Watch driving test routes in Hornchurch

Route 1 from Hornchurch test centre heads south to Upminster and Corbets Tey, then out onto the A127 Southend Arterial Road and back through Ardleigh Green and Emerson Park. Expect a busy right turn at the lights without a green arrow, a shopping street with parked cars on both sides and a 70 mph join onto the A127. KEEP CLEAR markings, yellow boxes and zebra crossings come up all the way back to Station 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
   Station Lane

   We leave the test centre along Station Lane. A KEEP CLEAR comes up straight away, so we stop before it if the traffic queues.

2. 0:12
   Station Lane to High Street junctionTricky spot 01

   Station Lane meets the busy A124 High Street at a give way, with a KEEP CLEAR just before it. Buses and people at the corners make the right turn tricky, and a zebra follows straight after.

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3. 1:39
   Upminster Road Hacton Lane lightsTricky spot 02

   A right turn at the lights from Upminster Road into Hacton Lane. There is no green arrow, so oncoming traffic goes first and the wait in the junction can be long.

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4. 2:16
   Hacton Lane

   Straight on at a mini roundabout, then left into Little Gaynes Lane with a zebra and parked cars on both sides. We turn left at the roundabout onto Corbets Tey Road.

5. 5:52
   Corbets Tey Road

   A KEEP CLEAR on Corbets Tey Road, where we stop before it if the queue stops.

6. 6:30
   Corbets Tey Road shopsTricky spot 06

   A busy shopping street with parked cars on both sides, people on the pavement and cars coming the other way. The speed has to come right down here.

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7. 8:03
   Saint Mary's Lane

   Right at the lights onto Saint Mary's Lane, a zebra crossing, then sharp left at the roundabout onto Front Lane.

8. 9:52
   Front Lane

   A long residential road with parked cars on our side, a car pulling in ahead and a bus turning right. We hold back and pass only with room.

9. 12:52
   Joining the A127 from Front LaneTricky spot 11

   Front Lane ends at a give way onto the A127 Southend Arterial Road, a 70 mph dual carriageway. Our lane carries on, so we must build up speed while faster traffic passes on the right.

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10. 14:00
    A127 Southend Arterial Road

    Traffic joins from the left and we overtake a slower car with the full routine. The limit drops to 50 mph and then 40 mph at the roadworks.

11. 17:00
    Ardleigh Green Road

    Left at the lights onto Ardleigh Green Road, where the limit drops to 30 mph. We wait behind a car that also turns right into Squirrels Heath Lane.

12. 19:35
    Squirrels Heath Lane

    Two zebra crossings, then a give way where we turn left onto Brentwood Road. Another zebra comes just before the roundabout, where we take Slewins Lane.

13. 21:51
    Slewins Lane

    To the mini roundabout, where we keep to the right lane and turn right onto Butts Green Road, round the centre.

14. 23:36
    Butts Green Road

    A KEEP CLEAR, zebra crossings and a yellow box come close together. We enter the yellow box only when our exit is clear.

15. 24:42
    North Street

    A KEEP CLEAR at a side road, then left at the lights onto the High Street, checking for cyclists.

16. 26:40
    High Street

    Along the High Street to the zebra at the corner, where we turn right onto Station Lane.

17. 27:25
    Station Lane

    Another zebra crossing on Station Lane, then we are back at the test centre.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2High StreetA124
3. 3Upminster Road
4. 4Hacton Lane
5. 5Little Gaynes Lane
6. 6Corbets Tey Road
7. 7Saint Mary's Lane
8. 8Front Lane
9. 9Southend Arterial RoadA127
10. 10Ardleigh Green Road
11. 11Squirrels Heath Lane
12. 12Brentwood Road
13. 13Slewins Lane
14. 14Butts Green Road
15. 15North Street
16. 16High StreetA124
17. 17Station Lane

Route 2 from Hornchurch test centre is the longest, a loop west through Romford and Chadwell Heath and back along the A12 and Gidea Park. It has the Mercury Gardens ring road, a two lane roundabout with KEEP CLEAR painted on it, right turns at busy lights without a green arrow and an overtake on the 50 mph A12. Zebra crossings come one after another on Butts Green Road at the end.

