Near Birmingham (Kingstanding) test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 13 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 34.9 km practice loop near Birmingham (Kingstanding) test centre, taking roughly 30 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, 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 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 (Kingstanding) 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 86-step drive on real, named roads (about 34.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
25 m
Turn right onto Rodlington Avenue.
Rodlington Avenue146 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Rodlington Avenue.
Rodlington Avenue179 m
Turn left onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road81 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Birdbrook Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road324 m
Turn left onto Goodway Road.
Goodway Road161 m
Turn left onto Harleston Road.
Harleston Road310 m
Turn right onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road110 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Birdbrook Road.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road412 m
Turn left onto Old Oscott Lane.
Old Oscott Lane22 m
Turn right onto Oscott School Lane.
Oscott School Lane581 m
Turn right onto Shady Lane.
Shady Lane246 m
Turn right onto Thorncliffe Road.
Thorncliffe Road276 m
Turn left onto Southgate Road.
Southgate Road439 m
Turn left onto Dunedin Road.
Dunedin Road272 m
Turn left onto Shady Lane.
Shady Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Aldridge Road.
Aldridge Road403 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4041/Queslett Road.
93 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4041/Queslett Road.
A4041766 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Kings Road/B4149.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road972 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Kings Road/B4149.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road714 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road731 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kings Road/B4149.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road980 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Romney Way.
74 m
Exit the roundabout onto Romney Way.
Romney Way427 m
Move left onto Bonnington Way.
Bonnington Way96 m
Turn right onto Frampton Way.
Frampton Way458 m
Turn right onto Doe Bank Lane.
Doe Bank Lane364 m
Turn left onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
A4041648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Aldridge Road.
Aldridge Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Bridle Lane.
Bridle Lane771 m
Turn left onto Ferndale Road.
Ferndale Road162 m
Turn left onto Frankburn Road.
Frankburn Road51 m
Turn left onto Northside Drive.
Northside Drive301 m
Turn left onto Blackwood Drive.
Blackwood Drive109 m
Turn right onto Bridle Lane.
Bridle Lane60 m
Turn left onto Hundred Acre Road.
Hundred Acre Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Aldridge Road.
Aldridge Road346 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
92 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
A40411.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4041/Queslett Road.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4041/Queslett Road.
A4041770 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Aldridge Road.
Aldridge Road2.2 km
Turn left onto Greenholm Road.
Greenholm Road568 m
Turn left onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road1.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingstanding Road/B4138. Continue on B4138.
B41381.2 km
Turn left onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane416 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Bakers Lane.
142 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane416 m
Turn right onto Sutton Oak Road/B4138. Continue on B4138.
B41381.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road999 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road401 m
Turn left onto Norbury Road.
Norbury Road17 m
Move right onto Cooksey Lane.
Cooksey Lane793 m
Turn left onto Queslett Road East.
Queslett Road East31 m
Turn left onto Brockwell Road.
Brockwell Road379 m
Move left onto Bandywood Road.
Bandywood Road103 m
Turn right onto Wandsworth Road.
Wandsworth Road307 m
Turn left onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road508 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Kings Road/B4149.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road714 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road453 m
Turn left onto Harringay Road.
Harringay Road29 m
Turn left to stay on Harringay Road.
Harringay Road337 m
Turn left onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road712 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road309 m
Turn left onto Tresham Road.
Tresham Road492 m
Turn left onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road229 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Dyas Road.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Dyas Road.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dyas Road.
Dyas Road238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Birdbrook Road.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Birdbrook Road.
Birdbrook Road110 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham (Kingstanding) · Route 12 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 4.1 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.
Goodway Evangelical Free Church
Start near Goodway Evangelical Free Church.
Old Horns
Continue to Old Horns.
Salon 53
Continue to Salon 53.
Urwins Undertakers
Continue to Urwins Undertakers.
Kings Road Methodist Church
Continue to Kings Road Methodist Church.
Pheasey Evangelical Church
Continue to Pheasey Evangelical Church.
Farmer Johns
Continue to Farmer Johns.
St. Anne's R.C. Church
Continue to St. Anne's R.C. Church.
Brewhouse micropub
Continue to Brewhouse micropub.
Queslett
Continue to Queslett.
Great Barr Primary School school
Continue to Great Barr Primary School school.
Russian Orthodox Church Birmingham
Continue to Russian Orthodox Church Birmingham.
Goodway Nursery School
Continue to Goodway Nursery School.
Bakers Lane Fish Bar
Continue to Bakers Lane Fish Bar.
Matt Brown
Continue to Matt Brown.
Home From Home Agency
Continue to Home From Home Agency.
Sportsmans Rest
Continue to Sportsmans Rest.
Cedar Church
Continue to Cedar Church.
Pizza Chef
Continue to Pizza Chef.
Great Barr Essentials Vape Expert
Finish back near Great Barr Essentials Vape Expert, completing the loop.
6 roundabouts · 14 turns · 2 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 11 turns · 6 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 12 turns · 3 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 13 turns · 8 sets of lights
This route is 34.9 km and takes about 30 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Birmingham (Kingstanding) test centre, not an official DVSA route.