Driving lessons in Hounslow
Most popular areas include:
Brentford, Chiswick, Cranford, East Bedfont, Feltham, Hanworth, Hatton, Heston, Lampton and Woodlands.
Enter your postcode above to check lesson pricing in your local area of Hounslow.
View other guides: Driving Lessons in London, Driving Lessons in Birmingham, Driving Lessons in Manchester.
Learning to drive in Hounslow
Parkland makes up a quarter of Hounslow: there’s Chiswick House and Gardens, Gunnersbury Park, and Syon Park to name just a few. But don’t worry, there are also plenty of roads great for learner drivers! In fact, Hounslow’s got a bit of everything, making it perfect for those looking to get behind the wheel.
When you start out your instructor will keep you to the quieter residential roads to help build your confidence and hone the basics. You’ll want to avoid the busy roads to the west of Hounslow around London Heathrow Airport and steer clear of Twickenham Stadium to the east. Self-contained roads like Carrington Square or where Argyle Avenue meets Whitton Waye are good for mastering the early challenges like clutch control, moving off and stopping, steering, and signalling.
When you’re feeling more advanced, the A4 provides excellent dual carriageway experience. If you’re looking for the next step up, there’s always the M4 nearby as well. Just remember, if you want to practise on the motorway you’ll need to be with your instructor in a dual control car and have their approval. The M4 will come in handy once you’ve passed your test, as it can take you further into the heart of London, or out west towards Reading, Oxford, Bristol and beyond!
Before you take on the practical examination, you’ll want to make sure you’ve been on the A315 and tackled Hounslow town centre. A bustling commercial hub, the roads through the town centre are just as lively, so it’s a good test of your overall driving ability. Keep an eye out for cyclists and pedestrians, and remember to stay patient if you end up in traffic (it can be chockablock sometimes!). If you can navigate Hounslow town centre, you’ll be well on your way to passing your test!
Taking your test in Hounslow
The main test centre in Hounslow is the Isleworth Test Centre, although there are others nearby in Hayes and Ashford. Your instructor will get you familiar with the roads around your chosen centre, as the DVSA no longer publish test routes.
If you go with the Isleworth Test Centre, your test will start on quiet roads. Located on a trading estate, the Isleworth Test Centre is surrounded by residential streets, so you won’t have to worry about anything too challenging like big roundabouts or dual carriageways early on.
Since the test is only 40 minutes long, it’s likely you’ll stick to residential streets if the traffic is busy, meaning you’ll avoid major roads like the Great West Road and the A316 which are both dual carriageways. Treat the test like another driving lesson, stay focussed and relaxed, and you’ll breeze through it!
Driving test centre locations in Hounslow
There are three test centres in and around Hounslow:
- Isleworth (Fleming Way): The Wireless Factory, Fleming Way, Isleworth, Greater London, TW7 6DB
- Hayes (London): Fourways House, Rigby Lane, Swallowfield Way, Hayes, Greater London, UB3 1ET
- Ashford (London Middlesex): 18/19 Fir Tree Place, Church Road, Ashford, Greater London, TW15 2PJ
Manual vs automatic
Choosing between manual and automatic driving lessons is something you should take your time over. A manual licence lets you drive both manual and automatic cars, whereas an automatic licence restricts you to automatics. However, there’s less to learn in an automatic so you may find yourself passing faster.
Think about what time you’ll be driving. If you expect to hit a lot of rush-hour traffic around Hounslow an automatic could suit you better, as you won’t have to constantly switch gears. If you’re planning lots of longer journeys away from Hounslow then you might prefer a manual for its added sense of control. In the end, the decision is down to you!