Near Birmingham Kings Heath test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts and 20 turns across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 69.5 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.
On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and independent driving. 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 churches, pubs, shops and schools, 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 127-step drive on real, named roads (about 69.5 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 Lane659 m
Turn left onto Highters Road.
Highters Road23 m
Turn left to stay on Highters Road.
Highters Road25 m
Turn right onto Highters Heath Lane.
Highters Heath Lane628 m
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 left onto Paddocks Road.
Paddocks Road42 m
Move right onto Falstaff Avenue.
Falstaff Avenue308 m
Turn left onto Shawhurst Lane.
Shawhurst Lane748 m
Turn left onto Hollywood Lane.
Hollywood Lane849 m
Turn left onto Douglas Road.
Douglas Road483 m
Move left onto Corbett Road.
Corbett Road119 m
Turn right onto Lee Road.
Lee Road143 m
Turn right onto May Lane.
May Lane317 m
Turn right onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road1.5 km
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.
A4352.2 km
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 Road1.1 km
Turn left onto May Lane.
May Lane502 m
Turn right onto Shawhurst Lane.
Shawhurst Lane616 m
Turn right 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 left onto Alcester Road.
Alcester Road768 m
Turn left onto Gorsey Lane.
Gorsey Lane782 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road794 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
143 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
A4353.8 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 7th exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole207 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Alcester Road South. Continue on A435.
A4352.6 km
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 2nd exit onto Coldbath Road/B4146.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Coldbath Road/B4146.
Coldbath Road612 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Yardley Wood Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yardley Wood Road.
Yardley Wood Road1.3 km
Move right onto Showell Green Lane.
Showell Green Lane915 m
Move left onto A34/Stratford Road.
A34312 m
Turn right onto Weatheroak Road.
Weatheroak Road181 m
Turn left onto A41/Warwick Road.
A41170 m
Turn right onto A34/Stratford Road.
A3486 m
Turn left onto Alfred Road.
Alfred Road59 m
Turn right to stay on Alfred Road.
Alfred Road150 m
Turn left onto Stoney Lane.
Stoney Lane2.6 km
Enter Yardley Wood Road and take the 3rd exit onto Coldbath Road/B4146.
Yardley Wood Road38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Coldbath Road/B4146.
Coldbath Road612 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Wheelers Lane/A4040.
41 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. Continue on A435.
A4352.6 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 3rd exit onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
The Maypole78 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
A4353.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A435.
115 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435.
A4351.1 km
Take the exit.
349 m
Turn right onto Watery Lane.
Watery Lane1.8 km
Turn right onto Hill Lane.
Hill Lane1.7 km
Continue on A435.
A435615 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
A4353.8 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 5th exit onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
The Maypole142 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
A4353.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
249 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Hollywood By-Pass.
A4353.8 km
Enter The Maypole and take the 1st exit onto Druids Lane.
The Maypole3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Druids Lane.
Druids Lane350 m
Turn left to stay on Druids Lane.
Druids Lane482 m
Turn right onto Pound Road.
Pound Road176 m
Turn left to stay on Pound Road.
Pound Road46 m
Turn right to stay on Pound Road.
Pound Road43 m
Turn right onto Bells Lane.
Bells Lane89 m
Turn left onto Manningford Road.
Manningford Road1.3 km
Turn left to stay on Manningford Road.
Manningford Road119 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435140 m
Turn right onto Idmiston Croft.
Idmiston Croft96 m
Turn left onto Baverstock Road.
Baverstock Road112 m
Turn right to stay on Baverstock Road.
Baverstock Road228 m
Turn left onto Manningford Road.
Manningford Road259 m
Turn right onto Pennyacre Road.
Pennyacre Road462 m
Turn left onto Bells Lane.
Bells Lane303 m
Turn left onto Manningford Road.
Manningford Road1.3 km
Turn left to stay on Manningford Road.
Manningford Road119 m
Turn right onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435140 m
Turn right onto Idmiston Croft.
Idmiston Croft96 m
Turn left onto Baverstock Road.
Baverstock Road112 m
Turn right to stay on Baverstock Road.
Baverstock Road228 m
Turn left onto Manningford Road.
Manningford Road404 m
Turn left onto Bells Lane.
Bells Lane695 m
Enter The Maypole and take the 1st exit onto A435/Alcester Road South.
The Maypole8 m
Exit the roundabout onto A435/Alcester Road South.
A435275 m
Turn left onto Idmiston Croft.
Idmiston Croft128 m
Turn right to stay on Idmiston Croft.
Idmiston Croft37 m
Turn right to stay on Idmiston Croft.
Idmiston Croft25 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham Kings Heath · Route 3 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 29.4 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.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 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.
Immanuel Church Highters Heath
Start near Immanuel Church Highters Heath.
Packhorse
Continue to Packhorse.
Select & Save
Continue to Select & Save.
Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School
Continue to Millpool Campus - City of Birmingham School.
Supreme Supplements
Continue to Supreme Supplements.
Highters Heath Nursery School
Continue to Highters Heath Nursery School.
Hollywood Fish Bar
Continue to Hollywood Fish Bar.
One Stop
Continue to One Stop.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
Green Oak Academy (Kings Heath)
Continue to Green Oak Academy (Kings Heath).
Beechwood Nursery
Continue to Beechwood Nursery.
Qadria Trust Islamic Education
Continue to Qadria Trust Islamic Education.
Bright Swans
Continue to Bright Swans.
Birmingham South Christadelphian Meeting Room
Continue to Birmingham South Christadelphian Meeting Room.
Hong Kong House
Continue to Hong Kong House.
Co-operative Food
Continue to Co-operative Food.
Natural Complexions
Continue to Natural Complexions.
Durnford Croft Store
Continue to Durnford Croft Store.
McColls
Continue to McColls.
Kalpanas News
Finish back near Kalpanas News, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 18 turns
9 roundabouts · 19 turns
4 roundabouts · 17 turns
6 roundabouts · 16 turns
This route is 69.5 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.