Driving Lessons in Preston

Learn to drive in Preston

Learning to drive in Preston gives you the opportunity to navigate the busy streets of the city centre as well as driving along the scenic routes near the River Ribble.

Preston is in the heart of Lancashire and home to iconic landmarks such as Avenham Park and Preston Docks, providing you with many different driving settings. However, you may face challenges driving through Fishergate or Guildhall Street, which you will eventually get comfortable with as you gain more confidence dealing with busy roads and pedestrian crossings. Surrounding the city centre are smaller residential roads in areas like Fulwood which give you the opportunity to practice your parallel parking and tight turns.

Top Tips For Driving in Preston

1. Get comfortable with Fishergate’s city centre traffic

One of the busiest streets in Preston is Fishergate; this street is typically overwhelming for new drivers as it is crowded with shops, buses, cyclists and pedestrians – but this also makes it an ideal place to practice driving. If you can master this street, you can do anything! When facing the busyness of the street, take it slow and focus on your lane positioning, especially at the Fishergate Hill junction. Make sure you’re always checking your mirrors when stopping and starting at junctions and watch out for pedestrian crossings and traffic lights.

2. Master the M6 junctions for motorway driving

Once you’ve mastered the city centre, it’s time to move onto higher-speed motorway journeys. One thing to be aware of is the junctions around Junction 31 (the exit for Preston South) which can be quite tricky to adapt to because of the volume of traffic and slip roads. We would recommend starting this journey at a quieter time to build your confidence. Always remember, when joining the motorway, you should be accelerating to match the flow of traffic.

3. Practice driving on narrow roads and parking in Fulwood

Moving onto residential areas like Fulwood, you’ll encounter parked cars on narrower roads (such as Blackpool Road or Victoria Road), meaning spaces are tight! This can be a real challenge but don’t stress, practice your parallel parking and reversing around corners in this area to get to grips with manoeuvres. Make sure you are always using your mirrors, taking it slow and being aware of your surroundings. In these quieter areas, you’ll often practice giving way to pedestrians and cyclists.

We asked one of our Preston Driving Instructors the following…

What makes learning to drive in Preston unique?

Preston is unique as it gives you the perfect mix of busy city roads and quieter residential streets. You will gain experience driving through bustling spots like Fishergate and Guildhall Street – getting you used to the daily traffic. You can also develop your manoeuvring skills in residential areas like Fulwood or Cottam where the roads are narrower and quieter. And with the M6 being right on the doorstep, you get the chance to prepare for the high-speed traffic flow of motorways.

How does driving in Preston benefit learners?

Learning in Preston provides a variety of driving scenarios to help you become an experienced driver. You will be faced with a busy city, so learning to navigate areas like Preston City Centre or around Deepdale Stadium will challenge you due to the heavy traffic and busy junctions. On the other hand, you will be able to enjoy the surrounding countryside that offers some quieter routes where you can perfect your observation skills. Then on your way out of the city, the A59 is a great place for you to build your confidence.

What’s the most challenging thing about learning to drive in Preston?

A challenging part of driving in Preston would be being able to navigate the busy, narrow streets of the city centre and surrounding key junctions, like Fishergate Hill. These areas are packed with a lot of pedestrians, cyclists and buses, meaning you have to be more mindful of your car. Additionally, you will have to deal with tricky parking spaces in areas like Preston Markets or Avenham Park.