Near Chelmsford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 13 roundabouts, 9 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 52.1 km practice route near Chelmsford 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 Chelmer Road, Chelmer Village Way, Lawn Lane Roundabout and Colchester 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, 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 churches, schools, named junctions and pubs, 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 Chelmsford 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 143-step drive on real, named roads (about 52.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast.
135 m
Turn left onto Moulsham Street.
Moulsham Street120 m
Turn right onto New London Road/B1007.
New London Road1.4 km
Enter Market Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Market Roundabout55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway206 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway482 m
Move right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway18 m
Keep right to take A1016.
A1016429 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016110 m
Take the exit on the right.
Rectory Lane406 m
Enter New Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hoffmanns Way.
New Street Roundabout28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way346 m
Turn left to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way14 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn right.
23 m
Make a right U-turn.
23 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left onto Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way14 m
Turn right to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way338 m
Enter New Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto New Street/B1008.
New Street Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Street/B1008.
New Street411 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road/A1099.
Victoria Road587 m
Turn right onto Springfield Road/A1099.
Springfield Road340 m
Enter Kings Meadow Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
Kings Meadow Roundabout4 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road391 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout115 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway256 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway353 m
Enter Market Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Victoria Road South/A1099.
Market Roundabout102 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Road South/A1099.
Victoria Road South285 m
Turn right onto Duke Street.
Duke Street222 m
Turn right onto Tindal Square.
Tindal Square211 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road South/A1099.
Victoria Road South108 m
Enter Market Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Market Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway552 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway51 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway361 m
Move right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway97 m
Enter Army & Navy Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Army & Navy Roundabout166 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway447 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout171 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway361 m
Turn left onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road976 m
Keep left to stay on Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road989 m
Keep right to stay on Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road61 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Beeleigh Link.
86 m
Exit the roundabout onto Beeleigh Link.
Beeleigh Link1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chelmer Village Way.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Village Way.
Chelmer Village Way266 m
Enter Chelmer Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road Roundabout51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road902 m
Keep left to stay on Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road298 m
Take the exit.
A138421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Springfield Road/B1137.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Springfield Road/B1137. Continue on Springfield Road.
Springfield Road2.1 km
Enter Kings Meadow Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
Kings Meadow Roundabout4 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road391 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout115 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway256 m
Keep left to stay on Parkway.
Parkway73 m
Move left onto New London Road/B1007.
New London Road929 m
Turn right onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road357 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Writtle Road.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road2.0 km
Turn left onto The Green.
The Green193 m
Turn left onto Comyns Place.
Comyns Place11 m
Turn left onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane64 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Pump Lane.
Pump Lane64 m
Turn right onto Comyns Place.
Comyns Place11 m
Move left onto The Green.
The Green272 m
Turn right onto Lordship Road.
Lordship Road1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roxwell Road/A1060. Continue on A1060.
A10602.3 km
Turn left onto Parkway/A1016. Continue on A1016.
A1016402 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016472 m
Keep left to take Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road1.1 km
Enter Springfield Hall Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Springfield Hall Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road788 m
Enter Lawn Lane Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Lawn Lane.
Lawn Lane Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lawn Lane.
Lawn Lane72 m
Turn left onto Brackenden Drive.
Brackenden Drive409 m
Turn right onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane565 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pump Lane.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane59 m
Turn right onto Rushleydale.
Rushleydale298 m
Turn left to stay on Rushleydale.
Rushleydale102 m
Turn left onto Havengore.
Havengore224 m
Turn left onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane311 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Pump Lane.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane564 m
Turn left onto Brackenden Drive.
Brackenden Drive409 m
Turn right onto Lawn Lane.
Lawn Lane62 m
Enter Lawn Lane Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Lawn Lane Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road736 m
Turn left to stay on Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road1.4 km
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016583 m
Turn right onto Rainsford Road/A1060. Continue on A1060.
A10602.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lordship Road.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lordship Road.
Lordship Road1.2 km
Turn left onto The Green.
The Green164 m
Keep right to stay on The Green.
The Green108 m
Move right onto Comyns Place.
Comyns Place11 m
Turn left onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane64 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Pump Lane.
Pump Lane64 m
Turn right onto Comyns Place.
Comyns Place11 m
Turn right onto The Green.
The Green193 m
Turn right to stay on The Green.
The Green1.7 km
Turn left onto Waterhouse Lane/A1016. Continue on A1016.
A10161.4 km
Turn right onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway365 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway346 m
Enter Market Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Market Roundabout66 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway552 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway51 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
Odeon Roundabout9 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road381 m
Enter Kings Meadow Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Springfield Road/A1099.
Kings Meadow Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Springfield Road/A1099. Continue on Springfield Road.
Springfield Road2.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Springfield Road/B1137.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Springfield Road/B1137.
Springfield Road411 m
Enter Cuton Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Cuton Roundabout53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road325 m
Enter Colchester Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road Roundabout29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road234 m
Enter White Hart Lane Roundabout and take the 6th exit onto Colchester Road/B1137.
White Hart Lane Roundabout122 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road247 m
Enter Colchester Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road Roundabout40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/B1137.
Colchester Road318 m
Enter Cuton Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Approach/A138.
Cuton Roundabout68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road976 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chelmer Road/A138.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road588 m
Turn right onto Sandford Road.
Sandford Road833 m
Turn right onto Springfield Road/B1137.
Springfield Road435 m
Turn left onto Stump Lane.
Stump Lane15 m
Turn right to stay on Stump Lane.
Stump Lane21 m
Turn right onto Springfield Road/B1137.
Springfield Road807 m
Turn right onto Victoria Road/A1099.
Victoria Road587 m
Turn right onto New Street/B1008.
New Street407 m
Enter New Street Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hoffmanns Way.
New Street Roundabout56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way346 m
Turn right to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way14 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chelmsford · Route 1 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Lawn Lane Roundabout, Colchester Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
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.
Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel
Start near Ebenezer Strict Baptist Chapel.
Estates Building
Continue to Estates Building.
Chelmsford Central Baptist Church
Continue to Chelmsford Central Baptist Church.
Salvation Army
Continue to Salvation Army.
Chelmer Road
Continue to Chelmer Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Chelmer Village Way
Continue to Chelmer Village Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Endeavour
Continue to Endeavour.
Pearce Manor Park
Continue to Pearce Manor Park.
All Saint's Church
Continue to All Saint's Church.
Writtle United Reformed Church
Continue to Writtle United Reformed Church.
Friends Meeting House
Continue to Friends Meeting House.
Lawn Lane Roundabout
Continue to Lawn Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
North Springfield Baptist Church
Continue to North Springfield Baptist Church.
Cook
Continue to Cook.
Lordship Science Centre
Continue to Lordship Science Centre.
Brethren Church
Continue to Brethren Church.
Central Park Memorial Gardens
Continue to Central Park Memorial Gardens.
Colchester Road Roundabout
Continue to Colchester Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Castle Stores
Continue to Castle Stores.
Matha Supermarket
Finish back near Matha Supermarket, completing the loop.
12 roundabouts · 4 turns · 2 sets of lights
12 roundabouts · 5 turns · 2 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 13 turns · 3 sets of lights
14 roundabouts · 4 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 52.1 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chelmsford test centre, not an official DVSA route.