Near Doncaster test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 24 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 37 navigation steps.
This is an independent 46.5 km practice route near Doncaster test centre, taking roughly 50 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 Armthorpe Road Roundabout, White Rose Way and Clay Lane 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, 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 named junctions, churches, pubs and shops, 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 Doncaster 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 152-step drive on real, named roads (about 47.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive south.
39 m
Turn right onto Shaw Wood Way.
Shaw Wood Way127 m
Turn left onto A18/Leger Way.
A18591 m
Keep right to stay on A18/Leger Way.
A18152 m
Keep right to stay on A18/Leger Way.
A18152 m
Enter Armthorpe Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A18/Leger Way.
Armthorpe Road Roundabout23 m
Exit the roundabout onto A18/Leger Way.
A182.0 km
Turn right onto Leicester Avenue.
Leicester Avenue181 m
Turn right onto Shaftesbury Avenue.
Shaftesbury Avenue585 m
Turn left onto Evelyn Avenue.
Evelyn Avenue73 m
Turn left onto Wolsey Avenue.
Wolsey Avenue205 m
Keep right to stay on Wolsey Avenue.
Wolsey Avenue368 m
Turn right onto Shaftesbury Avenue.
Shaftesbury Avenue79 m
Turn right onto Leicester Avenue.
Leicester Avenue195 m
Turn left onto Sandringham Road.
Sandringham Road307 m
Turn left onto Town Moor Avenue.
Town Moor Avenue295 m
Turn right onto A18/Leger Way.
A18247 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A18/Carr House Road.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A18/Carr House Road.
A18961 m
Turn left onto Stockil Road.
Stockil Road98 m
Turn left onto Lime Tree Avenue.
Lime Tree Avenue436 m
Turn right onto Thoresby Avenue.
Thoresby Avenue27 m
Keep left to stay on Thoresby Avenue.
Thoresby Avenue74 m
Turn right onto Chequer Avenue.
Chequer Avenue245 m
Turn right onto Theobald Avenue.
Theobald Avenue152 m
Turn right onto Lime Tree Avenue.
Lime Tree Avenue296 m
Turn left onto Thoresby Avenue.
Thoresby Avenue83 m
Turn left onto A18/Carr House Road.
A181.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6182/White Rose Way.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6182/White Rose Way.
A6182615 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6182/White Rose Way.
51 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6182/White Rose Way.
A6182325 m
Keep right to stay on A6182/White Rose Way.
A6182124 m
Keep straight to stay on A6182/White Rose Way.
A6182621 m
Move left.
42 m
Take the exit on the right.
145 m
Move left onto Carolina Way.
Carolina Way585 m
Move left.
28 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
68 m
Exit the roundabout.
136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lakeside Boulevard.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lakeside Boulevard.
Lakeside Boulevard484 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gliwice Way.
87 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gliwice Way.
Gliwice Way414 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Gliwice Way.
87 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gliwice Way.
Gliwice Way417 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Gliwice Way.
133 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gliwice Way.
Gliwice Way414 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gliwice Way.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gliwice Way.
Gliwice Way281 m
Turn left onto A638/Bawtry Road.
A638465 m
Keep right to stay on A638/Bawtry Road.
A63893 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bennetthorpe.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bennetthorpe.
Bennetthorpe58 m
Keep straight to stay on Bennetthorpe.
Bennetthorpe355 m
Make a right U-turn at Manor Drive to stay on Bennetthorpe.
Bennetthorpe51 m
Turn right onto Danum Road.
Danum Road96 m
Turn left onto Welbeck Road.
Welbeck Road182 m
Turn right onto Sandbeck Road.
Sandbeck Road200 m
Turn left onto A18/Carr House Road.
A18430 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bennetthorpe.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bennetthorpe.
Bennetthorpe58 m
Keep straight to stay on Bennetthorpe.
Bennetthorpe316 m
Turn left onto Danum Road.
Danum Road87 m
Turn right onto Welbeck Road.
Welbeck Road254 m
Move right onto Roman Road.
Roman Road250 m
Turn left onto South Parade.
South Parade440 m
Move right.
8 m
Turn right onto Thorne Road.
Thorne Road162 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto East Laith Gate.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto East Laith Gate.
East Laith Gate245 m
Turn right onto Market Road.
Market Road10 m
Turn right onto Nether Hall Road.
Nether Hall Road68 m
Turn right.
