Passing at Lee-on-the-Solent: The Routes, Roads & Tips Your Instructor Won’t Tell You (2026)
Ask around Gosport and Fareham and you will hear the same thing: if you can get a test at Lee-on-the-Solent, take it. The centre sits on the old Daedalus site near the seafront, it has one of the better pass rates on the south coast at around 64%, and the routes are a genuine pleasure compared with fighting through Portsmouth.
None of which means it is a walkover. Lee-on-the-Solent routes take in the Stubbington bypass, the Peel Common roundabout and the long, fast link roads that connect Gosport to Fareham — roads where a moment of poor observation or a lazy mirror check ends the test. Here is what your instructor knows about this centre, and what most learners find out the hard way.
About Lee-on-the-Solent Test Centre
The centre is on the Daedalus estate off Broom Way, on the western edge of Lee-on-the-Solent. It is an open, airy site — the old airfield perimeter gives you plenty of space to settle into the car before you pull out onto real roads. Confirm the exact address on your DVSA booking email, and give yourself extra time if you are coming from Fareham, because Newgate Lane can be slow in the morning.
| Area covered | Lee-on-the-Solent, Stubbington, Hill Head, Gosport, Bridgemary, Fareham fringe |
| Recent first-time pass rate | Around 64% — one of the higher rates in Hampshire |
| Main roads used | B3385 Marine Parade, Gosport Road, Stubbington bypass, Newgate Lane, A32 |
| Road mix | Seafront 30mph, village high street, 40–50mph link roads, large roundabouts |
| Best time to book | Mid-morning — after the Fareham commute, before the school run |
The Routes: Roads Your Instructor Will Insist You Drive
The seafront and Marine Parade
Many tests start with a loop along or near the seafront. It looks easy. It is not, particularly. You get parked cars on one side, pedestrians stepping out between them, cyclists, and in summer a steady stream of people looking for a space rather than looking at you. Slow, wide observation and a sensible gap to parked vehicles is what the examiner wants to see.
Stubbington and the bypass
The Stubbington bypass changed this test area considerably. It gives examiners a fast, flowing road with proper junctions to work with, and it is now a regular feature. Expect to join it, hold a steady speed, and leave it at a roundabout — all with correct mirror work and lane selection.
Newgate Lane and the Peel Common roundabout
Newgate Lane is the main artery between Gosport and Fareham and it is the section that decides plenty of tests. The Peel Common roundabout where it meets the B3385 and Gosport Road is large, multi-lane and busy. Get in the wrong lane on approach and you will either commit a fault or find yourself making a much bigger mistake trying to correct it.
Bridgemary and Rowner
Routes that head into Gosport proper bring in the residential estates around Rowner Road and Bridgemary — tighter streets, more junctions, more parked cars, and the traffic-calming that goes with 20mph zones.
Hill Head and the lanes
North-west of the centre the roads narrow towards Hill Head and Titchfield. Bends, hedges, limited forward visibility and the occasional tractor. This is where planning ahead and reading the road get marked.
Tricky Spots and Common Challenges
- Peel Common roundabout. The biggest single fault-generator on this test. Know which lane you need before you are on the approach, and do not change your mind on the roundabout.
- Joining the Stubbington bypass. Learners routinely join too slowly. Match the speed of the traffic you are joining.
- Newgate Lane speed changes. The limit is not constant along its length. Read the signs rather than following the car in front.
- Seafront parking chaos. On a sunny weekend, Marine Parade is a rolling hazard-perception clip. Book a weekday if you can.
- The Daedalus estate roads. Wide, quiet and deceptively easy — which is exactly why people relax and forget an observation on the way back in.
- Narrow lanes towards Titchfield. Meeting traffic on a bend with no passing place is a real possibility. Slow early.
- Cyclists everywhere. The whole peninsula is popular with cycling clubs. Give proper clearance — at least a car’s width — and wait if you cannot.
Practise Real Test Routes on Your Phone
The Exam Routes App gives you access to real driving test routes with turn-by-turn navigation. Practise at your own pace and build confidence before test day.
Pass Rates and Statistics
Recent DVSA data puts Lee-on-the-Solent’s first-time pass rate at roughly 64%, well above the national average of about 48% and one of the strongest figures anywhere in Hampshire. Neighbouring Portsmouth sits closer to 49%, and Southampton (Maybush) lower still.
Why the difference? Partly the roads: fewer complex urban junctions, less congestion, more space to make and recover from small errors. Partly the candidates: the centre serves an area where many learners get plenty of private practice. The examiners mark to the same national standard — the environment is simply more forgiving of a slightly slow decision.
Do not let that lull you. Serious faults at Lee-on-the-Solent cluster around junction observation, roundabout lane discipline and speed on the faster link roads.
Top Tips for Passing at Lee-on-the-Solent
- Own the Peel Common roundabout. Drive it from every approach until the lane choice is instinctive.
- Practise 50mph roads. Plenty of learners are comfortable at 30 and panic at 50. Newgate Lane and the bypass need calm, confident speed.
- Do a lesson on the seafront in the sunshine. Practising it on a wet Tuesday tells you nothing about a busy Saturday.
- Sharpen your bay parking. The centre has bays and forward or reverse bay parking is a common ask here.
- Check your mirrors before every speed change. On roads that flow this well it is easy to slow for a hazard without a mirror. That is a fault.
- Plan your arrival. Newgate Lane traffic can be heavy — leave a buffer so you are not arriving flustered.
- Ask for a mock on the real routes. A full-length rehearsal on the actual roads is worth more than three hours of manoeuvre drilling.
How the Exam Routes App Can Help
Lee-on-the-Solent has a manageable number of route corridors, which means practising them properly is realistic — if you know which ones they are. The Exam Routes App maps the real test routes used from this centre and guides you round them with turn-by-turn navigation, so you can practise with an instructor or a supervising driver on the exact roads the examiner will use.
Turning up already familiar with the bypass junctions and Peel Common is the difference between thinking about where you are going and thinking about how you are driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lee-on-the-Solent a good test centre to book?
It has one of the higher pass rates in Hampshire at around 64%, and the routes are less congested than Portsmouth or Southampton. Waiting times can be longer as a result.
Does the test go on the Stubbington bypass?
Frequently. Routes commonly include the bypass and Newgate Lane, so be comfortable joining, holding and leaving faster roads.
Where is Lee-on-the-Solent driving test centre?
It is on the Daedalus site near Broom Way on the western side of Lee-on-the-Solent. Always check the exact address and postcode on your DVSA booking confirmation.
Which manoeuvre is most likely at Lee-on-the-Solent?
All four are possible. Bay parking comes up regularly because of the facilities at the centre, and pulling up on the right suits the quieter residential roads nearby.
Can I take my test in an automatic here?
Yes. Automatic tests are available at Lee-on-the-Solent as at any DVSA centre, and a pass gives you an automatic-only licence.
Get the Edge on Test Day
Walk into your test knowing the roads. The Exam Routes App maps out the routes around your local test centre so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.
