Near Chelmsford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 12 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 39.1 km practice route near Chelmsford 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 Patching Hall Lane, Springfield Hall Roundabout, White Hart Lane Roundabout and Chelmer Road. 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, parks 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 115-step drive on real, named roads (about 39.2 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 2nd exit onto Rectory Lane/B1008.
New Street Roundabout32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rectory Lane/B1008.
Rectory Lane353 m
Move left onto Parkway/A1016.
Parkway555 m
Keep left to take Parkway/A1060.
Parkway345 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 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.
Parkway353 m
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 left to take Broomfield Road/B1008.
Broomfield Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Broomfield Parade.
Broomfield Parade11 m
Turn left to stay on Broomfield Parade.
Broomfield Parade182 m
Turn left to stay on Broomfield Parade.
Broomfield Parade18 m
Turn left onto Patching Hall Lane.
Patching Hall Lane29 m
Turn right onto Broomfield Road/B1008.
Broomfield Road893 m
Turn right onto Swiss Avenue.
Swiss Avenue500 m
Turn right onto Dixon Avenue.
Dixon Avenue214 m
Turn left onto Kings Road.
Kings Road244 m
Turn left onto Swiss Avenue.
Swiss Avenue219 m
Turn left onto Dixon Avenue.
Dixon Avenue214 m
Turn right onto Kings Road.
Kings Road326 m
Turn left onto Eves Crescent.
Eves Crescent65 m
Turn right onto Sunrise Avenue.
Sunrise Avenue449 m
Turn right to stay on Sunrise Avenue.
Sunrise Avenue83 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Sunrise Avenue.
Sunrise Avenue83 m
Turn right to stay on Sunrise Avenue.
Sunrise Avenue295 m
Turn left onto Patching Hall Lane.
Patching Hall Lane364 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Patching Hall Lane.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Patching Hall Lane.
Patching Hall Lane592 m
Turn right onto Broomfield Road/B1008.
Broomfield Road1.1 km
Move left onto Rectory Lane/A1016. Continue on A1016.
A1016397 m
Keep left to take Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road1.1 km
Enter Springfield Hall Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Valley Bridge.
Springfield Hall Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Valley Bridge.
Valley Bridge340 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Valley Bridge.
Valley Bridge370 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.
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 16 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 Springfield Hall Roundabout, White Hart Lane 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.
Frank Whitmore Green
Continue to Frank Whitmore Green.
Chelmsford Mosque
Continue to Chelmsford Mosque.
Woolpack
Continue to Woolpack.
Broomfield Road Evangelical
Continue to Broomfield Road Evangelical.
Joe's Convience
Continue to Joe's Convience.
Patching Hall Lane
Continue to Patching Hall Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Springfield Hall Roundabout
Continue to Springfield Hall Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Friends Meeting House
Continue to Friends Meeting House.
Lordship Science Centre
Continue to Lordship Science Centre.
Writtle United Reformed Church
Continue to Writtle United Reformed Church.
Brethren Church
Continue to Brethren Church.
Mr Clutch
Continue to Mr Clutch.
Two Brewers
Continue to Two Brewers.
Endeavour
Continue to Endeavour.
White Hart Lane Roundabout
Continue to White Hart Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Chelmer Road
Continue to Chelmer Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Oddfellows Arms
Continue to Oddfellows Arms.
Wellness Clinic
Finish back near Wellness Clinic, 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 39.1 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chelmsford test centre, not an official DVSA route.