Near Chester test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 15 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 71.4 km practice route near Chester 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 Dunkirk Roundabout and Backford Cross. 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 named junctions, schools, pubs and churches, 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 117-step drive on real, named roads (about 71.4 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 2nd exit onto A5268/Grosvenor Street.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Grosvenor Street. Continue on A5268.
A52681.0 km
Enter The Bars and take the 3rd exit onto A51/Foregate Street.
The Bars145 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.
A51920 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 3rd exit onto A5268/Hoole Way Roundabout.
Hoole Way Roundabout191 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 Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Townfield Lane.
Townfield Lane319 m
Move left onto Old Parkgate Road.
Old Parkgate Road202 m
Turn left onto Parkgate Road/A540.
Parkgate Road2.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Countess Way/A5480.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Countess Way/A5480.
Countess Way660 m
Enter Bache Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
Bache Roundabout14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A511646 m
Take the exit on the right.
Mill Lane39 m
Make a sharp right onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A511677 m
Enter Bache Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
Bache Roundabout93 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).
A413.4 km
Enter Backford Cross and take the 2nd exit onto Chester Road/A41.
Backford Cross37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/A41.
Chester Road2.6 km
Turn right onto Sutton Way/B5132.
Sutton Way873 m
Turn left onto Thelwall Road.
Thelwall Road174 m
Turn left onto Gawsworth Road.
Gawsworth Road26 m
Turn right onto Hargrave Drive.
Hargrave Drive237 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane344 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Mill Lane.
Mill Lane344 m
Turn right onto Hargrave Drive.
Hargrave Drive236 m
Turn left onto Gawsworth Road.
Gawsworth Road26 m
Turn right onto Thelwall Road.
Thelwall Road174 m
Turn right onto Sutton Way/B5132.
Sutton Way809 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 3rd exit onto Countess Way/A5480.
Bache Roundabout65 m
Exit the roundabout onto Countess Way/A5480.
Countess Way648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Blacon Avenue.
78 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blacon Avenue.
Blacon Avenue1.7 km
Turn left onto Egerton Road.
Egerton Road181 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Egerton Road.
Egerton Road181 m
Turn right onto Saughall Road.
Saughall Road1.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Countess Way/A5480.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Countess Way/A5480.
Countess Way660 m
Enter Bache Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
Bache Roundabout14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5116/Liverpool Road.
A5116130 m
Keep right to take Bache Avenue.
Bache Avenue217 m
Turn right onto Upton Drive.
Upton Drive84 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane196 m
Turn right onto Egerton Drive.
Egerton Drive18 m
Turn left onto Bache Drive.
Bache Drive416 m
Turn left onto Neston Drive.
Neston Drive363 m
Turn left onto Wealstone Lane.
Wealstone Lane296 m
Turn right onto Weston Grove.
Weston Grove392 m
Turn left onto Cotebrook Drive.
Cotebrook Drive76 m
Turn left onto Oulton Avenue.
Oulton Avenue161 m
Turn right onto Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive85 m
Turn left to stay on Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive140 m
Turn left onto Weston Grove.
Weston Grove574 m
Turn left onto A41/Long Lane. Continue on A41.
A411.2 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).
A413.8 km
Enter Backford Cross and take the 6th exit onto Chester Road/A41.
Backford Cross167 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/A41.
Chester Road3.1 km
Turn right onto Old Chester Road.
Old Chester Road42 m
Turn left.
46 m
Move left onto Whetstone Hey.
Whetstone Hey395 m
Turn left onto Valley Drive.
Valley Drive305 m
Turn left onto Parklands.
Parklands487 m
Turn left onto Chester Road/A41.
Chester Road650 m
Turn left onto Sutton Way/B5132.
Sutton Way970 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Overpool Road.
90 m
Exit the roundabout onto Overpool Road.
Overpool Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Chester Road/A5032.
Chester Road81 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chester · Route 4 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Dunkirk Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 27.5 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 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.
Dunkirk Roundabout
Start near Dunkirk Roundabout.
Reception and Porters' Lodge
Continue to Reception and Porters' Lodge.
Guilds Bar
Continue to Guilds Bar.
Saltney Methodist Church
Continue to Saltney Methodist Church.
St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church
Continue to St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
Subway
Continue to Subway.
Catholic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Continue to Catholic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Wesley Methodist Church
Continue to Wesley Methodist Church.
Chester Bus Interchange
Continue to Chester Bus Interchange.
Chester Interchange (Stand M)
Continue to Chester Interchange (Stand M).
Northgate Church
Continue to Northgate Church.
Aldi
Continue to Aldi.
Chester Medical School - Bache Hall
Continue to Chester Medical School - Bache Hall.
Backford Cross
Continue to Backford Cross, taking the junction with good observation.
Old Wirral Hundred
Continue to Old Wirral Hundred.
Mill @ Upton
Continue to Mill @ Upton.
St Theresa's
Continue to St Theresa's.
Bache Barbers
Continue to Bache Barbers.
Upton Baptist Church
Continue to Upton Baptist Church.
Heron Foods
Finish back near Heron Foods, 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 71.4 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chester test centre, not an official DVSA route.