Near Chelmsford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 10 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 61.0 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 Army & Navy Roundabout, Margaretting Road Roundabout, Springfield Hall Roundabout, Widford Roundabout and Miami 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 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 217-step drive on real, named roads (about 62.4 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 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 Road76 m
Keep left to stay on High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road105 m
Keep left to stay on High Bridge Road/A1099.
High Bridge Road208 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.
Parkway352 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 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 Street35 m
Turn right onto Victoria Road South/A1099.
Victoria Road South293 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 2nd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout64 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway256 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway352 m
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 left to stay on A1060.
A1060441 m
Turn left onto Rainsford Avenue.
Rainsford Avenue280 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Rainsford Avenue.
Rainsford Avenue280 m
Turn left onto Rainsford Road/A1060. Continue on A1060.
A1060480 m
Turn right onto St Fabian's Drive.
St Fabian's Drive224 m
Turn right onto Canterbury Way.
Canterbury Way71 m
Turn right to stay on Canterbury Way.
Canterbury Way19 m
Turn left onto Lichfield Close.
Lichfield Close78 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Lichfield Close.
Lichfield Close78 m
Turn right onto Canterbury Way.
Canterbury Way19 m
Turn left to stay on Canterbury Way.
Canterbury Way72 m
Turn left onto St Fabian's Drive.
St Fabian's Drive224 m
Turn right onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road1.1 km
Turn left.
40 m
Make a right U-turn.
39 m
Turn left onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road340 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lordship Road.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lordship Road.
Lordship Road542 m
Keep left to stay on Lordship Road.
Lordship Road619 m
Turn left onto The Green.
The Green39 m
Make a sharp right onto Ongar Road.
Ongar Road301 m
Move right onto Back Road.
Back Road362 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn left onto Ongar Road.
Ongar Road1.3 km
Keep right to take Lordship Road.
Lordship Road540 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road346 m
Turn right.
4 m
Make a right U-turn.
4 m
Turn right onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road664 m
Keep right to stay on A1060.
A1060761 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue10 m
Keep right to stay on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue400 m
Turn left onto Swiss Avenue.
Swiss Avenue57 m
Turn left onto Kings Road.
Kings Road44 m
Keep right to stay on Kings Road.
Kings Road18 m
Turn right onto Christy Avenue.
Christy Avenue100 m
Turn right onto The Green.
The Green109 m
Turn left to stay on The Green.
The Green88 m
Turn left to stay on The Green.
The Green88 m
Turn right to stay on The Green.
The Green13 m
Turn left onto Christy Avenue.
Christy Avenue100 m
Turn left onto Kings Road.
Kings Road63 m
Turn right onto Swiss Avenue.
Swiss Avenue57 m
Turn right onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue411 m
Turn right onto Rainsford Road/A1060.
Rainsford Road733 m
Keep left to take Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road692 m
Turn left.
40 m
Make a right U-turn.
39 m
Turn left onto Roxwell Road/A1060.
Roxwell Road340 m
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 Green51 m
Keep straight to stay on The Green.
The Green119 m
Keep straight to stay on The Green.
The Green212 m
Turn right onto Lodge Road.
Lodge Road570 m
Keep left to stay on Lodge Road.
Lodge Road361 m
Turn right onto The Ryle.
The Ryle94 m
Turn right onto Long Brandocks.
Long Brandocks18 m
Keep right to stay on Long Brandocks.
Long Brandocks328 m
Turn left onto Lodge Road.
Lodge Road356 m
Turn right onto Paradise Road.
Paradise Road185 m
Keep right to stay on Paradise Road.
Paradise Road123 m
Keep right to stay on Paradise Road.
Paradise Road238 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Paradise Road.
Paradise Road76 m
Keep right to stay on Paradise Road.
Paradise Road353 m
Keep right to stay on Paradise Road.
Paradise Road9 m
Turn left onto Rectory Road.
Rectory Road328 m
Turn left onto Margaretting Road.
Margaretting Road309 m
Enter Margaretting Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Margaretting Road.
Margaretting Road Roundabout29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margaretting Road.
Margaretting Road8 m
Keep right to stay on Margaretting Road.
Margaretting Road2.2 km
Keep left to take Writtle Road.
Writtle Road100 m
Keep right to stay on Writtle Road.
Writtle Road1.3 km
Move left onto Wantz Road.
Wantz Road2.7 km
Keep right to stay on Maldon Road.
Maldon Road146 m
Keep right to stay on Maldon Road.
