Watch driving test routes in Gillingham

Route 1 from Gillingham test centre is the long one through Gillingham and Chatham. It runs out along Sovereign Boulevard and the 50 mph Ito Way, loops through the terraced streets around Rock Avenue, crosses the yellow box onto Chatham Hill and follows the A2 into Chatham, then comes back along Dock Road, Brompton Road and the shops of Skinner Street and Canterbury Street to Watling Street. It has ten roundabouts, several yellow boxes and KEEP CLEAR markings and a lot of parked cars.

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
   Courteney Road

   Right at the give way out of the business park, where we creep forward and look both ways, then two roundabouts where we go straight on from the left lane, with a long queue for the second.

2. 2:47
   Sovereign Boulevard

   The limit goes up to 40 mph. We stay in the right lane for the right turn at the roundabout onto Ito Way and signal left after the exit before ours.

3. 4:39
   Ito Way

   A 50 mph road, not 70. We keep to the left lane, move back left after overtaking, then brake in good time for the roundabout and signal left for Cornwallis Avenue.

4. 5:48
   Cornwallis Avenue

   Back to 30 mph after the fast road. A refuse lorry and parked cars on both sides along Canadian Avenue and Livingstone Road, then a give way and a mini roundabout straight after onto Gillingham Road.

5. 8:30
   Gillingham Road

   A long run along Gillingham Road to a STOP sign with a yellow box. We stop fully at the line and enter the box only when our exit is clear.

6. 10:29
   Rock Avenue

   A loop through Byron Road, Shakespeare Road and St John's Road: narrow streets with parked cars where we wait in a gap for oncoming cars, and give ways where we creep forward and look both ways. Back on Rock Avenue there is a yellow box and a KEEP CLEAR before the lights.

7. 13:53
   Chatham Hill yellow boxTricky spot 03

   From Rock Avenue you turn right at traffic lights onto Chatham Hill, straight across a yellow box junction. Only enter the box when your exit is clear.

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8. 14:12
   Chatham Hill

   Parked cars on our side and a bus lane on our left, which cycles may use too. We slow down early for the roundabout just after the railway bridge.

9. 15:54
   New Road

   We move into the right lane early for The Brook and sit in a long queue, stopping where we can still see the tyres of the car ahead, then turn right at the lights.

10. 19:24
    The Brook

    An advanced stop line for cyclists, two lanes that merge into one and a KEEP CLEAR under the flyover. The road is wide, so we keep checking that we stay at 30 mph.

11. 22:44
    Dock Road and Wood Street

    A roundabout where we slow down early and give way to the right, then a KEEP CLEAR marking we never stop on, even in a queue.

12. 24:02
    Brompton Road

    A van and trailer parked on our left and a bus at a stop that may pull away, then left into Arden Street, where people crossing have priority.

13. 25:23
    Skinner Street right turnTricky spot 08

    Two turns at traffic lights close together in the town centre: left into Arden Street, then right into Skinner Street with shops on both sides. Position early for the right turn and watch for people crossing.

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14. 27:02
    Canterbury Street

    A pelican crossing on flashing amber, a yellow box at the lights where Canterbury Street jogs to the right, a zebra crossing and a parked lorry, then right at the lights and left at the lights onto Watling Street.

15. 29:34
    Watling Street

    A straight stretch of the A2 at 30 mph with shops, side roads and traffic lights on both sides.

16. 30:43
    Sovereign Boulevard

    The limit goes up to 40 mph. Straight on at the first roundabout from the left lane, then the right lane and a KEEP CLEAR for the second, where we turn right onto Courteney Road and the limit drops to 30 mph.

