Topographical test route planning: questions and answers
Based on Topographical assessment guidelines (Transport for London, no date printed; PDF file dated 29 April 2026) and 3 other sources. Checked .
TfL says the assessment has route planning questions that are true or false, based on a scenario. These questions practise that idea. They are written for this site, and they are not TfL questions.
The first set comes from the way TfL marks routes. The second set uses real London journeys. We checked each journey with a car routing tool on OpenStreetMap data, or from which side of the Thames each place is on. Traffic rules change, and the map in the real test may show something different, so follow the map you are given.
This topic does not practise drawing a route on a map. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
22 questions in 2 sets. Answer one set at a time and you'll see the right answer straight away. Every question and answer is also listed below and in a free PDF.
How TfL marks a route
0 right0 wrong
Question 1 of 10
The map shows a green marker and a red marker. You start your route at the green marker.
All 22 questions and answers
Open a set to see each question, the right answer and why.
How TfL marks a route10 questions
1. The map shows a green marker and a red marker. You start your route at the green marker.
Answer: A. True. TfL says the green marker is the start of the route and the red marker is the end. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
2. You start your route at the red marker because it is closer to you.
Answer: B. False. The red marker is the end of the route. You start at the green marker. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
3. You plan a good route, but you draw it from the red marker back to the green marker. This can lose you marks.
Answer: A. True. TfL takes marks off for planning the route in reverse. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
4. Your route starts on a road near the green marker, not at the marker. You still get full marks.
Answer: B. False. TfL takes marks off if you do not start or end in the correct place. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
5. Your route is legal and reaches the red marker, but it is longer than it needs to be. You lose no marks.
Answer: B. False. TfL takes marks off if you do not follow the most direct route. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
6. The map shows that a turn is not allowed. You make that turn to save time. This can lose you marks.
Answer: A. True. TfL takes marks off for a route or a turn that the symbols on the map do not allow. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
7. You will plan three routes in the assessment: a short route, a short route with a road closure and a long route.
Answer: A. True. TfL says there are three route questions, and these are the three types. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
8. The three route questions are worth less than half of the marks.
Answer: B. False. The three routes are worth 66 of the 100 marks. The multiple-choice questions share the other 34. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
9. A computer marks your route and nobody checks it.
Answer: B. False. A skilled assessor marks each route. A different assessor then checks the marking. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
10. After the assessment, TfL will send you a copy so you can see each mistake.
Answer: B. False. TfL says it cannot give detailed feedback to each person or give copies of the assessment. TfL topographical assessment guidelines
London journeys12 questions
11. You plan the most direct route from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner. It uses Park Lane.
Answer: A. True. True. A car route check from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner uses Park Lane, Knightsbridge. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
12. You plan the most direct route from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner. It uses Sloane Street.
Answer: B. False. False. A car route check from Marble Arch to Hyde Park Corner uses Park Lane, Knightsbridge. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
13. You plan the most direct route from Paddington station to Euston station. It uses Marylebone Road.
Answer: A. True. True. A car route check from Paddington station to Euston station uses Marylebone Road and Euston Road. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
14. You plan the most direct route from Paddington station to Euston station. It uses Oxford Street.
Answer: B. False. False. A car route check from Paddington station to Euston station uses Marylebone Road and Euston Road. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
15. You plan the most direct route from Holborn station to Waterloo station. It uses Waterloo Bridge.
Answer: A. True. True. A car route check from Holborn station to Waterloo station uses Kingsway, Waterloo Bridge, Waterloo Road. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
16. You plan the most direct route from Tate Britain to Waterloo station. It uses Vauxhall Bridge.
Answer: B. False. False. A car route check from Tate Britain to Waterloo station uses John Islip Street, Lambeth Bridge, Lambeth Palace Road. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
17. You plan the most direct route from Clapham Junction station to Victoria station. It uses Chelsea Bridge.
Answer: A. True. True. A car route check from Clapham Junction station to Victoria station uses Falcon Road, Battersea Park Road, Queenstown Road, Chelsea Bridge, Ebury Bridge Road. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
18. You plan the most direct route from Marylebone station to Oxford Circus. It uses Edgware Road.
Answer: B. False. False. A car route check from Marylebone station to Oxford Circus uses Marylebone Road, Portland Place. OSRM car route on OpenStreetMap data, checked 1 November 2026
19. You plan a route from Waterloo station to Trafalgar Square. You must cross the River Thames.
Answer: A. True. True. Waterloo station is in Lambeth, south of the river. Trafalgar Square is in the City of Westminster, north of the river. Locations checked on OpenStreetMap
20. You plan a route from Victoria station to the Tower of London. You must cross the River Thames.
Answer: B. False. False. Victoria station is in the City of Westminster, north of the river. The Tower of London is in Tower Hamlets, north of the river. Locations checked on OpenStreetMap
21. You plan a route from Camden Town station to King's Cross station. You must cross the River Thames.
Answer: B. False. False. Camden Town station and King's Cross station are both in Camden, north of the river. Locations checked on OpenStreetMap
22. You plan a route from the Tower of London to the Shard. You must cross the River Thames.
Answer: A. True. True. The Tower of London is in Tower Hamlets, north of the river. The Shard is in Southwark, south of the river. Locations checked on OpenStreetMap
Questions people ask
Are these the real TfL questions?
No. TfL does not publish its questions. We wrote these from its guidelines and checked the journeys on a map.
More Topographical test practice
Sources
- Topographical assessment guidelines, Transport for London, no date printed; PDF file dated 29 April 2026. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Topographical assessment, Transport for London, undated. Checked 1 November 2026.
- OSRM route checks, car profile, using OpenStreetMap data, Project OSRM, live routing, read on the date checked. Checked 1 November 2026.
- OpenStreetMap map data, read through Nominatim and Overpass. © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenStreetMap contributors, live data, read on the date checked. Checked 1 November 2026.
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