Near Chester test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 12 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 19 navigation steps.
This is an independent 98.4 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, shops 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 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 167-step drive on real, named roads (about 98.3 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.
A5117125 m
Keep right to stay on A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A5117896 m
Keep right to stay on A5117/Dunkirk Way.
A5117119 m
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 Road2.0 km
Keep right to stay on Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road2.3 km
Keep left to stay on Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road793 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Parkgate Road/A540.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road1.0 km
Move left onto A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A511620 m
Turn right to stay on A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A5116217 m
Enter Fountains Roundabout and take the 4th 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.
A48342 m
Enter Overleigh Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hough Green.
Overleigh Roundabout113 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hough Green.
Hough Green244 m
Keep left to stay on Hough Green.
Hough Green774 m
Move right onto Chester Street.
Chester Street407 m
Keep left to stay on Chester Street.
Chester Street1.4 km
Turn left onto Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane825 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.
A483615 m
Keep left to stay on A483/Grosvenor Road.
A483198 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.
A5116203 m
Turn right to stay on A5116/Upper Northgate Street.
A511637 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.
A51161.4 km
Keep right to stay on A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116607 m
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).
A41573 m
Keep straight to stay on A41/Liverpool Road.
A411.4 km
Turn right.
30 m
Turn left onto Whitby Road/A5032.
Whitby Road325 m
Keep right to stay on A5032.
A50321.2 km
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chester Road/A5032.
Strawberry Roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/A5032.
Chester Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Fairview Road.
Fairview Road166 m
Turn left onto Overpool Road.
Overpool Road113 m
Turn right onto Chester Road/A5032.
Chester Road945 m
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Whitby Lane/A5032.
Strawberry Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whitby Lane/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A50321.4 km
Keep straight to stay on Whitby Road/A5032.
Whitby Road162 m
Move left onto A41/Liverpool Road. Continue on A41.
A412.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Whitchurch/Wrexham (A483).
41 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitchurch/Wrexham (A483).
A411.9 km
Keep right to take A41/Long Lane.
A41138 m
Keep right to stay on A41.
A41949 m
Enter Hoole Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Whitchurch/Guilden Sutton.
Hoole Roundabout58 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitchurch/Guilden Sutton.
A411.4 km
Take the A51 exit on the right towards Chester.
105 m
Turn right towards Chester.
A51702 m
Keep right to stay on A51.
A51703 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A5175 m
Turn right onto A51/Christleton Road. Continue on A51.
A51836 m
Turn left onto Dee Lane.
Dee Lane66 m
Turn right onto The Headlands.
The Headlands51 m
Turn right.
64 m
Make a right U-turn.
64 m
Turn left onto The Headlands.
The Headlands51 m
Turn left onto Dee Lane.
Dee Lane65 m
Turn left onto A51/Foregate Street.
A5184 m
Enter The Bars and take the 2nd exit.
The Bars236 m
Exit the roundabout onto A51/Foregate Street. Continue on A51.
A51898 m
Turn right onto A51/Challinor Street.
A5167 m
Move left onto A5115/Challinor Street. Continue on A5115.
A5115232 m
Turn right onto Stocks Lane.
Stocks Lane138 m
Keep right to stay on Stocks Lane.
Stocks Lane130 m
Turn left onto Stocks Avenue.
Stocks Avenue65 m
Turn left onto Kings Crescent West.
Kings Crescent West129 m
Turn left onto Gerrards Avenue.
Gerrards Avenue72 m
Turn right onto Stocks Lane.
Stocks Lane105 m
Turn right onto A5115/Christleton Road.
A5115842 m
Move left onto Boughton Heath Junction.
Boughton Heath Junction29 m
Turn left onto A41/Ring Road.
A41746 m
Take the exit on the right.
101 m
Turn right towards A51/Nantwich/Ellesmere Port.
A51166 m
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/(M56)/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 East106 m
Keep left to take Rossmore Road East/B5463.
Rossmore Road East1.3 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 Drive200 m
Turn left onto Woodchurch Lane.
Woodchurch Lane132 m
Turn right onto Overpool Road/B5132.
Overpool Road748 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Sutton Way/B5132.
91 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sutton Way/B5132.
Sutton Way958 m
Turn left onto Chester Road/A41.
Chester Road2.6 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 to stay on A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116334 m
Keep right to stay on A5116.
A5116263 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.
A526858 m
Keep left to stay on A5268/St Oswalds Way.
A5268355 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 3rd exit onto A56/Hoole Way.
Hoole Way Roundabout187 m
Exit the roundabout onto A56/Hoole Way.
A56491 m
Keep left to take A56/Hoole Road.
A561.6 km
Turn left onto Mannings Lane South.
Mannings Lane South220 m
Turn right onto Chatsworth Drive.
Chatsworth Drive178 m
Turn left to stay on Chatsworth Drive.
Chatsworth Drive127 m
Turn left onto Mannings Lane South.
Mannings Lane South149 m
Turn left to stay on Mannings Lane South.
Mannings Lane South156 m
Turn right onto Sefton Road.
Sefton Road11 m
Keep left to stay on Sefton Road.
Sefton Road515 m
Keep right to take Knowsley Road.
Knowsley Road131 m
Turn right onto A56/Hoole Road. Continue on A56.
A561.2 km
Keep left to take A56/Hoole Way.
A56322 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 1st exit.
Hoole Way Roundabout186 m
Exit the roundabout onto A56/Hoole Way. Continue on A56.
A56491 m
Keep left to take A56/Hoole Road.
A56989 m
Turn right onto Canadian Avenue.
Canadian Avenue308 m
Turn right onto Beech Grove.
Beech Grove147 m
Turn right onto Lime Grove.
Lime Grove81 m
Turn left onto Panton Road.
Panton Road343 m
Turn left onto A56/Hoole Road. Continue on A56.
A56894 m
Keep left to take A56/Hoole Way.
A56322 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards (A51)/(A41)/Nantwich/Whitchurch.
Hoole Way Roundabout11 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.
A511.4 km
Keep left to take A51/Vicars Cross Road.
A51839 m
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/(M56)/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 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.
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 63.0 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.
Prairie
Start near Prairie.
William Temple Foundation
Continue to William Temple Foundation.
Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury
Continue to Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury.
St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Continue to St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
Subway
Continue to Subway.
Northgate Church
Continue to Northgate Church.
University of Chester
Continue to University of Chester.
Woodland
Continue to Woodland.
Upton Baptist Church
Continue to Upton Baptist Church.
Saint Paul
Continue to Saint Paul.
Zion Tabernacle
Continue to Zion Tabernacle.
Cherry Orchard
Continue to Cherry Orchard.
Peacock
Continue to Peacock.
Overpool
Continue to Overpool.
Old Wirral Hundred
Continue to Old Wirral Hundred.
Mill @ Upton
Continue to Mill @ Upton.
Chester Bus Interchange
Continue to Chester Bus Interchange.
Chester Interchange (Stand M)
Continue to Chester Interchange (Stand M).
Deva Tap
Continue to Deva Tap.
Stanley Arms
Finish back near Stanley Arms, 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 98.4 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.