17. 33:48
    Courteney Road

    The right lane early for the roundabout, where we turn right and give way to the right, then signal left to leave and back to the test centre.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Sovereign BoulevardA2
3. 3Ito WayA289
4. 4Cornwallis Avenue
5. 5Canadian Avenue
6. 6Livingstone Road
7. 7Barnsole Road
8. 8Gillingham Road
9. 9Rock Avenue
10. 10Byron Road
11. 11Shakespeare Road
12. 12St John's Road
13. 13Rock Avenue
14. 14Chatham HillA2
15. 15New RoadA2
16. 16The BrookA231
17. 17Dock RoadA231
18. 18Wood StreetA231
19. 19Brompton RoadA231
20. 20High StreetA231
21. 21Arden Street
22. 22Skinner Street
23. 23Canterbury Street
24. 24Watling StreetA2
25. 25Sovereign BoulevardA2
26. 26Courteney Road

Route 2 from Gillingham test centre is the shortest, through the terraced streets and the town centre of Gillingham. It goes out along Sovereign Boulevard to Barnsole Road and Gillingham Road, through the one way Nile Road and the shops on Canterbury Street and the High Street, then up Prince Arthur Road to the painted lanes on Medway Road and back along Pier Road and the 50 mph Yokosuka Way.

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
   Courteney Road

   Give way to the right at the first roundabout, then the left lane for the roundabout where we turn left onto the A2, with a queue and a cycle warning sign on the way.

2. 1:21
   Sovereign Boulevard

   A dual carriageway at 40 mph where we keep left unless overtaking, straight on at the roundabout, then back to 30 mph and the right lane, a yellow box and a right turn at the lights onto Barnsole Road.

3. 4:27
   Barnsole Road

   Parked cars on both sides and two zebra crossings where we look for anyone waiting, then left at the mini roundabout onto Gillingham Road.

4. 7:26
   Gillingham Road

   We stay well back behind a cyclist and only pass with at least 1.5 m of room, never near a junction, before the right turn into Nile Road.

5. 8:57
   Nile Road

   A one way street with parked cars on our side, so no oncoming traffic, ending at a T junction where we creep forward, look both ways and turn right onto Canterbury Street.

6. 10:02
   Canterbury Street

   A busy street with shops, where people step out between parked cars. We stop in good time at the lights with room for people to cross, then left at the lights into Jeffery Street.

7. 11:49
   Jeffery Street

   A short link through the town centre to the High Street.

8. 12:09
   High Street

   Gillingham High Street is busy, so we keep our speed down, take the right lane early and turn right at the lights into Prince Arthur Road when there is a safe gap.

9. 13:34
   Prince Arthur Road

   Parked cars on our side. We look well ahead and give way to oncoming traffic when needed.

10. 15:13
    Medway Road lane markingsTricky spot 10

    Medway Road has several lanes with place names painted on the road and traffic lights at each junction. Read the markings early, pick your lane and stay in it through the junctions.

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11. 15:51
    Pier Road

    The limit goes up to 40 mph, our lane ends so we merge left, then straight on at the roundabout, back to 30 mph and another roundabout for Yokosuka Way.

12. 18:55
    Yokosuka Way

    A 50 mph dual carriageway, not 70. We look right early at the roundabout and go straight on onto Ito Way.

13. 20:12
    Ito Way

    We keep to the left lane for the first exit at the roundabout onto Sovereign Boulevard.

14. 21:21
    Sovereign Boulevard

    The limit drops to 40 mph, not 50, then a KEEP CLEAR marking in the queue and the roundabout where we turn right from the lane for straight on and right.

15. 23:39
    Courteney Road

    Back to 30 mph on Courteney Road and right at the roundabout from the right lane, giving way to traffic from the right, to the test centre.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Sovereign BoulevardA2
3. 3Watling StreetA2

Route 3 from Gillingham test centre heads through Wigmore and Rainham to the narrow country lanes south of the A2. After Woodside and Maidstone Road it follows the red route on Rainham High Street and London Road, then Spade Lane, a single track lane with a 60 mph limit, and the high hedged Yaugher Lane and Matts Hill Road over the M2, before coming back through Parkwood on Deanwood Drive. Expect eight mini roundabouts, roadworks and parked cars.

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
   Courteney Road and Hoath Lane

   Give way at the end of Courteney Road and look right, straight on at the mini roundabout onto Hoath Lane, where the limit goes up to 40 mph and soon back to 30.

2. 2:52
   Woodside

   A zebra crossing with people on it and parked cars on both sides along Woodside, Springvale and Durham Road, then left at the mini roundabout onto Maidstone Road.

3. 4:11
   Maidstone Road

   A lorry pulling out of a side exit and two mini roundabouts, straight on then right, then roadworks that narrow the road before we turn right at the lights onto the High Street.

