Driving test routes · East Midlands
Northampton Driving Test Routes
Everything you need for your test at Northampton Driving Test Centre — the roads you'll drive, the current pass rate, and the hardest junctions to rehearse first.
Gladstone Road, Northampton, NN5 5JW
Data verified July 2026
Driving tests in Northampton run from Northampton Driving Test Centre (NN5 5JW). Its current DVSA car pass rate is 50.8% for 2024/25 — 0.6 points above the national average of 50.2%. Test routes cover mixed roads around the centre; the examiner picks the route on the day.
- Test centre
- Northampton Driving Test Centre
- Pass rate (2024/25)
- 50.8%
- National average
- 50.2%
- Rank
- 111 of 270
- Difficulty
- Around average
- Key roads covered
- 5
Where is Northampton Driving Test Centre?
The map shows the test centre (red), its approximate driving catchment, and the nearest alternative centres (blue) — tap a pin to compare pass rates.
Northampton test centre pass rate: 50.8%
In 2024/25, Northampton recorded a 50.8% car pass rate — 0.6 points above the national average of 50.2%. That ranks it 111 of the 270 centres we track.
Driving test routes around Northampton
Routes from the Northampton test centre on Gladstone Road mix fast A-road dual carriageway with tight residential estates in Kingsthorpe, Duston and St James. Expect to be assessed on high-speed merging and lane discipline early, then dense town driving with parked cars and cyclists.
Roads examiners commonly use:
- A45 Weedon Road
- A5076 ring road
- Harlestone Road
- St James' Road
- Kingsthorpe Road (A5199)
A typical practice route, step by step
- Gladstone Road exitEmerge onto residential streets to settle nerves before the first major junction.
- Sixfields / Lodge Farm roundaboutLarge multi-lane roundabout by the stadium — lane selection and observation are heavily marked here.
- A45 Weedon Road dual carriagewayHigh-speed section testing merging, lane discipline and safe following distance at 70mph.
- Harlestone Road residentialNarrow, parked-up streets requiring meeting-traffic judgement and hazard anticipation.
- St James' areaBusy junctions and pedestrian activity; common spot for an emergency stop or bay park at return.
Hardest roads & common fault hotspots
Multiple lanes and quick-moving traffic; wrong-lane approaches and late observations are the most common faults.
Signal timing and lane changes under speed trip up learners who hesitate.
Meeting oncoming traffic between parked cars demands decisive give-and-take positioning.
Independent driving / sat-nav
The sat-nav / independent driving section typically loops through the Weedon Road and ring-road corridor, so practise following directions at 40–70mph while changing lanes on roundabouts.
Manoeuvres
Bay parking is frequently done at the test centre itself; expect pull-up-on-the-right and parallel parking in the quieter Duston and Kingsthorpe residential streets.
Test day logistics
Address
Northampton Driving Test Centre
Gladstone Road, Northampton, NN5 5JW
Region & nation
East Midlands, England
Road environment
mixed driving
Book your test
Northampton driving test: frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate at Northampton Driving Test Centre?
The most recent DVSA car practical pass rate at Northampton is 50.8% (2024/25) — 0.6 points above the national average. That places it 111 of 270 among the centres we track.
Is Northampton a hard place to take your driving test?
Based on its 50.8% pass rate versus the 50.2% average across the centres we track, Northampton is rated "Around average". Difficulty depends far more on your preparation on the local roads than on the centre itself.
Which roads are used on the Northampton driving test?
Common roads around Northampton include A45 Weedon Road, A5076 ring road, Harlestone Road, St James' Road. Routes from the Northampton test centre on Gladstone Road mix fast A-road dual carriageway with tight residential estates in Kingsthorpe, Duston and St James. Expect to be assessed on high-speed merging and lane discipline early, then dense town driving with parked cars and cyclists.
What is the hardest part of the Northampton driving test?
Local instructors flag Lodge Farm roundabout (Sixfields): Multiple lanes and quick-moving traffic; wrong-lane approaches and late observations are the most common faults. Rehearsing it before your test makes a real difference.
What manoeuvres are used at Northampton?
Bay parking is frequently done at the test centre itself; expect pull-up-on-the-right and parallel parking in the quieter Duston and Kingsthorpe residential streets.
What is the nearest test centre to Northampton?
The nearest alternative centre is Wellingborough (Wellingborough Driving Test Centre), about 9.2 miles away with a 55.1% pass rate. It is worth comparing if you are hunting for an earlier cancellation.
Are these the official DVSA test routes for Northampton?
DVSA stopped publishing official test routes, and the examiner chooses the route on the day — it can change without notice. Our guides show the roads and hazards learners most commonly encounter around Northampton so you can practise the right environment, but they are not a guaranteed route.
Nearby test centres
Comparing centres? These are the closest alternatives to Northampton — handy when hunting for an earlier cancellation.
