Near Bury St Edmunds test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 16 roundabouts and 6 turns across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 32.8 km practice route near Bury St Edmunds 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 Drovers Corner. 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 pubs, churches, parks 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 Bury St Edmunds 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 113-step drive on real, named roads (about 32.7 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
58 m
Turn left onto St Andrews Street North.
St Andrews Street North192 m
Turn right onto Tayfen Road/A143.
Tayfen Road144 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tayfen Road/A143.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tayfen Road/A143. Continue on A143.
A143164 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A143.
124 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143.
A143169 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tayfen Road/A143.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tayfen Road/A143. Continue on A143.
A143600 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway South/A143.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway South/A143.
Parkway South308 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway South/A143.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway South/A143.
Parkway South571 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Westgate Street.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westgate Street.
Westgate Street358 m
Turn left onto Crown Street.
Crown Street305 m
Turn left onto Churchgate Street.
Churchgate Street50 m
Turn left onto Bridewell Lane.
Bridewell Lane288 m
Turn left onto Westgate Street.
Westgate Street58 m
Turn left onto Crown Street.
Crown Street138 m
Turn right onto Honey Hill.
Honey Hill187 m
Turn right onto Raingate Street.
Raingate Street72 m
Turn right onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane99 m
Turn right onto St Mary's Square.
St Mary's Square187 m
Turn right onto Crown Street.
Crown Street149 m
Turn right onto Honey Hill.
Honey Hill84 m
Turn right onto Sparhawk Street.
Sparhawk Street143 m
Move left onto St Mary's Square.
St Mary's Square39 m
Make a sharp right to stay on St Mary's Square.
St Mary's Square186 m
Turn right onto Crown Street.
Crown Street544 m
Turn right onto Angel Hill.
Angel Hill81 m
Turn left onto Northgate Street.
Northgate Street677 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Compiegne Way/A143.
91 m
Exit the roundabout onto Compiegne Way/A143.
Compiegne Way23 m
Turn left to stay on Compiegne Way/A143.
Compiegne Way386 m
Enter St Saviours Interchange and take the 5th exit onto A14.
St Saviours Interchange369 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A141.6 km
Take exit 44.
354 m
Enter Moreton Hall Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A134.
Moreton Hall Interchange229 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134185 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A134.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134404 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A134.
130 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134406 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A134.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134184 m
Enter Moreton Hall Interchange and take the 2nd exit.
Moreton Hall Interchange149 m
Exit the roundabout.
98 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bedingfeld Way.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bedingfeld Way.
Bedingfeld Way914 m
Turn right onto Easlea Road.
Easlea Road733 m
Turn right onto Bedingfeld Way.
Bedingfeld Way606 m
Enter Drovers Corner and take the 4th exit onto Kempson Way.
Drovers Corner118 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kempson Way.
Kempson Way490 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Kempson Way.
66 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kempson Way.
Kempson Way496 m
Enter Drovers Corner and take the 2nd exit onto Orttewell Road.
Drovers Corner51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orttewell Road.
Orttewell Road363 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Orttewell Road.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orttewell Road.
Orttewell Road460 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Mount Road.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mount Road.
Mount Road1.0 km
Turn left onto Eastgate Street.
Eastgate Street530 m
Make a sharp right.
21 m
Make a sharp left onto The Broadway.
The Broadway44 m
Turn left to stay on The Broadway.
The Broadway12 m
Turn left onto Eastgate Street.
Eastgate Street675 m
Move right onto Barton Road.
Barton Road881 m
Turn left onto Orttewell Road.
Orttewell Road190 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A143/Compiegne Way.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143/Compiegne Way.
A143850 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A143/Compiegne Way.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143/Compiegne Way.
A143578 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A134/Compiegne Way.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134/Compiegne Way.
A134985 m
Enter St Saviours Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto Compiegne Way/A143.
St Saviours Interchange221 m
Exit the roundabout onto Compiegne Way/A143.
Compiegne Way402 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A143.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143.
A143169 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tayfen Road/A143.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tayfen Road/A143. Continue on A143.
A143600 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway South/A143.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway South/A143.
Parkway South308 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway South/A143.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway South/A143.
Parkway South571 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cullum Road/A1302.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cullum Road/A1302.
Cullum Road1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cullum Road/A1302.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cullum Road/A1302.
Cullum Road120 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A134.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134406 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A134.
121 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134404 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A134.
130 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134406 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A134.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134.
A134184 m
Enter Moreton Hall Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Moreton Hall Interchange13 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A141.8 km
Take exit 43.
A14256 m
Enter St Saviours Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A134/Compiegne Way.
St Saviours Interchange256 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134/Compiegne Way.
A1341.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A143/Compiegne Way.
86 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143/Compiegne Way.
A143579 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A143/Compiegne Way.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143/Compiegne Way.
A143578 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A134/Compiegne Way.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A134/Compiegne Way.
A134985 m
Enter St Saviours Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto Compiegne Way/A143.
St Saviours Interchange221 m
Exit the roundabout onto Compiegne Way/A143.
Compiegne Way402 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A143.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto A143.
A14359 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Bury St Edmunds · 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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
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 14.4 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, 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.
Juke's Bar
Start near Juke's Bar.
Quaker Meeting House
Continue to Quaker Meeting House.
Catholic Church of St Edmund King & Martyr
Continue to Catholic Church of St Edmund King & Martyr.
St Mary
Continue to St Mary.
Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral
Continue to Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral.
St Mary's Square
Continue to St Mary's Square.
One Bull
Continue to One Bull.
Peace Garden
Continue to Peace Garden.
Click and Collect
Continue to Click and Collect.
M&S Simply Food
Continue to M&S Simply Food.
Dulux Decorator Centre
Continue to Dulux Decorator Centre.
Toolstation
Continue to Toolstation.
Drovers Corner
Continue to Drovers Corner, taking the junction with good observation.
Topps Tiles
Continue to Topps Tiles.
Moreton Hall
Continue to Moreton Hall.
Fox
Continue to Fox.
Peyton Plaice
Continue to Peyton Plaice.
Northgate Video
Continue to Northgate Video.
Abbey Wheel Refurbishments
Continue to Abbey Wheel Refurbishments.
Abbey Interiors
Finish back near Abbey Interiors, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 10 turns · 1 set of lights
18 roundabouts · 6 turns · 1 set of lights
15 roundabouts · 4 turns
This route is 32.8 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bury St Edmunds test centre, not an official DVSA route.