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Practice route
Challenging

Aylesbury · Route 9

Near Aylesbury test centre

30.9 km
Distance
45 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Challenging

Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 11 roundabouts and 16 turns across 30 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 30.9 km practice route near Aylesbury test centre, taking roughly 45 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, Vale Park Drive, Chestnut Crescent and Churchill Avenue and 1 more named junctions. 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, pubs, schools and churches, 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
7
Right turns
11
Roundabouts
0
Traffic lights
30
Total steps

Skills & features

44
Roundabouts
13.4 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 13.4 km
  • B-roads 5.8 km
  • Residential 5.3 km
  • Minor roads 4.4 km
  • A-roads 1.3 km
  • Unclassified 0.9 km
  • service_other 0.2 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 149-step drive on real, named roads (about 31.9 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 Lane157 m

  11. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Griffin Lane.

    Griffin Lane582 m

  12. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A41/Bicester Road.

    A41229 m

  13. Roundabout:

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

    54 m

  14. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Gatehouse Road.

    A41670 m

  15. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A41/Gatehouse Road.

    A41110 m

  16. Roundabout:

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

    23 m

  17. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41210 m

  18. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A41/Friarage Road.

    A4165 m

  19. Roundabout:

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

    7 m

  20. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41329 m

  21. Roundabout:

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

    4 m

  22. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Friarage Road.

    A41125 m

  23. Roundabout:

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

    Exchange Street59 m

  24. Leave roundabout:

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

    A413534 m

  25. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A413.

    A413133 m

  26. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A413/Walton Street.

    A413550 m

  27. Roundabout:

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

    Exchange Street94 m

  28. Leave roundabout:

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

    A413534 m

  29. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A413.

    A4131.3 km

  30. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A413/Wendover Road.

    45 m

  31. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413/Wendover Road.

    A413895 m

  32. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Westminster Drive.

    Westminster Drive312 m

  33. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Ringstead Way.

    Ringstead Way60 m

  34. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Glenfield Close.

    Glenfield Close7 m

  35. U-turn:

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

    Glenfield Close7 m

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Ringstead Way.

    Ringstead Way114 m

  37. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lynwood Road.

    Lynwood Road117 m

  38. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Elm Farm Road.

    Elm Farm Road134 m

  39. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Hazlehurst Drive.

    Hazlehurst Drive243 m

  40. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Waivers Way.

    Waivers Way30 m

  41. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Waivers Way.

    Waivers Way133 m

  42. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Charmfield Road.

    Charmfield Road302 m

  43. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Elm Farm Road.

    Elm Farm Road168 m

  44. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Hazlehurst Drive.

    Hazlehurst Drive243 m

  45. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Waivers Way.

    Waivers Way164 m

  46. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Charmfield Road.

    Charmfield Road129 m

  47. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Weill Road.

    Weill Road226 m

  48. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Patrick Way.

    Patrick Way118 m

  49. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Patrick Way.

    Patrick Way82 m

  50. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Eascote Road.

    Eascote Road140 m

  51. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A413/Wendover Road.

    A413364 m

  52. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A413/Wendover Road.

    9 m

  53. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413/Wendover Road. Continue on A413.

    A4131.4 km

  54. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A413/Walton Street.

    A413550 m

  55. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Exchange Street.

    65 m

  56. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Exchange Street.

    A41282 m

  57. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    18 m

  58. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    A41893 m

  59. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    6 m

  60. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    Upper Hundreds Way230 m

  61. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Street/A413.

    14 m

  62. Leave roundabout:

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

    A413382 m

  63. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A413.

    48 m

  64. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413.

    A41355 m

  65. Turn left:

    Move left onto New Street/A413. Continue on New Street.

    New Street319 m

  66. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    23 m

  67. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Upper Hundreds Way/A413.

    Upper Hundreds Way236 m

  68. Roundabout:

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

    35 m

  69. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A418/Vale Park Drive.

    A41895 m

  70. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Exchange Street.

    24 m

  71. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A41/Exchange Street.

    A41276 m

  72. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A413/Walton Street.

    2 m

  73. Leave roundabout:

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

    A413534 m

  74. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on A413.

    A4131.3 km

  75. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A413/Wendover Road.

    45 m

  76. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A413/Wendover Road.

    A4131.4 km

  77. Keep left:

    Keep left to take Stoke Road/B4443.

    Stoke Road429 m

  78. Roundabout:

    Enter Chestnut Crescent and take the 2nd exit onto Carrington Road.

    Chestnut Crescent65 m

  79. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Carrington Road.

    Carrington Road246 m

  80. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Lee Road.

    Lee Road212 m

  81. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Hampden Gardens.

    Hampden Gardens116 m

  82. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Hampden Gardens.

    Hampden Gardens46 m

  83. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Hampden Gardens.

    Hampden Gardens146 m

  84. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Hampden Gardens.

    Hampden Gardens49 m

  85. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue243 m

  86. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue185 m

  87. Turn left:

    Move left onto Church Square.

    Church Square177 m

  88. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue138 m

  89. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue80 m

  90. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Churchill Avenue.

