John Nicholson Driving School

Fantastic experience: Thanks John for helping me pass my driving test and getting on your wall of fame! John’s a top instructor, very patient and gives honest feedback that helps you get better as a driver. Highly recommend his services :)

Fantastic experience: John is a patient and reliable driving instructor who I would 1000% recommend. Always goes out of his way for his students & has never once let us down. I'll be putting all my kids through lessons with John when they are ready. Thank You John.

Fantastic experience: Had an amazing expereince with John, couldn't get through my test but John was able to get me through first time!

Fantastic experience: Great instructor. Cannot recommend enough. Passed first time.

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience with JNDS. When I needed someone to help me with mocks on just 3-4 days prior to my test date and everyone other institutions refused then this driving institution turned up to help me out of the box which enabled me to pass with 1 minor only. Thanks to John and Team. Now, my wife will be starting lessons with them :D

Negative experience: I paid for a block of lessons for my daughter after reading the great reviews. The lessons were to be weekly two hour lessons and a suitable weekly time arranged was arranged. However, on several occasions John needed to change the time slot, sometimes not being able to give a lesson until after a fortnight which hindered my daughters progress. These cancellations were early on when she needed to have regular time out to get comfortable with the road. We still didn't complain as sometimes changes are unavoidable. Then my daughter was sick with Sinusitis and we sat in A&E for a whole day. We gave John 24hours notice that she wouldn't be able to make the lesson as she wasn't well and he still charged us for the full two hour lesson. He said he tried to fill it, however, one of her friends (who also had lessons with him) would have been happy to take the slot, had he offered it, but he hadn't. I'm not sure anyone knows that they'll be sick and unable to drive 48 hours before unless they have a longterm sickness. Thankfully, she now has an instructor which she is much happier with, but I thought it was important to leave a review with our experience.

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend John, he is an amazing driving instructor. I am quite an anxious person and he made me feel at ease and confident with my driving. I looked forward to my driving lessons every weekHe also helped me pass first time! Couldn’t have done it with out him.

Fantastic experience: John is a friendly and patient driving instructor who makes lessons easy to understand and helps build your confidence on the road. Thanks to his guidance, I passed my driving test and felt well-prepared throughout the process.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant driving instructor, John helped me pass in only 3 months. Also I looked forward to our lessons as he was a great instructor who taught me how to drive well whilst also enjoying the process, I can’t recommend enough.

Fantastic experience: I genuinely could not have asked for a better instructor. Every lesson was a joy, and I always looked forward to them. Lessons were well planned, meaning I felt slight more confident with each lesson gone. Not once did I feel like those two hours dragged on. I passed only 4 months after my first lesson, picking up just 1 minor. Which I was chuffed with. I’ve been driving for a month now; I’ve covered 1500 miles and never have I felt like I wasn’t able to handle a situation. I couldn’t recommend him more.

Fantastic experience: John has a very patient and calming nature about him, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone wanting to learn to drive, whatever age.

Fantastic experience: It was an excellent session. Really worth. He could find my exact mistakes and gave me the right instructions to overcome that. Thank you so much.

Fantastic experience: Amazing driving instructor - recommend!

Fantastic experience: John is a great driving instructor and helps u settle in well. You never have the nerves when you first start as he eases you into anything you are scared about at your own pace

Fantastic experience: Hi , I’m new to Taxi driving and within the first year a driving test is required. I decided to get a lesson from John Nicholson to iron out any faults. Money well spent, although driving isn’t bad John pulled me up on a few bad habits I’d picked up over 38 years of driving. John was exceptionally good at pointing these things out, overall very punctual and professional. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I chose john to teach me to drive as he would fit the lessons in around my lessons at collage, it was easy to learn with john he made me feel at ease and went at a pace that suited me and pushed me when it was needed, thank you for the first time pass!