4. 7:03
   High Street, Rainham

   Red lines mean a red route with no stopping at any time. Straight on at the mini roundabout, a queue where we keep our distance and a yellow box we enter only when our exit is clear.

5. 9:26
   London Road

   Along Moor Street and London Road: parked cars, a pedestrian crossing we keep clear in the queue and roadworks that close our lane, then 40 mph and the right turn into Spade Lane.

6. 12:43
   Spade Lane single trackTricky spot 09

   Spade Lane is a single track country lane with hedges on both sides and a 60 mph limit. Drive at a speed that lets you stop in the distance you can see and be ready to wait in a wider spot for oncoming cars.

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7. 14:09
   Meresborough Lane

   A sharp right hand bend ahead: we brake early on the straight and slow right down before it.

8. 14:42
   Yaugher Lane

   A narrow lane with high hedges and bends, where we brake before the bend, not in it, ending at a give way with a limited view where we creep forward and turn right.

9. 16:33
   Matts Hill Road

   An oncoming cyclist on a narrow lane and passing places where we stop if a car comes, over the M2, then 30 mph and a T junction with a limited view where we turn right.

10. 18:56
    Mierscourt Road

    Cars stopped ahead, so we hold back and pass only when there is room and nothing is coming, then right at the T junction and right again into Tyler Drive.

11. 20:36
    Deanwood Drive

    A wide 30 mph road where we check our speed as we build it up, then signal left for the mini roundabout.

12. 22:34
    Maidstone Road

    Right at the mini roundabout and back along Woodside: parked cars on both sides, a zebra crossing and a busy T junction where we creep forward and turn right onto Hoath Lane.

13. 24:13
    Hoath Lane

    The limit rises to 40 mph, then straight on at the mini roundabout onto Courteney Road.

14. 25:10
    Courteney Road

    Back to 30 mph and the right turn into the test centre.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Hoath Lane
3. 3Woodside

Route 4 from Gillingham test centre goes out through Hempstead and Capstone to the busy streets of Luton and up Chatham Hill, then back through Gillingham past the level crossing at the station and the big roundabout onto Pier Road. It has sixteen roundabouts, from mini roundabouts in residential streets to the roundabout with a KEEP CLEAR at Luton Arches, plus bus lanes, zebra crossings and parked cars, and ends on the 50 mph Yokosuka Way and Sovereign Boulevard.

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
   Courteney Road

   Left at the give way, where we look right and left ourselves instead of following the car ahead out, then right at the mini roundabout, a roundabout onto Hoath Way and left at the next one onto Hempstead Road, where the road goes downhill at 30 mph.

2. 2:41
   Hempstead Road

   Two mini roundabouts straight after each other: right at the first, giving way to the right, and look right again at the second.

3. 4:04
   Pear Tree Lane

   The limit rises to 40 mph and we build up speed only when the road ahead is clear, then right at the roundabout onto Capstone Road, signalling left after the exit before ours.

4. 6:06
   Capstone Road

   Back to 30 mph, left at a mini roundabout, straight on at a roundabout and then the mini roundabout where we turn right into Luton High Street.

5. 7:39
   Luton High Street mini roundaboutTricky spot 02

   From Capstone Road you turn right at a mini roundabout into Luton High Street, a busy street with shops and parked cars. Give way to the right, go round the white circle and keep your speed down afterwards.

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6. 8:07
   Luton High Street and Luton Road

   A busy street with shops and parked cars, where we leave side roads clear when the traffic queues. Along Luton Road there is a zebra crossing, then the road splits and we take the right lane for the roundabout at Luton Arches, stopping before the KEEP CLEAR in a queue.

7. 13:47
   Chatham Hill

   We stay in the left lane up Chatham Hill, keep out of the bus lane, let buses in where two lanes merge and keep the yellow box after the lights clear, then left at the lights into Canterbury Street.

8. 18:58
   Canterbury Street and Nelson Road

   Parked cars on our side and roadworks where oncoming traffic moves out around them, then we position early for the right turn onto Gillingham Road.

9. 20:59
   Gillingham Road

   A mini roundabout with a zebra crossing right after it, then Ingram Road towards the station.

