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Practice route
Challenging

Ashford (Kent) · Route 5 · variant 2

Near Ashford (Kent) test centre

48.7 km
Distance
35 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Moderate

Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 13 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 23 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 48.7 km practice route near Ashford (Kent) test centre, taking roughly 35 min to drive. It is NOT an official DVSA examiner route, the DVSA does not publish those, but it uses the same local roads and junction types an examiner is likely to choose.

Along the way you'll meet George Williams Way, Spearpoint Corner and Boulevard. Knowing the approach, lane and exit at each one before you arrive is the difference between a planned manoeuvre and a last-second reaction, and last-second reactions are where avoidable faults come from.

On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and sustained concentration. Driving it a few times before your test builds the muscle memory that frees up attention for observation and decision-making on the day.

The loop is anchored by 20 catalogued landmarks, including churches, schools, pubs and named junctions, so you can navigate it from recognisable features rather than a memorised turn list. Rehearsing it in this way means that on test day the area already feels familiar, and your attention is free for the traffic rather than the map.

Whatever the route, your practical test follows the same national shape: an eyesight check, a couple of vehicle-safety questions, around forty minutes of general driving, one reversing manoeuvre chosen by the examiner, and roughly twenty minutes of independent driving following signs or a sat-nav. Practising on roads like these is how you make each of those elements feel routine rather than new.

Treat this route as practice, not a script. The value is not in repeating one fixed sequence but in getting comfortable with the road types, speed changes and junction patterns of the area around Ashford (Kent) test centre, so that whatever order your examiner chooses on the day, none of it is unfamiliar. Drive it a few times, focus on smooth observation and planning, and it becomes one more stretch of road you already know, which is exactly the kind of preparation that turns nerves into confidence.

If you are practising with a supervising driver rather than an instructor, take it steadily: agree the manoeuvre spots in advance, keep to a comfortable pace, and stop to talk through anything that felt rushed. And remember the basics that apply on every road, mirrors before any change of speed or direction, signals in good time, and a following distance that gives you room to react. Those habits travel with you long after the test is passed.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

9
Left turns
4
Right turns
8
Roundabouts
3
Traffic lights
23
Total steps

Skills & features

18
Roundabouts
9.9 km
Dual carriageway
20, 30, 40, 50, 70 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • National-speed roads
  • 20 mph zones
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • A-roads 17.9 km
  • Trunk roads 9.9 km
  • Residential 7.5 km
  • Minor roads 6.0 km
  • B-roads 2.2 km
  • Unclassified 1.9 km
  • service_other 0.5 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 178-step drive on real, named roads (about 56.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive east.

    48 m

  2. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Tannery Lane.

    Tannery Lane391 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.

    A2042412 m

  4. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road28 m

  5. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road194 m

  6. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.

    Canterbury Road85 m

  7. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Hardinge Road.

    Hardinge Road47 m

  8. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Hardinge Road.

    Hardinge Road176 m

  9. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellesley Road.

    Wellesley Road82 m

  10. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Mace Lane/A292.

    Mace Lane195 m

  11. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on A292.

    A292412 m

  12. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.

    Canterbury Road85 m

  13. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Hardinge Road.

    Hardinge Road224 m

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellesley Road.

    Wellesley Road82 m

  15. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Mace Lane/A292.

    Mace Lane420 m

  16. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hythe Road/A292.

    19 m

  17. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Hythe Road/A292.

    Hythe Road1.7 km

  18. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Church Road.

    Church Road484 m

  19. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Sevington Lane.

    Sevington Lane198 m

  20. Turn right:

    Move right onto Boys Hall Road.

    Boys Hall Road86 m

  21. Keep left:

    Keep straight to stay on Boys Hall Road.

    Boys Hall Road519 m

  22. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Boys Hall Road.

    Boys Hall Road414 m

  23. Turn right:

    Move right onto Cudworth Road.

    Cudworth Road13 m

  24. Keep left:

    Keep straight to stay on Cudworth Road.

    Cudworth Road103 m

  25. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Cudworth Road.

    Cudworth Road69 m

  26. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Gladstone Road.

    Gladstone Road410 m

  27. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Newtown Road.

    Newtown Road815 m

  28. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Newtown Road.

    Newtown Road112 m

  29. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Newtown Road.

    Newtown Road326 m

  30. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.

    Avenue Jacques Faucheux527 m

  31. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    94 m

  32. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road238 m

  33. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    33 m

  34. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road261 m

  35. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road79 m

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bond Road.

    Bond Road246 m

  37. Turn right:

    Turn right onto William Road.

    William Road307 m

  38. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Christchurch Road.

    Christchurch Road252 m

  39. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road98 m

  40. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road283 m

  41. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road256 m

  42. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    32 m

  43. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road178 m

  44. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.

    Avenue Jacques Faucheux1.1 km

  45. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beaver Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.

