Near Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 13 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 77.3 km practice loop near Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) test centre, taking roughly 35 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, 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 (Sutton Coldfield) 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 152-step drive on real, named roads (about 77.3 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
21 m
Turn right onto Boldmere Road/B4142.
Boldmere Road337 m
Turn left onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road151 m
Turn left onto Wrekin Road.
Wrekin Road236 m
Turn left onto Highbridge Road.
Highbridge Road126 m
Turn right onto Boldmere Road/B4142.
Boldmere Road745 m
Turn left onto Corbridge Road.
Corbridge Road353 m
Turn right onto Halton Road.
Halton Road944 m
Turn right onto Darnick Road.
Darnick Road122 m
Turn right onto Monmouth Drive.
Monmouth Drive598 m
Turn right onto Carnwath Road.
Carnwath Road224 m
Turn left onto Halton Road.
Halton Road150 m
Turn left onto Melrose Avenue.
Melrose Avenue322 m
Turn left onto Monmouth Drive.
Monmouth Drive2.1 km
Make a right U-turn at George Frederick Road onto Banners Gate Road.
Banners Gate Road332 m
Turn left onto Westwood Road.
Westwood Road1.2 km
Turn left onto George Frederick Road.
George Frederick Road546 m
Turn left onto Banners Gate Road.
Banners Gate Road476 m
Turn right onto A452/Chester Road North. Continue on A452.
A4522.5 km
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road399 m
Turn right onto Boldmere Road/B4142.
Boldmere Road153 m
Turn left onto Sunnybank Road.
Sunnybank Road331 m
Turn left onto Nadin Road.
Nadin Road128 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Nadin Road.
Nadin Road128 m
Turn right onto Sunnybank Road.
Sunnybank Road331 m
Turn left onto Boldmere Road/B4142.
Boldmere Road472 m
Turn left onto A452/Chester Road.
A452916 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
42 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452560 m
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island61 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452592 m
Enter Spitfire Island and take the 4th exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Spitfire Island250 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452256 m
Keep left to stay on A452/Chester Road.
A452339 m
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 3rd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452558 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road. Continue on A452.
A4524.9 km
Turn left onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane719 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Bakers Lane.
142 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane712 m
Turn right onto A452/Chester Road North. Continue on A452.
A4522.3 km
Turn right onto College Road/A453.
College Road728 m
Turn left onto Hurstwood Road.
Hurstwood Road358 m
Move left onto Maxted Road.
Maxted Road266 m
Turn right onto Oak Drive.
Oak Drive65 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Oak Drive.
Oak Drive65 m
Turn left onto Maxted Road.
Maxted Road266 m
Move right onto Hurstwood Road.
Hurstwood Road358 m
Turn left onto College Road/A453.
College Road160 m
Turn right onto Warren Farm Road.
Warren Farm Road189 m
Turn right onto Finchley Road.
Finchley Road882 m
Turn left onto Kings Road/B4149.
Kings Road721 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
108 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingstanding Road/B4138. Continue on B4138.
B41381.1 km
Turn left onto Donegal Road.
Donegal Road226 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Donegal Road.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Donegal Road.
Donegal Road220 m
Turn left onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
A40411.2 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 Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Malthouse Lane.
Malthouse Lane192 m
Turn right onto Booths Lane.
Booths Lane74 m
Turn left onto Token Rise.
Token Rise56 m
Turn right onto Bluebell Crescent.
Bluebell Crescent118 m
Turn left onto Deer Park Drive.
Deer Park Drive67 m
Turn left onto Queslett Way.
Queslett Way36 m
Turn left to stay on Queslett Way.
Queslett Way24 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Queslett Way.
Queslett Way24 m
Turn right to stay on Queslett Way.
Queslett Way36 m
Turn right onto Deer Park Drive.
Deer Park Drive67 m
Turn right onto Bluebell Crescent.
Bluebell Crescent118 m
Turn left onto Token Rise.
Token Rise56 m
Turn right onto Booths Lane.
Booths Lane74 m
Turn left onto Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane192 m
Turn left onto Aldridge Road.
