Our Cheltenham instructors offer a range of services including manual and automatic lessons, intensive courses, and flexible scheduling to fit around your commitments. Compare prices, read genuine student reviews, and find an instructor who matches your needs and budget.
Best Driving Instructors in Cheltenham
Compare verified, top-rated instructors with genuine reviews from real students
Mike
Mike is a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and has been teaching since 2004. In that time he has helped hundreds of learners of all …
Bob Harding-Williams
Bob Harding-Williams is a fully qualified Driving Instructor based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He has a great local reputation and is known for g…
Davian
Davian runs DB Driving School in Gloucester and has helped loads of learners pass with great results. He has years of experience teaching around Glou…
Balaj
Balaj is a calm, friendly driving instructor with lots of happy learners and great reviews. His students often pass first time, and some have even pa…
Graham Davey
Graham Davey is a fully qualified government Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) who runs his own driving school in Gloucestershire. He focuses on safe…
Mark
Mark is the lead instructor at Learn Well Driving School, a friendly Gloucestershire driving school serving Cheltenham and the surrounding villages. …
Ros
Ros is a Grade 'A' female driving instructor based in Cheltenham, with over 20 years of experience since qualifying in 2004. She loves her job and fo…
Sharon Westrup
Sharon Westrup is a fully qualified DVSA Approved Driving Instructor with over 15 years' experience in driver education. She holds the green badge an…
Learning to Drive in Cheltenham
Cheltenham feels compact and easy to learn in, with a mix of wide promenades and tighter residential streets. You will practise town centre manoeuvres around the Promenade and negotiate busier routes toward the A40. The town has a steady flow of traffic at peak times and quieter back streets for early lessons. Locals often mention Pittville Circus and Montpellier as areas that test your junction skills.
Nearest Test Centre: Cheltenham
Cheltenham's DVSA test centre sits roughly 0.6 miles from the town centre, so test days rarely involve long drives to the venue. Its pass rate is 51.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). The centre processes around 6010 tests a year, which keeps examiners and test routes familiar with local traffic patterns. Expect test routes that mix central junctions near the Promenade with short runs onto the A40.
Data source: DVSA (2024-2025)
Pass Rate Analysis
Cheltenham test centre has a higher pass rate than the national average, at 51.3% versus 47.3% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Men at this centre pass at 54.8% while women pass at 48% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). Nearby Gloucester records 46.8% and Swindon 47.2% (Data source: DVSA 2024-2025). That local edge suggests test routes here are passing-friendly for prepared candidates, though individual results will vary.
Local Driving Tips
Start lessons on quieter residential streets off Evesham Road or in areas around Pittville Park before moving to the Promenade and High Street. Practise roundabout technique at Pittville Circus and lane discipline when joining the A40. Work on hill starts and observation on narrower streets in Montpellier, where parked cars can narrow lanes. Plan lessons around peak traffic to build confidence at busy junctions and to get used to bus and cycle lanes.
Choosing an Instructor in Cheltenham
Cheltenham currently lists eight instructors, so availability can be limited at peak times and evenings. Expect average hourly rates near £41, but ask about block-booking discounts and whether the car is manual or automatic. Pick an instructor who knows local test routes and junctions around the Promenade and Pittville Circus. Check pass records and ask for references from recent students.
Lesson Costs in Cheltenham
Average lessons in Cheltenham are about £41 per hour. Prices vary with instructor experience, car type, time of day and how many lessons you book in blocks.
Getting Started
Apply for your provisional licence and book the theory test before your practical lessons. Start regular lessons with a local instructor and practise independently in quiet streets when you can. When you're ready, book your practical test at the Cheltenham test centre, about 0.6 miles from the town centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: February 2026