Near Chelmsford test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 9 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 21 navigation steps.
This is an independent 41.5 km practice route near Chelmsford 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 New Street Roundabout, Three Mile Hill Roundabout, Stock Road Interchange, Generals Lane Roundabout and Chelmer Road and 1 more named junctions. 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, 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 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 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 106-step drive on real, named roads (about 41.6 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.
Parkway197 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway8 m
Keep left to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway339 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway143 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.
17 m
Turn left.
31 m
Turn left.
29 m
Turn left onto Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way14 m
Turn right to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way339 m
Enter New Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rectory Lane/B1008.
New Street Roundabout32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rectory Lane/B1008.
Rectory Lane352 m
Move left onto Parkway/A1016.
Parkway555 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016664 m
Turn right onto Beeches Road.
Beeches Road137 m
Turn right onto Beeches Court.
Beeches Court376 m
Make a right U-turn.
593 m
Turn right onto Waterhouse Lane/A1016.
Waterhouse Lane706 m
Turn right onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road207 m
Turn left onto Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road204 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road88 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road79 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road13 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road13 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road79 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road88 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road18 m
Turn left onto Hanbury Road.
Hanbury Road581 m
Turn left onto Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road254 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road88 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road79 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road13 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road13 m
Turn right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road79 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road88 m
Turn left to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road448 m
Turn left onto Westway/A1016.
Westway303 m
Keep left to stay on Westway/A1016.
Westway152 m
Turn right onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Writtle Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road356 m
Turn right onto New London Road/B1007.
New London Road376 m
Turn left onto Moulsham Street/B1007.
Moulsham Street21 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto London Road/A1114.
Miami Roundabout102 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114537 m
Enter Britvic Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto London Road/A1114.
Britvic Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114.
London Road135 m
Enter Widford Roundabout and take the 6th exit onto A414/Three Mile Hill.
Widford Roundabout186 m
Exit the roundabout onto A414/Three Mile Hill.
A4143.3 km
Enter Three Mile Hill Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A12.
Three Mile Hill Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A12/E 30/Chelmsford Bypass.
A126.8 km
Keep right to stay on A12/E 30/Chelmsford Bypass.
A12169 m
Keep straight to stay on A12/E 30/Chelmsford Bypass.
A125.8 km
Take exit 19.
A12183 m
Take exit 19 on the right.
A12250 m
Enter Drovers Way Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A131.
Drovers Way Roundabout138 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131.
A131314 m
Enter Generals Lane Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Generals Lane Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road2.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chelmer Road/A138.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road955 m
Enter Chelmer Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road Roundabout41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road88 m
Keep right to stay on Chelmer Road/A138.
Chelmer Road853 m
Enter Army & Navy Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Van Dieman's Road/A1114.
Army & Navy Roundabout79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Van Dieman's Road/A1114.
Van Dieman's Road408 m
Enter Princes Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road Roundabout40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road576 m
Keep left to stay on Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road142 m
Keep right to stay on Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road205 m
Keep right to stay on Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road324 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Moulsham Street/B1007.
Miami Roundabout92 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moulsham Street/B1007. Continue on B1007.
B1007223 m
Keep right to take New London Road/B1007.
New London Road1.4 km
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 South106 m
Move right to stay on Victoria Road South/A1099.
Victoria Road South178 m
Turn left onto Duke Street/A1099. Continue on Duke Street.
Duke Street35 m
Turn left.
72 m
Make a right U-turn.
72 m
Turn right onto Duke Street.
Duke Street531 m
Move right onto Bellmead.
Bellmead242 m
Turn left onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway524 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 Road339 m
Keep right to stay on High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road41 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.
Springfield Road344 m
Turn left 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 Way13 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chelmsford · Route 11 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 New Street Roundabout, Three Mile Hill Roundabout, Generals Lane Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 17.1 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, 70 mph). Watch for repeater signs and adjust early, examiners mark you down for carrying the wrong speed into a new limit.
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.
Our Lady Immaculate
Continue to Our Lady Immaculate.
Estates Building
Continue to Estates Building.
New Street Roundabout
Continue to New Street Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Greggs
Continue to Greggs.
Brethren Church
Continue to Brethren Church.
Skylark Church
Continue to Skylark Church.
Pearce Manor Park
Continue to Pearce Manor Park.
Rising Sun
Continue to Rising Sun.
Three Mile Hill Roundabout
Continue to Three Mile Hill Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Stock Road Interchange
Continue to Stock Road Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Generals Lane Roundabout
Continue to Generals Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Chelmer Road
Continue to Chelmer Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Army & Navy Roundabout
Continue to Army & Navy Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Tesco
Continue to Tesco.
Chelmsford Central Baptist Church
Continue to Chelmsford Central Baptist Church.
Ivory Peg
Continue to Ivory Peg.
Chelmsford Mosque
Continue to Chelmsford Mosque.
Two Brewers
Continue to Two Brewers.
Wheatsheaf
Finish back near Wheatsheaf, 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 41.5 km and takes about 30 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chelmsford test centre, not an official DVSA route.