Near Colchester test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts and 18 turns across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 51.0 km practice loop near Colchester 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.
On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, national-speed roads, 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 shops, stations, schools 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 Colchester 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 166-step drive on real, named roads (about 52.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
19 m
Turn left onto Grange Way.
Grange Way264 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road49 m
Keep left to stay on Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road453 m
Turn left onto Haven Road.
Haven Road571 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Colne Causeway/A134.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colne Causeway/A134.
Colne Causeway253 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Approach/A134.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach117 m
Keep right to stay on Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Elmstead Road/A134.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elmstead Road/A134.
Elmstead Road100 m
Turn left onto Greenstead Roundabout/A133.
Greenstead Roundabout73 m
Turn right to stay on Greenstead Roundabout/A133.
Greenstead Roundabout61 m
Turn left onto Avon Way.
Avon Way853 m
Turn left onto Magnolia Drive.
Magnolia Drive261 m
Keep left to stay on Magnolia Drive.
Magnolia Drive86 m
Turn right onto Hamlet Drive.
Hamlet Drive321 m
Turn right onto Avon Way.
Avon Way716 m
Turn right onto Hawthorn Avenue.
Hawthorn Avenue61 m
Move right.
61 m
Make a sharp left onto Hawthorn Avenue.
Hawthorn Avenue117 m
Turn left onto Avon Way.
Avon Way776 m
Keep left to take Longridge.
Longridge95 m
Turn left onto Kingfisher Close.
Kingfisher Close20 m
Keep left to stay on Kingfisher Close.
Kingfisher Close135 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kingfisher Close.
Kingfisher Close156 m
Turn left onto Longridge.
Longridge737 m
Turn right onto Bromley Road.
Bromley Road1.4 km
Keep right to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road162 m
Keep right to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road211 m
Turn right onto Wivenhoe Road.
Wivenhoe Road1.3 km
Keep right at the fork.
24 m
Move right onto Carpenters Lane.
Carpenters Lane36 m
Keep left to stay on Carpenters Lane.
Carpenters Lane139 m
Keep left to stay on Carpenters Lane.
Carpenters Lane128 m
Keep left to stay on Carpenters Lane.
Carpenters Lane956 m
Turn left onto Colchester Road/A133.
Colchester Road261 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Colchester Road/A133.
89 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/A133.
Colchester Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Tye Road.
Tye Road987 m
Turn right.
547 m
Turn left.
7 m
Make a right U-turn.
7 m
Turn right.
547 m
Turn left onto Tye Road.
Tye Road987 m
Turn left onto Colchester Road/A133. Continue on A133.
A1332.3 km
Keep right to stay on Clacton Road/A133.
Clacton Road112 m
Keep right to stay on A133.
A133208 m
Keep right to take Frating Hill/A133.
Frating Hill102 m
Keep right to stay on Frating Hill/A133.
Frating Hill106 m
Keep straight to stay on A133.
A133107 m
Keep left to take Main Road/A133.
Main Road910 m
Keep left to stay on Main Road/A133.
Main Road325 m
Turn left onto Bromley Road/B1029.
Bromley Road141 m
Keep left to stay on Bromley Road/B1029.
Bromley Road327 m
Keep left to stay on B1029.
B1029824 m
Keep left to take Frating Road/B1029.
Frating Road294 m
Turn left onto Harwich Road.
Harwich Road1.3 km
Keep right to stay on Harwich Road.
Harwich Road142 m
Keep right to stay on Harwich Road.
Harwich Road109 m
Keep left to take Bromley Road.
Bromley Road106 m
Keep left to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road131 m
Keep left to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road105 m
Keep left to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road122 m
Keep left to stay on Bromley Road.
Bromley Road560 m
Turn right onto Clacton Road/A133. Continue on A133.
A1332.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Colchester Road/A133.
80 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/A133. Continue on A133.
A1332.5 km
Turn left onto Greenstead Roundabout/A133.
Greenstead Roundabout40 m
Turn left onto Elmstead Road/A134.
Elmstead Road93 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Approach/A134.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach191 m
Keep left to stay on Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach93 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Colne Causeway/A134.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colne Causeway/A134.
Colne Causeway261 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Haven Road.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haven Road.
Haven Road574 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road697 m
Turn left onto Old Heath Road.
Old Heath Road293 m
Turn right onto Abbot's Road.
Abbot's Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Mersea Road/B1025.
Mersea Road366 m
Turn right onto Queen Elizabeth Way.
Queen Elizabeth Way479 m
Keep right to stay on Queen Elizabeth Way.
Queen Elizabeth Way8 m
Turn right onto Monkwick Avenue.
Monkwick Avenue142 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road59 m
Keep right to stay on School Road.
School Road77 m
Turn right to stay on School Road.
School Road23 m
Make a left U-turn at School Road to stay on School Road.
School Road162 m
Turn left onto Monkwick Avenue.
Monkwick Avenue142 m
Turn left onto Queen Elizabeth Way.
