Charlton Down Driving School (Newquay & Truro)

Fantastic experience: Would definitely recommend Charlton down driving school, Richard’s a brilliant instructor.

Fantastic experience: Amazing teacher only had a few lessons with richard and he is a really good at going through things in depth would highly recommend, thanks richard for the support :)

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend Richard for his services. I struggled to find an instructor with 90% not even replying to messages, but Richard took me on and luckily let me fill in his cancellations. Richard picked up on my driving errors and they were straight away corrected making me feel a lot more confident. With being a great instructor with great attention to detail, he is a really nice guy and funny guy too and made me always looked forward to our lessons. Can’t thank him enough & would recommend to anyone looking to learn and pass! Thanks Richard

Fantastic experience: Very good and kind easy to get on with, passed first time! Definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend Charlton Down Driving School! Richard is a lovely, calm person with a brilliant sense of humour who made me feel at ease from the moment I met him. His strategies of teaching are exceptional and he helped me pass my test very quickly and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it with anyone else. I will certainly miss our drives and want to thank Richard for everything. Again, Highly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend Charlton Down Driving School. Richard is an outstanding instructor. He was very friendly, calm & patient which made me feel at ease. He also uses illustrations, to explain things more clearly making it easier to learn & understand. I have really enjoyed my lessons & have gained a lot of confidence, since having lessons with Richard. If I could give 10/10 stars I would.

Fantastic experience: Hands down the best instructor and a cut above the rest!! I have quite a few learning difficulties & Richard was kind, calm, patient. He has vast knowledge when it comes to learning to drive and makes it simple and easy to understand. I feel I would not have been able to do this without him, his positive and reassuring attitude helps build confidence in all aspects of driving. I would 100% recommend to anyone learning to drive & I can not thank him enough!

Fantastic experience: Richard has all the qualities you'd want in a driving instructor - kind, friendly, patient and professional. Highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: Encouraging and patient driving instructor always kept calm never raised his voice very helpful with simple teaching mechanics

Fantastic experience: Can't recommend Richard highly enough as a driving instructor. From the moment I was referred to him by family and friends, he demonstrated incredible patience and a fantastic sense of humor, making each 7am lesson a joy even when I was barely awake. Unlike many others, Richard isn't in it for the money; his genuine passion for teaching and helping his students succeed shines through every session. My first lesson in Perranporth he made it very clear that I don't really as much lessons as usual the average student unlike other instructors they just straight away recommend 40 hours, 3 months later I've got my driving license and passed first time in a short period of time due to Richard's teaching. I'm so grateful he made room for me on his schedule as soon as he could. I'll truly miss our early morning drives and his unwavering support. Thank you, Richard, for making my learning experience both fun and safe.

Fantastic experience: I found out about Richard from a friend and I was very lucky to have done, great lessons and good communication helped me seal a pass, I have already recommended him to many of my friends!

Fantastic experience: Richard has been amazing with my son. After a couple of fails he helped him Excell with his confidence resulting in a 0 faults pass. Richard is amazing . Can't praise him enough! Thanks Richard.

Fantastic experience: I chose to contact Richard after 3 of my friends recommended him and I couldn’t have picked someone better. Richard is a calm patient instructor with a great sense of humour. I’ve had an amazing time doing lessons with him and I’m going to miss our weekly drives. I will be recommending everyone here and you won’t be disappointed with your results if you choose to use him as your instructor :)

Fantastic experience: Friendly and patient driving instructor. The lessons are perfectly matched to your ability and push you just enough to progress

Fantastic experience: Richard was a great instructor from start to finish, helped me get to exactly where I needed to be to pass. The teaching was clear whilst engaging at the same time, I really couldn't be happier with my experience learning with Charlton down and would recommend any new driver to consider richard as an instructor.

