Near Bishop's Stortford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 11 roundabouts, 14 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 44.5 km practice loop near Bishop's Stortford 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.
Along the way you'll meet Haymeads Lane, Hadham Road, Priory Wood Roundabout and Round Coppice Road. Knowing the approach, lane and exit at each one before you arrive is the difference between a planned manoeuvre and a last-second reaction, and last-second reactions are where avoidable faults come from.
On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 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 stations, pubs, named junctions and churches, 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 Bishop's Stortford 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 90-step drive on real, named roads (about 44.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
13 m
Turn right onto South Road/B1529.
South Road387 m
Turn right onto Southmill Road.
Southmill Road454 m
Turn left onto London Road/B1383.
London Road740 m
Turn left onto London Road/A1060.
London Road234 m
Turn left onto Crescent Road.
Crescent Road121 m
Turn right onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road223 m
Turn right onto Pine Grove.
Pine Grove153 m
Turn right onto Thorn Grove.
Thorn Grove213 m
Turn right onto Hallingbury Road/A1060.
Hallingbury Road188 m
Turn right onto Crescent Road.
Crescent Road121 m
Turn right onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road223 m
Turn right onto Pine Grove.
Pine Grove153 m
Turn right onto Thorn Grove.
Thorn Grove54 m
Turn left onto The Sycamores.
The Sycamores111 m
Turn left to stay on The Sycamores.
The Sycamores3 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on The Sycamores.
The Sycamores3 m
Turn right to stay on The Sycamores.
The Sycamores111 m
Turn left onto Thorn Grove.
Thorn Grove159 m
Turn left onto Hallingbury Road/A1060.
Hallingbury Road230 m
Turn left onto Beldams Lane.
Beldams Lane701 m
Turn left onto Linkside Road.
Linkside Road360 m
Turn left onto Haymeads Lane.
Haymeads Lane133 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Haymeads Lane.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haymeads Lane.
Haymeads Lane151 m
Turn left onto Dunmow Road/A1250. Continue on A1250.
A12501.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1250.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1250.
A1250197 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Link Road/A1250.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Link Road/A1250. Continue on A1250.
A12502.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hadham Road/A1250.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hadham Road/A1250.
Hadham Road190 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
135 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
A1203.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
95 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
A1201.8 km
Keep left to stay on A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
A120447 m
Enter Birchanger Green Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A120/Thremhall Avenue.
Birchanger Green Roundabout168 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Thremhall Avenue.
A120618 m
Enter Priory Wood Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A120/Thremhall Avenue.
Priory Wood Roundabout482 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Thremhall Avenue. Continue on A120.
A120821 m
Enter Birchanger Green Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A120/Thremhall Avenue.
Birchanger Green Roundabout486 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Thremhall Avenue.
A120618 m
Enter Priory Wood Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Round Coppice Road.
Priory Wood Roundabout182 m
Exit the roundabout onto Round Coppice Road.
Round Coppice Road175 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Round Coppice Road.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Round Coppice Road.
Round Coppice Road284 m
Move left to stay on Round Coppice Road.
Round Coppice Road22 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Round Coppice Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Round Coppice Road.
Round Coppice Road661 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bury Lodge Lane.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bury Lodge Lane.
Bury Lodge Lane1.4 km
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road539 m
Turn left onto Forest Hall Road.
Forest Hall Road592 m
Turn left to stay on Forest Hall Road.
Forest Hall Road926 m
Turn left onto B1383.
B13831.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
A1201.8 km
Keep left to stay on A120/Bishop's Stortford Bypass.
A120447 m
Enter Birchanger Green Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A120.
Birchanger Green Roundabout175 m
Exit the roundabout onto A120.
A12069 m
Move left onto Dunmow Road/B1256.
Dunmow Road180 m
Turn right onto Bedlars Green Road.
Bedlars Green Road1.6 km
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road3.0 km
Turn right onto Latchmore Bank/A1060.
A10604.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Stansted Road/B1383.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stansted Road/B1383. Continue on B1383.
B13831.6 km
Turn right onto Stoney Common Road.
Stoney Common Road135 m
Turn left onto Old Bell Close.
Old Bell Close112 m
Turn left to stay on Old Bell Close.
Old Bell Close128 m
Turn left onto Silver Street/B1383. Continue on B1383.
B1383494 m
Keep right to take Gipsy Lane.
Gipsy Lane918 m
Move left onto Hazel End Road.
Hazel End Road939 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rye Street/B1004.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rye Street/B1004. Continue on B1004.
B10041.5 km
Turn right onto Hadham Road/A1250.
Hadham Road99 m
Turn left onto North Street/B1529.
North Street188 m
Turn left onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street180 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1250.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1250.
A1250193 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A1250.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1250.
A1250197 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A1250.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1250.
A1250193 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Dane Street.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dane Street.
Dane Street155 m
Keep right to stay on Dane Street.
Dane Street75 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road230 m
Turn left onto South Street/B1529. Continue on B1529.
B1529757 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Bishop's Stortford · 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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
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.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Priory Wood Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 12.1 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.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (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.
Bishop's Stortford
Start near Bishop's Stortford.
Three Tuns
Continue to Three Tuns.
Haymeads Lane
Continue to Haymeads Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Nag's Head
Continue to Nag's Head.
Charis Centre (Community Church Bishops Stortford)
Continue to Charis Centre (Community Church Bishops Stortford).
Young House
Continue to Young House.
Hadham Road
Continue to Hadham Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Priory Wood Roundabout
Continue to Priory Wood Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Round Coppice Road
Continue to Round Coppice Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Hop Poles
Continue to Hop Poles.
St Giles, Great Hallingbury
Continue to St Giles, Great Hallingbury.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Amelia Rose
Continue to Amelia Rose.
Rowland Ridgwell
Continue to Rowland Ridgwell.
Shell Select
Continue to Shell Select.
Old Bell
Continue to Old Bell.
Bishop's Cave
Continue to Bishop's Cave.
Black Lion
Continue to Black Lion.
Holy Trinity Church
Continue to Holy Trinity Church.
Jolly Brewers
Finish back near Jolly Brewers, completing the loop.
9 roundabouts · 12 turns · 5 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 8 turns · 6 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 13 turns · 4 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 44.5 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bishop's Stortford test centre, not an official DVSA route.