    A2042309 m

  46. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A2042.

    A2042540 m

  47. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road28 m

  48. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road194 m

  49. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.

    Canterbury Road121 m

  50. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A2042.

    A2042313 m

  51. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042. Continue on Canterbury Road.

    Canterbury Road1.0 km

  52. Turn right:

    Turn right onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way247 m

  53. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way166 m

  54. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto George Williams Way.

    35 m

  55. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way27 m

  56. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way274 m

  57. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Clarke Crescent.

    Clarke Crescent157 m

  58. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Clarke Crescent.

    Clarke Crescent320 m

  59. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto George Williams Way.

    15 m

  60. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way69 m

  61. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Clarke Crescent.

    Clarke Crescent95 m

  62. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Raymond Fuller Way.

    Raymond Fuller Way188 m

  63. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Raymond Fuller Way.

    Raymond Fuller Way124 m

  64. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Clarke Crescent.

    Clarke Crescent284 m

  65. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto George Williams Way.

    29 m

  66. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way245 m

  67. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A2070.

    A207037 m

  68. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A2070.

    A2070149 m

  69. Roundabout:

    Enter Spearpoint Corner and take the 1st exit onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    Spearpoint Corner7 m

  70. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28503 m

  71. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28123 m

  72. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28923 m

  73. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A28/Simone Weil Avenue.

    A28882 m

  74. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on A28/Simone Weil Avenue.

    A28911 m

  75. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28789 m

  76. Turn right:

    Turn right onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way48 m

  77. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way36 m

  78. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28474 m

  79. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28518 m

  80. Turn right:

    Turn right onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way48 m

  81. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way36 m

  82. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28758 m

  83. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A28/Simone Weil Avenue.

    A28882 m

  84. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on A28/Simone Weil Avenue.

    A28911 m

  85. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28789 m

  86. Turn right:

    Turn right onto George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way48 m

  87. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on George Williams Way.

    George Williams Way36 m

  88. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road. Continue on Canterbury Road.

    Canterbury Road1.4 km

  89. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road211 m

  90. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellesley Road/A2042.

    Wellesley Road51 m

  91. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A2042.

    A2042787 m

  92. Keep left:

    Keep left to take Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road7 m

  93. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.

    Avenue Jacques Faucheux461 m

  94. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.

    Avenue Jacques Faucheux564 m

  95. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    94 m

  96. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road238 m

  97. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    33 m

  98. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road62 m

  99. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road199 m

  100. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road79 m

  101. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bond Road.

    Bond Road246 m

  102. Turn right:

    Turn right onto William Road.

    William Road307 m

  103. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Christchurch Road.

    Christchurch Road350 m

  104. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Beaver Road.

    Beaver Road283 m

  105. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road256 m

  106. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.

    32 m

  107. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.

    Norman Road178 m

  108. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.

    Avenue Jacques Faucheux1.1 km

  109. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beaver Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.

    A2042309 m

  110. Keep right:

    Keep right to take Station Road/A2042.

    Station Road540 m

  111. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road28 m

  112. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road194 m

  113. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.

    Canterbury Road121 m

  114. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A2042.

    A2042313 m

  115. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042. Continue on Canterbury Road.

    Canterbury Road1.2 km

  116. Keep right:

    Keep right to take A28/Canterbury Road.

    A28575 m

  117. Roundabout:

    Enter Spearpoint Corner and take the 3rd exit onto A2070.

    Spearpoint Corner84 m

  118. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A2070.

    A207020 m

  119. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A2070.

    A2070640 m

  120. Keep left:

    Keep straight to take Willesborough Road/A2070.

    Willesborough Road2.1 km

  121. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kennington Road/A2070.

    26 m

  122. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Kennington Road/A2070.

    Kennington Road94 m

  123. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Kennington Road/A2070.

    Kennington Road285 m

  124. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A2070/Bad Munstereifel Road.

    246 m

  125. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A2070/Bad Munstereifel Road.

    A2070471 m

  126. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.

    100 m

  127. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A2070/Bad Munstereifel Road.

    A20702.5 km

  128. Take exit:

    Take the exit.

    443 m

  129. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.

    17 m

  130. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A2070/Bad Munstereifel Road.

    A20702.2 km

  131. Turn left:

    Move left.

    87 m

  132. Turn left:

    Move left onto The Boulevard.

    The Boulevard128 m

  133. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto The Boulevard.

    43 m

  134. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto The Boulevard.

    The Boulevard299 m

  135. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Long Barrow.

    27 m

  136. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto The Long Barrow.

    The Long Barrow305 m

  137. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Monument Way.

    Monument Way481 m

  138. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Boulevard.

    27 m

  139. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto The Boulevard.

    The Boulevard299 m

  140. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Long Barrow.

    27 m

  141. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto The Long Barrow.

    The Long Barrow305 m

  142. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Monument Way.