10. 22:41
    Gillingham level crossingTricky spot 04

    A level crossing with a yellow box, just after KEEP CLEAR markings in a queue. Never stop on the crossing or in the box: only go when the road beyond is clear.

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11. 23:13
    Ingram Road and Church Street

    Three more zebra crossings and parked cars on both sides, then we take the right lane and signal right for the big roundabout.

12. 24:21
    Pier Road roundaboutTricky spot 07

    A large, busy roundabout where we turn right onto Pier Road. Follow the lane arrows, wait for a safe gap without hesitating too long and check your left mirror before you move across to leave.

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13. 25:01
    Pier Road

    Left mirror, shoulder and signal before we move across to leave the roundabout, then 40 mph on Pier Road to the roundabout where we turn right onto Yokosuka Way.

14. 26:37
    Yokosuka Way

    A 50 mph dual carriageway where we overtake a slower car, move back to the left lane when we see it in the interior mirror, and never stop on the KEEP CLEAR marking.

15. 27:44
    Ito Way

    The limit drops to 40 mph and we use the lane with the left arrow to turn left at the roundabout onto Sovereign Boulevard.

16. 29:20
    Sovereign Boulevard

    A bus lane on our left, destinations painted in the lanes so we choose early, and a KEEP CLEAR across the lanes before the roundabout onto Courteney Road.

17. 32:04
    Courteney Road

    Back to 30 mph and a roundabout where we give way to the right and watch the cars already on it, before the test centre.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Hoath WayA278
3. 3Hempstead Road

Route 5 from Gillingham test centre is the hardest, with a stretch of the M2 between Hoath Way and the big roundabout with lights at Walderslade. It winds down through Walderslade and the 20 mph streets off Magpie Hall Road, with parked cars on both sides and a school, then climbs Chatham Hill and follows the A2 through Gillingham before the roundabouts of Will Adams Way, Grosvenor Road and Ambley Road. Seventeen roundabouts, several yellow boxes and the slip road onto the motorway make it the busiest route.

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
   Courteney Road

   Left at the give way lines after looking right, left and right again, right at the mini roundabout and left at the roundabout onto Hoath Way, where the limit is 50 mph, not 70.

2. 1:56
   Hoath Way

   A queue for the roundabout, where we keep a gap to the car ahead and look right early, then the right lane and a right turn at the roundabout for the M2.

3. 4:51
   Joining the M2Tricky spot 05

   A slip road onto the M2. Use it to build up speed, check your right mirror and blind spot and merge into a safe gap without stopping.

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4. 5:09
   M2

   The limit is 70 mph and we keep to the left lane with a two second gap, overtake a slower car and move back when we see the lorry in the interior mirror. We leave at the next exit, slow down on the slip road, follow the markings for Walderslade and stop at each red light on the roundabout, then a long queue, a yellow box and the right lane for the next roundabout.

5. 12:33
   Walderslade Woods

   Left at the roundabout from the left lane, then Fostington Way and Robin Hood Lane, where the limit drops from 40 to 30 mph at the red patch, with a yellow box and a KEEP CLEAR before the mini roundabout onto Walderslade Road.

6. 14:43
   Walderslade Road

   A cyclist we pass with at least 1.5 metres of room, a truck pulling out on the left, a mini roundabout straight on and then the right turn lane for Magpie Hall Road.

7. 18:51
   Magpie Hall Road

   We turn right onto Magpie Hall Road and get ready for the mini roundabout by the petrol station.

8. 19:46
   Kitchener Avenue

   Left at the mini roundabout by the petrol station into a 20 mph zone with parked cars on both sides, then right at the small roundabout into White Road, keeping the island on our right.

9. 21:32
   Haig Avenue

   A car waits at the junction ahead, so we stop behind it and look both ways ourselves before turning left, then parked cars on both sides where we pull into a gap for oncoming traffic.

10. 22:21
    Magpie Hall Road parked carsTricky spot 06

    A give way onto a steep hill, then Magpie Hall Road with cars parked on both sides. Use a lower gear to hold your speed and wait in a gap when traffic comes towards you.