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
   Station Lane

   Two KEEP CLEAR markings and a zebra on Station Lane, with buses at the stop on our left.

2. 0:55
   High Street

   Through the 20 mph zone, then a yellow box and a zebra with an island. We turn right and left through side streets with parked cars, waiting in a gap for an oncoming van, and turn left onto Brentwood Road.

3. 7:01
   Brentwood Road

   Two zebra crossings on Brentwood Road before the mini roundabout.

4. 7:50
   Albert Road mini roundabout zebraTricky spot 08

   A right turn at a mini roundabout off Brentwood Road onto Albert Road, with a zebra crossing straight after it.

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5. 12:37
   Victoria Road

   A busy road: we wait for a safe gap from the right and turn left onto Victoria Road without rushing.

6. 13:51
   Mercury Gardens

   Onto the Mercury Gardens ring road: straight on at the first roundabout, then left onto Saint Edwards Way.

7. 15:02
   Saint Edwards Way

   Left at the roundabout to stay on Saint Edwards Way, then mirrors, blind spot and signal to move into the right lane for the next roundabout.

8. 16:04
   Saint Edwards Way roundabout KEEP CLEARTricky spot 10

   A two lane roundabout on Saint Edwards Way with KEEP CLEAR painted on the roundabout itself. We turn right onto London Road, so we need the right lane.

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9. 16:44
   London Road

   A long stretch of London Road with zebra crossings and the right lane for the lights at Chadwell Heath.

10. 18:53
    London Road zebra and mini roundaboutTricky spot 14

    A zebra crossing right before a mini roundabout on London Road. People come first, then traffic from the right.

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11. 23:05
    High Road Whalebone Lane lightsTricky spot 19

    A busy crossroads at the lights on High Road with a cycle box and a long red. We turn right onto Whalebone Lane North and there is no green arrow.

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12. 23:33
    Whalebone Lane North

    A zebra with an island and a KEEP CLEAR, then the right turn lane for the A12.

13. 25:22
    Whalebone Lane North A12 junctionTricky spot 22

    A wide junction on Whalebone Lane North where we turn right onto the A12 Eastern Avenue. There is no green arrow, so oncoming traffic goes first.

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14. 25:54
    Eastern Avenue

    Onto the A12 Eastern Avenue, a 50 mph dual carriageway.

15. 26:13
    A12 Eastern Avenue overtakeTricky spot 18

    A slower van in our lane on the A12 Eastern Avenue, a 50 mph dual carriageway. Overtaking is fine here, but only with the full routine.

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16. 28:53
    A12 lights

    Three lanes at the lights: the middle lane to go straight on, then the right turn lane for Pettits Lane.

17. 30:30
    Pettits Lane

    The limit drops to 30 mph. In the long queue we stop short of the side roads, then give way and turn left onto Main Road.

18. 36:00
    Main Road

    A zebra, a KEEP CLEAR and a yellow box, then the right turn lane for Balgores Lane, where oncoming traffic still goes first on green.

19. 41:41
    Balgores Lane

    A short 20 mph zone near Gidea Park, then back to 30 mph.

20. 43:06
    Balgores Lane zebra roundabout zebraTricky spot 05

    On Balgores Lane near Gidea Park a zebra crossing, a roundabout and another zebra come within about twelve seconds.

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21. 44:42
    Butts Green Road

    Right at the mini roundabout onto Butts Green Road, with zebra crossings one after another and a yellow box. People cross here often, so we are ready to stop.

