Near Ashford (Kent) test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 19 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 44.2 km practice route near Ashford (Kent) test centre, taking roughly 40 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 Spearpoint Corner. 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, 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, pubs, shops and schools, 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.
What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.
This route helps you practise:
Road mix
The full 178-step drive on real, named roads (about 51.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
48 m
Turn left onto Tannery Lane.
Tannery Lane391 m
Turn right onto Station Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.
A2042412 m
Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.
Somerset Road28 m
Keep right to stay on Somerset Road/A292.
Somerset Road194 m
Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.
Canterbury Road85 m
Turn right onto Hardinge Road.
Hardinge Road47 m
Keep left to stay on Hardinge Road.
Hardinge Road176 m
Turn right onto Wellesley Road.
Wellesley Road82 m
Turn left onto Mace Lane/A292.
Mace Lane195 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A292.
A292412 m
Turn right onto Canterbury Road/A2042.
Canterbury Road85 m
Turn right onto Hardinge Road.
Hardinge Road224 m
Turn right onto Wellesley Road.
Wellesley Road82 m
Turn left onto Mace Lane/A292.
Mace Lane420 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Mace Lane/A292.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mace Lane/A292.
Mace Lane396 m
Turn left onto Wellesley Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.
A2042633 m
Turn right.
60 m
Move left onto Elwick Road.
Elwick Road297 m
Turn right onto Bank Street.
Bank Street319 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street76 m
Turn left onto North Street.
North Street169 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on North Street.
North Street96 m
Turn left onto Park Street.
Park Street55 m
Turn left onto Edinburgh Road.
Edinburgh Road421 m
Turn left onto Somerset Road/A292.
Somerset Road35 m
Move left onto Forge Lane.
Forge Lane123 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Forge Lane.
Forge Lane118 m
Turn left onto New Street/A292.
New Street226 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chart Road/A292.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road/A292. Continue on Chart Road.
Chart Road611 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chart Road/A28.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road/A28.
Chart Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Brookfield Road/B2229.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brookfield Road/B2229.
Brookfield Road201 m
Turn left onto Leacon Road.
Leacon Road793 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Leacon Road.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Leacon Road.
Leacon Road675 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road369 m
Turn left onto Beaver Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.
A2042202 m
Turn left.
34 m
Keep right at the fork.
12 m
Move left onto Elwick Road.
Elwick Road97 m
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road54 m
Turn left onto Elwick Lane.
Elwick Lane155 m
Turn right to stay on Elwick Lane.
Elwick Lane21 m
Turn left onto Queen Street.
Queen Street10 m
Turn right onto Norwood Street.
Norwood Street181 m
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road65 m
Turn right onto Vicarage Lane.
Vicarage Lane179 m
Turn right onto Station Road/A2042.
Station Road485 m
Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux434 m
Keep right to stay on Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux27 m
Keep right to stay on Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux564 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road62 m
Keep left to stay on Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road199 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road.
Beaver Road390 m
Turn left onto Christchurch Road.
Christchurch Road128 m
Turn left onto Francis Road.
Francis Road150 m
Keep right to stay on Francis Road.
Francis Road159 m
Turn left onto Bond Road.
Bond Road122 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road.
Beaver Road70 m
Turn left onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road256 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road178 m
Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux1.1 km
Turn right onto Beaver Road/A2042. Continue on A2042.
A2042309 m
Keep right to stay on A2042.
A2042548 m
Turn right onto Mace Lane/A292.
Mace Lane407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hythe Road/A292.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hythe Road/A292.
Hythe Road922 m
Turn right onto Romney Road.
Romney Road196 m
Turn left onto Glover Road.
Glover Road131 m
Turn left onto Hunter Road.
Hunter Road186 m
Turn left onto Hythe Road/A292.
Hythe Road661 m
Keep left to stay on Hythe Road/A292.
Hythe Road115 m
Keep right to stay on Hythe Road/A292.
Hythe Road276 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mace Lane/A292.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mace Lane/A292.
Mace Lane396 m
Turn left onto Wellesley Road/A2042.
A2042838 m
Turn left onto Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux461 m
Keep right to stay on Avenue Jacques Faucheux/A2042.
Avenue Jacques Faucheux564 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Norman Road/B2229.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road62 m
Keep left to stay on Norman Road/B2229.
Norman Road199 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road.
Beaver Road390 m
Turn left onto Christchurch Road.
Christchurch Road128 m
Turn left onto Francis Road.
Francis Road150 m
Keep right to stay on Francis Road.
Francis Road159 m
Turn left onto Bond Road.
Bond Road122 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road.
Beaver Road79 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road/B2229.
Beaver Road829 m
Turn left onto Beaver Lane.
Beaver Lane258 m
Turn left.
19 m
Turn left onto Cryol Road.
Cryol Road268 m
Turn left onto Woolreeds Road.
Woolreeds Road124 m
Turn left onto Essetford Road.
Essetford Road124 m
Turn left onto Deans Walk.
Deans Walk134 m
Turn left onto Cryol Road.
Cryol Road181 m
Turn left onto Woolreeds Road.
Woolreeds Road124 m
Turn left onto Essetford Road.
