Near Birmingham Kings Heath test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts and 17 turns across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 47.2 km practice route near Birmingham Kings Heath 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.
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 shops, schools, churches 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 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 134-step drive on real, named roads (about 47.1 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 Road242 m
Turn left onto Henlow Road.
Henlow Road531 m
Turn left onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane291 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Highters Heath Lane.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane317 m
Turn left onto Glenavon Road.
Glenavon Road743 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435164 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A435/Alcester Road South.
A435174 m
Turn left onto Glenavon Road.
Glenavon Road651 m
Turn left onto Aldbury Road.
Aldbury Road314 m
Turn left onto Highters Road.
Highters Road376 m
Turn left onto Glenavon Road.
Glenavon Road333 m
Turn right onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane317 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Highters Heath Lane.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto School Road.
52 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 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 2nd exit onto Daisy Farm Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Daisy Farm Road.
Daisy Farm Road685 m
Turn right onto Gorleston Road.
Gorleston Road228 m
Turn right onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane503 m
Turn left onto Ibberton Road.
Ibberton Road236 m
Turn left onto Warstock Road.
Warstock Road611 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 Road284 m
Turn right onto Prince of Wales Lane.
Prince of Wales Lane289 m
Turn right.
101 m
Turn right.
32 m
Turn left.
9 m
Turn left onto Prince of Wales Lane.
Prince of Wales Lane670 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road243 m
Turn left onto Ripon Road.
Ripon Road112 m
Turn left onto Hindhead Road.
Hindhead Road54 m
Move right.
32 m
Turn right onto Cleeve Road.
Cleeve Road168 m
Turn left onto Pendeen Road.
Pendeen Road405 m
Turn right onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road456 m
Turn left onto Haunch Lane.
Haunch Lane1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Howard Road East/A4040.
23 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 1st exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane510 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Brook Lane/A4040.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brook Lane/A4040.
Brook Lane494 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brook Lane/A4040.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brook Lane/A4040. Continue on A4040.
A4040911 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Robin Hood Lane.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Robin Hood Lane.
Robin Hood Lane685 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Highfield Road.
87 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 2nd exit onto Robin Hood Lane/A4040.
40 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 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane.
Wheelers Lane312 m
Turn left onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A4351.2 km
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Brandwood Road.
Brandwood Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Marldon Road.
Marldon Road483 m
Turn left onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435154 m
Turn right onto Wheelers Lane.
Wheelers Lane312 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane510 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
Wheelers Lane407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Brook Lane/A4040.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brook Lane/A4040.
Brook Lane494 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road343 m
Turn left onto Trittiford Road.
Trittiford Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road156 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.
A435488 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham Kings Heath · Route 14 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.
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 3.4 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.
Iceland
Start near Iceland.
Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School
Continue to Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School.
Hollier & Browne
Continue to Hollier & Browne.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
Horseshoe
Continue to Horseshoe.
Yardley Wood Baptist Church
Continue to Yardley Wood Baptist Church.
Tariq Balti House
Continue to Tariq Balti House.
Busy Bees Nursery
Continue to Busy Bees Nursery.
Red Lion
Continue to Red Lion.
Peepo! Day Nursery
Continue to Peepo! Day Nursery.
Little Robins Day Nursery
Continue to Little Robins Day Nursery.
Premier Express
Continue to Premier Express.
D J Quinn's
Continue to D J Quinn's.
Highfield Chippy
Continue to Highfield Chippy.
Hot Spot
Continue to Hot Spot.
Green Oak Academy (Kings Heath)
Continue to Green Oak Academy (Kings Heath).
One Stop
Continue to One Stop.
Birmingham South Christadelphian Meeting Room
Continue to Birmingham South Christadelphian Meeting Room.
Mitchells
Continue to Mitchells.
Full Gospel Tabernacle
Finish back near Full Gospel Tabernacle, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 18 turns
5 roundabouts · 20 turns
9 roundabouts · 19 turns
4 roundabouts · 17 turns
This route is 47.2 km and takes about 45 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.