22. 46:53
    Station Lane

    Right into Station Lane with a zebra at the corner and another just after, back to the test centre.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2High StreetA124
3. 3Brentwood Road

Route 3 from Hornchurch test centre goes west through Elm Park and Rush Green to Chadwell Heath, then back via Romford, Gallows Corner and the A127. Narrow 20 mph streets with parked cars, KEEP CLEAR markings and yellow boxes, a run of roundabouts on Saint Edwards Way and roadworks with temporary lights around Gallows Corner make it a busy drive.

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
   Station Lane

   A zebra crossing, then right into Suttons Avenue, where a car on our side means we give way to oncoming traffic. Left onto Abbs Cross Lane and right into Warren Drive.

2. 1:57
   Warren Drive

   A 20 mph street with speed humps and parked cars on both sides.

3. 2:39
   Warren Drive parked carsTricky spot 04

   A 20 mph street with cars parked on both sides and a car coming towards us. There is room for only one car at a time.

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4. 4:59
   Upper Rainham Road

   Right onto Elm Park Avenue and onto Upper Rainham Road, where the limit goes from 40 to 30 mph. A KEEP CLEAR, then left at the lights at Roneo Corner.

5. 7:12
   Rush Green Road

   A cycle box at the lights, a KEEP CLEAR in the queue, a zebra and buses pulling away from the stops.

6. 12:51
   Wood Lane

   The right lane at the roundabout to follow Wood Lane, then the right turn arrows at the lights and a KEEP CLEAR.

7. 16:14
   Whalebone Lane

   A zebra crossing and two lanes merging into one. We take the right lane for the right turn onto High Road, where oncoming traffic goes first on green.

8. 20:09
   High Road

   A cyclist on our side, a zebra and a mini roundabout with a zebra just after it.

9. 24:28
   Saint Edwards Way

   Three roundabouts on Saint Edwards Way: straight on, right, and then the left lane for Main Road.

10. 26:36
    Main Road

    A KEEP CLEAR on the roundabout, zebra crossings, a KEEP CLEAR by a school and yellow boxes, with roadworks before Gallows Corner.

11. 32:17
    Gallows Corner

    The Gallows Corner roundabout has roadworks: we follow the cones, leave for the A12 Colchester Road and wait at the temporary lights. Then right onto Whitelands Way and over the mini roundabouts.

12. 35:30
    Southend Arterial Road

    A give way onto the A127, then the right lane and a long queue for the right turn at the lights. A KEEP CLEAR after the lights.

13. 41:17
    Ardleigh Green Road

    The green filter arrow for the right turn, then 30 mph, a pedestrian crossing, a KEEP CLEAR and a mini roundabout.

14. 44:23
    Butts Green Road

    Straight on at the mini roundabout onto Butts Green Road, with zebra crossings and a yellow box.

15. 46:37
    High Street

    Left at the lights onto the High Street, then right into Station Lane with zebras at the corner and just after.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2Suttons Avenue
3. 3Abbs Cross Lane

Route 4 from Hornchurch test centre runs south through Elm Park to Dagenham, joins the A13 and comes back through Rainham and South Hornchurch. Lane choice is the theme here: two lanes both marked A1306 on Ballards Road, three lanes on New Road and the left lane for the A13. Average speed cameras, roadworks with temporary lights and narrow streets with parked cars complete the drive.

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
   Station Lane

   A zebra crossing, then right onto Suttons Avenue with oncoming traffic first, and left onto Abbs Cross Lane.

2. 2:16
   Elm Park Avenue

   A parked van and a car coming, then a busy shopping street. A zebra, a roundabout and another zebra close together, then left at the lights onto Upper Rainham Road.

3. 5:56
   Upper Rainham Road

   The limit goes from 40 to 30 mph, and we give way once people step onto the zebra.

4. 8:51
   Rainham Road roundabout onto Dagenham RoadTricky spot 12

   A roundabout on Rainham Road where we turn right onto Dagenham Road. After the exit the road is wide and the speed creeps up easily.

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5. 9:23
   Dagenham Road

   Still 30 mph on this wide road. We do not stop on the KEEP CLEAR box and bear left onto the slip road for Ballards Road.

