Near Atherton test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 14 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 63.4 km practice loop near Atherton 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 Talbot Roundabout and Leigh Road. 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, independent driving 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 named junctions, schools, shops and pubs, 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 Atherton 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 180-step drive on real, named roads (about 66.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
34 m
Turn right.
28 m
Turn right onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue232 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue411 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way655 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
Talbot Roundabout69 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579286 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579155 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.5 km
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579169 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579912 m
Keep left to stay on A579.
A579155 m
Turn right onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578.
Parsonage Roundabout41 m
Make a right U-turn at Parsonage Roundabout/A578 to stay on Parsonage Roundabout/A578.
Parsonage Roundabout63 m
Turn left onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579912 m
Move right to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.7 km
Turn left onto Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane113 m
Keep left to stay on Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane306 m
Turn right onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577449 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577360 m
Turn right onto Liscard Street.
Liscard Street430 m
Turn left onto Leigh Road/B5215. Continue on B5215.
B5215263 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577274 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Gloucester Street.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street246 m
Turn left onto Bag Lane.
Bag Lane12 m
Keep left to stay on Bag Lane.
Bag Lane701 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto North Road.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Road.
North Road957 m
Move right onto Platt Lane.
Platt Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto A58/Park Road.
A58603 m
Keep right to stay on A58.
A58163 m
Turn left onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road365 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road345 m
Keep left to stay on B5235.
B5235902 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A57732 m
Turn right onto Lovers Lane.
Lovers Lane416 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.4 km
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579169 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579167 m
Turn left onto Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane306 m
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road421 m
Turn left onto Platt Street.
Platt Street160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Holden Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Move left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane307 m
Keep right to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane282 m
Keep right to take Queensway.
Queensway150 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway129 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway557 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Queensway.
Queensway135 m
Turn left onto Regent Drive.
Regent Drive109 m
Turn right onto Richmond Drive.
Richmond Drive254 m
Turn left onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive203 m
Turn right onto Regina Crescent.
Regina Crescent225 m
Turn left onto Royal Drive.
Royal Drive133 m
Turn left onto Empress Drive.
Empress Drive193 m
Turn left onto Regina Crescent.
Regina Crescent70 m
Turn left onto Royal Drive.
Royal Drive133 m
Turn left onto Empress Drive.
Empress Drive193 m
Turn left onto Regina Crescent.
Regina Crescent70 m
Turn right onto Royal Drive.
Royal Drive41 m
Turn right onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive351 m
Turn left onto Sandringham Drive.
Sandringham Drive160 m
Turn left onto Blenheim Drive.
Blenheim Drive75 m
Turn left onto Westminster Drive.
Westminster Drive292 m
Turn left onto Kensington Drive.
Kensington Drive68 m
Turn right onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive468 m
Turn left onto Queensway.
Queensway687 m
Keep straight to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane279 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Turn right onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hope Street.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hope Street.
Hope Street60 m
Turn left onto Irvine Street.
Irvine Street155 m
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road3.0 km
Turn right onto Naylor Street.
Naylor Street73 m
Turn right onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street91 m
Turn left.
121 m
Turn left onto Naylor Street.
Naylor Street28 m
Turn right onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street140 m
Turn left onto Bullough Street.
Bullough Street85 m
Turn left onto Market Street.
Market Street103 m
Move left onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road3.1 km
Turn left onto Platt Street.
Platt Street160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Holden Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Move left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane307 m
Keep right to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane282 m
Keep right to take Queensway.
Queensway150 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway129 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway98 m
Turn right onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive510 m
Turn right onto Regina Crescent.
Regina Crescent225 m
Turn right onto Royal Drive.
Royal Drive41 m
Turn left onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive356 m
Turn left onto Queensway.
Queensway526 m
Turn right onto Green Lane.
Green Lane1.5 km
Move right.
70 m
Make a sharp left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane1.6 km
Turn right to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane112 m
Keep right to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane328 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Turn right onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hope Street.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hope Street.
Hope Street60 m
Turn left onto Irvine Street.
Irvine Street155 m
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road323 m
Turn left onto Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane249 m
Keep right to stay on Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane42 m
Move right to stay on Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane36 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.8 km
Turn left onto Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane113 m
Keep left to stay on Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane306 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A57732 m
Turn right onto Schofield Lane.
Schofield Lane23 m
Move left onto Schofield Lane/B5235. Continue on B5235.
B5235963 m
Keep left to take Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road257 m
Keep right to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road363 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Leigh Road/B5235.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road1.1 km
Move left onto A58/Cricketers Way.
A58250 m
Turn right onto Mill Street/B5235. Continue on B5235.
B5235600 m
Turn left onto Central Drive.
Central Drive225 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue451 m
Turn left onto Market Street.
Market Street158 m
Turn right onto Mill Street/B5235.
Mill Street160 m
Turn left onto A58/Cricketers Way.
A58305 m
Make a sharp right onto Leigh Road.
Leigh Road58 m
Move left onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road38 m
Keep straight to stay on Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road364 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road345 m
Keep left to stay on B5235.
B5235902 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577472 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577360 m
Turn right onto Liscard Street.
Liscard Street428 m
Turn left onto Leigh Road/B5215. Continue on B5215.
B5215263 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577274 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
Talbot Roundabout36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579110 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579175 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579155 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A57970 m
Turn right onto Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane30 m
Keep straight to stay on Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane130 m
Turn right onto Walkdens Avenue.
Walkdens Avenue73 m
Turn left onto Chichester Avenue.
Chichester Avenue97 m
Turn left onto Cromer Drive.
Cromer Drive72 m
Turn left onto Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane277 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.4 km
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579169 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579911 m
Keep left to stay on A579.
A579155 m
Turn right onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578.
Parsonage Roundabout41 m
Make a right U-turn at Parsonage Roundabout/A578 to stay on Parsonage Roundabout/A578.
Parsonage Roundabout63 m
Turn left onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579912 m
Move right to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.9 km
Keep right to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579148 m
Keep right to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579201 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
Talbot Roundabout26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way167 m
Keep left to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way111 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way174 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way199 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue58 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue190 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Atherton · Route 8 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Talbot Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 16.9 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 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.
Talbot Roundabout
Start near Talbot Roundabout.
Leigh Adult Learning Centre
Continue to Leigh Adult Learning Centre.
Twist Lane Garage
Continue to Twist Lane Garage.
Talbot
Continue to Talbot.
Railway Hotel
Continue to Railway Hotel.
St George
Continue to St George.
Pravins Off Licence
Continue to Pravins Off Licence.
Daisy Hill
Continue to Daisy Hill.
Hilton Park
Continue to Hilton Park.
Bowling Green
Continue to Bowling Green.
Higher Folds Sports and Social club
Continue to Higher Folds Sports and Social club.
Antalya
Continue to Antalya.
Mechanics Rest at the Taphouse
Continue to Mechanics Rest at the Taphouse.
St Michael & All Angels
Continue to St Michael & All Angels.
Masons Arms
Continue to Masons Arms.
Leigh Road
Continue to Leigh Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Rose Hill Tavern
Continue to Rose Hill Tavern.
Sacred Heart RC Church
Continue to Sacred Heart RC Church.
Victoria
Continue to Victoria.
Royal
Finish back near Royal, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 16 turns · 2 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 14 turns · 4 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 15 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 63.4 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Atherton test centre, not an official DVSA route.