Near Chester test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 10 turns and 1 signalled junction across 18 navigation steps.
This is an independent 121.3 km practice route near Chester test centre, taking roughly 25 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.
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 schools, churches, pubs and stations, 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 Chester 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 153-step drive on real, named roads (about 121.3 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northwest.
53 m
Turn left.
31 m
Turn right onto Chester Gates.
Chester Gates130 m
Turn left onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A5117281 m
Enter Dunkirk Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
Dunkirk Roundabout100 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A51171.1 km
Turn left onto A540/Parkgate Road.
A540111 m
Enter Parkgate Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Roundabout51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road5.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkgate Road/A540.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road998 m
Turn left onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A511648 m
Turn right to stay on A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A5116217 m
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A5268/Saint Martin's Way.
Fountains Roundabout118 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Saint Martin's Way. Continue on A5268.
A52681.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A483/Grosvenor Road.
93 m
Exit the roundabout onto A483/Grosvenor Road.
A483791 m
Turn right to stay on A483/Grosvenor Road.
A48343 m
Enter Overleigh Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hough Green.
Overleigh Roundabout113 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hough Green.
Hough Green1.0 km
Move right onto Chester Street.
Chester Street1.8 km
Turn left onto Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane824 m
Move left onto Boundary Lane.
Boundary Lane1.4 km
Turn right onto Chester Street.
Chester Street554 m
Move left onto Hough Green.
Hough Green1.0 km
Enter Overleigh Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A483/Grosvenor Road.
Overleigh Roundabout1 m
Exit the roundabout onto A483/Grosvenor Road.
A483814 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5268/Nicholas Street.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Nicholas Street. Continue on A5268.
A52681.1 km
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
Fountains Roundabout10 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A5116194 m
Turn right to stay on A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A511647 m
Turn left onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116393 m
Turn left to stay on A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116726 m
Enter Bache Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
Bache Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A51162.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116267 m
Turn left towards NORTH WALES/Birkenhead/(M53)/(M56).
A411.9 km
Turn right onto Whitby Road/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A50321.6 km
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chester Road/A5032.
Strawberry Roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/A5032.
Chester Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Mansfield Road.
Mansfield Road100 m
Turn left onto Fairview Road.
Fairview Road166 m
Turn right onto Overpool Road.
Overpool Road1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Sutton Way/B5132.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sutton Way/B5132.
Sutton Way903 m
Turn right onto Old Chester Road.
Old Chester Road444 m
Turn right onto Whetstone Hey.
Whetstone Hey428 m
Turn left onto Valley Drive.
Valley Drive305 m
Turn left onto Parklands.
Parklands487 m
Turn left onto Chester Road/A41.
Chester Road3.3 km
Enter Backford Cross and take the 2nd exit onto A41/Liverpool Road.
Backford Cross32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Liverpool Road.
A413.4 km
Turn right towards Chester.
A5116271 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A51162.0 km
Enter Bache Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
Bache Roundabout42 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116730 m
Turn right onto A5116/Liverpool Road. Continue on A5116.
A5116598 m
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5268/St Oswalds Way.
Fountains Roundabout12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/St Oswalds Way.
A5268414 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A56/Hoole Way.
Hoole Way Roundabout24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A56/Hoole Way.
A56276 m
Make a right U-turn at Black Diamond Street to stay on A56/Hoole Way.
A56283 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5268/Hoole Way Roundabout.
Hoole Way Roundabout129 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Hoole Way Roundabout. Continue on A5268.
A5268407 m
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
Fountains Roundabout108 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A51161.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Parkgate Road/A540.
80 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road5.0 km
Enter Parkgate Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A540/Parkgate Road.
Parkgate Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto A540/Parkgate Road.
A5403.6 km
Turn left onto Puddington Lane.
Puddington Lane2.2 km
Move right to stay on Puddington Lane.
Puddington Lane53 m
Move right onto Pipers Lane.
Pipers Lane916 m
Turn right.
452 m
Turn left onto Puddington Lane.
Puddington Lane1.3 km
Turn right onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road3.5 km
Turn left onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A51171.1 km
Enter Dunkirk Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
Dunkirk Roundabout30 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A51171.5 km
Enter Backford Cross and take the 3rd exit onto A41/Liverpool Road.
Backford Cross63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A41/Liverpool Road. Continue on A41.
A413.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Whitchurch/Wrexham (A483).
41 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitchurch/Wrexham (A483).
A413.0 km
Enter Hoole Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Chester city centre.
Hoole Roundabout111 m
Exit the roundabout towards Chester city centre.
A56197 m
Turn left onto Pipers Lane.
Pipers Lane375 m
Turn right onto Alder Grove.
Alder Grove289 m
Turn left onto Cedar Drive.
Cedar Drive96 m
Turn left onto Hoole Lane.
Hoole Lane249 m
Move left onto A41/Ring Road.
A41458 m
Enter Hoole Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Upton/Countess of Chester/Chester Zoo.
Hoole Roundabout44 m
Exit the roundabout towards Upton/Countess of Chester/Chester Zoo.
