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Practice route
ChallengingLoop

Boston · Route 5

Near Boston test centre

39.1 km
Distance
35 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Challenging

Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 15 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 39.1 km practice loop near Boston 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, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and independent driving. 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 pubs, churches, schools and shops, 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 Boston 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

7
Left turns
8
Right turns
7
Roundabouts
4
Traffic lights
25
Total steps

Skills & features

11
Roundabouts
16.8 km
Dual carriageway
20, 30, 40, 50, 60 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • National-speed roads
  • 20 mph zones
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Independent driving

Road mix

  • Trunk roads 16.8 km
  • Minor roads 10.2 km
  • Residential 3.4 km
  • A-roads 3.3 km
  • B-roads 1.6 km
  • Unclassified 0.9 km
  • service_other 0.1 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 100-step drive on real, named roads (about 39.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive west on Redstone Road.

    Redstone Road277 m

  2. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Redstone Road.

    Redstone Road249 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Redstone Road.

    Redstone Road180 m

  4. Turn left:

    Move left onto A16/Spalding Road.

    A16695 m

  5. Roundabout:

    Enter Liquorpond Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A52.

    Liquorpond Street Roundabout6 m

  6. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A52.

    A52364 m

  7. Turn right:

    Turn right onto West Street.

    West Street399 m

  8. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bridge Street.

    Bridge Street76 m

  9. Turn left:

    Turn left onto High Street.

    High Street97 m

  10. Turn right:

    Move right onto Market Place.

    Market Place320 m

  11. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A16/John Adams Way.

    A16870 m

  12. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1137.

    Bargate Roundabout39 m

  13. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A1137.

    A11372.0 km

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Pilley's Lane.

    Pilley's Lane1.1 km

  15. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A16/Sibsey Road.

    A161.1 km

  16. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A16/Spilsby Road. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  17. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A16/John Adams Way.

    Bargate Roundabout9 m

  18. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/John Adams Way. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  19. Roundabout:

    Enter Liquorpond Street Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A16/John Adams Way.

    Liquorpond Street Roundabout62 m

  20. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/John Adams Way. Continue on A16.

    A16431 m

  21. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Quaker Lane.

    Quaker Lane131 m

  22. Turn left:

    Move left.

    29 m

  23. Turn left:

    Move left onto Shodfriars Lane.

    Shodfriars Lane9 m

  24. Turn right:

    Move right onto Sibsey Lane.

    Sibsey Lane21 m

  25. Turn right:

    Move right onto Craythorne Lane.

    Craythorne Lane34 m

  26. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Craythorne Lane.

    Craythorne Lane34 m

  27. Turn left:

    Move left onto Sibsey Lane.

    Sibsey Lane21 m

  28. Turn left:

    Move left onto Shodfriars Lane.

    Shodfriars Lane9 m

  29. Turn left:

    Move left.

    34 m

  30. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A16/John Adams Way.

    A16598 m

  31. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A16/Wide Bargate.

    Bargate Roundabout81 m

  32. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/Wide Bargate. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  33. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A52/Wainfleet Road.

    A521.4 km

  34. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    14 m

  35. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    29 m

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    7 m

  37. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A52/Wainfleet Road.

    A521.4 km

  38. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A16/Spilsby Road. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  39. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A16/John Adams Way.

    Bargate Roundabout9 m

  40. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/John Adams Way. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  41. Roundabout:

    Enter Liquorpond Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A52.

    Liquorpond Street Roundabout36 m

  42. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A52.

    A52364 m

  43. Turn right:

    Turn right onto West Street.

    West Street30 m

  44. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Trinity Street.

    Trinity Street181 m

  45. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Street.

    Station Street92 m

  46. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Tower Street.

    Tower Street57 m

  47. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Tower Street.

    Tower Street136 m

  48. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Haven Bank.

    Haven Bank41 m

  49. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Irby Street.

    Irby Street384 m

  50. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Fydell Street/A1137. Continue on A1137.

    A113781 m

  51. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on A1137.

    A113782 m

  52. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Norfolk Street/A1137.

    Norfolk Street773 m

  53. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Horncastle Road/A1137.

    Horncastle Road383 m

  54. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on A1137.

    A113732 m

  55. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A16/Wide Bargate.

    Bargate Roundabout2 m

  56. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/Wide Bargate. Continue on A16.

    A161.2 km

  57. Turn right:

    Turn right onto A52/Wainfleet Road.

    A521.1 km

  58. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Rochford Tower Lane.

    Rochford Tower Lane35 m

  59. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Rochford Tower Lane.

    Rochford Tower Lane949 m

  60. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Camelot Gardens.

    Camelot Gardens117 m

  61. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Camelot Gardens.