Aldridge Road1.1 km
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 3rd exit onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
A40411.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bakers Lane.
96 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane19 m
Turn right onto Queslett Road East.
Queslett Road East125 m
Make a right U-turn at Donegal Road onto A4041/Queslett Road East.
A4041113 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bakers Lane.
96 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bakers Lane.
Bakers Lane712 m
Turn right onto A452/Chester Road North. Continue on A452.
A4525.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
42 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452560 m
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island61 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452592 m
Enter Spitfire Island and take the 4th exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Spitfire Island250 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452256 m
Keep left to stay on A452/Chester Road.
A452339 m
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 3rd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452558 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Turn left onto Beech Road.
Beech Road275 m
Turn left onto Sycamore Road.
Sycamore Road163 m
Turn right onto Goosemoor Lane.
Goosemoor Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Maxted Road.
Maxted Road73 m
Turn left onto Oak Drive.
Oak Drive65 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Oak Drive.
Oak Drive65 m
Turn left onto Maxted Road.
Maxted Road266 m
Move right onto Hurstwood Road.
Hurstwood Road358 m
Turn left onto College Road/A453.
College Road448 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Brackenbury Road.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brackenbury Road.
Brackenbury Road127 m
Move left to stay on Brackenbury Road.
Brackenbury Road787 m
Turn left onto Warren Farm Road.
Warren Farm Road122 m
Turn right onto Tansley Road.
Tansley Road250 m
Turn left onto Hotspur Road.
Hotspur Road116 m
Turn right onto Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road457 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kingstanding Road/B4138.
Kingstanding Road734 m
Turn left onto Hawthorn Road.
Hawthorn Road2.2 km
Turn right onto Streetly Road.
Streetly Road1.0 km
Turn right onto Kings Road.
Kings Road303 m
Turn left onto Queens Road.
Queens Road95 m
Turn left onto Frances Road.
Frances Road294 m
Turn right onto Slade Road.
Slade Road305 m
Turn left onto Fentham Road.
Fentham Road678 m
Turn left onto Gravelly Hill North/A5127.
Gravelly Hill North346 m
Enter Six Ways and take the 4th exit onto Woodend Road/A4040.
Six Ways54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Woodend Road/A4040. Continue on A4040.
A4040833 m
Move left onto Kingsbury Road.
Kingsbury Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kingsbury Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingsbury Road.
Kingsbury Road1.5 km
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 4th exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island106 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452592 m
Enter Spitfire Island and take the 4th exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Spitfire Island250 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452256 m
Keep left to stay on A452/Chester Road.
A452339 m
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 3rd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452558 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4522.2 km
Turn right onto Antrobus Road.
Antrobus Road753 m
Turn right onto Boldmere Road/B4142.
Boldmere Road125 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) · Route 5 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 41.0 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.
Boldmere Methodist Church
Start near Boldmere Methodist Church.
Banners Gate United Reform Church
Continue to Banners Gate United Reform Church.
Saint Columba's
Continue to Saint Columba's.
St Michaels Church Boldmere
Continue to St Michaels Church Boldmere.
Tyburn House
Continue to Tyburn House.
Pype Hayes United Reformed Church
Continue to Pype Hayes United Reformed Church.
Subway
Continue to Subway.
Queslett
Continue to Queslett.
Uppercut
Continue to Uppercut.
Good News Centre
Continue to Good News Centre.
Kings Road Methodist Church
Continue to Kings Road Methodist Church.
Great Barr Primary School school
Continue to Great Barr Primary School school.
Old Horns
Continue to Old Horns.
Chester Road Baptist Church
Continue to Chester Road Baptist Church.
Narish Superstore
Continue to Narish Superstore.
Advanced Appearance
Continue to Advanced Appearance.
Hair by Leo
Continue to Hair by Leo.
Catholic Church of SS. Peter & Paul
Continue to Catholic Church of SS. Peter & Paul.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
PJ Morris Building Services
Finish back near PJ Morris Building Services, completing the loop.
6 roundabouts · 10 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 8 turns · 3 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 13 turns · 5 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 16 turns · 5 sets of lights
This route is 77.3 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) test centre, not an official DVSA route.