6. 10:34
   Ballards Road

   Our lane merges with traffic from the roundabout, so we check the right mirror and blind spot and merge in turn.

7. 12:59
   Ballards Road lights right turnTricky spot 20

   On Ballards Road two lanes appear ahead and both are marked A1306. We need the right lane for a right turn at the lights.

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8. 13:45
   New Road

   Three lanes on New Road: the middle lane to go straight on and the cycle box at the lights, then two lanes become one.

9. 15:18
   Ripple Road

   The big roundabout under the A13: the left lane for Rainham, lights on the roundabout and the first exit.

10. 17:24
    Choats Manor Way A13 slip roadTricky spot 23

    On Choats Manor Way the limit rises from 30 to 50 mph with average speed cameras, then we join the A13, a fast dual carriageway.

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11. 18:19
    A13

    70 mph on the A13. Our exit comes soon, so we stay in the left lane, leave on the slip road and slow to 30 mph at the end.

12. 19:46
    Marsh Way

    30 mph over the bridge, the right lane at the lights for New Road, then left into Betterton Road, a 20 mph zone.

13. 21:43
    Betterton Road

    Parked cars on both sides at 20 mph.

14. 24:11
    Stanley Road North give wayTricky spot 13

    A right turn from Stanley Road North onto the busy A125 Rainham Road, with traffic from both sides and a long wait for a safe gap.

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15. 24:50
    Rainham Road

    30 mph, a zebra, then the left lane with the left arrow for South End Road.

16. 25:58
    South End Road

    Roadworks with single file traffic and temporary lights, zebra crossings and a fire engine stopped on our side. Straight on at the mini roundabout.

17. 32:14
    Lancaster Drive parked carsTricky spot 03

    A narrow street with cars parked on both sides and only one gap for traffic. Cars come towards us, so we have to slow right down.

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18. 34:10
    Suttons Lane

    Left onto Suttons Lane, where a bus comes towards us at the narrow part, then back past the busy shops on Station Lane.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2Suttons Avenue
3. 3Abbs Cross Lane

Route 5 from Hornchurch test centre goes south to Rainham, joins the A13 from Ferry Lane and comes back through Dagenham and Rush Green. It packs in roundabouts of every kind: two under the A13 flyover, two with traffic lights on Marsh Way and a row of mini roundabouts on Dagenham Road. Yellow boxes, KEEP CLEAR markings and a bus lane need attention too.

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
   Station Lane

   A pedestrian crossing with people waiting, right into Suttons Avenue and left onto Abbs Cross Lane.

2. 2:01
   Abbs Cross Lane

   Right at the mini roundabout onto Wood Lane with a zebra just after, another zebra, then a give way where we turn left onto Rainham Road.

3. 5:22
   Rainham Road

   A zebra, left at the roundabout to stay on Rainham Road, a mini roundabout and the middle lane of three at the lights. Roadworks before the roundabout to Bridge Road.

4. 11:06
   Bridge Road

   Straight on at the roundabout onto Bridge Road, towards the Tesco roundabout.

5. 11:23
   Lamson Road roundabout by TescoTricky spot 15

   A busy roundabout by the Tesco where traffic joins from several roads. We take Lamson Road.

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6. 13:09
   Ferry Lane roundabouts under the A13Tricky spot 16

   Two roundabouts close together under the A13 flyover on Ferry Lane, with a KEEP CLEAR on the approach. We go straight on at the first and right at the second for the A13 Barking.

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7. 13:34
   Ferry Lane slip road onto A13Tricky spot 17

   A long slip road from Ferry Lane onto the A13, a busy dual carriageway. The limit on the slip road is 50 mph.

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8. 14:18
   A13

   Our exit for Hornchurch is next: left mirror, left shoulder, signal left, and slow down to 30 mph in good time.