    Camelot Gardens214 m

  62. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Priory Road.

    Priory Road89 m

  63. Turn right:

    Move right.

    45 m

  64. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Eastwood Road.

    Eastwood Road1.8 km

  65. Turn left:

    Move left onto Vauxhall Road.

    Vauxhall Road337 m

  66. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A16/John Adams Way. Continue on A16.

    A16867 m

  67. Roundabout:

    Enter Liquorpond Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A52.

    Liquorpond Street Roundabout36 m

  68. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A52.

    A52364 m

  69. Turn right:

    Turn right onto West Street.

    West Street30 m

  70. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Trinity Street.

    Trinity Street181 m

  71. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Street.

    Station Street92 m

  72. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Tower Street.

    Tower Street57 m

  73. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Tower Street.

    Tower Street136 m

  74. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Haven Bank.

    Haven Bank41 m

  75. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Irby Street.

    Irby Street384 m

  76. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Fydell Street/A1137. Continue on A1137.

    A113781 m

  77. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on A1137.

    A113782 m

  78. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Norfolk Street/A1137.

    Norfolk Street773 m

  79. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Horncastle Road/A1137.

    Horncastle Road383 m

  80. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on A1137.

    A113732 m

  81. Roundabout:

    Enter Bargate Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A16/John Adams Way.

    Bargate Roundabout38 m

  82. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/John Adams Way.

    A16310 m

  83. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Main Ridge East.

    Main Ridge East351 m

  84. Turn right:

    Move right onto Freiston Road.

    Freiston Road1.6 km

  85. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Toot Lane.

    Toot Lane1.7 km

  86. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Kingsway.

    Kingsway39 m

  87. Turn right:

    Turn right onto St Nicholas Road.

    St Nicholas Road71 m

  88. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Mill Road.

    Mill Road317 m

  89. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Woad Farm Road.

    Woad Farm Road821 m

  90. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Church Road.

    Church Road438 m

  91. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Fishtoft Road.

    Fishtoft Road781 m

  92. Turn right:

    Turn right onto South End/A1138.

    South End254 m

  93. Turn left:

    Move left onto A16/John Adams Way. Continue on A16.

    A16281 m

  94. Roundabout:

    Enter Liquorpond Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A16/Spalding Road.

    Liquorpond Street Roundabout6 m

  95. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/Spalding Road.

    A16961 m

  96. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A16/Spalding Road.

    80 m

  97. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A16/Spalding Road.

    A16215 m

  98. Keep left:

    Keep left to take Redstone Road.

    Redstone Road187 m

  99. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Redstone Road.

    Redstone Road148 m

  100. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Boston · Route 5 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Sam Newsom Centre (Boston College)
  • Boston Nursery School
  • Little Acorns Day Nursery

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Boston Mosque & Islamic Centre
  • Boston Unitarian Chapel
  • Holy Trinity
  • Salvation Army
  • Boston Christian Fellowship

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Sports Lounge Bar
  • Mill Inn
  • Burton House
  • Coach and Horses

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Carr Funeral Services
  • Enderby and Hallgate
  • Ted West's Chip Shop
  • Yaz

Watch out for

  • 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 16.8 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.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Sports Lounge Bar

    Start near Sports Lounge Bar.

  2. Boston Mosque & Islamic Centre

    Continue to Boston Mosque & Islamic Centre.

  3. Sam Newsom Centre (Boston College)

    Continue to Sam Newsom Centre (Boston College).

  4. Mill Inn

    Continue to Mill Inn.

  5. Boston Unitarian Chapel

    Continue to Boston Unitarian Chapel.

  6. Holy Trinity

    Continue to Holy Trinity.

  7. Salvation Army

    Continue to Salvation Army.

  8. Carr Funeral Services

    Continue to Carr Funeral Services.

  9. Burton House

    Continue to Burton House.

  10. Boston Christian Fellowship

    Continue to Boston Christian Fellowship.

  11. Mosque Al-Noor

    Continue to Mosque Al-Noor.

  12. Catholic Church of St Mary

    Continue to Catholic Church of St Mary.

  13. Hospital Bridge Methodist Church

    Continue to Hospital Bridge Methodist Church.

  14. Enderby and Hallgate

    Continue to Enderby and Hallgate.

  15. Ted West's Chip Shop

    Continue to Ted West's Chip Shop.

  16. Coach and Horses

    Continue to Coach and Horses.

  17. Yaz

    Continue to Yaz.

  18. Boston Nursery School

    Continue to Boston Nursery School.

  19. Little Acorns Day Nursery

    Continue to Little Acorns Day Nursery.

  20. Railway

    Finish back near Railway, completing the loop.

More routes at Boston test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 39.1 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Boston test centre, not an official DVSA route.