Maldon Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Stock Road/B1007. Continue on B1007.
B10071.4 km
Keep left to take Galleywood Road/B1007.
Galleywood Road432 m
Keep left to stay on Galleywood Road/B1007.
Galleywood Road114 m
Turn left onto Wood Street/B1007.
Wood Street895 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto London Road/A1114.
Miami Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114.
London Road97 m
Keep straight to stay on A1114.
A1114439 m
Enter Britvic Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Westway/A1016.
Britvic Roundabout105 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westway/A1016.
Westway232 m
Keep left to stay on Westway/A1016.
Westway318 m
Keep left to stay on Westway/A1016.
Westway152 m
Turn left onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road207 m
Turn left onto Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road86 m
Keep right to stay on Robjohns Road.
Robjohns Road565 m
Turn left onto Westway/A1016.
Westway303 m
Keep left to stay on A1016.
A1016944 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016659 m
Move left onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway18 m
Keep right to take A1016.
A1016429 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016402 m
Keep left to take Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road69 m
Keep left to stay on Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road624 m
Keep right to stay on Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road403 m
Keep straight to stay on Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road99 m
Enter Springfield Hall Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Valley Bridge.
Springfield Hall Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Valley Bridge.
Valley Bridge334 m
Turn right onto Broomfield Road/B1008. Continue on B1008.
B10081.5 km
Turn left onto Church Green.
Church Green63 m
Turn left to stay on Church Green.
Church Green61 m
Turn right onto Main Road/B1008. Continue on B1008.
B10081.4 km
Turn left onto Valley Bridge.
Valley Bridge373 m
Enter Springfield Hall Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Springfield Hall Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road1.4 km
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016649 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016691 m
Keep right to stay on A1016.
A1016945 m
Keep left to take Westway/A1016.
Westway547 m
Enter Britvic Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A1114.
Britvic Roundabout97 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114.
London Road135 m
Enter Widford Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto London Road/A1114.
Widford Roundabout111 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114.
London Road143 m
Enter Britvic Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A1114.
Britvic Roundabout67 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114532 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto London Road/A1114.
Miami Roundabout146 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A1114.
London Road82 m
Keep right to stay on A1114.
A1114454 m
Enter Britvic Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Westway/A1016.
Britvic Roundabout105 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westway/A1016.
Westway551 m
Keep left to stay on Westway/A1016.
Westway152 m
Turn right onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road119 m
Turn left onto Waterhouse Street.
Waterhouse Street226 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Waterhouse Street.
Waterhouse Street226 m
Turn left onto Writtle Road.
Writtle Road217 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 Road30 m
Keep right to stay on B1007.
B1007346 m
Turn left onto Moulsham Street/B1007.
Moulsham Street21 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Princes Road/A1114.
Miami Roundabout6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road180 m
Keep left to stay on Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road522 m
Keep right to stay on Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road542 m
Enter Princes Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road Roundabout32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Princes Road/A1114.
Princes Road31 m
Keep right to stay on A1114.
A1114383 m
Enter Army & Navy Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Army & Navy Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway446 m
Enter Odeon Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkway/A1060.
Odeon Roundabout64 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway256 m
Keep right to stay on Parkway/A1060.
Parkway352 m
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 Way345 m
Turn right to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way13 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chelmsford · Route 12 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 Army & Navy Roundabout, Margaretting Road Roundabout, Springfield Hall 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.
Our Lady Immaculate
Start near Our Lady Immaculate.
Estates Building
Continue to Estates Building.
Chelmsford Central Baptist Church
Continue to Chelmsford Central Baptist Church.
Army & Navy Roundabout
Continue to Army & Navy Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Friends Meeting House
Continue to Friends Meeting House.
Lordship Science Centre
Continue to Lordship Science Centre.
Gibsons
Continue to Gibsons.
Writtle United Reformed Church
Continue to Writtle United Reformed Church.
Margaretting Road Roundabout
Continue to Margaretting Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Margaretting Pond Park
Continue to Margaretting Pond Park.
Eagle
Continue to Eagle.
Fox & Hounds
Continue to Fox & Hounds.
Brethren Church
Continue to Brethren Church.
Springfield Hall Roundabout
Continue to Springfield Hall Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Broomfield Methodist Church
Continue to Broomfield Methodist Church.
Co-operative Funeralcare
Continue to Co-operative Funeralcare.
Widford Roundabout
Continue to Widford Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Miami Roundabout
Continue to Miami Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Rising Sun
Continue to Rising Sun.
Moda
Finish back near Moda, 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 61.0 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.