Near Cheetham Hill test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 2 roundabouts, 20 turns and 9 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 76.7 km practice loop near Cheetham Hill 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.
Along the way you'll meet Thorpe Road Roundabout. 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, 20 mph zones, 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 churches, stations, shops and named junctions, 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 Cheetham Hill 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 145-step drive on real, named roads (about 76.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast on Alderglen Road.
Alderglen Road123 m
Turn right onto Thorngate Road.
Thorngate Road86 m
Turn right onto A6010/Elizabeth Street.
A6010244 m
Turn left onto Waterloo Road/B6180.
Waterloo Road645 m
Turn left onto Derby Street.
Derby Street325 m
Turn right onto Sherborne Street.
Sherborne Street106 m
Turn left onto Knowsley Street.
Knowsley Street68 m
Turn left onto Blacklock Street.
Blacklock Street106 m
Turn left onto Derby Street.
Derby Street170 m
Turn right onto Cheetwood Road.
Cheetwood Road310 m
Turn left onto Allison Street.
Allison Street149 m
Turn right onto Waterloo Road/B6180.
Waterloo Road277 m
Turn right onto A6010/Elizabeth Street.
A6010156 m
Turn right onto Cheetwood Road.
Cheetwood Road270 m
Turn right onto Allison Street.
Allison Street149 m
Turn left onto Waterloo Road/B6180.
Waterloo Road522 m
Move right to stay on Waterloo Road/B6180.
Waterloo Road611 m
Turn left onto Great Clowes Street/A5066.
A50661.6 km
Turn right onto Chapel Street/A6.
Chapel Street131 m
Turn left onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place43 m
Turn left.
8 m
Make a right U-turn.
8 m
Turn left onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place82 m
Move left.
31 m
Make a right U-turn.
31 m
Move right onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place82 m
Turn right.
8 m
Make a right U-turn.
8 m
Turn right onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place43 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street/A6.
Chapel Street30 m
Turn left onto Bury Street.
Bury Street210 m
Turn right onto Garden Lane.
Garden Lane79 m
Turn left onto Blackfriars Road/A6041.
Blackfriars Road80 m
Turn right onto A34/Trinity Way.
A34865 m
Turn right onto A665/Cheetham Hill Road. Continue on Cheetham Hill Road.
Cheetham Hill Road223 m
Turn left onto A665/Corporation Street. Continue on A665.
A665741 m
Turn left onto A62/Oldham Road.
A622.2 km
Turn right onto Cheetham Street.
Cheetham Street56 m
Turn left onto Irlam Street.
Irlam Street117 m
Turn left onto Ridings Street.
Ridings Street55 m
Turn left onto A62/Oldham Road.
A62457 m
Turn left onto A6010/Hulme Hall Lane.
A601058 m
Turn right onto A6010/Hulme Hall Lane. Continue on A6010.
A60103.5 km
Turn left onto A6010/Great Cheetham Street East.
Great Cheetham Street East1.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A576/Cromwell Road.
97 m
Exit the roundabout onto A576/Cromwell Road. Continue on A576.
A5761.4 km
Turn right onto A56/Bury New Road. Continue on A56.
A561.7 km
Turn left onto A34/Trinity Way.
A34293 m
Turn right onto A665/Cheetham Hill Road. Continue on Cheetham Hill Road.
Cheetham Hill Road223 m
Turn left onto A665/Corporation Street. Continue on A665.
A665752 m
Turn right onto A62/Oldham Road.
A6242 m
Keep left to take A665.
A665755 m
Turn right onto Store Street.
Store Street428 m
Turn left onto Boad Street.
Boad Street188 m
Turn left onto Baird Street.
Baird Street118 m
Turn left onto Congou Street.
Congou Street46 m
Turn right onto Chapeltown Street.
Chapeltown Street287 m
Turn left onto A665/Great Ancoats Street.
A665865 m
Move right onto A62/Oldham Road.
A6228 m
Turn right to stay on A62/Oldham Road.
A623.2 km
Turn left.
50 m
Turn left onto Thorp Road/B6393.
Thorp Road290 m
Enter Thorpe Road Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Lightbowne Road/B6393.
Thorpe Road Roundabout79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lightbowne Road/B6393.
Lightbowne Road469 m
Turn right onto Egbert Street.
Egbert Street98 m
Turn left onto Langworthy Road.
Langworthy Road97 m
Turn left onto Joan Street.
Joan Street100 m
Turn left onto Lightbowne Road/B6393.
Lightbowne Road568 m
Enter Thorpe Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Thorp Road/B6393.
Thorpe Road Roundabout9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thorp Road/B6393.
Thorp Road292 m
Move left.
47 m
Turn right onto A62/Oldham Road.
A621.3 km
Turn left onto A6010/Hulme Hall Lane.
A601058 m
Turn right onto A6010/Hulme Hall Lane. Continue on A6010.
A60103.5 km
Turn left onto A6010/Great Cheetham Street East.
Great Cheetham Street East1.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A576/Cromwell Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A576/Cromwell Road. Continue on A576.
A576875 m
Turn right onto A576/Pendleton Roundabout. Continue on A576.
A576360 m
Move right onto A6/Broad Street.
