Out of the test centre and right at the give way along Otterspool Way. We look both ways before we go.

2. 0:19
   Otterspool Way junction with the A41Tricky spot 02

   We give way at the end of Otterspool Way and turn left onto the A41. Fast traffic comes from the right, so the wait can be long.

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3. 0:47
   North Western Avenue

   A short stretch on the A41, then the slip road to the left and the left lane marked WATFORD at the lights.

4. 1:42
   Stephenson Way

   A 70 mph dual carriageway where we pass a slow car, then we slow down early for the roundabout at the end and the limit drops to 30 mph.

5. 2:51
   Radlett Road roundaboutTricky spot 06

   We turn right at this roundabout, and a large lorry comes from the right. We choose the lane with the right arrow early.

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6. 4:00
   Bushey Mill Lane mini roundaboutsTricky spot 05

   Three mini roundabouts follow each other on Bushey Mill Lane. We give way to the right at each one.

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7. 6:03
   Bushey Mill Lane level crossing

   We never stop on the tracks, then brake before a sharp bend and give a turning lorry room.

8. 9:12
   St Albans Road

   A KEEP CLEAR, a yellow box and a bus lane on our left, then the left lane for the left turn onto the A41 at the roundabout.

9. 11:21
   North Western Avenue

   40 mph on the A41, then the slip road to the left and a roundabout where we turn right onto High Road.

10. 13:06
    High Road and Ashfields

    Left at a mini roundabout onto Ashfields and left at the lights onto Aerodrome Way, then a give way, two lanes merging and a roundabout.

11. 14:00
    Courtlands Drive

    A KEEP CLEAR as we leave the roundabout, then a left turn onto Gammons Lane.

12. 14:34
    Gammons Lane

    A long residential road with a mini roundabout and a parked van, then a queue and a left turn at the lights onto Longspring.

13. 17:24
    Longspring and The Harebreaks

    Right at the lights onto The Harebreaks, where oncoming traffic goes first, then parked cars on both sides and a mini roundabout.

14. 19:46
    The Harebreaks yellow boxTricky spot 12

    After a long queue at the lights there is a large yellow box across the junction. We drive straight over it.

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15. 19:57
    Balmoral Road

    Under a railway bridge into a 20 mph zone with a school crossing patrol and a zebra crossing, then left at a mini roundabout onto Radlett Road.

16. 22:17
    Radlett Road

    Right at the roundabout onto Bushey Mill Lane, then the left turn onto Berry Grove Lane.

17. 22:55
    Berry Grove Lane

    A narrow lane with bends, where we keep well left for an oncoming van.

18. 23:31
    Otterspool Way

    Barriers narrow our lane, so we check for oncoming traffic and pass them slowly on the way back to the test centre.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Otterspool Way
2. 2North Western AvenueA41
3. 3Stephenson WayA4008
4. 4Radlett Road
5. 5Bushey Mill Lane
6. 6St Albans RoadA412
7. 7North Western AvenueA41
8. 8High Road
9. 9Ashfields
10. 10Aerodrome Way
11. 11Courtlands Drive
12. 12Gammons Lane
13. 13Longspring
14. 14The Harebreaks
15. 15Balmoral Road
16. 16Radlett Road
17. 17Bushey Mill Lane
18. 18Berry Grove Lane
19. 19Otterspool Way

Route 2 from Watford test centre is a long drive south to Bushey and the edge of the town centre. It takes in the 60 mph A41, a right turn at the Sandy Lane lights, narrow residential roads with mini roundabouts and the busy A411 through Bushey High Street and Chalk Hill, then a road closure detour on Thomas Sawyer Way and the 70 mph Stephenson Way back north.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Otterspool Way

   Out of the test centre and left at the give way onto Hartspring Lane. We look right and wait for a safe gap.

2. 1:22
   A41 roundabout at Hartspring LaneTricky spot 01

   A busy roundabout with lanes and a lane sign. We turn right onto the A41, so we choose the right lane early.

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3. 1:42
   North Western Avenue

   60 mph on the A41, then mirrors, blind spot and signal for the right turn lane into Sandy Lane.

4. 4:29
   Sandy Lane traffic lightsTricky spot 04

   After a long red we turn right across oncoming traffic into a narrow lane with parked cars. Oncoming traffic still goes first.

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5. 5:16
   Little Bushey Lane

   Over a yellow box and left at the give way onto Little Bushey Lane, 40 mph and later 30 mph, then right at the roundabout onto Coldharbour Lane.