    Monument Way481 m

  143. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Boulevard.

    27 m

  144. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto The Boulevard.

    The Boulevard299 m

  145. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Crowbridge Road.

    81 m

  146. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Crowbridge Road.

    Crowbridge Road666 m

  147. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Gladstone Road.

    Gladstone Road186 m

  148. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Gladstone Road.

    Gladstone Road223 m

  149. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Cudworth Road.

    Cudworth Road69 m

  150. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Cudworth Road.

    Cudworth Road57 m

  151. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bath Road.

    Bath Road277 m

  152. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Mead Road.

    Mead Road266 m

  153. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Newtown Road.

    Newtown Road328 m

  154. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Crowbridge Link.

    Crowbridge Link146 m

  155. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Boys Hall Road.

    Boys Hall Road676 m

  156. Turn left:

    Move left onto Sevington Lane.

    Sevington Lane198 m

  157. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Church Road.

    Church Road483 m

  158. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Hythe Road/A292.

    Hythe Road1.4 km

  159. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Hythe Road/A292.

    Hythe Road276 m

  160. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mace Lane/A292.

    30 m

  161. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Mace Lane/A292.

    Mace Lane396 m

  162. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wellesley Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.

    A2042633 m

  163. Turn right:

    Turn right.

    47 m

  164. Keep right:

    Keep right at the fork.

    12 m

  165. Turn left:

    Move left onto Elwick Road.

    Elwick Road297 m

  166. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Bank Street.

    Bank Street319 m

  167. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Street.

    High Street76 m

  168. Turn left:

    Turn left onto North Street.

    North Street168 m

  169. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on North Street.

    North Street96 m

  170. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Park Street.

    Park Street55 m

  171. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Edinburgh Road.

    Edinburgh Road405 m

  172. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Edinburgh Road.

    Edinburgh Road26 m

  173. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Somerset Road/A292.

    Somerset Road259 m

  174. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Canterbury Road/A2042.

    Canterbury Road85 m

  175. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Hardinge Road.

    Hardinge Road47 m

  176. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Hardinge Road.

    Hardinge Road176 m

  177. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellesley Road.

    Wellesley Road42 m

  178. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Ashford (Kent) · Route 5 · variant 2 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

These are the real named features along the loop, straight from our route catalogue. Use them to recognise where you are and to anticipate the hazard each one brings, not to memorise a fixed order.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • George Williams Way
  • Spearpoint Corner
  • Boulevard

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Ashford School
  • Ashford College

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Ashford Baptist Church
  • New Wells Church - Ashford
  • St. Mary the Virgin, Willesborough
  • Evangelical Church
  • Christ Church

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Alfred Arms
  • Locomotive

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Papa John's
  • Diamond Carpets
  • Londis - Willesborough
  • Athenia Aesthetics

Watch out for

  • Multiple roundabouts

    Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.

  • Dual-carriageway join

    About 9.9 km of this loop is dual carriageway. Build your speed on the slip road, take an effective rearward observation, and merge without forcing other traffic to brake.

  • Changing speed limits

    Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 50, 70 mph). Watch for repeater signs and adjust early, examiners mark you down for carrying the wrong speed into a new limit.

  • Residential streets

    Narrow residential roads mean parked cars, pedestrians and reduced visibility. Cover the brake, keep your speed down and be ready to give way.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Ashford Baptist Church

    Start near Ashford Baptist Church.

  2. Ashford School

    Continue to Ashford School.

  3. New Wells Church - Ashford

    Continue to New Wells Church - Ashford.

  4. St. Mary the Virgin, Willesborough

    Continue to St. Mary the Virgin, Willesborough.

  5. Alfred Arms

    Continue to Alfred Arms.

  6. Evangelical Church

    Continue to Evangelical Church.

  7. Christ Church

    Continue to Christ Church.

  8. Locomotive

    Continue to Locomotive.

  9. Friends House

    Continue to Friends House.

  10. Mount Zion Baptist Church

    Continue to Mount Zion Baptist Church.

  11. George Williams Way

    Continue to George Williams Way, taking the junction with good observation.

  12. Papa John's

    Continue to Papa John's.

  13. Spearpoint Corner

    Continue to Spearpoint Corner, taking the junction with good observation.

  14. Boulevard

    Continue to Boulevard, taking the junction with good observation.

  15. Diamond Carpets

    Continue to Diamond Carpets.

  16. Londis - Willesborough

    Continue to Londis - Willesborough.

  17. Athenia Aesthetics

    Continue to Athenia Aesthetics.

  18. Ashford College

    Continue to Ashford College.

  19. Centrepiece Church

    Continue to Centrepiece Church.

  20. AJE1 Afro Carribbean Shop

    Finish back near AJE1 Afro Carribbean Shop, completing the loop.

More routes at Ashford (Kent) test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 48.7 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Ashford (Kent) test centre, not an official DVSA route.