Fantastic experience: Huge thanks to John who has helped my daughter pass her driving test on her first attempt, she started off with no experience and no confidence and has flourished into a confident driver all thanks to John, would highly recommend

Fantastic experience: John took the task of training my 18 year old daughter to drive when she had zero experience and fairly low confidence, within around 5 months she has flourished into a very safe and confident driver, would highly recommend John, I met him today for the first time while Katie was on her test and he was real nice guy and kept us talking and before we knew it Katie had finished her test proudly displaying her pass certificate,1st time too, thanks John really appreciate it

Fantastic experience: Very nice instrutor and the best attention

Fantastic experience: Passed first time with no minors, great driving instructor :)

Fantastic experience: Very good instructor, I suffer from bad anxiety and struggle to be in situations with new people but John made me feel very comfortable and explained everything to me in a way that I could understand. I would highly recommend him and with his help managed to pass first time.

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend john as the driving instructor of choice, thanks to him i was able to pass the first time round and throughout all the lessons he was calm and patient with all the mistakes that come with learning.

Fantastic experience: Very professional & helpful.

Fantastic experience: Really friendly, help me alot with anything a was strangling with. Gave me a lot of incurrigment. Had a great time learning to drive with him.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely amazing instructor, could not have asked for a better experience and made sure that everything was up to scratch. If I could rate higher than five stars I would!

Fantastic experience: I had an excellent experience with John. Not only did he help me pass on first attempt, but his patience, friendliness, and understanding made the whole learning process enjoyable. His focus on areas where I needed extra attention, along with his amazing teaching techniques and disciplined approach truly sets him apart as an excellent driving instructor. Thanks John!

Fantastic experience: Very honest and responsive. I couldn’t do my training with him because I wanted auto drive, he however, gave me leads on what to do and those to meet with. I recommend him to all that want to pass an Thank you John. It was nice meeting you I appreciate Toks

Fantastic experience: John is an excellent man. Helped me a lot in understanding how to go about my test. His guidance helped a lot. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor really built my confidence :) Would definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Amazing driving instructor and great person! Always patient, honest, very friendly and acknowledgeable. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Just want to say thank you so much to John for helping me find the confidence to drive. I had no faith in myself and wanted to give up so many times but he helped me dig deep and keep going. I highly recommend his tuition. He’ll be there to give advice by phone or text. Because of him I passed second time with only 1 drivers fault.

Fantastic experience: John has honestly made me feel confident and happy while driving and before that I never enjoyed driving.

Fantastic experience: John is an incredible driving instructor and helped me pass my test in the first go in May 2023. He had tirelessly worked on aspects I had issues with. I always felt extremely comfortable and safe when in the car with him. Upon my request, he squeezed in more sessions leading up to my test, displaying high level of commitment. Thanks John for your help the last few months in getting my full license!!

Fantastic experience: Started out really nervous and over the course of the lessons John made me feel more and more comfortable as he just stayed calm if I was to make a mistake and he would never raise his voice, I always appreciate and respect a person who is like this when teaching others, would highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Excellent service with a skillful patient instructor. I would recommend highly

Fantastic experience: Excellent instructor, very patient, helped me build my confidence and pass! Highly recommend

Fantastic experience: An amazing driving instructor. Very patient with my son who has Autism. He passed first time which is a testament to him and to John who adapted his teaching skills to suit my sons needs. I would highly recommend John to anyone who is wanting to learn to drive. He is not only and outstanding skilled instructor but his people skills are also outstanding.

Fantastic experience: Amazing driving instructor. Super friendly and is always willing to push you to where you need to be. He is always acknowledgeable about your faults in driving, and is immediate at helping you to correct them. Would recommend John to anyone who is starting out with driving

Fantastic experience: Such a good driving instructor. Would strongly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: John is a very nice guy to get along with. Always makes you feel comfortable as a learner and his method of teaching is brilliant. Overall, I had a great experience with John and I would definitely recommend him as a driving instructor

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor! I was a really nervous driver and it has taken me a long time to feel comfortable driving but john was always very patient and always made me feel safe in the car even when I was anxious. He was also very understanding, I’m dyslexic so I can struggle with directions and remembering things but john was aways patient and would explain things in a way I could understand and remember. I would recommend to anyone!