6. 6:24
   Coldharbour Lane

   A school area and parked cars, a narrow section and three mini roundabouts, the last one left onto Melbourne Road.

7. 8:53
   Melbourne Road junction with High StreetTricky spot 19

   We give way onto a busy A road and turn right. We need a gap from both sides, so the wait can be long.

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8. 10:10
   High Street

   A busy high street with parked cars on our side, so we watch for car doors and people stepping out.

9. 12:15
   London Road and Chalk Hill

   KEEP CLEAR markings and a long queue on Chalk Hill, then left onto Aldenham Road and right at the lights onto Pinner Road.

10. 17:00
    Pinner Road railway bridge roundaboutTricky spot 17

    Lane arrows lead to a roundabout under a railway bridge with KEEP CLEAR markings. We go straight on.

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11. 18:44
    Dalton Way

    Left at the lights from Lower High Street onto Dalton Way, the A411.

12. 19:12
    Thomas Sawyer Way

    Both lanes go ahead at the lights, so we keep left, and the two lanes become one after the lights.

13. 21:47
    Road closed roundabout

    The road ahead is closed, so we go all the way round the roundabout and back, then left onto Dalton Way and past a cyclist with plenty of room.

14. 24:09
    Waterfields Way

    40 mph and straight on at the first roundabout, then into the right lane early for the next one.

15. 25:13
    Waterfields Way roundaboutTricky spot 09

    A two lane roundabout with roadworks cones and a queue. We turn right onto Stephenson Way, so we choose our lane early.

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16. 25:42
    Stephenson Way

    Two lanes merge and the limit is 70 mph, then the slip road, a left turn at the roundabout and straight on at the next one.

17. 27:24
    Colonial Way

    A zebra crossing, then right at a give way into the 20 mph zone of Southfield Avenue with parked cars on both sides, and right again onto Bushey Mill Lane.

18. 30:48
    Bushey Mill Lane

    A mini roundabout and a crossing with lights, where we wait until people are clear.

19. 31:43
    Bushey Mill Lane mini roundaboutsTricky spot 05

    Three mini roundabouts follow each other on Bushey Mill Lane. We give way to the right at each one.

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20. 32:41
    Berry Grove Lane

    Left onto Berry Grove Lane, where roadworks narrow the road. We look well ahead and give way to oncoming traffic.

21. 34:09
    Otterspool Way

    Parked cars on our side on the way back to the test centre, so we give way to oncoming traffic if needed.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Otterspool Way
2. 2Hartspring LaneB462
3. 3North Western AvenueA41

Route 3 from Watford test centre joins the M1 at junction 5 and leaves at junction 6, with big roundabouts with lights and a 70 mph motorway stretch. It comes back along the A405, where we turn all the way round at the lights, then through Sheepcot Lane, the Dome Roundabout and the busy St Albans Road with yellow boxes, before the mini roundabouts of Bushey Mill Lane.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Otterspool Way

   Parked cars along Otterspool Way, then right at the give way. We look both ways and go only when it is safe.

2. 0:34
   Otterspool Way junction with the A41Tricky spot 02

   We give way at the end of Otterspool Way and turn left onto the A41. Fast traffic comes from the right, so the wait can be long.

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3. 1:09
   Queue for M1 Junction 5

   The slip road on the left leads to a long queue for M1 junction 5. The left lane turns left, so we stay in the right lane.

4. 3:58
   M1 Junction 5 roundaboutTricky spot 03

   A big roundabout with lights at the entry and on the roundabout. We read the lane markings and follow the lane marked M1.

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5. 4:42
   M1 Junction 5 slip roadTricky spot 07

   A slip road leads onto a 70 mph motorway. We must match the speed and merge into a gap.

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6. 5:08
   M1

   On the M1 at 70 mph we keep a safe gap and stay in the left lane until junction 6.

7. 7:30
   M1 Junction 6 slip roadTricky spot 22

   A motorway exit with a sharp bend on the slip road. We slow down on the straight, before the bend.

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8. 7:47
   M1 Junction 6 roundaboutTricky spot 21

   Two lanes lead down to a busy roundabout. We give way to traffic from the right and do not rush.

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9. 8:15
   North Orbital Road

   We keep to the right lane and move into the right turn lane for the lights.

10. 9:01
    Turning at the lights

    On green we turn right all the way round onto the A405 and watch for oncoming traffic, then move back to the right lane.