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11. 23:44
    Newnham Street and Luton Road

    Past a zebra crossing and a school with SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR markings we turn right into Newnham Street, uphill to a give way with a limited view, then Bank Street and Luton Road and left at the lights under the railway bridge.

12. 24:44
    Chatham Hill

    Right at the roundabout at Luton Arches from the right lane, never waiting on the KEEP CLEAR, then AHEAD ONLY in our lane up Chatham Hill at a steady 30 mph, a bus lane, two lanes merging and a yellow box.

13. 26:53
    Rainham Road

    Two yellow box junctions at the lights in a row. We only enter when our exit is clear.

14. 27:55
    Watling Street

    Parked cars we move out around after a mirror and blind spot check, a busy stretch with shops and lane arrows at the lights, where the middle lane goes ahead.

15. 29:12
    Sovereign Boulevard

    The limit rises to 40 mph, then right at the roundabout following the lane arrows onto Will Adams Way, back to 30 mph, the right lane for straight on and left at the next roundabout onto Grosvenor Road.

16. 31:05
    Grosvenor Road

    Parked cars on both sides, then right at the roundabout onto Bailey Drive, where we make our own check to the right even though the car ahead goes.

17. 33:35
    Ambley Road parked carsTricky spot 01

    A small roundabout where parked cars block the view, then Ambley Road with cars along both kerbs. Creep forward to look right and be ready to stop for oncoming traffic.

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18. 33:54
    Ambley Road

    Left at the roundabout from the left lane, slowing for an ambulance and police at the next one and watching for people on foot, then left at the mini roundabout into Courteney Road, where the limit drops to 30 mph.

19. 35:30
    Courteney Road

    Back along Courteney Road to the right turn into the test centre.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Hoath WayA278
3. 3M2

Route 6 from Gillingham test centre is the easiest, a loop through Wigmore, Rainham and Lower Rainham. It takes in Hoath Lane and Maidstone Road, the red route on Rainham High Street, the level crossing and 20 mph zone on Station Road and the narrow bridge with lights on Lower Rainham Road, then comes back on the 50 mph Yokosuka Way and Ito Way. Nine roundabouts, a KEEP CLEAR queue and parked cars are the main things to watch.

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
   Courteney Road

   We wait behind the car ahead at the give way lines and turn left when it is clear, then straight ahead at the roundabout onto Hoath Lane.

2. 1:24
   Hoath Lane

   40 mph and quickly back to 30, a van stopped on our side, a sharp bend to the right and parked cars along Woodside and Durham Road, then left at the mini roundabout onto Maidstone Road.

3. 3:59
   Maidstone Road

   Parked cars and a lorry on our side, roadworks that narrow the road with KEEP CLEAR markings, then right at the lights onto Rainham High Street when it turns green.

4. 6:51
   High Street, Rainham

   A busy high street with red lines, shops and pedestrians. We go round the mini roundabout, not over it, and turn left at the lights into Station Road.

5. 7:31
   Station Road

   Parked cars on both sides and a level crossing where we never stop on the tracks, then a 20 mph zone with more parked cars and a mini roundabout where we turn left onto Lower Rainham Road.

6. 10:36
   Lower Rainham Road

   Back to 30 mph, a narrow bridge with traffic lights, a yellow box and a road that narrows where we have priority, then a KEEP CLEAR and a queue behind a truck. The limit rises to 40 mph and drops to 30 before we take the left lane for the roundabout onto Yokosuka Way.

7. 18:24
   Yokosuka Way

   A dual carriageway with a 50 mph limit, not 70, a KEEP CLEAR across both lanes and a roundabout where we go straight on onto Ito Way.

8. 19:51
   Ito Way

   We overtake a lorry and move back to the left lane, then wait behind the car ahead at the roundabout and turn left onto Sovereign Boulevard when there is a safe gap from the right.

9. 21:15
   Sovereign Boulevard

   40 mph with a bus lane on our left and three lanes in the queue, where we stay in the middle lane, stop before the KEEP CLEAR and wait at the lights on the roundabout, still looking right on green.

10. 23:30
    Courteney Road

    Right at the roundabout from the right lane, then a slow left turn into the test centre, keeping left for a van turning out of the junction.

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

1. 1Courteney Road
2. 2Hoath Lane
3. 3Woodside