Fantastic experience: Just passed first time after being with John for the last few months. I can't recommend him enough, lessons tailored to my needs, and flexible around my college hours. I couldn't be more prepared for being on the road.

Fantastic experience: John helped my wife Susan through her test and was excellent throughout her lessons. She is a very competent driver for which John should take much of the credit. Thank you John for your help and guidance to a successful conclusion. Regards Colin and Susan Henderson

Fantastic experience: John was excellent, my daughter, eleanor, passed first time ,always communicating and letting me know how she was progressing through her lessons, would and have recommended John to several friends. Keep up the good work John .

Fantastic experience: Great instructor, easy to get along with, always makes sure you understand what you need to do and why.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend John, helped me get through with only 3 minors, couldn’t of done it without him

Fantastic experience: John is great instructor as well as very nice person. I have really enjoyed my lessons with him, he has taught me not only how to pass my test but also how to drive and be good at it. I am very pleased I chose him as my instructor he goes above and beyond when it comes to teach. I have passed today in my first attempt and I am feeling confident to go on adventure straight away!!

Fantastic experience: A great driving instructor, clear and professional, explained what I did right and wrong very well. Very patient and helped me pass my driving test first time with only 1 minor!

Fantastic experience: Honestly can’t thank John enough! Passed my test first time, great communication and helped grow my confidence. Would highly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: Can't thank John enough for the help and support he has given me when doing my driving lessons, his lessons are set at high standard and always makes sure you give 100%. He gives so much support when needed and is always there for advise even out of lesson times. He is very professional and I personally don't think I could of passed without his support and guidance throughout my lessons. Thank you John, I would highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: John is a great instructor! I really enjoyed lessons with him and felt like I really progressed in such a short space of time. John is patient, understanding, very organised and so knowledgeable. All of these reviews truly reflect how fab he is

Fantastic experience: John is a really good instructor, hes helping people on lockdown over the phone and giving guidance on how to drive safely.

Fantastic experience: Brilliant experience learning with John found the service great with learning to drive and also very helpful with overcoming anxiety whilst on the road. Thank you John!

Fantastic experience: Best instructor ever No need too much words to explain how good instructor is John. Simply the best . Don't believe me just "jump" on the car #ThisIsHowWeDoIt

Fantastic experience: John is very professional at what he does, helpful information whilst in vehicle at all times to keep you relaxed while you drive.

Fantastic experience: I would 100% recommend John as a driving instructor. He’s friendly, professional and everything you need to help pass your driving test. After staying away from driving for about 9 years because of the anxiety I had surrounding it, he managed to get me to not only enjoy driving but get through my test and actually pass which is something I thought would never be possible. I can’t thank John enough for what he has done for my confidence.

Fantastic experience: I had 12 Hours of lessons with John to prepare me for the practical driving test. I had already been driving for a while abroad and looking to get an English license. John was amazing, getting a great initial assessment of what work needed to be done and tailoring our lessons with my input to really correct any issues. John was super helpful, calm and I really enjoyed our lessons. You really can't go wrong

Fantastic experience: I had a great time having John as my instructor, I'd had plenty of time driving with my parents beforehand but had very little experience with an instructor, so I lacked confidence and any form of structure to my driving, and knew very little about what to do in certain situations. I took my test and unsurprisingly failed with 2 major faults. After this, my confidence was at an all time low with driving, and I began lessons with John. Over the course of the 17 hours I had with John, my driving improved rapidly and I took my test again afterwards, passing with 2 driver faults. He was a massive help and I wouldn't have stood a chance of passing without his help!

Fantastic experience: John's lessons were well structured and easy to understand, he is a very patient instructor who I would recommend to all.

Fantastic experience: John is a brilliant driving instructor who I would definitely recommend. He is very friendly and knowledgeable and with his support and guidance I was able to pass my test first go. It’s been a pleasure having him as my driving instructor :)

Fantastic experience: Passed my test 1st time, cheers for all the help John. Couldn't recommend this guy enough.

Fantastic experience: Very good instructor, he teach you with patience. I got a lot of information with him in a very short period of time and he makes manual driving so easy. Couldn’t believe that I could learn to drive manual cars such fast!

