Near Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 13 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 57.6 km practice loop near Birmingham (South Yardley) 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, 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, churches, stations 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 (South Yardley) 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 133-step drive on real, named roads (about 57.7 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north on Clay Lane.
Clay Lane727 m
Turn left onto A45/Coventry Road.
A4595 m
Move left.
347 m
Enter Swan Island and take the 4th exit onto A45/Coventry Road.
Swan Island187 m
Exit the roundabout onto A45/Coventry Road.
A451.1 km
Take the exit on the right.
72 m
Turn right onto Gilbertstone Avenue.
Gilbertstone Avenue842 m
Turn right onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane670 m
Turn left onto A45/Coventry Road.
A451.8 km
Turn left onto Kings Road.
Kings Road1.1 km
Move left onto Wharfdale Road/B4146.
Wharfdale Road824 m
Turn left onto Wharf Road.
Wharf Road14 m
Turn right onto Wharfedale Road.
Wharfedale Road96 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Wharfedale Road.
Wharfedale Road96 m
Turn left onto Wharf Road.
Wharf Road14 m
Turn right onto Wharfdale Road/B4146.
Wharfdale Road42 m
Keep left to stay on Wharfdale Road/B4146.
Wharfdale Road782 m
Turn left to stay on Wharfdale Road.
Wharfdale Road82 m
Turn left onto Tyseley Hill Road/B4146.
Tyseley Hill Road172 m
Keep left to take Knights Road.
Knights Road156 m
Turn right onto Sunningdale Road.
Sunningdale Road320 m
Turn right onto Ferndene Road.
Ferndene Road76 m
Turn left onto Tynedale Road.
Tynedale Road763 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cateswell Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cateswell Road.
Cateswell Road151 m
Turn left onto York Road.
York Road646 m
Turn left onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
Fox Hollies Road155 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
Fox Hollies Road680 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
Fox Hollies Road302 m
Turn left onto Boden Road.
Boden Road388 m
Turn left onto Shirley Road.
Shirley Road138 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Shirley Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Shirley Road.
Shirley Road90 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Shirley Road.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Shirley Road.
Shirley Road419 m
Turn right to stay on Shirley Road.
Shirley Road44 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Shirley Road.
Shirley Road44 m
Turn left to stay on Shirley Road.
Shirley Road419 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto School Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto School Road.
School Road194 m
Turn right onto Lakey Lane.
Lakey Lane21 m
Turn right to stay on Lakey Lane.
Lakey Lane173 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lakey Lane.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lakey Lane.
Lakey Lane370 m
Turn right onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
Fox Hollies Road163 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Fox Hollies Road/A4040.
Fox Hollies Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Olton Boulevard East/B4514.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olton Boulevard East/B4514.
Olton Boulevard East114 m
Turn right onto Shaftmoor Lane/B4217.
Shaftmoor Lane20 m
Turn left onto Spring Road.
Spring Road547 m
Turn left onto Tynedale Road.
Tynedale Road10 m
Turn right onto Olton Boulevard West.
Olton Boulevard West472 m
Turn right onto Reddings Lane.
Reddings Lane7 m
Turn left onto Battery Way.
Battery Way637 m
Move left onto A41/Warwick Road.
A41354 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Warwick Road.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Warwick Road.
A41302 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Golden Hillock Road/B4145.
68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Golden Hillock Road/B4145. Continue on Golden Hillock Road.
Golden Hillock Road968 m
Enter Poets Corner and take the 1st exit onto A45/Small Heath Highway.
Poets Corner22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A45/Small Heath Highway.
A451.4 km
Stay straight to take the A4540 ramp.
A4540803 m
Enter Garrison Circus and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Lawley Middleway.
Garrison Circus44 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Lawley Middleway.
A4540440 m
Enter Curzon Circle and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Lawley Middleway.
Curzon Circle38 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Lawley Middleway. Continue on A4540.
A45401.1 km
Enter Dartmouth Circus and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Newtown Middleway.
Dartmouth Circus88 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Newtown Middleway.
A4540449 m
Turn right onto A34/New Town Row. Continue on A34.
A343.0 km
Keep right to take Walsall Road.
Walsall Road84 m
Continue on Aldridge Road/A453.
Aldridge Road1.3 km
Keep right to stay on A453.
A4531.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto College Road/A453.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto College Road/A453.
College Road829 m
Turn right onto Weycroft Road.
Weycroft Road104 m
Turn right onto Broomhill Road.
Broomhill Road85 m
Turn left onto Lavender Gardens.
Lavender Gardens41 m
Turn left to stay on Lavender Gardens.
