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You could try the Storm Driving School at Unit 5 14 London Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2AG Tel 0800 083 2599. They do towing courses

Phil

If you check local driving instructors or google towing lessons there will be a number try one of these

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=towing+lessons+surrey&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&rlz=1I7DKUK_en&redir_esc=&ei=24VpTLX7Jc-TjAewkv3UBA

Thanks, all.  I will follow up some of the suggestions.  I agree that I would probably be OK without lessons but I would feel more confident if I have some tuition.

By the way, I looked up the Camping & Caravan Club and their fees are much higher.  The course for beginners is about £900.  I think that's a bit much.

Methinks that the decimal point is in the wrong place. £90 for a two day course is about the norm.

Phil

I looked it up again to make sure.  A 2-day course for someone with towing experience and able to reverse well is £529.  For someone like me with no towing experience it is £934.  For someone who feels they need extra time it is £1150.  I had to do a few double checks to make sure I had not read it wrong but I have taken these figures off their website.

The links which you have all given me are much more reasonable.  Thank you all very much.

It's a lot cheaper with the Caravan Club!! 

Copied from the Caravan Club Website, The price is between £90 and £105 so it might be worth doing their's even if you don't own a caravan :)

Course details

1) The 10 hour Practical Caravanning Course; held over one and a half days, is ideal for newcomers. It covers instruction and practice in:

• Understanding loading and how it affects towing.
• Hitching up and towing, safely and efficiently.
• Practice in manoeuvring an outfit forwards and backwards, easily and confidently.
• Simple technical information to encourage user checks.
• Everyday safety checks and the law affecting caravanners.

2) The one day Caravan Manoeuvring Course is suitable for the caravanner or other trailer tower who knows the basics but has difficulty in manoeuvring, especially reversing their outfit, with confidence.

The course takes place in the private grounds of Colleges and Commercial training schools. The courses are taught by professional instructors, and caravans are provided.

Course requirements

You will need a car fitted with a towing bracket, functional electric sockets, and two outside mirrors wide enough to see either side of the caravan. You must possess a full Group B driving licence (provisional not accepted) and the car must be insured to tow a trailer caravan.

Locations

Courses are currently held at the following locations:

• Askham Bryan, York
• Broxburn, West Lothian
• Chelmsford, Essex
• Chipping Warden, Northamptonshire
• Consett, County Durham
• Devizes, Wiltshire
• Evesham, Worcestershire
• Henfield, West Sussex
• Newark, Nottinghamshire
• Norwich, Norfolk
• Pembrey, Carmarthenshire
• Preston, Lancashire
• Ruthin, Denbighshire
• Stoke Climsland, Cornwall
• Winchester, Hampshire

Course fees

Course fees are £105.00 for the Practical Caravanning Course and £90.00 for the Caravan Manoeuvring Course.

Quote: Originally posted by Fiona28 on 17/8/2010

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I looked it up again to make sure.  A 2-day course for someone with towing experience and able to reverse well is £529.  For someone like me with no towing experience it is £934.  For someone who feels they need extra time it is £1150.  I had to do a few double checks to make sure I had not read it wrong but I have taken these figures off their website.

The links which you have all given me are much more reasonable.  Thank you all very much.

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Alan  -  thank you for your comments.  However, you will see from the first post that, although I have held a full driving licence for many years, I have absolutely no experience of towing.  I would feel more confident if I have been taught to do it properly.  I would also feel that I am less likely to be a moving hazard on the roads. 

Presumably the B+E licence is to establish that the driver has an appropriate level of ability to tow stuff safely which is what I want to do.  Also, if I do the course, it gives me an option to upgrade later if my knees no longer want to get up off an airbed in the morning and I decide to go over to the dark side.

I am really grateful to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply and for your support.