11. 10:36
    St Albans Road (A405)

    The limit drops to 40 mph and there is a queue at the lights, so we only go when the road ahead is clear.

12. 11:45
    Kingsway

    We signal left in good time for Sheepcot Lane.

13. 12:45
    Sheepcot Lane

    30 mph with parked cars and speed humps, a mini roundabout with a zebra crossing straight after, then right at the lights onto St Albans Road.

14. 14:54
    St Albans Road (A412)

    KEEP CLEAR markings and queues, so we stop where we can still see the tyres of the car in front.

15. 16:40
    Dome Roundabout

    Lights at the entry and on the roundabout. We follow our lane round and stay on the A412, then keep the crossing and a yellow box clear in the queue.

16. 19:52
    St Albans Road yellow boxTricky spot 14

    There is a yellow box just after the lights, then a bus at the stop on our left.

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17. 22:13
    Balmoral Road

    Left onto Balmoral Road and left again onto Southfield Avenue.

18. 22:54
    Southfield Avenue

    Parked cars on both sides and speed humps, then a T junction where we creep forward and turn right onto Bushey Mill Lane.

19. 24:15
    Bushey Mill Lane

    A mini roundabout straight after the turn and another one soon after, and the limit is 30 mph.

20. 25:26
    Bushey Mill Lane mini roundaboutsTricky spot 05

    Three mini roundabouts follow each other on Bushey Mill Lane. We give way to the right at each one.

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21. 26:43
    Berry Grove Lane

    The road narrows by a barrier after the bridge, so we give way to oncoming traffic if needed.

22. 28:00
    Otterspool Way

    Parked cars and cones on our side with a car coming, so we keep a door's width and are ready to slow down.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Otterspool Way
2. 2North Western AvenueA41
3. 3M1M1

Route 4 from Watford test centre is the longest, through the edge of the town centre and out along the A411 Hempstead Road. It passes the bus station with a yellow box and buses crossing, busy junctions on Station Road and St Albans Road, then a big roundabout with lights and the A41 back to the Dome Roundabout, before the narrow 20 mph roads of Longspring and The Harebreaks.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Otterspool Way

   Out of the test centre along Otterspool Way to the give way at the A41.

2. 0:21
   Otterspool Way junction with the A41Tricky spot 02

   We give way at the end of Otterspool Way and turn left onto the A41. Fast traffic comes from the right, so the wait can be long.

   Watch the clip
3. 0:37
   North Western Avenue

   70 mph on the A41 for a short stretch, then the slip road, the left lane marked WATFORD and lights on the roundabout.

4. 1:39
   Stephenson Way

   Two thirds round the roundabout, the limit drops to 30 mph and we turn left at the next roundabout onto Radlett Road.

5. 3:02
   Radlett Road

   A KEEP CLEAR, then right at the roundabout onto Orphanage Road.

6. 3:45
   Orphanage Road

   Straight on at a roundabout, then a 20 mph limit and a low, dark bridge before the right turn onto Woodford Road.

7. 4:45
   Woodford Road

   A 20 mph zone towards the bus station.

8. 5:14
   Woodford Road yellow boxTricky spot 10

   There is a yellow box at a busy bus station. Buses cross in front of us.

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9. 6:02
   Station Road give wayTricky spot 11

   We give way and turn right onto a busy road. Cars come from both sides, so we do not rush.

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10. 6:30
    Station Road

    The middle lane with the straight arrow, a zebra crossing, a KEEP CLEAR and a long queue, then left over a yellow box onto St Albans Road.

11. 9:18
    St Albans Road

    Two lanes, and we stay in the left lane marked A411.

12. 9:40
    St Albans Road roundaboutTricky spot 18

    A roundabout with a give way line, a queue and a motorbike close by. A lorry is close too.

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13. 10:36
    Hempstead Road

    A long A road with KEEP CLEAR markings, a queue in the left lane marked A41, a yellow box and parked cars, then 40 mph and a right turn at a busy roundabout for the A41.

14. 20:12
    A41 and A405 roundabout

    A big roundabout with lights. We follow A41 London, so we take the lane marked A41 in good time.

15. 20:40
    North Western Avenue

    We join the A41 and match the speed, the limit drops to 40 mph and later the left lane ends, so we merge in turn.

16. 26:07
    Dome Roundabout from North Western AvenueTricky spot 15

    A yellow box at the entry, then lights on the roundabout itself. We take it one step at a time.

