Try to work out what is happening as you approach, the likely traffic flow and where you are going. For a general simple approach method you can approach all roundabouts in second gear (changing down at 20mph before you get to the final approach curve) and either continue in that gear if the roundabout is clear - or stop and put it into first gear.
Also if you are not in the right-hand lane yourself then try not to be alongside another vehicle that is in the right-hand lane. This is because the car (or more usually a 4-wheel drive or white van man) next to you on your right will block your view of the roundabout. Try to stay either just ahead of them so that you can see, or just behind them. Always make sure that you can see fully and never pull out next to someone that is partially blocking your view - a truck coming from your right that you cannot see may miss the van (etc) next to you and flatten you instead.
Look at the whole roundabout - traffic coming from the left will affect the traffic on the right, and may give you the opportunity to pull-out. Keep in lane (imagine there is a truck next to you) and exit in the left lane if possible. If you are turning right and in the right-hand lane: Be prepared to exit in the right lane if there is something alongside you (especially at Tesco). Always double-check your decision before & after pulling out. Do not pull out if another vehicle is moving fast enough and close enough to hit you – they may not go where you think they will. Never pull out alongside another vehicle unless you can see clearly – it will not protect you.
Generally try to think of the roundabout as a clock face, you will approach from the 6 O’ Clock direction:
Any exit before 11 O’ Clock will be a left turn.
Any exit between 11’ O’ Clock and 1 O’ Clock will be straight ahead.
Any exit after 1 O’ Clock will be a right turn.
On your driving test however you won’t have to work this out the examiner will tell you in his direction command, and it is the same format on lessons too, so that you are used to the general method.
Exceptions are: Where there is a 3 lane entrance to the roundabout and the left lane is left turn only. This may be defined by road markings, but may not. If there are no road markings look at the roundabout itself. If there are three lanes on the approach and there are only two lanes in the roundabout, then the left lane must be left turn only. If there are three lanes on the approach and there are three lanes in the roundabout, then you should be able to use the left lane to straight ahead.
The only roundabout in Southend with a non-marked three lane approach is Sutton Rd North roundabout junction with Eastern Ave (near the Fire Station - entering the roundabout from Sutton Rd North). For this one you should use the middle lane to go straight ahead (Cuckoo Corner has 3 lanes but there are signs and road markings telling which lane to go into.)
Where road markings tell you differently: eg. East St roundabout junction with Sutton Rd - from East street going straight ahead and also from Sutton Rd Matalan end going straight ahead; eg. Old Vienna Roundabout heading towards Belfairs Golf Course from Prittlewell Chase and Driving Test Centre).Both these roundabouts have road markings telling you to use the right-hand lane to go straight ahead