Near Chester test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 15 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 102.5 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 Parkgate Roundabout, Backford Cross and Caldy Valley 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, 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, churches, shops 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 162-step drive on real, named roads (about 102.5 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 2nd exit onto A56/Hoole Way.
Hoole Way Roundabout138 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 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 3rd exit onto A5268/Grosvenor Park Road.
The Bars120 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/Grosvenor Park Road. Continue on A5268.
A5268819 m
Turn left onto Lower Bridge Street.
Lower Bridge Street446 m
Turn left onto Mill Street.
Mill Street116 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Mill Street.
Mill Street116 m
Turn right onto Handbridge.
Handbridge446 m
Turn right onto A5268/Pepper Street. Continue on A5268.
A5268793 m
Enter The Bars and take the 1st exit onto A5268/St. Oswalds Way.
The Bars10 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5268/St. Oswalds Way.
A5268355 m
Enter Hoole Way Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A56/Hoole Way.
Hoole Way Roundabout138 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. Continue on A56.
A561.5 km
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 right onto Panton Road.
Panton Road140 m
Turn right onto Canadian Avenue.
Canadian Avenue79 m
Turn right onto Beech Grove.
Beech Grove147 m
Turn right onto Lime Grove.
Lime Grove81 m
Turn left onto Panton Road.
Panton Road130 m
Turn right onto Vicarage Road.
Vicarage Road213 m
Turn left onto A56/Hoole Road. Continue on A56.
A561.2 km
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.
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).
A413.4 km
Enter Backford Cross and take the 4th exit onto A41/Liverpool Road.
Backford Cross98 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).
A411.3 km
Turn right onto Weston Grove.
Weston Grove574 m
Turn right onto Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive140 m
Turn right to stay on Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive85 m
Turn right onto Oulton Avenue.
Oulton Avenue38 m
Turn left onto Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive72 m
Turn left onto Weston Grove.
Weston Grove154 m
Turn left onto Cotebrook Drive.
Cotebrook Drive76 m
Turn left onto Oulton Avenue.
Oulton Avenue199 m
Turn left onto Gatesheath Drive.
Gatesheath Drive72 m
Turn right onto Weston Grove.
Weston Grove238 m
Turn left onto Wealstone Lane.
Wealstone Lane592 m
Turn left onto Plas Newton Lane.
Plas Newton Lane960 m
Turn right onto A41/Long Lane. Continue on A41.
A41873 m
Enter Hoole Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards A56/(M53)/Helsby/Frodsham.
Hoole Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout towards A56/(M53)/Helsby/Frodsham.
A56559 m
Enter Hoole Island Junction and take the 1st exit onto M53.
Hoole Island Junction10 m
Exit the roundabout onto M53.
M535.6 km
Keep right to stay on M53.
M533.1 km
Take exit 9 onto A5032 towards Ellesmere Port Centre.
272 m
Enter Station Road Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Station Road/A5032.
Station Road Interchange8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Station Road/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A5032611 m
Turn left onto Cromwell Road.
Cromwell Road300 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road North.
Wellington Road North125 m
Turn right onto Cambridge Road.
Cambridge Road243 m
Turn right onto Newton Road.
Newton Road43 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Newton Road.
Newton Road43 m
Turn right onto Cambridge Road.
Cambridge Road54 m
Turn left onto Whitby Road/A5032. Continue on A5032.
A50323.0 km
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Strawberry Way West/A5117.
Strawberry Roundabout70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Strawberry Way West/A5117.
Strawberry Way West637 m
Enter Backford Cross and take the 5th exit onto A41/Liverpool Road.
Backford Cross133 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 2nd exit towards Whitchurch/Guilden Sutton.
Hoole Roundabout58 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitchurch/Guilden Sutton.
A412.4 km
Turn right onto Boughton Heath Junction.
Boughton Heath Junction21 m
Turn left towards Huntington.
Caldy Valley Road556 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Caldy Valley Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caldy Valley Road.
Caldy Valley Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Chester Road/B5130.
Chester Road304 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Chester Road/B5130.
75 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/B5130.
Chester Road303 m
Turn right onto Gorse Way.
Gorse Way1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Caldy Valley Road.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caldy Valley Road.
Caldy Valley Road593 m
Turn right onto Boughton Heath Junction.
Boughton Heath Junction29 m
Turn left onto A41/Ring Road.
A41839 m
Turn right onto A51/Vicars Cross Road.
A51182 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/Ellesmere Port/Manchester.
M536.0 km
Keep left to take exit 10 onto A5117 towards Queensferry/Stanlow.
M53384 m
Enter Stanlow Halt Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Old Farm Way/A5117.
Stanlow Halt Interchange1 m
Exit the roundabout onto Old Farm Way/A5117.
Old Farm Way1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Strawberry Way East/A5117.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Strawberry Way East/A5117.
Strawberry Way East1.2 km
Enter Strawberry Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Chester Road/A5032.
Strawberry Roundabout76 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 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.
A50321.6 km
Move left onto A41/Liverpool Road.
A411.9 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 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 Lane393 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chester · Route 9 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 Parkgate Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 59.3 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.
Parkgate Roundabout
Start near Parkgate Roundabout.
Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury
Continue to Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury.
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.
Saint Paul
Continue to Saint Paul.
Saint Werburgh's
Continue to Saint Werburgh's.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Chester Bus Interchange
Continue to Chester Bus Interchange.
Chester Interchange (Stand M)
Continue to Chester Interchange (Stand M).
Backford Cross
Continue to Backford Cross, taking the junction with good observation.
Upton Baptist Church
Continue to Upton Baptist Church.
Spinney Day Nursery
Continue to Spinney Day Nursery.
St. Thomas & All Saints
Continue to St. Thomas & All Saints.
Woodland
Continue to Woodland.
Caldy Valley Road
Continue to Caldy Valley Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church
Continue to Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church.
Honda Cheshire Oaks
Continue to Honda Cheshire Oaks.
Deb 'n' Lea's Barber Shop
Continue to Deb 'n' Lea's Barber Shop.
Countess
Finish back near Countess, 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 102.5 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.