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Practice route
ChallengingLoop

Chingford · Route 21

Near Chingford test centre

34.1 km
Distance
30 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Easy

Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 14 turns and 1 signalled junction across 21 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 34.1 km practice loop near Chingford 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 Robin Hood 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, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads, independent driving 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 stations, shops, pubs and schools, 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 Chingford 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

6
Left turns
8
Right turns
3
Roundabouts
1
Traffic lights
21
Total steps

Skills & features

8
Roundabouts
20, 30, 40 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • 20 mph zones
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Independent driving
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • A-roads 20.0 km
  • Residential 6.8 km
  • Minor roads 5.6 km
  • B-roads 0.9 km
  • Unclassified 0.3 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 67-step drive on real, named roads (about 34.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive southeast on Connaught Avenue.

    Connaught Avenue21 m

  2. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Road/A1069.

    Station Road260 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Buxton Road.

    Buxton Road72 m

  4. Turn right:

    Turn right onto The Drive.

    The Drive202 m

  5. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Connaught Avenue.

    Connaught Avenue216 m

  6. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Station Road/A1069.

    Station Road154 m

  7. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beresford Road.

    Beresford Road584 m

  8. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Long Deacon Road.

    Long Deacon Road314 m

  9. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Whitehall Road/A110.

    Whitehall Road170 m

  10. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Kimberley Road.

    Kimberley Road466 m

  11. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Beresford Road.

    Beresford Road202 m

  12. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Douglas Road.

    Douglas Road242 m

  13. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Victoria Road.

    Victoria Road113 m

  14. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Kimberley Road.

    Kimberley Road365 m

  15. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Whitehall Road/A110.

    Whitehall Road1.0 km

  16. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Whitehall Road.

    Whitehall Road14 m

  17. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Whitehall Road.

    Whitehall Road63 m

  18. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Whitehall Road.

    Whitehall Road14 m

  19. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Whitehall Road/A110.

    Whitehall Road280 m

  20. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Brook Road.

    Brook Road763 m

  21. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Epping New Road/A104.

    Epping New Road307 m

  22. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Stag Lane.

    Stag Lane203 m

  23. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Road/A121.

    High Road691 m

  24. Turn left:

    Move left onto High Road Woodford Green/A104.

    High Road Woodford Green15 m

  25. Turn left:

    Turn left onto The Dell.

    The Dell223 m

  26. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Woodland Way.

    Woodland Way271 m

  27. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Road/A121.

    High Road2.6 km

  28. Turn right:

    Turn right onto The Crescent.

    The Crescent315 m

  29. Turn right:

    Turn right onto The Avenue.

    The Avenue131 m

  30. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Spring Grove.

    Spring Grove383 m

  31. Turn left:

    Turn left onto High Road/A121.

    High Road1.6 km

  32. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Church Road.

    Church Road262 m

  33. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Epping New Road/A104.

    Epping New Road5 m

  34. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Brook Road.

    Brook Road763 m

  35. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Whitehall Road/A110.

    Whitehall Road1.0 km

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Friday Hill/B146.

    Friday Hill901 m

  37. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Chingford Lane/A1009.

    18 m

  38. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Chingford Lane/A1009.

    Chingford Lane235 m

  39. Turn right:

    Turn right onto The Avenue.

    The Avenue693 m

  40. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Falmouth Avenue.

    Falmouth Avenue515 m

  41. Turn right:

    Move right onto The Charter Road.

    The Charter Road281 m

  42. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on The Charter Road.

    The Charter Road594 m

  43. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Chingford Lane/A1009.

    Chingford Lane60 m

  44. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Road Woodford Green/A104. Continue on A104.

    A104223 m

  45. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Woodford New Road/A104.

    123 m

  46. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Woodford New Road/A104.

    Woodford New Road759 m

  47. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Chelmsford Road.

    Chelmsford Road53 m

  48. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Peel Road.

    Peel Road378 m

  49. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Grove Road.

    Grove Road76 m

  50. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Walpole Road.

    Walpole Road386 m

  51. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Chelmsford Road.

    Chelmsford Road126 m

  52. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Woodford New Road/A104.

    Woodford New Road754 m

  53. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto High Road/A104.

    89 m

  54. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto High Road/A104. Continue on A104.

    A1041.8 km

  55. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Road/A121.

    High Road405 m

  56. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Beech Lane.

    Beech Lane131 m

  57. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Beech Lane.

    Beech Lane36 m

  58. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Epping New Road/A104.

    Epping New Road3.5 km

  59. Roundabout:

    Enter Robin Hood Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Earl's Path.

    Robin Hood Roundabout92 m

  60. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Earl's Path.

    Earl's Path1.5 km

  61. Turn right:

    Turn right onto High Road/A121.

    High Road2.5 km

  62. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Church Road.

    Church Road262 m

  63. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Epping New Road/A104.

    Epping New Road540 m

  64. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Whitehall Lane.

    Whitehall Lane450 m

  65. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Whitehall Road/A110. Continue on A110.

    A1101.8 km

  66. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Road/A1069.

    Station Road435 m

  67. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Chingford · Route 21 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • Robin Hood Roundabout

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Chingford Bus Station
  • Chingford Station
  • Chelmsford Road
  • St Aubyn's School
  • Oak Hill

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Braeside School
  • Little Miracles Nursery
  • Waterlilly Day Nursery

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • St Thomas of Canterbury Church
  • Forest Hall

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Bald Faced Stag
  • Castle
  • Warren Wood

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Glyn Hopkin Repair
  • Select
  • Glyn Hopkin Sales

Watch out for

  • Multiple roundabouts

    Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Robin Hood Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.

  • Changing speed limits

    Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40 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.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Chingford Bus Station

    Start near Chingford Bus Station.

  2. Chingford Station

    Continue to Chingford Station.

  3. Glyn Hopkin Repair

    Continue to Glyn Hopkin Repair.

  4. Select

    Continue to Select.

  5. Bald Faced Stag

    Continue to Bald Faced Stag.

  6. Braeside School

    Continue to Braeside School.

  7. Glyn Hopkin Sales

    Continue to Glyn Hopkin Sales.

  8. Little Miracles Nursery

    Continue to Little Miracles Nursery.

  9. Waterlilly Day Nursery

    Continue to Waterlilly Day Nursery.

  10. Chelmsford Road

    Continue to Chelmsford Road.

  11. St Aubyn's School

    Continue to St Aubyn's School.

  12. Castle

    Continue to Castle.

  13. Oak Hill

    Continue to Oak Hill.

  14. St Thomas of Canterbury Church

    Continue to St Thomas of Canterbury Church.

  15. St Thomas of Canterbury Church

    Continue to St Thomas of Canterbury Church.

  16. Warren Wood

    Continue to Warren Wood.

  17. Robin Hood Roundabout

    Continue to Robin Hood Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  18. Forest Hall

    Continue to Forest Hall.

  19. Stanley Road

    Continue to Stanley Road.

  20. Station Road / The Green

    Finish back near Station Road / The Green, completing the loop.

More routes at Chingford test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 34.1 km and takes about 30 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chingford test centre, not an official DVSA route.