Fantastic experience: Couldn’t ask for a better instructor. Excellent motivator and he’s great a building confidence. John got me through my test with 0 minors :)

Fantastic experience: John is a fantastic instructor, very patient and friendly he helped me to learn how to drive and being a good driver. He also made me look so comfortable to drive. We had all laughs during lessons and I never had offdays. It's been a fantastic journey and pleasure to be with john I cant thank him enough. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: I honestly can not recommend John enough. I started with John at the the beginning of the year through a recommendation from a friend and I’m pleased I got in touch. On my first lesson John immediately put me at ease, in such a short time managed to boost my confidence with his patience and investment in his students even managing to turn my negative attitude into a much positive one and will always work around you. If you are looking for an instructor who is not only concerned about helping you get on the roads but also invested in you the John Nicholson’s Driving School is the place to go to.

Fantastic experience: John is the best driving instructor in the area. Very detailed, he knows exactly what he is doing. He is also very good at reading your driving skills and detect what you need to work in order to pass the test. I fully recommend him!!

Fantastic experience: Couldn’t recommend John enough! goes above and beyond to help his pupils and helps you overcome so many hurdles with driving and is great to talk to in the car. He won’t give up on you and will always help with everything and doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable about making mistakes he will help and guide you until you’ve got it no matter how long it takes! it’s been a pleasure! thank you soooo much! 5***

Fantastic experience: Amazing instructor. He is unique, wonderful teacher, patient, honest, and supportive. It’s was a pleasure work with you. Thanks!!

Fantastic experience: 5* simply isn't high enough a rating for John. He is an absolutely spectacular teacher who is patient, understanding and will adapt his teaching style to suit the driver. Through lesson plans, teaching aids and demonstrations he has managed to give me enough confidence to pass my driving test and feel at ease behind the wheel. I have spent the last few months learning to drive with a friend. Cannot recommend and thank you enough John!

Fantastic experience: I personally couldn’t thank John enough for all help and advice giving to me not only on my driving but towards my confidence which I lacked the very most of .... I personally would definitely recommend you to everyone wanting to drive, eben if you are scared or nervous , learn with John as he like to think he is funny( sometimes ) he makes you feel at ease not nervous or anything... but always keen to make sure you come away a lesson knowing something... John isn’t like most other driving tutors out there the cash is the last thing on his mind as he deep down cares and wants you to achieve passing like I did myself and I can’t thank him enough. So well done John you are fab get learning with him folks

Fantastic experience: John is a great instructor, who really makes you feel comfortable and at ease when you are driving. His lessons are very enjoyable and I left each one feeling even more confident and knowledgeable about driving. I would highly recommend him.

Fantastic experience: Very professional driving instructor , laid back good fun , made it very easy to learn , would highly recommend him

Fantastic experience: An amazing man! He’s helped me over come some of the worst nerves I’ve ever felt in my life, and got me threw my test 1st time with him! Would recommend him to anyone! Thank you John it’s been an amazing ride! Could never thank you enough cxxxx

Fantastic experience: I am new to the UK and had been driving in another country. John helped me unlearn all the bad habits I had picked up and taught me exactly what I needed to know. He was very systematic at finding my weak spots and working on them. When I went for the test I felt very much prepared for every situation. John had already told me what to expect. Another thing that helped me a lot was that John gave me precise ideas about driving situations like entering a round about, signalling etc. So that it took the guessing game out of driving. I knew clearly when I was supposed to do something or not. On top of all this John is cheerful and fun. I would recommend John any day as an excellent driving instructor.

Fantastic experience: Had a really great experience learning to drive with John. Would thoroughly recommend him.

Fantastic experience: I am mentioning few words about John and I mean it. "Agile", "dedicated", "hard working", "inspiring", "trustworthy", "attention to detail", "role model". John is one such example of a person who loves his job. I am impressed with his "attention to detail" nature that helped be immensely. He has bag full of tips which not only help pass the test but beyond. Thank you John for all the help, support and mentoring during my journey in clearing the test. Wish you all the best and would like to keep in touch.

