Near Coventry test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 15 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 73.9 km practice route near Coventry test centre, taking roughly 40 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 Exhall Interchange and Astley Lane. 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, 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 churches, pubs, schools and named junctions, 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 Coventry 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 132-step drive on real, named roads (about 73.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northwest.
18 m
Turn left onto Bayton Road.
Bayton Road552 m
Turn right onto Coventry Road Exhall/B4113.
Coventry Road Exhall549 m
Turn left onto Hayes Lane.
Hayes Lane270 m
Turn left onto Windmill Road.
Windmill Road291 m
Turn left to stay on Windmill Road.
Windmill Road48 m
Turn right onto Exhall Green.
Exhall Green201 m
Turn left onto School Lane.
School Lane282 m
Turn right onto Coventry Road Exhall/B4113.
Coventry Road Exhall181 m
Turn left onto Blackhorse Road.
Blackhorse Road489 m
Move right onto Ironbridge Way.
Ironbridge Way505 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Blackhorse Road.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blackhorse Road.
Blackhorse Road1.4 km
Turn right onto Longford Road/B4113. Continue on B4113.
B41131.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Longford Road.
171 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longford Road.
Longford Road55 m
Move left onto Longford Road/B4113. Continue on B4113.
B4113505 m
Turn left onto School Lane.
School Lane282 m
Turn right onto Exhall Green.
Exhall Green201 m
Turn left onto Windmill Road.
Windmill Road48 m
Turn right to stay on Windmill Road.
Windmill Road291 m
Turn right onto Hayes Lane.
Hayes Lane270 m
Turn right onto Coventry Road Exhall/B4113.
Coventry Road Exhall1.1 km
Enter Longford Road and take the 1st exit onto Longford Road/B4113.
Longford Road12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longford Road/B4113. Continue on B4113.
B41131.0 km
Turn right onto Vinecote Road.
Vinecote Road279 m
Turn left to stay on Vinecote Road.
Vinecote Road88 m
Turn left onto Longford Road/B4113. Continue on B4113.
B41131.2 km
Enter Longford Road and take the 2nd exit onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Longford Road91 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Pickards Way692 m
Enter Exhall Interchange and take the 5th exit onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Exhall Interchange640 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Pickards Way686 m
Enter Longford Road and take the 5th exit onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Longford Road268 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Pickards Way692 m
Enter Exhall Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
Exhall Interchange302 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A4443.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
136 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A4443.6 km
Enter Exhall Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Exhall Interchange196 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Pickards Way686 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Longford Road.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longford Road.
Longford Road55 m
Move left onto Longford Road/B4113. Continue on B4113.
B4113505 m
Turn left onto School Lane.
School Lane282 m
Turn right onto Exhall Green.
Exhall Green201 m
Turn left onto Windmill Road.
Windmill Road48 m
Move left onto Robert Road.
Robert Road84 m
Turn right onto David Road.
David Road86 m
Turn left to stay on David Road.
David Road2 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on David Road.
David Road2 m
Turn right to stay on David Road.
David Road86 m
Turn left onto Robert Road.
Robert Road84 m
Move right onto Windmill Road.
Windmill Road48 m
Turn right onto Exhall Green.
Exhall Green201 m
Turn left onto School Lane.
School Lane282 m
Turn right onto Coventry Road Exhall/B4113.
Coventry Road Exhall557 m
Enter Longford Road and take the 3rd exit onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Longford Road187 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pickards Way/B4113.
Pickards Way692 m
Enter Exhall Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
Exhall Interchange302 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A4443.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Walsingham Drive.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive306 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Walsingham Drive.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive434 m
Move left.
38 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Walsingham Drive.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive591 m
Move right onto Water Lily Way.
Water Lily Way209 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Water Lily Way.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Water Lily Way.
Water Lily Way209 m
Move left onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive588 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Walsingham Drive.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive442 m
Move left.
32 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Walsingham Drive.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Walsingham Drive.
Walsingham Drive278 m
Turn left.
20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
89 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A4443.6 km
Enter Exhall Interchange and take the 5th exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
Exhall Interchange570 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A4443.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
136 m
Exit the roundabout onto A444/Bedworth Bypass.
A444811 m
Keep left to take Sutherland Drive.