Queen Elizabeth Way8 m
Keep left to stay on Queen Elizabeth Way.
Queen Elizabeth Way331 m
Keep left to stay on Queen Elizabeth Way.
Queen Elizabeth Way147 m
Turn left onto Mersea Road/B1025.
Mersea Road366 m
Turn right onto Abbot's Road.
Abbot's Road40 m
Keep left to stay on Abbot's Road.
Abbot's Road585 m
Keep left to stay on Abbot's Road.
Abbot's Road630 m
Turn left onto Old Heath Road.
Old Heath Road270 m
Keep right to stay on Old Heath Road.
Old Heath Road22 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road90 m
Keep right to stay on Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road606 m
Turn left onto Haven Road.
Haven Road571 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Colne Causeway/A134.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colne Causeway/A134.
Colne Causeway253 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Approach/A134.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach117 m
Keep right to stay on Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Elmstead Road/A134.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Elmstead Road/A134.
Elmstead Road100 m
Turn right onto Greenstead Roundabout/A133.
Greenstead Roundabout40 m
Turn right onto Clingoe Hill/A133.
Clingoe Hill1.4 km
Move right onto Colchester Road/B1027.
Colchester Road180 m
Keep right to stay on Colchester Road/B1027.
Colchester Road107 m
Keep right to stay on Colchester Road/B1027.
Colchester Road328 m
Turn left onto Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road923 m
Keep straight to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road147 m
Keep straight to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road104 m
Keep straight to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road219 m
Keep left to stay on B1027.
B1027365 m
Keep right to take Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road147 m
Keep right to stay on B1027.
B1027105 m
Keep right to take Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road105 m
Keep right to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road116 m
Keep right to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road112 m
Keep left to stay on Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road88 m
Turn left onto School Lane/Bird Lane.
School Lane17 m
Keep right to stay on School Lane/Bird Lane.
School Lane220 m
Turn right onto School Road.
School Road99 m
Keep right to stay on School Road.
School Road112 m
Keep left to stay on School Road.
School Road48 m
Turn right onto Colchester Main Road/B1027.
Colchester Main Road59 m
Keep right to stay on Colchester Main Road/B1027.
Colchester Main Road103 m
Keep right to stay on B1027.
B1027443 m
Keep left to stay on B1027.
B1027105 m
Keep left to take Brightlingsea Road/B1027.
Brightlingsea Road122 m
Keep left to stay on B1027.
B1027442 m
Keep right to stay on B1027.
B1027462 m
Turn right onto Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road101 m
Keep left to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road129 m
Keep left to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road116 m
Keep right to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road104 m
Keep left to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road103 m
Keep left to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road114 m
Keep right to stay on Elmstead Road.
Elmstead Road187 m
Turn left onto Colchester Road/A133.
Colchester Road391 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Colchester Road/A133.
193 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/A133.
Colchester Road387 m
Make a right U-turn at Elmstead Road to stay on Colchester Road/A133.
Colchester Road406 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Colchester Road/A133.
80 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colchester Road/A133. Continue on A133.
A1332.0 km
Turn left onto Boundary Road.
Boundary Road186 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Boundary Road.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Boundary Road.
Boundary Road214 m
Keep right to stay on Boundary Road.
Boundary Road517 m
Turn left onto Greenstead Roundabout/A133.
Greenstead Roundabout40 m
Turn left onto Elmstead Road/A134.
Elmstead Road93 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Approach/A134.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach191 m
Keep left to stay on Eastern Approach/A134.
Eastern Approach93 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Colne Causeway/A134.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Colne Causeway/A134.
Colne Causeway261 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Haven Road.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haven Road.
Haven Road574 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road503 m
Turn left onto Grange Way.
Grange Way226 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Colchester · Route 14 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.
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.
Lanmere Motor Company Ltd
Start near Lanmere Motor Company Ltd.
Tesco Store
Continue to Tesco Store.
Hunwicke Hair
Continue to Hunwicke Hair.
One Stop
Continue to One Stop.
Jacqui Robinson Education Centre
Continue to Jacqui Robinson Education Centre.
T R Youngs
Continue to T R Youngs.
Applejacks
Continue to Applejacks.
Kings Arms
Continue to Kings Arms.
Snooty Fox
Continue to Snooty Fox.
Court House
Continue to Court House.
Selecta Cars
Continue to Selecta Cars.
Budgens
Continue to Budgens.
Trinity Methodist Church
Continue to Trinity Methodist Church.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
BEW Direct
Continue to BEW Direct.
Old Heath Community Primary School
Continue to Old Heath Community Primary School.
St Barnabas, Old Heath
Continue to St Barnabas, Old Heath.
Lidl
Continue to Lidl.
Mitchells Farm Shop
Continue to Mitchells Farm Shop.
Nicholas Stephen Flowers Ltd
Finish back near Nicholas Stephen Flowers Ltd, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
6 roundabouts · 12 turns · 1 set of lights
6 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 11 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 51.0 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Colchester test centre, not an official DVSA route.