Essetford Road124 m
Turn left onto Deans Walk.
Deans Walk134 m
Turn left onto Cryol Road.
Cryol Road387 m
Turn right onto St. Stephen's Walk.
St. Stephen's Walk225 m
Keep right to stay on St. Stephen's Walk.
St. Stephen's Walk109 m
Keep left to stay on St. Stephen's Walk.
St. Stephen's Walk310 m
Turn left onto Cuckoo Lane.
Cuckoo Lane294 m
Turn left onto Stanhope Road.
Stanhope Road85 m
Turn left to stay on Stanhope Road.
Stanhope Road870 m
Turn left to stay on Stanhope Road.
Stanhope Road94 m
Turn left onto Kingsnorth Road.
Kingsnorth Road630 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road/B2229.
Beaver Road295 m
Turn left to stay on Beaver Road.
Beaver Road382 m
Turn left onto Christchurch Road.
Christchurch Road128 m
Turn left onto Francis Road.
Francis Road150 m
Keep right to stay on Francis Road.
Francis Road159 m
Turn left onto Bond Road.
Bond Road122 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road.
Beaver Road79 m
Turn right onto Beaver Road/B2229.
Beaver Road2.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chart Road/A28.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road/A28.
Chart Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chart Road.
71 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road.
Chart Road372 m
Move left onto A292.
A29242 m
Turn right onto Maidstone Road/A292.
Maidstone Road252 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Magazine Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Magazine Road.
Magazine Road643 m
Move left onto Canterbury Road/A2042.
Canterbury Road1.2 km
Keep right to take A28/Canterbury Road.
A28119 m
Keep left to stay on A28/Canterbury Road.
A28456 m
Enter Spearpoint Corner and take the 1st exit onto A28/Canterbury Road.
Spearpoint Corner22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28388 m
Turn left onto The Street.
The Street502 m
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road16 m
Keep left to stay on Church Road.
Church Road398 m
Turn left onto Faversham Road/A2042.
Faversham Road750 m
Move right onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28797 m
Turn right onto A28/Simone Weil Avenue.
A28882 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A28/Simone Weil Avenue.
A28911 m
Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28789 m
Turn right onto George Williams Way.
George Williams Way48 m
Turn right to stay on George Williams Way.
George Williams Way36 m
Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28758 m
Turn right onto A28/Simone Weil Avenue.
A28882 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A28/Simone Weil Avenue.
A28911 m
Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28788 m
Turn right onto George Williams Way.
George Williams Way48 m
Turn right to stay on George Williams Way.
George Williams Way36 m
Turn left onto A28/Canterbury Road.
A28985 m
Move right onto Magazine Road.
Magazine Road625 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chart Road/A292.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road/A292. Continue on Chart Road.
Chart Road611 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Chart Road.
115 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chart Road.
Chart Road131 m
Keep left to stay on Chart Road.
Chart Road240 m
Move left onto A292.
A292508 m
Enter Drovers Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Maidstone Road/A292.
Drovers Roundabout240 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maidstone Road/A292.
Maidstone Road696 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Magazine Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Magazine Road.
Magazine Road478 m
Turn left onto Malvern Road.
Malvern Road83 m
Turn right onto Quantock Drive.
Quantock Drive201 m
Turn left onto Northdown.
Northdown92 m
Turn right onto Quantock Drive.
Quantock Drive201 m
Turn left onto Malvern Road.
Malvern Road83 m
Turn right onto Magazine Road.
Magazine Road269 m
Turn left onto Albert Road.
Albert Road95 m
Keep right to stay on Albert Road.
Albert Road101 m
Keep right to stay on Albert Road.
Albert Road103 m
Keep left to stay on Albert Road.
Albert Road269 m
Turn right onto Wellesley Road.
Wellesley Road42 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Ashford (Kent) · Route 6 · variant 2 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.
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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
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 3.0 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 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.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Ashford Baptist Church
Start near Ashford Baptist Church.
Centrepiece Church
Continue to Centrepiece Church.
George Hotel
Continue to George Hotel.
Burger Van
Continue to Burger Van.
Electrical Counter
Continue to Electrical Counter.
Victoria Road Primary School
Continue to Victoria Road Primary School.
Birkenstock
Continue to Birkenstock.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
Evangelical Church
Continue to Evangelical Church.
Martyrs Field
Continue to Martyrs Field.
New Wells Church - Ashford
Continue to New Wells Church - Ashford.
St. Francis, Ashford
Continue to St. Francis, Ashford.
Cade Road United Reformed & Methodist Church
Continue to Cade Road United Reformed & Methodist Church.
St. Simon Stock Catholic Church
Continue to St. Simon Stock Catholic Church.
Matalan
Continue to Matalan.
St. Teresa of Avila
Continue to St. Teresa of Avila.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Continue to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Spearpoint Corner
Continue to Spearpoint Corner, taking the junction with good observation.
1st Choice Dry Cleaners
Continue to 1st Choice Dry Cleaners.
Friends House
Finish back near Friends House, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 18 turns · 3 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 25 turns · 3 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 15 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 44.2 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Ashford (Kent) test centre, not an official DVSA route.