Near Bolton test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 18 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 94.2 km practice route near Bolton 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, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads 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, schools, pubs and stations, 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 Bolton 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 144-step drive on real, named roads (about 94.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
129 m
Turn right.
22 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street638 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/B6536.
Manchester Road232 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Manchester Road/B6536.
Manchester Road227 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street811 m
Turn left onto Rishton Lane.
Rishton Lane174 m
Turn right onto Settle Street.
Settle Street186 m
Turn left onto Rupert Street.
Rupert Street46 m
Turn left onto Alder Street.
Alder Street121 m
Turn right onto Back Rishton Lane.
Back Rishton Lane46 m
Turn left onto Beechwood Street.
Beechwood Street38 m
Turn right onto Rishton Lane.
Rishton Lane154 m
Turn left onto Walker Avenue.
Walker Avenue306 m
Turn right onto Royland Avenue.
Royland Avenue109 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane189 m
Turn left onto Bradford Road.
Bradford Road420 m
Turn left onto Parkfield Road.
Parkfield Road167 m
Turn left onto Newport Road.
Newport Road381 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane447 m
Turn right onto Bishops Road.
Bishops Road364 m
Turn left onto Bradford Road.
Bradford Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road73 m
Turn right onto Lucas Road.
Lucas Road387 m
Move left onto St James Street.
St James Street656 m
Turn right onto Buckley Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A5082553 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50823.2 km
Turn right onto Sale Lane/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.6 km
Turn right onto Whewell Street.
Whewell Street45 m
Turn left onto Darlington Street.
Darlington Street81 m
Turn left onto Common Lane/A577.
Common Lane44 m
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.7 km
Turn left onto Mort Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50823.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.2 km
Turn left onto Albert Road/A575. Continue on A575.
A575904 m
Keep left to stay on A575.
A575782 m
Turn right onto Loxham Street.
Loxham Street19 m
Turn right to stay on Loxham Street.
Loxham Street194 m
Turn left onto Hall Street.
Hall Street54 m
Turn right onto Starcliffe Street.
Starcliffe Street108 m
Turn right onto Whitley Street.
Whitley Street54 m
Turn right onto Loxham Street/A6053. Continue on Loxham Street.
Loxham Street322 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A575.
Manchester Road281 m
Take the A666 exit on the right.
A6662.9 km
Make a sharp left onto Kay Street/B6206.
Kay Street232 m
Turn left onto Folds Road/A575.
Folds Road181 m
Turn right onto Bury New Road/A673.
Bury New Road154 m
Turn left onto Mill Street.
Mill Street375 m
Turn left onto Windley Street.
Windley Street196 m
Turn left onto Hill Lane.
Hill Lane4 m
Turn right.
3 m
Make a right U-turn.
3 m
Turn left onto Hill Lane.
Hill Lane4 m
Turn right onto Windley Street.
Windley Street72 m
Move left to stay on Windley Street.
Windley Street124 m
Turn right onto Mill Hill Street.
Mill Hill Street375 m
Move left onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
A6662.3 km
Take the Manchester Road exit.
Manchester Road661 m
Turn left onto Loxham Street/A6053. Continue on A6053.
A60531.7 km
Turn right onto Redcar Road.
Redcar Road214 m
Turn left onto Catterick Drive.
Catterick Drive254 m
Turn left onto Aintree Road.
Aintree Road464 m
Turn right onto Mytham Road.
Mytham Road360 m
Turn left onto Booth Road.
Booth Road112 m
Turn left onto Beech Avenue.
Beech Avenue148 m
Turn left onto Elm Road.
Elm Road82 m
Turn right onto Mytham Road.
Mytham Road325 m
Turn left onto Market Street.
Market Street330 m
Turn left onto Church Street/A6053.
A60532.0 km
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A575.
Manchester Road281 m
Take the A666 exit on the right.
A6663.1 km
Turn left onto Topp Way/A673.
Topp Way1.0 km
Turn left onto Deansgate/B6204. Continue on B6204.
B6204553 m
Turn right onto St Georges Road/B6205.
St Georges Road149 m
Turn left onto Higher Bridge Street/B6206.
Higher Bridge Street166 m
Move right onto Topp Way/A673.
Topp Way151 m
Turn right onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
A6662.8 km
Take the A575 exit.
A5751.9 km
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street324 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Church Street.