Fantastic experience: I passed my test on Tuesday first time, finally at the age of 34! & I honestly don’t think I would have passed first time if I didn’t have Richard as my instructor! I’ve had a few instructors over the years & lots of stopping & starting with 10 plus year gaps in between. I needed a new instructor last spring as mine was retiring & Richard kindly put me on his waiting list to start in the May. Richard is so calm, informative, understanding, & incredibly encouraging when your feeling like you can’t do something or if your getting overwhelmed & stressed. After each lesson he goes through what you did, asks you what you think went well, what needs working on, & what you’d like to do next lesson, which I’ve never had before. He’s got fantastic ways of making you learn & they’re also fun & amusing sometimes, for example the little monkey toy he has in the back of his car that he’s strapped in to represent your monkey brain that you get to name! . I used to hate roundabouts, they would make me nervous & I didn’t know how to navigate them properly because know one had ever really given me a tool to use to be able to do it, but as soon as Richard gave me those tools I understood roundabouts instantly & in one lesson was suddenly comfortable with roundabouts! I suffer with an anxiety disorder, some agoraphobia, & anxiety/panic attacks & when I first started I got anxious about driving places I didn’t know & just going out in the car in general, I would feel so so nervous & be pacing before my lessons a lot of the time, but as time went on Richard made me feel excited to leave the house & excited to drive, which I really can’t thank him enough for!! Richard goes above & beyond to teach you & get you ready for your test, & sends you things in between lessons to help you. He’s also very accommodating & was more than happy for me to bring my 10 year old on my last driving lesson when she had a day off school. Driving with him is very very fun, he’s got a great sense of humour & we always had lots of laughs & funny moments during our lessons. I will genuinely miss learning to drive, one because it was so so much fun, & two because I enjoyed spending time in the car with him….. & I’m introvert & don’t like people so for me to say that he has to be a great bloke haha! If you need a driving instructor Richard’s your guy to go with!!! Thanks again for everything you’ve done for me & for putting up with me every other week for 10 months , & hopefully this year I’ll get that car & finally be on the road! Vroom! vroom! Beep! Beep!

Fantastic experience: Richard has been a fantastic instructor from start to finish and went above and beyond to make sure I was properly prepared. He did this not just for my test but for driving on the roads afterwards! He has a calm and approaching demeanour and will make you feel at ease straight away. I would recommend Richard to anyone considering taking lessons whatever your experience level!

Fantastic experience: Richard was great with the whole experience very calm and knew every answer to all questions. Couldn’t recommend enough great instructor and had a very good driving experience with Richard felt comfortable in the driving seat from the 1st lesson always reassured around anything. Overall was a great service provided - Samuel P

Fantastic experience: Extremely competent instructor that will give you a really good chance of passing first time ! Was always professional while still being able to have a laugh and make driving a bit more fun. Would reccomend to anyone no matter your driving experience.

Fantastic experience: Passed first time, felt like I came so far from when I first started and that's all thanks to Richard

Fantastic experience: Best driving enstructor I know!

Fantastic experience: Very good instructor very calm and easy going and good at passing people’s test

Fantastic experience: Couldn’t speak highly enough of Richard. Managed to fit me in onto his busy schedule and got me passed my test in the space of about a month. Top bloke and great instructor :)

Fantastic experience: I started off as a really nervous driver due to a not so good previous instructor however Richard made learning to drive really enjoyable. I passed about a month ago and have been driving ever since. Big thank you to Richard for getting me through my fears and helping me to pass not only my practical, but theory as well. Thank you again!

Fantastic experience: Richard was able to accommodate me despite his busy schedule, and is a lovely guy not to mention his calm and composed nature made the driving process an enjoyable environment, can’t recommend enough. Thank you for everything

Fantastic experience: Richard is a brilliant driving instructor. Had a previous one drop out on me right before a test and Richard was able to accommodate as much as he could to my schedule. He is well spoken, knowledgeable and also easy to get on with. Would definitely recommend to anyone whatever the level of driving ability. 5/5!