A413.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards NORTH WALES/Birkenhead/Chester (A5116)/(M53, M56).
21 m
Exit the roundabout towards NORTH WALES/Birkenhead/Chester (A5116)/(M53, M56).
A412.3 km
Turn right onto Whitby Road/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A50321.6 km
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chester Road/A5032.
Strawberry Roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/A5032.
Chester Road282 m
Turn left onto The Groves.
The Groves73 m
Turn right onto Elm Grove.
Elm Grove21 m
Turn left onto Lilac Grove.
Lilac Grove177 m
Turn right onto Maple Grove.
Maple Grove331 m
Turn right onto Sycamore Drive.
Sycamore Drive372 m
Turn left onto Chester Road/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A50322.7 km
Turn right onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane92 m
Turn right onto Europa Way.
Europa Way84 m
Turn left onto Cedab Road.
Cedab Road65 m
Turn left.
32 m
Make a right U-turn.
32 m
Turn right onto Cedab Road.
Cedab Road65 m
Turn right onto Europa Way.
Europa Way84 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane92 m
Turn right onto Station Road/A5032.
Station Road298 m
Enter Station Road Interchange and take the 3rd exit.
Station Road Interchange232 m
Exit the roundabout onto M53.
M538.5 km
Take exit 12 onto A56 towards Chester.
M53415 m
Enter Hoole Island Junction and take the 3rd exit towards Chester/Chester Zoo.
Hoole Island Junction189 m
Exit the roundabout towards Chester/Chester Zoo.
A56578 m
Enter Hoole Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Chester city centre.
Hoole Roundabout57 m
Exit the roundabout towards Chester city centre.
A562.4 km
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A56/Hoole Way.
Hoole Way Roundabout187 m
Exit the roundabout onto A56/Hoole Way. Continue on A56.
A561.5 km
Turn right onto Canadian Avenue.
Canadian Avenue532 m
Turn right onto Hoole Lane.
Hoole Lane785 m
Turn left to stay on Hoole Lane.
Hoole Lane208 m
Turn right onto A51/Boughton. Continue on A51.
A51447 m
Enter The Bars and take the 2nd exit onto A5268/St. Oswalds Way.
The Bars101 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/St. Oswalds Way.
A5268355 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5268/Hoole Way Roundabout.
Hoole Way Roundabout81 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Hoole Way Roundabout. Continue on A5268.
A5268407 m
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A5268/St Oswalds Way.
Fountains Roundabout147 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/St Oswalds Way.
A5268414 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards (A51)/(A41)/Nantwich/Whitchurch.
Hoole Way Roundabout72 m
Exit the roundabout towards (A51)/(A41)/Nantwich/Whitchurch.
A5268347 m
Enter The Bars and take the 2nd exit onto A51/Foregate Street.
The Bars91 m
Exit the roundabout onto A51/Foregate Street. Continue on A51.
A51898 m
Turn right onto A51/Challinor Street.
A5167 m
Turn right onto A51/Christleton Road. Continue on A51.
A51640 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A51.
A512.3 km
Enter Vicars Cross and take the 1st exit.
Vicars Cross10 m
Exit the roundabout onto A55/North Wales Expressway.
A551.7 km
Continue towards M53/Ellesmere Port/Manchester.
M536.0 km
Keep right to stay on M53.
M534.2 km
Take exit 8 towards Netherpool & Rossmore Ind. Estates/Docks.
259 m
Enter Rossmore Road Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Rossmore Road East/B5463.
Rossmore Road Interchange17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rossmore Road East/B5463. Continue on Rossmore Road East.
Rossmore Road East1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Overpool Road/B5132.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Overpool Road/B5132.
Overpool Road363 m
Turn right onto Woodchurch Lane.
Woodchurch Lane132 m
Turn right onto Christleton Drive.
Christleton Drive138 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chester · 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 62.8 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.
Reception and Porters' Lodge
Start near Reception and Porters' Lodge.
Saltney Methodist Church
Continue to Saltney Methodist Church.
St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Continue to St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
Northgate Church
Continue to Northgate Church.
Woodland
Continue to Woodland.
Countess
Continue to Countess.
Chester Bus Interchange
Continue to Chester Bus Interchange.
Chester Interchange (Stand M)
Continue to Chester Interchange (Stand M).
Tudor Rose
Continue to Tudor Rose.
Two Mills Presbyterian Church
Continue to Two Mills Presbyterian Church.
Upton Baptist Church
Continue to Upton Baptist Church.
Upton Barber Shop
Continue to Upton Barber Shop.
Salvation Army
Continue to Salvation Army.
Trinity Methodist Church
Continue to Trinity Methodist Church.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Hoole United Reformed Church
Continue to Hoole United Reformed Church.
Old Chapel
Continue to Old Chapel.
Zion Tabernacle
Continue to Zion Tabernacle.
Saint Paul
Continue to Saint Paul.
Overpool
Finish back near Overpool, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 22 turns · 5 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 23 turns · 5 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 17 turns · 2 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 121.3 km and takes about 25 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chester test centre, not an official DVSA route.