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17. 27:37
    St Albans Road

    30 mph, a yellow box, a car pulling out from the left and a cycle box at the red light.

18. 29:20
    Longspring traffic lightsTricky spot 16

    We turn right at the lights across a yellow box. Oncoming traffic and people crossing come first.

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19. 30:01
    Longspring and The Harebreaks

    20 mph with two narrowings, one where we give way and one where we have priority, then left at the lights onto The Harebreaks and a mini roundabout.

20. 34:31
    The Harebreaks yellow boxTricky spot 12

    After a long queue at the lights there is a large yellow box across the junction. We drive straight over it.

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21. 35:18
    Balmoral Road and Knutsford Avenue

    A 20 mph zone, left onto Knutsford Avenue and a right turn where oncoming traffic still goes first.

22. 37:24
    Bushey Mill Lane mini roundaboutsTricky spot 05

    Three mini roundabouts follow each other on Bushey Mill Lane. We give way to the right at each one.

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23. 38:13
    Berry Grove Lane

    Back to 30 mph in a narrow lane with bends, and an island with barriers where we keep left.

24. 39:49
    Otterspool Way

    Straight on at the last roundabout and back to the test centre.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Otterspool Way
2. 2North Western AvenueA41
3. 3Stephenson WayA4008

Route 5 from Watford test centre heads into the country lanes off Radlett Road, with single track lanes, hidden junctions and the national speed limit on narrow roads. It comes back through Bushey Heath and Bushey, with a right turn onto the busy High Road, shopping streets, a school crossing patrol and roundabouts on Aldenham Road and Hartspring Lane.

Filmed in 4K by our driving instructor, with tips on screen at every junction.

With access you tap a time to start the video there.

1. 0:00
   Otterspool Way

   Out of the test centre and left at the give way onto Hartspring Lane. We look right and wait for a safe gap.

2. 0:27
   Hartspring Lane roundabout

   A busy roundabout where we go straight on, so we read the lane sign and only go when our exit is clear.

3. 2:00
   Radlett Road

   A 50 mph road, then we slow down early for the right turn onto Round Bush Lane.

4. 2:57
   Round Bush Lane and country lanes

   Parked cars, then right onto Primrose Lane, a single track lane, and right onto Summerhouse Lane where hedges hide the junction. Left onto Hilfield Lane and right onto Sandy Lane.

5. 6:38
   Sandy Lane

   A narrow lane with the national limit, a queue at the lights and straight across the main road, then a yellow box and a give way onto Little Bushey Lane.

6. 9:54
   Little Bushey Lane

   40 mph and then 30 mph, a mini roundabout, then left at the lights onto Elstree Road.

7. 14:04
   Elstree Road

   Mirrors, blind spot and signal for the right turn into Titian Avenue.

8. 14:27
   Titian Avenue and Windmill Lane

   Parked cars on both sides along Titian Avenue and Windmill Street, then right at the T junction onto Windmill Lane.

9. 15:59
   Windmill Lane junction with High RoadTricky spot 20

   We turn right onto a busy main road with traffic from both sides. The wait can be long.

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10. 16:35
    High Road

    A busy shopping street, so we watch for people stepping out between parked cars.

11. 18:39
    Sparrows Herne

    A yellow box, a pedestrian crossing and a parked van at a SLOW marking, then a give way at a busy junction.

12. 20:33
    High Street

    Zigzag lines, a school crossing patrol and a busy high street with parked cars.

13. 22:39
    Falconer Road junctionTricky spot 13

    We turn right off a busy main road into Falconer Road. We wait in the turn lane for a gap in oncoming traffic.

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14. 23:02
    Falconer Road

    Parked cars on both sides, left at a mini roundabout onto Finch Lane, then left onto The Avenue.

15. 24:17
    The Avenue

    Speed humps, so we slow down and go over them gently.

16. 25:23
    Aldenham Road roundaboutTricky spot 08

    A queue at the roundabout entry, with a crossing on the way in. We turn right at the roundabout.

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17. 25:52
    Aldenham Road

    We signal left as we leave the roundabout, then straight on at the next one.

18. 27:51
    Hartspring Lane

    Left at the roundabout onto Otterspool Way. We look right and give way.

19. 29:49
    Otterspool Way

    Back along Otterspool Way to the test centre.

Every road on this route, in the order you drive them.

1. 1Otterspool Way
2. 2Hartspring LaneB462
3. 3Radlett RoadB462