Fantastic experience: Hands down definitely the best driving instructor out there! Calm in stressful situations, always helpful and happy to offer advice. Great prices and service, and even if that doesn't sell you, I passed first time in such a short timeframe which I and my parents thought wouldn't be possible but with Richards teaching it turned out it was!

Fantastic experience: I contacted Richard after my daughter really had her confidence knocked with a previous driving instructor who made her a nervous wreck by shouting and screaming at her when she made mistakes which resulted in her having alot of anxiety around driving and wanting to give up trying completely. Richard has been so patient and kind with her encouraging her all the way to passing her test second try with only 2 minors! I highly recommend Richard to everyone and even more so if you are a nervous or anxious learner. He has not only taught my daughter to be a safe and competant driver in a very short amount of time he has also given her lots of well needed confidence from his encouragement and belief in her throughout! Richard also took the time to message me after her first lesson with an update of how it went and how well she did as he was aware I was nervous for her. My daughter went from dreading her driving lessons to looking forward to them from the first lesson ! Absolutely amazing driving instructor and I cannot recommend him enough !!

Fantastic experience: Richard was an amazing teacher and I managed to pass first time because of him. Always fun to have a lesson with him.

Fantastic experience: Fab, Richard was a great instructor for our son jago and gave lots of advice and help to us all along the way resulting in a pass with 3 minors on his first attempt. We would highly recommend him to any learner driver and to families looking for an instructor. A great experience for us all

Fantastic experience: Really good driving instructor. Very patient and relaxed. Got me to pass first time. Would highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Richard is a great calm instructor who makes the driving learning process easy to understand and enjoyable. The lessons cater to all areas of driving and once the basics are covered any mistakes are ironed out and this allows you to be 100% prepared for your test. Any faults are calmly explained to you in a manor that helps you to improve rather than be stressed. Very flexible schedule and nice guy all round.

Fantastic experience: Richard has made learning to drive a fun experience and has helped me to pass my test comfortably on my first try. As a university student, Richard is very flexible and understanding with busy schedules and budgeting, he’s also very patient with any travel delays due to train strikes or whatever else may go wrong. When in a lesson Richard’s teaching style is very calm and assuring. I had no driving experience when I started lessons, Richard got me driving in no time and in a couple of months I’ve passed my test. I couldn’t recommend Richard enough to anyone looking to learn to drive in Cornwall!

Fantastic experience: Richard has been amazing throughout my learning journey. Besides just being very pleasant, he tailored the lessons to work on problem areas each week and was very calm and clear when explaining my faults. He gave some really good advice that I will never forget! He was flexible with lesson times and dates and kept detailed notes so there was always a feeling of progression and improvement with every lesson, he made it clear that the aim was to become a safe driver, not just pass your test. He also went above and beyond squeezing me in for my test at short notice. I cannot recommend him and his service enough!

Fantastic experience: 10/10 very Informative and clear intructions, helped me pass my test very quickly and would definitely recommend

Fantastic experience: This is the best driving instructor I could of ever asked for he toke me on last minute and helped me get through my test 1st time with him and made everything as least stressful as possible. Thank you so much

Fantastic experience: If you are looking for a reliable and professional driving instructor then look no further. Richard's calm and understanding nature creates the ideal learning environment, and following his tuition I'm happy to say I was able to pass my test first time. A top class individual who you can tell genuinely cares about your progression. 10/10 would recommend.

Fantastic experience: Highly recommend! Richard is calm, reassuring and really built my confidence. He is clear with instructions and happy going over any points I struggled with multiple times. Easy to talk to and helped me become a safe and confident driver, passing first time (in Bodmin!). The structure of the lessons help you acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses, giving you a sense of achievement after each lesson. This helped ease my anxieties and worries towards driving.

