Near Borehamwood test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 14 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 67.4 km practice route near Borehamwood 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.
Along the way you'll meet Barnet Lane, Elstree Road and Elstree Way. 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, 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 named junctions, shops, churches 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 Borehamwood 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 96-step drive on real, named roads (about 67.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east on Stirling Court.
Stirling Court19 m
Turn right onto Stirling Way.
Stirling Way429 m
Turn left to stay on Stirling Way.
Stirling Way24 m
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 4th exit onto Barnet Lane/A411.
Stirling Corner189 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnet Lane/A411.
Barnet Lane445 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Barnet Lane/A411.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnet Lane/A411.
A4114.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Elstree Road/A411.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Road/A411.
Elstree Road606 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Elstree Road/A411.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Road/A411.
Elstree Road1.3 km
Turn right onto High Road/A4140.
High Road1.6 km
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road244 m
Turn right onto Herkomer Road.
Herkomer Road102 m
Turn right onto Bournehall Road.
Bournehall Road185 m
Turn left onto High Street/A411. Continue on A411.
A4111.5 km
Turn left onto Elstree Road/A411.
Elstree Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Elstree Road/A411.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Road/A411.
Elstree Road603 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Elstree Road/A411.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Road/A411.
Elstree Road1.5 km
Move right onto Watford Road.
Watford Road2.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Barnet Lane/A411.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnet Lane/A411.
Barnet Lane435 m
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 2nd exit onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
Stirling Corner46 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
A11.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Newark Green.
200 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newark Green.
Newark Green175 m
Turn right onto Balmoral Drive.
Balmoral Drive274 m
Turn right onto Warwick Road.
Warwick Road230 m
Turn left onto A5135.
A5135461 m
Enter Elstree Way and take the 3rd exit onto Elstree Way/A5135.
Elstree Way45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Way/A5135. Continue on A5135.
A5135588 m
Move right to stay on A5135.
A5135473 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rowley Lane/A5135.
86 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rowley Lane/A5135. Continue on A5135.
A5135339 m
Stay straight to take the ramp towards A1.
A11.5 km
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 2nd exit onto A1/Barnet Way.
Stirling Corner98 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Way.
A12.4 km
Enter Apex Corner and take the 4th exit onto A1/Barnet Way.
Apex Corner154 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Way.
A12.4 km
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 9th exit onto Barnet Road/A411.
Stirling Corner425 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnet Road/A411.
Barnet Road909 m
Turn right onto Hendon Wood Lane/B552.
Hendon Wood Lane1.4 km
Turn left onto Totteridge Common/A5109. Continue on A5109.
A51094.0 km
Turn right onto Longland Drive.
Longland Drive97 m
Turn right onto Hill Crescent.
Hill Crescent377 m
Turn left onto Totteridge Lane/A5109. Continue on A5109.
A51093.7 km
Turn right onto Hendon Wood Lane/B552.
Hendon Wood Lane1.4 km
Turn left onto Barnet Road/A411.
Barnet Road908 m
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 5th exit onto Barnet Road/A411.
Stirling Corner215 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnet Road/A411.
Barnet Road1.0 km
Turn right onto Barnet Gate Lane.
Barnet Gate Lane584 m
Move left onto Mays Lane.
Mays Lane326 m
Turn left to stay on Mays Lane.
Mays Lane2.3 km
Turn right onto Leeside.
Leeside235 m
Turn right onto Valley View.
Valley View204 m
Turn left onto Mayhill Road.
Mayhill Road84 m
Turn left onto Northbrook Road.
Northbrook Road197 m
Turn left onto Leeside.
Leeside321 m
Turn left onto Mays Lane.
Mays Lane957 m
Turn right onto Nupton Drive.
Nupton Drive1.0 km
Turn left onto Barnet Road/A411.
Barnet Road2.3 km
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 4th exit onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
Stirling Corner144 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
A11.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Rowley Lane/A5135.
293 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rowley Lane/A5135.
Rowley Lane404 m
Turn right to stay on A5135.
A5135123 m
Move left.
52 m
Move left onto Rowley Lane.
Rowley Lane442 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rowley Lane.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rowley Lane.
Rowley Lane367 m
Turn left onto Well End Road.
Well End Road344 m
Make a sharp left onto Potters Lane.
Potters Lane29 m
Turn left to stay on Potters Lane.
Potters Lane22 m
Turn right onto Well End Road.
Well End Road314 m
Turn right onto Rowley Lane.
Rowley Lane366 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rowley Lane.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rowley Lane.
Rowley Lane936 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rowley Lane/A5135.
86 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rowley Lane/A5135. Continue on A5135.
A5135339 m
Stay straight to take the ramp towards A1.
A11.5 km
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 2nd exit onto A1/Barnet Way.
Stirling Corner98 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Way.
A12.4 km
Enter Apex Corner and take the 4th exit onto A1/Barnet Way.
Apex Corner154 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Way.
A12.4 km
Enter Stirling Corner and take the 3rd exit onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
Stirling Corner94 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/Barnet Bypass.
A11.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Newark Green.
200 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newark Green.
Newark Green175 m
Turn right onto Balmoral Drive.
Balmoral Drive622 m
Turn right onto Manor Way.
Manor Way217 m
Enter Elstree Way and take the 2nd exit onto Elstree Way/A5135.
Elstree Way28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elstree Way/A5135. Continue on A5135.
A5135467 m
Turn right onto Warwick Road.
Warwick Road189 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Borehamwood · Route 19 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.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
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 18.4 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, 60 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.
Barnet Lane
Start near Barnet Lane.
Barons Borehamwood BMW
Continue to Barons Borehamwood BMW.
Elstree Road
Continue to Elstree Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Bushey United Synagogue
Continue to Bushey United Synagogue.
Church of St Peter
Continue to Church of St Peter.
St Hilda's School
Continue to St Hilda's School.
Ash's Newsagents
Continue to Ash's Newsagents.
Elstree Way
Continue to Elstree Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Scratchwood Park
Continue to Scratchwood Park.
Little Waitrose
Continue to Little Waitrose.
St Andrew's C of E Primary School
Continue to St Andrew's C of E Primary School.
St Andrew's School
Continue to St Andrew's School.
Saint Andrew's
Continue to Saint Andrew's.
Gate
Continue to Gate.
Underhill School and Children's Centre
Continue to Underhill School and Children's Centre.
St Peter's Arkley
Continue to St Peter's Arkley.
St Peter's House
Continue to St Peter's House.
Halfords Autocentre
Continue to Halfords Autocentre.
Mops & Brooms
Continue to Mops & Brooms.
Evans Halshaw
Finish back near Evans Halshaw, completing the loop.
24 roundabouts · 12 turns · 1 set of lights
6 roundabouts · 13 turns
13 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
15 roundabouts · 10 turns
This route is 67.4 km and takes about 30 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Borehamwood test centre, not an official DVSA route.