Driving lessons in Askern

Askern at a glance

Askern is a small town and civil parish in the DN6 postcode district, on the A19 between Doncaster and Selby. It began life as a spa. The first bathing house by the lake opened in 1786, and visitors kept coming after the railway arrived in 1848. Later the colliery shaped the town. It opened in 1911 and closed in 1991, and houses were built for the miners and their families when the pit first opened.

Through the middle of town the A19 is called High Street. South of the centre it becomes Doncaster Road, and to the north it carries on as Selby Road towards Norton. Campsall is next door, with Campsall Country Park beside the leisure centre. Skellow and Carcroft are a short drive to the south west.

Where we pick you up in Askern

Most pupils are collected from home, whether that is on the estates off Moss Road or a terrace near the High Street. Other handy meeting places include:

• Spa Academy Askern on Sutton Road, or Askern Moss Road Infant Academy on Moss Road, if a parent wants a lesson straight after the school run.
• Campsmount Academy on Ryecroft Road in Norton, for sixth form students heading home.
• Askern Leisure Centre, run by Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust, which has its own car park.
• Askern Boating Lake off Station Road, where there is parking near the Lakeside Café.

Work pick-ups are fine as well, as long as there is a safe place for your instructor to stop.

How lessons build up around Askern

1. Estate roads. Norbreck Road and Eden Drive, off Rushy Moor Lane, are good for your first hours behind the wheel.
2. Moss Road. A longer residential road with an infant school, plus buses on the 51 route and junctions on both sides.
3. Station Road. Home to the Askern level crossing on the freight line, plus the turning for the boating lake.
4. High Street. The A19 through the town centre, with shops, side roads and pedestrians.
5. Selby Road. A second level crossing sits on the A19 just north of Askern.
6. Doncaster Road and beyond. The longer, faster A19 south through Owston and Toll Bar towards Bentley and the city.

Reaching the Doncaster test centre from Askern

Practical tests are taken at the Doncaster centre in Shaw Wood Business Park, Shaw Wood Way, DN2 5YL, on the Armthorpe side of the city. From Askern that is one of the longer trips in the borough. The usual way is south on the A19 through Owston and Toll Bar, along Bentley Road into Doncaster, then east on Church Way and Wheatley Hall Road (the A630).

Because it is a fair distance, later lessons are often booked as longer sessions so there is time to practise on roads like those near the test centre and still get home. DVSA does not publish test routes, so the aim is to make the kinds of roundabouts and multi-lane roads found there feel ordinary. Our Doncaster driving test guide explains the test itself.

Lessons available in Askern

• Manual driving lessons in Askern: the two level crossings give you real-world clutch control practice.
• Automatic driving lessons in Askern: useful while new traffic lights go in on the A19.
• Beginner driving lessons in Askern: start on the quiet estate roads off Rushy Moor Lane.
• Intensive driving courses in Askern: long days suit the distance between Askern and the test centre.
• Refresher driving lessons in Askern: catch up with the changed junctions and speed limits on the A19.
• Nervous driver lessons in Askern: build up slowly from the side streets to Doncaster Road.
• Motability driving lessons in Askern: automatic, dual controlled cars with pick-up from home.
• Mock driving tests from Askern: a full rehearsal including the long run into Doncaster.

Instructors and getting started

Our instructors are all DBS checked and most are DVSA approved driving instructors (ADIs), and they teach in dual controlled manual and automatic cars. You can request a female instructor or a male instructor. Lesson prices and block booking packages are on our prices page, and our Doncaster lesson prices guide explains how packages work.

Before your first lesson, apply for your provisional licence and start revising for the theory test, which is taken at Fraser House on Netherhall Road in Doncaster. Our theory test guide covers both parts. Our manual or automatic licence guide helps you choose a gearbox. You can also see what other pupils say on our reviews page.

Questions from Askern learners

Do you cover Campsall and Norton as well as Askern?

Yes. Campsall and Norton sit right beside Askern, so pick-up works the same way. Norton is handy for students at Campsmount Academy on Ryecroft Road, and Campsall learners often start on the same estate roads before joining the A19.

How long does it take to drive from Askern to the test centre?

It is one of the longer trips to the Doncaster test centre, because you travel about seven miles south on the A19 into the city before crossing to the Armthorpe side. Traffic varies a lot, so your instructor will plan extra time on test day.

Will the A19 roadworks affect my lessons?

Doncaster Council is carrying out safety works on the A19 until March 2027, including new traffic lights at some junctions and changes to speed limits. Your instructor will plan around any closures and use the new layouts as part of your training.

Can I take lessons from Askern if I study at Campsmount Academy?

Yes. Your instructor can collect you from Campsmount Academy on Ryecroft Road in Norton after school or sixth form and drop you home in Askern afterwards. Just let us know your timetable when you book.