Near Birmingham Kings Heath test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts and 23 turns across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 48.7 km practice loop 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, 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 schools, shops, pubs 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 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 120-step drive on real, named roads (about 48.7 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 1st exit onto Maypole Lane.
The Maypole9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane491 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Maypole Lane.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane133 m
Turn right onto Wychelm Farm Road.
Wychelm Farm Road136 m
Turn right onto Heath Rise.
Heath Rise176 m
Turn right onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane79 m
Turn left to stay on Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane25 m
Turn left onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane470 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.
A4351.4 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 2nd exit onto Alcester Road South.
The Maypole47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South74 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Alcester Road South.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South801 m
Turn left onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane87 m
Turn right onto Douglas Road.
Douglas Road146 m
Turn left onto Simon Road.
Simon Road255 m
Turn left onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road13 m
Turn right onto Fenton Road.
Fenton Road174 m
Turn left onto Heath Road.
Heath Road154 m
Turn right onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road76 m
Turn left onto Corbett Road.
Corbett Road142 m
Turn right onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane58 m
Turn left.
31 m
Turn left onto Windrush Road.
Windrush Road15 m
Turn right onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane755 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alcester Road South.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South68 m
Enter The Maypole and take the 3rd exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole71 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.
A4351.4 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 2nd exit onto Alcester Road South.
The Maypole47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South74 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Alcester Road South.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South801 m
Turn left onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane87 m
Turn right onto Douglas Road.
Douglas Road300 m
Turn left onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road179 m
Turn left onto Simon Road.
Simon Road255 m
Turn right onto Douglas Road.
Douglas Road146 m
Turn left onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane87 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alcester Road South.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South68 m
Enter The Maypole and take the 3rd exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole71 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 left onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435784 m
Turn right onto Taylor Road.
Taylor Road201 m
Turn right onto May Lane.
May Lane865 m
Move right onto Warstock Lane.
Warstock Lane720 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Highters Heath Lane.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Highters Heath Lane.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane553 m
Turn left onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road1.7 km
Turn left onto Shawhurst Lane.
Shawhurst Lane94 m
Turn left onto Paddocks Road.
Paddocks Road62 m
Turn left onto Burford Road.
Burford Road76 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road67 m
Turn right onto Danford Road.
Danford Road88 m
Turn right onto Paddocks Road.
Paddocks Road146 m
Turn right onto Shawhurst Lane.
Shawhurst Lane94 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road655 m
Turn left onto Packhorse Lane.
Packhorse Lane1.6 km
Turn left onto Middle Lane.
Middle Lane956 m
Turn left onto Silver Street.
Silver Street1.1 km
Turn left onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road853 m
Turn right onto May Lane.
May Lane317 m
Turn left onto Lee Road.
Lee Road143 m
Turn right onto Corbett Road.
Corbett Road79 m
Turn left onto Heath Road.
Heath Road222 m
Turn right onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road76 m
Turn left onto Corbett Road.
Corbett Road142 m
Turn left onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane719 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alcester Road South.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alcester Road South.
Alcester Road South68 m
Enter The Maypole and take the 2nd exit onto Druids Lane.
The Maypole39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Druids Lane.
Druids Lane2.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Monyhull Hall Road.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Monyhull Hall Road.
Monyhull Hall Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Brandwood Park Road.
Brandwood Park Road1.1 km
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4351.4 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 4th exit onto Druids Lane.
The Maypole110 m
Exit the roundabout onto Druids Lane.
Druids Lane1.3 km
Turn right.
63 m
Turn left onto Bells Lane.
Bells Lane1.4 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 2nd exit onto Maypole Lane.
The Maypole45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane199 m
Turn left onto Henlow Road.
Henlow Road276 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham Kings Heath · Route 11 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 12.6 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.
Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School
Start near Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School.
Richard Quality Radio
Continue to Richard Quality Radio.
Horseshoe
Continue to Horseshoe.
Immanuel Church Highters Heath
Continue to Immanuel Church Highters Heath.
Maypole
Continue to Maypole, taking the junction with good observation.
Penzer Optician
Continue to Penzer Optician.
Select & Save
Continue to Select & Save.
Tesco Express
Continue to Tesco Express.
Kings Arms
Continue to Kings Arms.
Highters Heath Nursery School
Continue to Highters Heath Nursery School.
Golden Plaice
Continue to Golden Plaice.
Eye Collective
Continue to Eye Collective.
Kingswood Meeting House
Continue to Kingswood Meeting House.
Packhorse
Continue to Packhorse.
Rose Bank Stores & Saddlery
Continue to Rose Bank Stores & Saddlery.
Hair Lounge
Continue to Hair Lounge.
Henry's Barber Shop
Continue to Henry's Barber Shop.
Druids Heath Tenant Management Co-operative
Continue to Druids Heath Tenant Management Co-operative.
Kings Norton Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Kings Norton Christadelphian Hall.
Shooting Stars Nursery
Finish back near Shooting Stars Nursery, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 18 turns
5 roundabouts · 20 turns
9 roundabouts · 19 turns
4 roundabouts · 17 turns
This route is 48.7 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.