Fantastic experience: John is a brilliant, friendly driving instructor. I moved to Darlington this Summer, so I was pretty unfamiliar with the roads. This morning, I passed with just four minors on my first attempt! I would definitely recommend John as a driving instructor to anyone because he is thorough with his teaching and you can have a laugh with him too. He is patient and makes you feel at ease, and he really tailors your lessons to make sure you're covering absolutely everything you need to know to be a great driver. Cheers John!!

Fantastic experience: Thanks to john, this morning I passed first time with only 2 minors and only 23 hours of lessons. Could not recommend him enough . Patient, chatty and I have left every lesson learning something new, always makes me feel confutable in my lessons and is always there to answer any questions !!

Fantastic experience: Amazing instructor who is very patient and has a great sense of humour. Works together to find a learning style that suits both. I have tried various instructors and struggled to find someone who i connected with and could learn from. John is very professional and organised and i would highly recommend him to anyone. Thank you john.

Fantastic experience: My 17 year old daughter just passed her test with john Nicholson . She really enjoyed her lessons because john explained things really well and made lessons fun. he is a confidence giver and encourages his students to progress at a pace that doesn't overwhelme them. Would definitely recommend him.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely smashing bloke and fantastic driving instructor. Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: Great instructor, was great to learn with. He's patient when your learning with him no matter what your level of driving is and is highly recommend him as an instructor.

Fantastic experience: I had tried quite a few instructors in two cities and John is very unique. He is very professional, patient, focussed, honest, intelligent and calm and helps students reach their true potential. He gives 1000% (yes, one thousand percent) effort. John tailors the lessons according to the needs of the student; for example when I had issues with parallel parking, he gave me a totally different set of reference points which work superbly for me; when I had issues with clutch control, he took me to a road where I leant the importance of clutch control. He has a knack of knowing exactly what the weak points of the student may be and then he strives to resolve the issues; for me, meeting situations and roundabouts were tough and John really pushed me to excel in them to such an extent that there were no issues whatsoever from those two angles when I took my test. Most importantly, John's training enables the student not simply to pass the driving test but to drive safely and carefully for the rest of your life. He will let you take the test only when you are a good driver who would be capable of dealing with any roads alone. I recommend John unreservedly and wish the John Nicholson driving school all the very best. It was an absolute pleasure learning driving from the best instructor I have met. Update: I have been driving now for two years, did 28,000 odd miles and had lots of hours of driving in motorways, country lanes, hills, mud tracks, European roads, ice, rain etc without a scratch... this demonstrates that John's lessons ensures that you will be an excellent driver. Update: 120,000 miles later, and driving even in proper Alpine mountain roads in snow and ice, John's lessons are still helping me to drive safe and carefully. Thank you John :-) Update: some 600,000 odd miles and two cars (both sold back to the dealers with the body in pristine condition after they ran up a lot of miles) later- haven't had a single scratch on any of the cars, haven't run over even a hedgehog despite now driving a lot on work- John's lessons have been absolutely brilliant! Thank you John :-)

Fantastic experience: Wonderful instructor, really patient and lessons were always really fun making it easier to learn. Got so much support especially when I was going in for my test. Passed 1st time thanks to john would 100% recommend!

Fantastic experience: John Nicholson is patient and encouraging, he will help you understand your mistakes and help you overcome them in a very constructive way. He will support you to feel confident with your driving until you're ready for the test, and he will be honest with you when he believes you're ready! He will be hard on you at every lesson to prepare you for the test - I scored 4 minors on my driving test! Can't recommend him enough, I chose him because of his good reviews + rating and honestly couldn't have picked a better instructor. Thank you John! Awesome instructor and a man!

Fantastic experience: Absolutely wonderful experience learning to drive with John! The lesson plans are individually set so you're always sure to work on your weaknesses as you come across them and leave the lesson feeling much more confident about your driving. There's always a positive atmosphere so lessons are never stressful. John is patient and supportive and very easy to talk to. I couldn't have hoped for a better instructor. Would 100% recommend to anyone learning to drive or just feeling a bit insecure about their driving skills.