A6383 m
Move left onto A5186/Langworthy Road.
A5186118 m
Turn right onto Bolton Road.
Bolton Road625 m
Turn left onto Doveleys Road.
Doveleys Road604 m
Turn left onto Lullington Road.
Lullington Road344 m
Turn left onto Manor Road.
Manor Road232 m
Turn right onto Doveleys Road.
Doveleys Road435 m
Turn right onto Bolton Road.
Bolton Road625 m
Turn right onto Langworthy Road/A5186.
Langworthy Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Eccles New Road/A57.
Eccles New Road829 m
Enter Regent Road Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A57/Regent Road.
Regent Road Roundabout52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A57/Regent Road. Continue on A57.
A571.8 km
Move right onto A57/Mancunian Way. Continue on Mancunian Way.
Mancunian Way593 m
Take the Medlock Street Junction exit.
A57(M)134 m
Keep right to take A5103/Medlock Street Junction.
A5103257 m
Turn right onto A5103/Princess Road.
A51031.9 km
Turn left onto Claremont Road.
Claremont Road517 m
Turn left onto Upper Lloyd Street.
Upper Lloyd Street541 m
Turn left onto Moss Lane East/B5219.
Moss Lane East668 m
Turn right onto A5103/Princess Road.
A51031.2 km
Move left to stay on A5103/Princess Road.
A510318 m
Take the A57(M) ramp.
A57(M)1.1 km
Keep right to take A57/Dawson Street.
A57884 m
Take the exit.
Trinity Way42 m
Turn left onto A34/Trinity Way.
A341.5 km
Turn left onto A665/Cheetham Hill Road.
A6651.3 km
Turn right onto A6010/Queens Road.
A6010777 m
Turn left onto Smedley Road.
Smedley Road437 m
Turn right onto Hazelbottom Road.
Hazelbottom Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Old Road.
Old Road519 m
Turn right onto Rochdale Road/A664.
Rochdale Road3.9 km
Move left onto Addington Street.
Addington Street42 m
Turn left onto A665/Addington Street.
A665245 m
Turn right onto A62/Oldham Road.
A6242 m
Keep left to take A665.
A665755 m
Turn right onto Store Street.
Store Street428 m
Turn left onto Boad Street.
Boad Street356 m
Turn right onto Travis Street.
Travis Street344 m
Move left onto London Road/A6.
London Road95 m
Take the ramp on the right.
London Road46 m
Keep right to take A57(M)/Mancunian Way.
A57(M)2.3 km
Keep right to take A57/Dawson Street.
A57884 m
Take the exit.
Trinity Way42 m
Turn left onto A34/Trinity Way.
A34643 m
Turn left onto Blackfriars Road/A6041.
Blackfriars Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Camp Street/B6186.
Camp Street420 m
Turn left onto Broughton Lane.
Broughton Lane371 m
Turn right onto Great Clowes Street/A5066.
A50661.6 km
Turn right onto Chapel Street/A6.
Chapel Street131 m
Turn left onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place43 m
Turn left.
8 m
Make a right U-turn.
8 m
Turn left onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place82 m
Move left.
31 m
Make a right U-turn.
31 m
Move right onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place82 m
Turn right.
8 m
Make a right U-turn.
8 m
Turn right onto Dearmans Place.
Dearmans Place43 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street/A6.
Chapel Street30 m
Turn left onto Bury Street.
Bury Street210 m
Turn right onto Garden Lane.
Garden Lane79 m
Turn left onto Blackfriars Road/A6041.
Blackfriars Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Broughton Lane.
Broughton Lane619 m
Move left onto Waterloo Road/B6180.
Waterloo Road830 m
Turn right onto Alderglen Road.
Alderglen Road199 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Cheetham Hill · Route 14 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.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Thorpe Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 44.9 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.
Christ Followers International Church
Start near Christ Followers International Church.
Faith Life Centre
Continue to Faith Life Centre.
Mandate Church
Continue to Mandate Church.
Queens Road
Continue to Queens Road.
Saint James' Church
Continue to Saint James' Church.
Lidl
Continue to Lidl.
Holy Order of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church
Continue to Holy Order of Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church.
Manchester Piccadilly
Continue to Manchester Piccadilly.
Bartell Cottage Furnishings Ltd
Continue to Bartell Cottage Furnishings Ltd.
Thorpe Road Roundabout
Continue to Thorpe Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Cromwell Gardens
Continue to Cromwell Gardens.
Mount Chapel
Continue to Mount Chapel.
Emmanuel LEP
Continue to Emmanuel LEP.
Crown Street Primary School
Continue to Crown Street Primary School.
Twelve Tribes of Israel
Continue to Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Manchester Oratory
Continue to Manchester Oratory.
St Thomas with St Mark
Continue to St Thomas with St Mark.
Manchester Communication Primary Academy
Continue to Manchester Communication Primary Academy.
Institute of Sport
Continue to Institute of Sport.
Sir Kenneth Green Library
Finish back near Sir Kenneth Green Library, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 18 turns · 12 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 14 turns · 11 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 18 turns · 11 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 25 turns · 7 sets of lights
This route is 76.7 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Cheetham Hill test centre, not an official DVSA route.