Near Birmingham Kings Heath test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts and 19 turns across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 59.4 km practice route near Birmingham Kings Heath 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 Maypole. 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, 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 schools, pubs, named junctions 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 Birmingham Kings Heath 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 139-step drive on real, named roads (about 59.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
33 m
Turn right onto Hawkhurst Road.
Hawkhurst Road233 m
Turn right onto Henlow Road.
Henlow Road312 m
Turn left onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane152 m
Turn left onto Cotford Road.
Cotford Road340 m
Move left onto Sladepool Farm Road.
Sladepool Farm Road465 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4351.2 km
Turn right.
25 m
Turn left.
20 m
Turn left.
25 m
Turn left onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4351.8 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 5th exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole143 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4351.4 km
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn left onto Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft87 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435273 m
Turn left onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road874 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto School Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road129 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
98 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road1.1 km
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Maypole Lane.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane484 m
Enter The Maypole and take the 4th exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole103 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4351.4 km
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn left onto Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft87 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435273 m
Turn left onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road874 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto School Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road129 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road1.1 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Haslucks Green Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haslucks Green Road.
Haslucks Green Road565 m
Turn left onto Newborough Road.
Newborough Road98 m
Turn right onto Skelcher Road.
Skelcher Road341 m
Turn right onto Sandy Hill Road.
Sandy Hill Road702 m
Turn left onto A34/Stratford Road.
A34544 m
Enter Robin Hood Island and take the 2nd exit onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Island53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane856 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Highfield Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road977 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto School Road.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road127 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Warstock Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road840 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435337 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn left onto Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft87 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435273 m
Turn left onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road874 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto School Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road129 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road1.1 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Haslucks Green Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haslucks Green Road.
Haslucks Green Road565 m
Turn left onto Newborough Road.
Newborough Road98 m
Turn right onto Skelcher Road.
Skelcher Road341 m
Turn right onto Sandy Hill Road.
Sandy Hill Road702 m
Turn left onto A34/Stratford Road.
A34544 m
Enter Robin Hood Island and take the 2nd exit onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Island53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane856 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Highfield Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road977 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto School Road.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road127 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Warstock Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road840 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435337 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn left onto Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft87 m
Turn left to stay on Poston Croft.
Poston Croft48 m
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane767 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435273 m
Turn left onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road874 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto School Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road129 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto School Road.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Priory Road.
Priory Road996 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Robin Hood Lane.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane116 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane138 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Highfield Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road215 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Highfield Road.
Highfield Road237 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Robin Hood Lane/A4040.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane/A4040. Continue on Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane685 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Robin Hood Lane/A4040.
47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane/A4040. Continue on A4040.
A4040917 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brook Lane/A4040.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brook Lane/A4040.
Brook Lane494 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane411 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane513 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Howard Road East/A4040.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Howard Road East/A4040. Continue on A4040.
A4040981 m
Turn left onto Vicarage Road/A4040.
Vicarage Road513 m
Turn right onto Priory Road.
Priory Road327 m
Turn right onto Cartland Road.
Cartland Road225 m
Turn left onto Vicarage Road/A4040.
Vicarage Road239 m
Turn right onto Howard Road/A4040. Continue on A4040.
A4040981 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Haunch Lane.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haunch Lane.
Haunch Lane1.3 km
Turn right onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road788 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto School Road.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road486 m
Turn left onto Ripon Road.
Ripon Road112 m
Turn left onto Hindhead Road.
Hindhead Road104 m
Move left onto Cleeve Road.
Cleeve Road86 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road369 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto School Road.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road127 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Warstock Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road840 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A435488 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham Kings Heath · Route 10 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.
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 9.4 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.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School
Start near Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School.
Horseshoe
Continue to Horseshoe.
Maypole
Continue to Maypole, taking the junction with good observation.
Yardley Wood Fish bar
Continue to Yardley Wood Fish bar.
Community of Christ
Continue to Community of Christ.
Full Gospel Tabernacle
Continue to Full Gospel Tabernacle.
Yardley Wood Baptist Church
Continue to Yardley Wood Baptist Church.
Prince of Wales
Continue to Prince of Wales.
Busy Little Bees Nursery
Continue to Busy Little Bees Nursery.
Colebrook Inn
Continue to Colebrook Inn.
Little Robins Day Nursery
Continue to Little Robins Day Nursery.
Rosslyn School
Continue to Rosslyn School.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
Roy's Barber
Continue to Roy's Barber.
D J Quinn's
Continue to D J Quinn's.
Brook Lane Newsagent
Continue to Brook Lane Newsagent.
Billesley
Continue to Billesley.
Peepo! Day Nursery
Continue to Peepo! Day Nursery.
Red Lion
Continue to Red Lion.
Busy Bees Nursery
Finish back near Busy Bees Nursery, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 18 turns
5 roundabouts · 20 turns
4 roundabouts · 17 turns
6 roundabouts · 16 turns
This route is 59.4 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Birmingham Kings Heath test centre, not an official DVSA route.