Lavender Gardens8 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Lavender Gardens.
Lavender Gardens8 m
Turn right to stay on Lavender Gardens.
Lavender Gardens41 m
Turn right onto Broomhill Road.
Broomhill Road85 m
Turn left onto Weycroft Road.
Weycroft Road93 m
Turn left onto College Road/A453.
College Road835 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto College Road/A453.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto College Road/A453. Continue on A453.
A4532.3 km
Move right.
195 m
Turn left onto A34/Walsall Road. Continue on A34.
A343.1 km
Turn left onto A4540/Newtown Middleway.
A4540433 m
Enter Dartmouth Circus and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Dartmouth Middleway.
Dartmouth Circus143 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Dartmouth Middleway. Continue on A4540.
A45401.1 km
Enter Curzon Circle and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Lawley Middleway.
Curzon Circle34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Lawley Middleway.
A4540453 m
Enter Garrison Circus and take the 2nd exit onto A4540/Watery Lane Middleway.
Garrison Circus57 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4540/Watery Lane Middleway. Continue on A4540.
A4540699 m
Enter Bordesley Circus and take the 2nd exit onto A45/Small Heath Highway.
Bordesley Circus68 m
Exit the roundabout onto A45/Small Heath Highway.
A451.4 km
Enter Poets Corner and take the 3rd exit onto Golden Hillock Road/B4145.
Poets Corner116 m
Exit the roundabout onto Golden Hillock Road/B4145. Continue on Golden Hillock Road.
Golden Hillock Road973 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A41/Warwick Road.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Warwick Road.
A41291 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Warwick Road.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Warwick Road. Continue on A41.
A412.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A41/Warwick Road.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Warwick Road.
A41873 m
Make a sharp right onto A41/Olton Boulevard East. Continue on Olton Boulevard East.
Olton Boulevard East90 m
Turn left onto Gospel Lane.
Gospel Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto Brook Lane.
Brook Lane318 m
Turn left onto Kineton Green Road.
Kineton Green Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Pierce Avenue.
Pierce Avenue379 m
Turn right onto Rock Road.
Rock Road263 m
Turn left onto Howard Road.
Howard Road316 m
Turn left onto Pierce Avenue.
Pierce Avenue467 m
Turn left onto Richmond Road.
Richmond Road462 m
Turn left onto Barn Lane.
Barn Lane583 m
Turn left onto Lincoln Road North.
Lincoln Road North402 m
Turn left.
84 m
Turn left onto Pierce Avenue.
Pierce Avenue39 m
Turn right onto Lincoln Road North.
Lincoln Road North352 m
Turn left onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane293 m
Turn right onto Woodcock Lane North.
Woodcock Lane North371 m
Turn right onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane199 m
Turn left onto Bosworth Road.
Bosworth Road881 m
Turn right onto The Avenue.
The Avenue102 m
Turn right onto Dagnall Road.
Dagnall Road303 m
Turn left onto Woodcock Lane.
Woodcock Lane108 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue268 m
Turn right to stay on The Avenue.
The Avenue102 m
Turn left onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road555 m
Turn left onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane293 m
Turn right onto Woodcock Lane North.
Woodcock Lane North673 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham (South Yardley) · 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
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 22.5 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.
EBN Academy
Start near EBN Academy.
South Yardley Methodist Church
Continue to South Yardley Methodist Church.
Tyseley
Continue to Tyseley.
Fox Hollies Childrens Centre
Continue to Fox Hollies Childrens Centre.
Maggies
Continue to Maggies.
Church of the Ascension
Continue to Church of the Ascension.
East Birmingham Baptist Chapel
Continue to East Birmingham Baptist Chapel.
Small Heath
Continue to Small Heath.
Archway Academy Independent School
Continue to Archway Academy Independent School.
Advanced Transport & Infrastructure National College
Continue to Advanced Transport & Infrastructure National College.
Holy Trinity Parish Church
Continue to Holy Trinity Parish Church.
Star King Solomon Academy
Continue to Star King Solomon Academy.
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Continue to Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Ghamkol Sharif
Continue to Ghamkol Sharif.
Blue Elephant Nursery
Continue to Blue Elephant Nursery.
St Mary the Virgin
Continue to St Mary the Virgin.
Dovehouse Nursery
Continue to Dovehouse Nursery.
St Margaret's Parish Church
Continue to St Margaret's Parish Church.
Lyndon
Continue to Lyndon.
Acrewood Nursery & Pre-school
Finish back near Acrewood Nursery & Pre-school, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 25 turns · 3 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 18 turns · 3 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 2 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 16 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 57.6 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre, not an official DVSA route.