Fantastic experience: i would like to leave a review for Richard . He has been an amazing instructor. I came to the uk and wanted to have a uk driving licence . Richard was professional patient and taught me from start to finish . I passed my test on the first attempt .I will always be grateful for this . I wish Richard well and to the success he has with his students . Mohammad

Fantastic experience: Very good driving instructor. Richard is great at building confidence, and taught all the skills really well that is needed to be a safe driver

Fantastic experience: Richard has been such a great teacher to my son, Alex. He was patient, friendly and explained everything in a very clear way with user-friendly learning aids. He tried to fit in as many sessions as possible so that Alex could pass his test quickly….. and he did!! Passed first time! Thank you so much for everything.

Fantastic experience: Richard was an extremely supportive and expert local instructor, passed this week with his support!

Fantastic experience: Can’t recommend Richard enough, easy to get on with and just a great teacher. Everything you need to work on you’re constantly reminded of in a clear and calm way, as someone who already knew the road having been on motorbikes for years it only took me 3 lessons with Richard before booking my test, (which I passed 1st time) just a great guy and a great instructor.

Fantastic experience: Richard was a superb instructor. He is very supportive and understanding if you ever make a mistake whilst driving and made me feel much more confident on the road. I highly recommend him to those seeking driving lessons.

Fantastic experience: Richard is an amazing driving instructor, can’t speak highly enough about him, he has a great sense of humour and makes you at ease at the wheel.Thank you so much for helping me pass first time within a month. Top Guy

Fantastic experience: Passed first time with Richard, he was extremely patient and an exceptional teacher. Would highly recommend him to others looking to learn how to drive .

Fantastic experience: Richard’s been a fantastic instructor. His clear, concise instruction helped me quickly improve my driving ability, and his insightful feedback was really helpful in letting me know what I needed to work on ahead of the test. The structure of each lesson brought me from the basics of driving to passing my test at a steady yet unrushed pace. Couldn’t recommend enough, and thanks very much Richard for your help!

Fantastic experience: Richard is honestly a fantastic teacher his lessons are in depth and clear. Richard is a patient teacher who will ensure that you pass your test and always explains where mistakes might have been made and then focuses on fixing them. I would highly recommend and had a great time learning.

Fantastic experience: We were very lucky to have found Richard who helped our son pass his test first time. He is a good communicator who really does seem to care and a brilliant teacher. Can’t recommend him enough!

Fantastic experience: Extremely happy I chose Richard. Richard was really accommodating with with the slots he had left and fit me in with short notice. He’s very knowledgable about all aspects of driving and made the process of learning really enjoyable. I would 100 percent recommend him to anyone wishing to learn!

Fantastic experience: Very patient clear and adapts very well to your needs would 110% recommend !:)

Fantastic experience: We cannot speak highly enough of Richard's driving instruction for our son. Richard is calm, friendly and reassuring. On the road, our son reports that Richard is really helpful, gives good advice, is very clear in his instruction and gives lots of top tips for passing your driving test. Driving possible test routes also was extremely helpful for preparing for the test. Brilliant, we are so grateful!

Fantastic experience: Richard has been amazing teaching my twin daughters to drive. He made it convenient for us by giving them back to back appointments every week so they could both get the same opportunity to drive and never let us down. They both said he was patient and explained things well, boosted their confidence and most importantly for them, he treated them as individuals on their learning journey. As a parent I felt reassured that he gave me feedback on their progress so we could anticipate how many lessons they were going to possibly need. This all helps with budgeting for the costs. Both my girls passed first time and are thrilled to have the freedom that driving now gives them. Thank you Richard.

Fantastic experience: Passed my practical test first time with Richard. He is an amazing instructor. He makes you feel so relaxed when you may be flustered in situations. He's attentive, patient, clear and consise with information he's giving you and overall a pleasure to have as a driving instructor. I'm very grateful for his help with passing my test and would highly recommend to anyone! Thank you Richard! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantastic experience: Richard has been a brilliant instructor that I cant recommend enough. As a very anxious person his calm and patient approach to teaching really helped put me at ease and develop my confidence driving. Consequently with relatively few lessons I managed to pass on my first attempt. Thank you !

