Near Chelmsford test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 11 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 20 navigation steps.
This is an independent 64.2 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 Nabbotts Farm Roundabout and Generals Lane 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, 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, pubs, schools 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 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 146-step drive on real, named roads (about 64.2 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 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 left onto Springfield Road/B1137.
Springfield Road791 m
Turn left onto Stump Lane.
Stump Lane468 m
Turn left onto Church Lane.
Church Lane78 m
Move right onto Lawn Lane.
Lawn Lane160 m
Turn right onto Bodmin Road.
Bodmin Road674 m
Move right onto Dartmouth Road.
Dartmouth Road8 m
Turn right to stay on Dartmouth Road.
Dartmouth Road168 m
Turn left onto Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road191 m
Turn right to stay on Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road64 m
Turn left to stay on Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road2 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road2 m
Turn right to stay on Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road64 m
Turn right to stay on Sidmouth Road.
Sidmouth Road72 m
Turn left onto Pump Lane.
Pump Lane395 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
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.
Roxwell Road1.0 km
Turn left onto Chignal Road.
Chignal Road818 m
Turn right onto Melbourne Avenue.
Melbourne Avenue964 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Partridge Avenue.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Partridge Avenue.
Partridge Avenue587 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Patching Hall Lane.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Patching Hall Lane.
Patching Hall Lane385 m
Turn right onto Woodhall Road.
Woodhall Road94 m
Turn right to stay on Woodhall Road.
Woodhall Road121 m
Turn left onto Essex Avenue.
Essex Avenue109 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Essex Avenue.
Essex Avenue109 m
Turn left onto Woodhall Road.
Woodhall Road347 m
Turn right onto Berwick Avenue.
Berwick Avenue81 m
Turn left onto Skerry Rise.
Skerry Rise285 m
Turn right onto Broomfield Road/B1008.
Broomfield Road94 m
Turn left onto Valley Bridge.
Valley Bridge372 m
Enter Springfield Hall Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Springfield Hall Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road788 m
Enter Lawn Lane Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Lawn Lane Roundabout29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chelmer Valley Road/A1016.
Chelmer Valley Road527 m
Enter Nabbotts Farm Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Essex Regiment Way/A1016.
Nabbotts Farm Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Essex Regiment Way/A1016.
Essex Regiment Way223 m
Turn left onto Little Waltham Road.
Little Waltham Road641 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane21 m
Turn left to stay on Mill Lane.
Mill Lane37 m
Move right onto Little Waltham Road.
Little Waltham Road606 m
Turn left onto Essex Regiment Way/A1016.
Essex Regiment Way358 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Essex Regiment Way/A1016.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Essex Regiment Way/A1016.
Essex Regiment Way509 m
Move left.
203 m
Move left onto A131/Essex Regiment Way.
A131736 m
Enter Pratts Farm Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Back Lane.
Pratts Farm Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Back Lane.
Back Lane1.3 km
Turn left onto Brook Hill.
Brook Hill344 m
Turn left to stay on Brook Hill.
Brook Hill36 m
Turn left to stay on Brook Hill.
Brook Hill59 m
Turn left to stay on Brook Hill.
Brook Hill30 m
Turn right to stay on Brook Hill.
Brook Hill273 m
Turn right onto Back Lane.
Back Lane1.3 km
Enter Pratts Farm Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A131/Essex Regiment Way.
Pratts Farm Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Essex Regiment Way.
A131803 m
Enter Channels Drive Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A131/Channels Drive.
Channels Drive Roundabout27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Channels Drive.
A131522 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A131/Channels Drive.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Channels Drive.
A131509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
A1311.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
A1311.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A131/Beaulieu Parkway.
A131423 m
Take the exit.
A131300 m
Turn right onto A131/Boreham Roundabout.
A13182 m
Stay straight to take the A12 ramp.
A1210.0 km
Take exit 16.
A12370 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Stock Road Interchange/B1007.
58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stock Road Interchange/B1007.
Stock Road Interchange117 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Stock Road/B1007.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stock Road/B1007.
Stock Road927 m
Turn right onto Ponds Road.
Ponds Road142 m
Make a sharp left onto The Street.
The Street346 m
Turn left onto Watchouse Road.
Watchouse Road45 m
Turn right onto Stock Road/B1007. Continue on B1007.
B10071.4 km
Keep left to take Galleywood Road/B1007.
Galleywood Road548 m
Turn left onto Wood Street/B1007.
Wood Street895 m
Enter Miami Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Moulsham Street/B1007.
Miami Roundabout45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moulsham Street/B1007.
B10071.6 km
Move left onto Parkway/A1060.
Parkway305 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.
A1016472 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
Turn right onto Broomfield Road/B1008. Continue on B1008.
B10081.5 km
Turn left onto Church Green.
Church Green64 m
Turn left to stay on Church Green.
Church Green61 m
Turn right onto Main Road/B1008. Continue on B1008.
B10083.1 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 left to take Chelmer Valley Road/B1008.
Chelmer Valley Road61 m
Turn left onto Rectory Lane/B1008.
Rectory Lane325 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 right to stay on Hoffmanns Way.
Hoffmanns Way14 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chelmsford · Route 3 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.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Nabbotts Farm Roundabout, Generals Lane Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 13.4 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.
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.
Our Lady Immaculate
Continue to Our Lady Immaculate.
Oddfellows Arms
Continue to Oddfellows Arms.
Two Saxons
Continue to Two Saxons.
Gardeners
Continue to Gardeners.
Friends Meeting House
Continue to Friends Meeting House.
Primrose Hill School
Continue to Primrose Hill School.
All Saint's Church
Continue to All Saint's Church.
Writtle United Reformed Church
Continue to Writtle United Reformed Church.
Blessed Sacrament
Continue to Blessed Sacrament.
Saint Andrew's, Chelmsford
Continue to Saint Andrew's, Chelmsford.
Nabbotts Farm Roundabout
Continue to Nabbotts Farm Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Belsteads school
Continue to Belsteads school.
St Martins, Little Waltham
Continue to St Martins, Little Waltham.
Generals Lane Roundabout
Continue to Generals Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Eagle
Continue to Eagle.
Fox & Hounds
Continue to Fox & Hounds.
Rising Sun
Continue to Rising Sun.
Broomfield Methodist Church
Continue to Broomfield Methodist Church.
Broomfield Road Evangelical
Finish back near Broomfield Road Evangelical, 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 64.2 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.