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Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic

Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic

5.0(109 reviews)See reviews ↓·Portsmouth

About the company

Lendrum's Driving School has been operating since 2010. John Lendrum is the Director and Founder, and holds an ADI Grade A qualification, an ORDIT Instructor Trainer role, a DIA Advanced Driving Examiner position, a Diamond Elite Driver status, a DiPDE - Diploma in Driver Education, a ROSPA Gold award, and IAM Advanced Driver status. Mark is an ADI ORDIT Trainer and a DIA Diamond Elite Driver. Patrick is an ADI & ORDIT Instructor Trainer. Jennifer is an ADI & ORDIT Instructor Trainer.

Andrew is an ADI Tri-Coaching Instructor Trainer and a Director for Devon & Cornwall. Nicole is a professional ADI Driving Instructor in Portsmouth. The school offers manual and automatic driving lessons, intensive driving courses, Pass Plus driving lessons, advanced driving lessons, driving instructor training and standards check training, theory tuition, insurance, flexible lesson times including day, evening and weekends, local pickup, and uses high quality cars.

It covers Portsmouth, Southsea, and surrounding areas including Cosham, Port Solent, Hilsea, Landport, Portsea island, Fratton, Gunwharf Quays, Old Portsmouth, Hayling Island, Gosport, Havant, Emsworth, Widely, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Funtington, Bedhampton, Leigh Park, Denvilles, Warblington, New Brighton, Westbourne, Durrants, Red Hill, Southbourne, Woodmancote, Aldsworth, Portchester, Boarhunt, Southwick, Farlington, Cowplain, Widley, and Waterlooville. The school has a team of driving instructors who are friendly, patient, understanding and professional, and offers female driving lessons in Portsmouth.

What customers say

Based on genuine customer reviews

Instructors at this Fratton-based school, working from Carnarvon Road, are described repeatedly as calm and encouraging with learners who arrive nervous or have struggled elsewhere. Dave Collis is mentioned most often, with siblings and pupils returning to him after a relative's positive experience, and reviewers note his habit of explaining the reasoning behind a manoeuvre rather than just the mechanics, an approach credited with turning anxious beginners into observant, careful drivers.

Karwan, Yad and Michelle are also named individually, with one pupil praising condensed lessons that led to a pass inside two months and another switching from manual to automatic tuition after previous setbacks, then progressing steadily. First-time passes come up throughout the feedback, including a test completed without a single fault, and one family went on to book a motorway lesson afterwards, showing tuition continuing past the basic test for some.

Seventeen-year-olds starting out and adults returning after discouraging earlier lessons both report similar results: a patient tone, no raised voices when mistakes happen, and steady reassurance that eased early nerves about the road. Personal recommendations passed between relatives and colleagues who had used a particular instructor before also appear often. The school operates daily from eight in the morning until seven in the evening.

Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic — Customer photo
Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic — Customer photo
Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic — Customer photo
Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic — Customer photo

Reviews

Reviews are taken from publicly available sources.

MW
Mark Woodroffe13 August 2026

Lendrums Driving school have been fantastic, my instructor Karwan was professional, patient, encouraging and honest. I passed my practical test on my very first attempt and that wouldnt have been possible without a great instructor 💪🚗

KG
Kate Graham-Evans26 June 2026

Dave was everything we could have asked for in an instructor for our 17 year old, who enjoyed every minute of his lessons. Dave was warm, professional, encouraging and gave honest and welcome advice. Our son enjoyed the lessons so much that’s he’ll miss them after passing his test first time. We will definitely be booking a motorway lesson and we hope that Dave will teach our daughter too when she turns 17. Dave was recommended to us by a colleague and we would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone with a youngster learning to drive. Thank you so much Dave!

CA
Callum Anderson23 June 2026

Upon deciding that I had completely hit a wall with two separate driving instructors beforehand whilst doing manual lessons, I switched to automatic and was introduced to Dave Collis. Under Dave’s stewardship, I went from being the guy my old instructor never wanted to teach, to a safe, responsible, careful driver who makes regular observations, is able to predict developing hazards, and gives himself time to look at signs and road markings. Dave’s teaching style is simple, direct, and effective. He realises that there is so much to think about when controlling your car that dressing things up with wordy sentences is deeply unhelpful. His personality is also very likeable and he has a fantastic sense of humour! I highly reccomend Dave to anybody thinking of taking lessons in an automatic car. The freedom he has given me is a gift and I am so incredibly thankful for it.

OT
Oliver Templeton20 June 2026

I cannot praise Michelle highly enough for helping me pass my driving test, and I thoroughly recommend her as a driving instructor. She is incredibly supportive and very thorough with her teaching. By the time test day arrived, I felt fully prepared because we had covered everything I needed to know. Her approach was warm and genuine, which helped build my confidence behind the wheel. If I was ever unsure of anything, she was very easy to talk to and had a great sense of humour, which goes a long way in the world of driving instruction. Thank you, Michelle, for all your guidance and support in helping me get my driving licence. It was a fantastic journey to share with you!

AM
Alice Milward27 May 2026

Michelle was amazing, I highly recommend! She made me feel so comfortable and confident while learning to drive and thanks to her I passed my test! I absolutely loved having her as my instructor 💖

EE
Emily Edwards13 May 2026

My daughter passed her test today . Dave was her instructor and she couldn't of done it without him. He was so nice to her made her feel So at ease and she really enjoyed her lessons. Thank you dave we will never forget you. Couldn't recommend you enough xx

PO
Peace Omolola Uzah11 May 2026

I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better driving instructor. From the very first lesson, Dave made me feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely excited to learn. His patience, professionalism, and encouragement completely changed the way I felt about driving. On the day of my test he helped calm my nerves and reassured me that I’ve got it and I did smash test. Thanks again Dave. Peace.

Intensive driving courses in Portsmouth compared

Ordered by rating, weighted by the number of reviews — businesses with only a handful of reviews do not jump to the top automatically. 7 businesses in this category in Portsmouth are compared.

RankProviderRatingReviewsOpen Sat.
11Drive School of Motoring★ 5,0488Yes
2Driving-Pro Ltd. Driving lessons in Portsmouth, Gosport and surrounding areas★ 5,0329Yes
3Learn To Drive With Alpha★ 5,0145Yes
4Lendrums Driving School Portsmouth - Manual & Automatic (this page)★ 5,0109Yes
5Practice And Pass Driving School★ 5,025No
Contact
Working hours
Monday08:00–19:00
Tuesday08:00–19:00
Wednesday08:00–19:00
Thursday08:00–19:00
Friday08:00–19:00
Saturday08:00–19:00
Sunday08:00–19:00