Fantastic experience: Brilliant instructor and a great guy, very patient and helpful, I highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Richard is the best instructor I know of, I can’t recommend him enough, I went from struggling with clutch control to passing my test in a matter of 2 months. Very helpful and would recommend him to anyone

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend Richard for new and experienced drivers. Very attentive and highly knowledgeable. BEST DRIVING INSTRUCTOR IN THE UK Thank you Richard for all your help , couldn't of passed without you. 10/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantastic experience: Richard is a great and experienced driver who really helps you understand the rules of the road and how to drive I really enjoyed my lessons with him he’s a great instructor

Fantastic experience: Really helpful and friendly guy would recommend !

Fantastic experience: I’m so grateful that I got recommended Richard as a driving instructor, I was quite nervous about starting driving which he soon changed getting me more confident every lesson! Richard is such a polite and calm instructor, throughout my whole driving lesson experience with richard he was amazing and literally all you could want when looking to get driving, I hope his name gets out there as his prices are affordable compared to what others are charging and like I said could not recommend him enough to anyone keen to pass their driving! Thankyou Richard for helping me pass with only 2 minors, if any of my friend need an instructor I know where to send them!

Fantastic experience: Driving with Richard has been a life saving experience. Upon being let down by an old instructor who wasn't teaching me well. Richard took me on and taught me from scratch and helped me improve my skills as a driver. He is literally the best instructor you will ever have with alot of patience, respect and all round amazing person! Lessons were explained in depth for me and clear for me to understand. You'll have a lot of good talks on the road, literally amazing instructor who I cannot thank enough!

Fantastic experience: **Passed first time** Made me feel very comfortable in the driver seat, the best instructor a learner can ask for 10/10 ⭐️

Fantastic experience: Richard is an excellent instructor, who is enthusiastic and great at communicating clearly. Would recommend!

Fantastic experience: So grateful for what Richard did for me, he’s a great instructor and I would highly recommend him to anybody who is learning to drive. Top top instructor!

Fantastic experience: Richard has been brilliant in helping me pass my test. Always calm and encouraging you can not ask for a better instructor. He went above and beyond especially when the car I was taking my test in broke down the day before. He was there waiting for me at the test centre after rescheduling his day so I could take my test in his car. I passed with no minors and that was thanks to Richard. I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Fantastic experience: Richard is a very good instructor, with so many good qualities in every area. He helped me pass my driving test. It was very difficult during the lock down. He was supportive and understanding. He helped me until I passed my test. Thank you so much

Fantastic experience: This man really went above and beyond to help me obtain my driving license. He’s very professional and made me feel very comfortable and confident behind the wheel. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone. Best wishes.

Fantastic experience: Great driving instructor, extremely patient and supportive. I felt confident in my driving ability very soon after starting lessons. I’d recommend him to anyone who wants to learn how to drive.

Fantastic experience: My son, who lives with me in Swanage, has been learning to drive with Charlton Down Driving School. He could have taken his test in Poole or Dorchester. We have gone for Dorchester. Richard, his driving instructor was brilliant. He prepared my son really carefully for his test. This included knowledge of the car, familiarity with the route and tips for success. My son passed first time. I thoroughly recommend Charlton Down DS to any learners and especially those who want experience around Dorchester.

Fantastic experience: Would 110% recommend, very good tips and very patient and does a very thorough job and step by step process

Fantastic experience: He was a very good and very kind instructor. Richard also contributed to my success. Thank you very much for your help

Fantastic experience: I would highly recommend this driving school to anyone who wants to learn to drive with a patient and skilled instructor. The instructor’s very helpful tips taught me to be a safe driver.

Fantastic experience: Great driving school. Very nice and patient instructor. I would recommend this driving school to anyone looking to pass their driving test quickly and learn to drive safely.