    24 m

  91. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue152 m

  92. Roundabout:

    Enter Ellen Road and take the 1st exit onto Churchill Avenue.

    Ellen Road4 m

  93. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue79 m

  94. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue476 m

  95. Roundabout:

    Enter Mandeville Road and take the 3rd exit onto B4443.

    Mandeville Road29 m

  96. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto B4443.

    B4443123 m

  97. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lower Road/B4443.

    27 m

  98. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road681 m

  99. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A4010.

    A401032 m

  100. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on A4010.

    A401023 m

  101. Turn left:

    Move left onto Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road209 m

  102. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road104 m

  103. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road131 m

  104. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road549 m

  105. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Risborough Road.

    Risborough Road706 m

  106. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Risborough Road.

    Risborough Road707 m

  107. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road681 m

  108. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Lower Road/B4443.

    Lower Road104 m

  109. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on B4443.

    B4443209 m

  110. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto B4443.

    82 m

  111. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto B4443.

    B4443683 m

  112. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B4443.

    26 m

  113. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto B4443.

    B4443123 m

  114. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mandeville Road/B4443.

    20 m

  115. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Mandeville Road/B4443.

    Mandeville Road1.3 km

  116. Turn left:

    Move left onto Walton Street/B4443. Continue on Walton Street.

    Walton Street133 m

  117. Turn right:

    Move right onto A413.

    A41314 m

  118. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on A413.

    A41325 m

  119. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on A413.

    A41384 m

  120. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on A413.

    A413109 m

  121. Keep left:

    Keep left to take Stoke Road/B4443.

    Stoke Road429 m

  122. Roundabout:

    Enter Chestnut Crescent and take the 2nd exit onto Old Stoke Road.

    Chestnut Crescent35 m

  123. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Stoke Road.

    Old Stoke Road99 m

  124. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Old Stoke Road.

    Old Stoke Road134 m

  125. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road87 m

  126. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Taylor Road.

    30 m

  127. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road180 m

  128. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.

    31 m

  129. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road50 m

  130. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Church Square.

    Church Square38 m

  131. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Church Square.

    Church Square223 m

  132. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Church Square.

    Church Square193 m

  133. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Church Square.

    Church Square39 m

  134. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue110 m

  135. Keep right:

    Keep right to stay on Churchill Avenue.

    Churchill Avenue108 m

  136. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cottesloe Road.

    4 m

  137. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Cottesloe Road.

    Cottesloe Road546 m

  138. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Taylor Road.

    15 m

  139. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road180 m

  140. Roundabout:

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

    61 m

  141. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road181 m

  142. Roundabout:

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

    29 m

  143. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Taylor Road.

    Taylor Road87 m

  144. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Old Stoke Road.

    Old Stoke Road104 m

  145. Keep left:

    Keep left to stay on Old Stoke Road.

    Old Stoke Road127 m

  146. Roundabout:

    Enter Chestnut Crescent and take the 4th exit.

    Chestnut Crescent84 m

  147. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Stoke Road.

    Old Stoke Road368 m

  148. Turn left:

    Move left onto Walton Street/B4443. Continue on Walton Street.

    Walton Street467 m

  149. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Aylesbury · Route 9 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
  • Chestnut Crescent
  • Churchill Avenue
  • Mandeville Road

Schools

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

  • University Campus Aylesbury Vale
  • William Harding Combined School (Juniors
  • William Harding Combined School (Infants)

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Holy Trinity, Walton
  • Church of the Good Shepherd
  • St Mary the Virgin
  • Seventh Day Adventist Church Aylesbury

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Craft Yard Aylesbury
  • Bricklayers Arms
  • Broad Leys
  • White Hart

Shops & parades

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

  • Rhadijah Fashion
  • Belmore Centre

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 13.4 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. Craft Yard Aylesbury

    Continue to Craft Yard Aylesbury.

  4. University Campus Aylesbury Vale

    Continue to University Campus Aylesbury Vale.

  5. Bricklayers Arms

    Continue to Bricklayers Arms.

  6. Holy Trinity, Walton

    Continue to Holy Trinity, Walton.

  7. Broad Leys

    Continue to Broad Leys.

  8. William Harding Combined School (Juniors

    Continue to William Harding Combined School (Juniors.

  9. William Harding Combined School (Infants)

    Continue to William Harding Combined School (Infants).

  10. White Hart

    Continue to White Hart.

  11. Rhadijah Fashion

    Continue to Rhadijah Fashion.

  12. Vale Park Drive

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

  13. Chestnut Crescent

    Continue to Chestnut Crescent, taking the junction with good observation.

  14. Churchill Avenue

    Continue to Churchill Avenue, taking the junction with good observation.

  15. Church of the Good Shepherd

    Continue to Church of the Good Shepherd.

  16. Belmore Centre

    Continue to Belmore Centre.

  17. St Mary the Virgin

    Continue to St Mary the Virgin.

  18. Bull

    Continue to Bull.

  19. Mandeville Road

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

  20. Seventh Day Adventist Church Aylesbury

    Finish back near Seventh Day Adventist Church Aylesbury, completing the loop.

More routes at Aylesbury test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 30.9 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Aylesbury test centre, not an official DVSA route.