Sutherland Drive812 m
Turn right onto Leicester Road/B4113.
Leicester Road408 m
Move right onto Leicester Street.
Leicester Street44 m
Turn right onto George Street Ringway.
George Street Ringway179 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto George Street Ringway.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto George Street Ringway.
George Street Ringway26 m
Turn right onto Margaret Avenue.
Margaret Avenue59 m
Turn left to stay on Margaret Avenue.
Margaret Avenue346 m
Turn right onto Newdegate Road.
Newdegate Road414 m
Turn left onto Arbury Avenue.
Arbury Avenue675 m
Turn right onto Newtown Road.
Newtown Road1.0 km
Turn right onto Smorrall Lane.
Smorrall Lane871 m
Turn right onto Astley Lane.
Astley Lane153 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Astley Lane.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Lane.
Astley Lane5.9 km
Turn left onto Ansley Road/B4112. Continue on B4112.
B4112154 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Tunnel Road.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tunnel Road.
Tunnel Road1.5 km
Move left onto Hickman Road.
Hickman Road1.8 km
Turn left onto Coleshill Road/B4114.
Coleshill Road26 m
Turn right onto Laurel Drive.
Laurel Drive194 m
Turn left onto Silverbirch Close.
Silverbirch Close82 m
Turn left.
5 m
Make a right U-turn.
5 m
Turn right onto Silverbirch Close.
Silverbirch Close82 m
Turn right onto Laurel Drive.
Laurel Drive194 m
Turn left onto Coleshill Road/B4114.
Coleshill Road26 m
Turn right onto Plough Hill Road.
Plough Hill Road1.8 km
Move right onto Tunnel Road.
Tunnel Road1.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B4112.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto B4112.
B4112150 m
Turn right onto Nuthurst Lane.
Nuthurst Lane5.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Astley Lane.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Lane.
Astley Lane155 m
Turn left onto Smorrall Lane.
Smorrall Lane870 m
Turn left onto Heath Road.
Heath Road464 m
Turn left to stay on Heath Road.
Heath Road90 m
Turn left onto Heather Drive.
Heather Drive707 m
Turn right onto Heath Road.
Heath Road99 m
Turn right onto Smorrall Lane.
Smorrall Lane857 m
Turn left onto Dark Lane.
Dark Lane751 m
Turn right onto Goodyers End Lane.
Goodyers End Lane219 m
Turn right onto Newcomen Road.
Newcomen Road229 m
Turn right onto Robinson Road.
Robinson Road166 m
Turn right onto Dark Lane.
Dark Lane212 m
Turn left onto Goodyers End Lane.
Goodyers End Lane430 m
Turn right onto Bowling Green Lane.
Bowling Green Lane604 m
Turn left onto School Lane.
School Lane736 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Coventry · Route 8 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.
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 21.4 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 (30, 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.
Gurdwara Dhan Dhan Baba Vadbhag Singh Ji
Start near Gurdwara Dhan Dhan Baba Vadbhag Singh Ji.
Gurdwara Dukh Nirwaran Sahib
Continue to Gurdwara Dukh Nirwaran Sahib.
Longford Engine
Continue to Longford Engine.
St. Thomas
Continue to St. Thomas.
Ashcroft School
Continue to Ashcroft School.
Coach & Horses
Continue to Coach & Horses.
Exhall Interchange
Continue to Exhall Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
B&P Convenience
Continue to B&P Convenience.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
Hair Retreat
Continue to Hair Retreat.
Alties
Continue to Alties.
Zion Baptist Church
Continue to Zion Baptist Church.
Astley Lane
Continue to Astley Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Newdigate Colliery & District Sports and Social Club
Continue to Newdigate Colliery & District Sports and Social Club.
Galley Common Infant School
Continue to Galley Common Infant School.
St Peters
Continue to St Peters.
Chase
Continue to Chase.
Plough Inn
Continue to Plough Inn.
Astley Book Farm
Continue to Astley Book Farm.
St Andrews' Church
Finish back near St Andrews' Church, completing the loop.
11 roundabouts · 12 turns · 3 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 14 turns · 3 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 19 turns · 6 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 17 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 73.9 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Coventry test centre, not an official DVSA route.