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Practice route
Challenging

Aylesbury · Route 1

Near Aylesbury test centre

28.0 km
Distance
40 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Challenging

Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts and 14 turns across 26 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 28.0 km practice route near Aylesbury 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 Coldharbour Way, Bicester Road and Vale Park Drive. 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, 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 named junctions, churches, schools and shops, 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 Aylesbury 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
5
Right turns
10
Roundabouts
0
Traffic lights
26
Total steps

Skills & features

30
Roundabouts
15.0 km
Dual carriageway
30, 40 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • Trunk roads 15.0 km
  • Minor roads 6.2 km
  • Residential 3.8 km
  • A-roads 2.2 km
  • Unclassified 0.2 km
  • service_other 0.2 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 108-step drive on real, named roads (about 28.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive northeast.

    16 m

  2. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Smeaton Close.

    Smeaton Close56 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Smeaton Close.

    Smeaton Close97 m

  4. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Brunel Road.

    Brunel Road144 m

  5. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Coldharbour Way.

    3 m

  6. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Coldharbour Way.

    Coldharbour Way207 m

  7. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Coldharbour Way.

    31 m

  8. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Coldharbour Way.

    Coldharbour Way211 m

  9. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Griffin Lane.

    34 m

  10. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Griffin Lane.

    Griffin Lane740 m

  11. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A41/Bicester Road.

    A41229 m

  12. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A41/Gatehouse Road.

    54 m

  13. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Gatehouse Road.

    A41781 m

  14. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Friarage Road.

    23 m

  15. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41275 m

  16. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A41/Friarage Road.

    7 m

  17. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41329 m

  18. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A41/Friarage Road.

    4 m

  19. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41125 m

  20. Roundabout:

    Enter Exchange Street and take the 2nd exit onto A413/Walton Street.

    Exchange Street59 m

  21. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413/Walton Street. Continue on A413.

    A413534 m

  22. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A413.

    A413133 m

  23. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A413/Walton Street.

    A413550 m

  24. Roundabout:

    Enter Exchange Street and take the 3rd exit onto A413/Walton Street.

    Exchange Street94 m

  25. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413/Walton Street. Continue on A413.

    A413534 m

  26. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A413.

    A4131.3 km

  27. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn onto A413/Wendover Road.

    A413268 m

  28. Turn left:

    Make a sharp left onto Elm Farm Road.

    Elm Farm Road38 m

  29. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Elm Farm Road.

    Elm Farm Road40 m

  30. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A413/Wendover Road.

    A413270 m

  31. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Camborne Avenue.

    5 m

  32. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Camborne Avenue.

    Camborne Avenue387 m

  33. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Long Meadow.

    Long Meadow144 m

  34. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Crosland Road.

    Crosland Road144 m

  35. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Turnfurlong Lane.

    Turnfurlong Lane627 m

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wendover Way.

    Wendover Way53 m

  37. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Turnfurlong.

    Turnfurlong648 m

  38. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Walton Road.

    Walton Road305 m

  39. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A413.

    A41359 m

  40. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A413.

    A413521 m

  41. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wendover Way.

    Wendover Way450 m

  42. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Turnfurlong Lane.

    Turnfurlong Lane548 m

  43. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Westmorland Avenue.

    Westmorland Avenue455 m

  44. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Howard Avenue.

    Howard Avenue196 m

  45. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Long Meadow.

    Long Meadow509 m

  46. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bedgrove.

    Bedgrove420 m

  47. Turn left:

    Move left onto Camborne Avenue.

    Camborne Avenue41 m

  48. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A41/Tring Road. Continue on A41.

    A411.1 km

  49. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Oakfield Road/A4157.

    Oakfield Road585 m

  50. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A4157.

    A4157748 m

  51. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A418/Bierton Road.

    103 m

  52. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Bierton Road.

    A418240 m

  53. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A418.

    19 m

  54. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418.

    A41817 m

  55. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A418/Aylesbury Road.

    3 m

  56. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Aylesbury Road.

    A418802 m

  57. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Parsons Lane.

    Parsons Lane182 m

  58. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Burcott Close.

    Burcott Close73 m

  59. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Burcott Close.

    Burcott Close73 m

  60. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Parsons Lane.

    Parsons Lane182 m

  61. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A418/Aylesbury Road. Continue on A418.

    A4181.2 km

  62. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn at Eastern Link Road to stay on A418.