9. 14:43
   Marsh Way roundabouts with lightsTricky spot 21

   Two roundabouts with traffic lights in a row on Marsh Way. We need the right lane for the first one, with a KEEP CLEAR on the entry, and go straight on at the second.

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10. 15:57
    New Road

    Left onto New Road, into the lane next to the bus lane, then a yellow box and left at the roundabout onto Rainham Road South.

11. 20:09
    Rainham Road South

    A yellow box, then the right lane at the lights for Dagenham Road and a KEEP CLEAR.

12. 23:39
    Dagenham Road

    A sharp left bend, then mini roundabouts one after another, a yellow box and a KEEP CLEAR in the queue.

13. 28:57
    Rush Green Road

    A cyclist on our side and a KEEP CLEAR across the road.

14. 29:54
    Hornchurch Road

    Hornchurch Road back towards the town centre, with a zebra, a bus at the stop and a yellow box after the lights.

15. 31:32
    Hornchurch Road lanes mergingTricky spot 07

    Straight after the lights on Hornchurch Road two lanes become one, and a car on our right merges in front.

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16. 34:27
    High Street

    The 20 mph zone on the busy High Street, then right into Station Lane with zebras at the corner and just after.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2Suttons Avenue
3. 3Abbs Cross Lane

Route 6 from Hornchurch test centre goes through Romford town centre and out to Harold Wood and the lanes towards Upminster. It has the Mercury Gardens ring road, double right turn lanes with a cycle box, the Gallows Corner roundabout with roadworks and a school zebra with a roundabout straight after. Further out the roads open up to 40 mph before we come back through Upminster.

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
   Station Lane

   A KEEP CLEAR, then a zebra as the road bends left onto the High Street.

2. 0:22
   High Street

   Through the 20 mph zone and back to 30 mph.

3. 1:23
   Hornchurch Road

   The right lane to go straight on, a yellow box after the lights, two zebras and a KEEP CLEAR.

4. 5:24
   Roneo Corner

   Lanes split at the lights at Roneo Corner. Right onto Rom Valley Way, where two lanes turn right and the cycle box stays clear, then right onto South Street, a zebra and a mini roundabout.

5. 9:20
   Thurloe Gardens

   Right at the lights onto Thurloe Gardens, towards the ring road.

6. 10:55
   Mercury Gardens

   Straight on at the first roundabout on the ring road, in the left lane.

7. 11:19
   Mercury Gardens ring road roundaboutTricky spot 09

   A roundabout on the busy Mercury Gardens ring road in Romford. We need to read the signs and lanes early to take the right lane and our exit onto Main Road.

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8. 11:52
   Junction Road

   Right into Junction Road, a zebra and parked cars on both sides, then a give way where we turn left onto Balgores Lane.

9. 15:07
   Balgores Lane

   Two KEEP CLEAR markings in a slow queue: we wait before them, not on them.

10. 18:56
    Main Road

    A zebra and a yellow box before Gallows Corner.

11. 20:23
    Gallows Corner

    The big roundabout under the flyover has roadworks. We follow the cones and signs, stay in our lane and leave for the A12 Colchester Road.

12. 20:47
    Colchester Road

    30 mph until the 50 mph sign. Then the right turn lane and the green filter arrow for Gubbins Lane.

13. 22:10
    Gubbins Lane

    30 mph, side roads and a waiting bus, a school zebra with cyclists and a roundabout straight after, where we turn left.

14. 25:38
    Hall Lane

    40 mph on Hall Lane, a give way where we turn left, a lane merge, then 30 mph, a roundabout and a zebra.

15. 30:23
    Station Road

    A bus at the stop, then the lane with the right arrow for Saint Mary's Lane.

16. 31:11
    Saint Mary's Lane

    We pass a stopped bus with mirror, shoulder and signal, and plenty of room.

17. 32:25
    Upminster Road

    Back towards Hornchurch, then left onto Station Lane with a zebra in the turn lane.

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

1. 1Station Lane
2. 2High StreetA124
3. 3Hornchurch Road