Church Street324 m
Turn right onto Market Street/A6053.
Market Street68 m
Turn left onto King Street.
King Street455 m
Turn right onto Albert Road/A575.
Albert Road342 m
Turn left onto Glynne Street/B6199. Continue on B6199.
B61994.4 km
Turn left onto St Helens Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A5793.2 km
Turn right onto Hesketh Street.
Hesketh Street72 m
Turn left onto Elizabeth Street.
Elizabeth Street216 m
Turn left onto York Street.
York Street71 m
Turn left onto A579/Bolton Road. Continue on A579.
A5794.3 km
Turn left onto Hulton Lane/A6145.
Hulton Lane986 m
Turn right onto Kirkebrok Road.
Kirkebrok Road244 m
Turn right onto Deane Church Lane.
Deane Church Lane90 m
Turn right onto Dove Road.
Dove Road31 m
Turn right onto Back Deane Church Lane West.
Back Deane Church Lane West96 m
Turn right onto Kirkebrok Road.
Kirkebrok Road32 m
Turn left onto Deane Church Lane.
Deane Church Lane164 m
Turn right onto Wigan Road/A676. Continue on A676.
A6762.0 km
Turn right onto Moor Lane/A676.
Moor Lane109 m
Turn left onto Trinity Street/A579. Continue on A579.
A5791.3 km
Turn right onto Castle Street.
Castle Street222 m
Move right onto Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road866 m
Turn right to stay on Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road852 m
Turn left onto Long Lane.
Long Lane3 m
Turn right onto Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road207 m
Turn left.
15 m
Make a sharp right.
14 m
Turn right onto Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road217 m
Turn left onto Long Lane.
Long Lane15 m
Turn right onto Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road850 m
Turn left to stay on Radcliffe Road/B6209.
Radcliffe Road285 m
Turn left onto Wheatfield Street.
Wheatfield Street168 m
Turn right onto Bromwich Street.
Bromwich Street790 m
Turn right onto Bradford Street/A579.
Bradford Street408 m
Turn right onto Pitfield Street.
Pitfield Street53 m
Turn left onto Halton Street.
Halton Street75 m
Turn left onto Fawcett Street.
Fawcett Street60 m
Turn left onto Bradford Street/A579. Continue on A579.
A579945 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A579272 m
Turn left onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street140 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridgeman Street.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridgeman Street.
Bridgeman Street982 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street298 m
Turn left onto Derby Street/A579. Continue on A579.
A5796.3 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street329 m
Turn left onto Tyldesley Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A5772.1 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.7 km
Turn left onto Mort Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50823.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.9 km
Move right onto Higher Market Street/A6053. Continue on A6053.
A6053229 m
Enter Kearsley Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
Kearsley Interchange14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
A6664.1 km
Take the exit.
A666288 m
Keep left to take A579.
A579317 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A579272 m
Turn left onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street140 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thynne Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thynne Street.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street638 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street125 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Bolton · Route 20 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 23.9 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 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.
Rose Hill United Reformed Church
Start near Rose Hill United Reformed Church.
St James's Church of England High School
Continue to St James's Church of England High School.
Duke's Gate
Continue to Duke's Gate.
Wharton & Cleggs Lane Church
Continue to Wharton & Cleggs Lane Church.
Moses Gate
Continue to Moses Gate.
All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Church
Continue to All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Church.
St Matthew's Church
Continue to St Matthew's Church.
St. Edmunds Catholic Church
Continue to St. Edmunds Catholic Church.
Farnworth Bus Station
Continue to Farnworth Bus Station.
Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Gregory's Parish
Continue to Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Gregory's Parish.
St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Continue to St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Atherton
Continue to Atherton.
St Andrew's Church Over Hulton
Continue to St Andrew's Church Over Hulton.
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir
Continue to Shree Swaminarayan Mandir.
AA
Continue to AA.
Bridge Church
Continue to Bridge Church.
Bolton
Continue to Bolton.
St Helens Road Methodist Church
Continue to St Helens Road Methodist Church.
Central Methodist Church
Continue to Central Methodist Church.
Sacred Heart (closed)
Finish back near Sacred Heart (closed), completing the loop.
1 roundabout · 19 turns · 8 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 22 turns · 5 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 20 turns · 5 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 16 turns · 10 sets of lights
This route is 94.2 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bolton test centre, not an official DVSA route.