    A4182.0 km

  63. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Coppice Way.

    6 m

  64. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Coppice Way.

    Coppice Way64 m

  65. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Coppice Close.

    Coppice Close51 m

  66. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Coppice Close.

    Coppice Close51 m

  67. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Coppice Way.

    Coppice Way231 m

  68. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Field Way.

    Field Way225 m

  69. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Meadow Way.

    Meadow Way294 m

  70. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Douglas Road/A4157.

    Douglas Road414 m

  71. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A418/Bierton Road.

    19 m

  72. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Bierton Road.

    A418618 m

  73. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on A418.

    A418194 m

  74. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Stocklake.

    3 m

  75. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Stocklake.

    Stocklake212 m

  76. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn at Pembroke Road to stay on Stocklake.

    Stocklake232 m

  77. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Park Street.

    2 m

  78. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Park Street.

    Park Street197 m

  79. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    13 m

  80. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    34 m

  81. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Osier Way.

    Osier Way21 m

  82. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Park Street.

    Park Street165 m

  83. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A418.

    25 m

  84. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418.

    A418197 m

  85. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Cambridge Street.

    Cambridge Street339 m

  86. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    Upper Hundreds Way240 m

  87. Roundabout:

    Enter Vale Park Drive and take the 4th exit onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    Vale Park Drive63 m

  88. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    Upper Hundreds Way230 m

  89. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cambridge Street.

    32 m

  90. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Cambridge Street.

    Cambridge Street370 m

  91. Turn left:

    Move left onto A418/Bierton Road.

    A418108 m

  92. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Manor Road.

    Manor Road248 m

  93. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Vale Road.

    Vale Road192 m

  94. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Tindal Road.

    Tindal Road257 m

  95. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A418/Bierton Road.

    A418323 m

  96. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on A418.

    A418194 m

  97. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    50 m

  98. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    A418238 m

  99. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    7 m

  100. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    A41895 m

  101. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A41/High Street.

    6 m

  102. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/High Street.

    A41473 m

  103. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Walton Road.

    101 m

  104. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Walton Road.

    Walton Road554 m

  105. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A413.

    A41359 m

  106. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A413.

    A413133 m

  107. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A413/Walton Street.

    A413438 m

  108. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Aylesbury · Route 1 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.

  • Coldharbour Way
  • Bicester Road
  • Vale Park Drive

Schools

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

  • University Campus Aylesbury Vale
  • Turnfurlong Infant School
  • Turnfurlong Junior School
  • Computer Block

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Holy Trinity, Walton
  • Bierton: St James the Great
  • Salvation Army Aylesbury Corps

Parks & green space

Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.

  • Haddington Way Park

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Broad Leys
  • Millwrights
  • Plough
  • Red Lion

Shops & parades

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

  • Gallery 31
  • S.W.1
  • Roosters Piri Piri

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 15.0 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.

  • 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. Coldharbour Way

    Start near Coldharbour Way.

  2. Bicester Road

    Continue to Bicester Road, taking the junction with good observation.

  3. Holy Trinity, Walton

    Continue to Holy Trinity, Walton.

  4. University Campus Aylesbury Vale

    Continue to University Campus Aylesbury Vale.

  5. Gallery 31

    Continue to Gallery 31.

  6. Broad Leys

    Continue to Broad Leys.

  7. Turnfurlong Infant School

    Continue to Turnfurlong Infant School.

  8. Turnfurlong Junior School

    Continue to Turnfurlong Junior School.

  9. Millwrights

    Continue to Millwrights.

  10. S.W.1

    Continue to S.W.1.

  11. Plough

    Continue to Plough.

  12. Haddington Way Park

    Continue to Haddington Way Park.

  13. Bierton: St James the Great

    Continue to Bierton: St James the Great.

  14. Red Lion

    Continue to Red Lion.

  15. Bell

    Continue to Bell.

  16. Salvation Army Aylesbury Corps

    Continue to Salvation Army Aylesbury Corps.

  17. Weavers

    Continue to Weavers.

  18. Vale Park Drive

    Continue to Vale Park Drive, taking the junction with good observation.

  19. Roosters Piri Piri

    Continue to Roosters Piri Piri.

  20. Computer Block

    Finish back near Computer Block, completing the loop.

More routes at Aylesbury test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 28.0 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Aylesbury test centre, not an official DVSA route.