119 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road50 m
Turn right onto East Laith Gate.
East Laith Gate28 m
Turn left onto Frances Street.
Frances Street85 m
Turn right.
15 m
Make a right U-turn.
15 m
Turn left onto Frances Street.
Frances Street85 m
Turn left onto East Laith Gate.
East Laith Gate93 m
Move left onto Sunny Bar.
Sunny Bar54 m
Turn left onto Market Place.
Market Place82 m
Move right onto Scot Lane.
Scot Lane157 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street318 m
Turn left onto Prince's Street.
Prince's Street111 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto East Laith Gate.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto East Laith Gate.
East Laith Gate245 m
Turn right onto Market Road.
Market Road235 m
Move left to stay on Market Road.
Market Road28 m
Move left onto A630/Church Way.
A63063 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A630/Church Way.
198 m
Exit the roundabout onto A630/Church Way.
A63044 m
Take the exit on the right.
Church Way44 m
Turn right onto Market Road.
Market Road153 m
Turn left onto Copley Road.
Copley Road130 m
Keep left to stay on Copley Road.
Copley Road158 m
Turn right onto Broxholme Lane.
Broxholme Lane70 m
Keep left to stay on Broxholme Lane.
Broxholme Lane242 m
Turn left onto Thorne Road.
Thorne Road2.4 km
Keep left to stay on Thorne Road.
Thorne Road217 m
Move left onto Barnby Dun Road.
Barnby Dun Road936 m
Enter Clay Lane Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barnby Dun Road.
Clay Lane Roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnby Dun Road.
Barnby Dun Road172 m
Keep right to stay on Barnby Dun Road.
Barnby Dun Road510 m
Keep left to take Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road97 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Doncaster Road.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road793 m
Keep right to stay on Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road1.3 km
Move left onto Station Road.
Station Road427 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street81 m
Keep straight to stay on High Street.
High Street714 m
Turn left onto Fordstead Lane.
Fordstead Lane137 m
Keep left to stay on Fordstead Lane.
Fordstead Lane493 m
Turn right onto Thorpe Bank.
Thorpe Bank107 m
Keep right to stay on Thorpe Bank.
Thorpe Bank343 m
Turn left onto South Road.
South Road395 m
Move right onto West Circuit.
West Circuit96 m
Turn left.
65 m
Turn left onto South Road.
South Road488 m
Turn right onto Thorpe Bank.
Thorpe Bank451 m
Turn left onto Fordstead Lane.
Fordstead Lane631 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street796 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road427 m
Move right onto Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road86 m
Keep left to stay on Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Doncaster Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Doncaster Road.
Doncaster Road779 m
Enter Clay Lane Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A630/Wheatley Hall Road.
Clay Lane Roundabout72 m
Exit the roundabout onto A630/Wheatley Hall Road.
A63055 m
Keep right to stay on A630/Wheatley Hall Road.
A6301.3 km
Keep left to stay on A630/Wheatley Hall Road.
A6302.0 km
Move left onto Wheatley Lane.
Wheatley Lane92 m
Turn left onto The Holmes.
The Holmes11 m
Turn right onto Queens Road.
Queens Road414 m
Turn left onto Thorne Road.
Thorne Road2.2 km
Keep left to stay on Thorne Road.
Thorne Road149 m
Turn right onto Chestnut Avenue.
Chestnut Avenue110 m
Turn right onto The Grove.
The Grove181 m
Turn right onto Crossways.
Crossways111 m
Turn left onto Thorne Road.
Thorne Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Balmoral Road.
Balmoral Road395 m
Keep right to take Craithie Road.
Craithie Road456 m
Turn left onto Sandringham Road.
Sandringham Road81 m
Turn left onto Zetland Road.
Zetland Road509 m
Turn left onto Imperial Crescent.
Imperial Crescent90 m
Turn left onto Craithie Road.
Craithie Road58 m
Keep right to stay on Craithie Road.
Craithie Road180 m
Turn left onto Hampton Road.
Hampton Road84 m
Turn right onto Zetland Road.
Zetland Road364 m
Keep right to take Leicester Avenue.
Leicester Avenue415 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Doncaster · Route 5 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.
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 Armthorpe Road Roundabout, Clay Lane Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 11.9 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, 40, 50, 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.
Armthorpe Road Roundabout
Start near Armthorpe Road Roundabout.
Doncaster Fire Station
Continue to Doncaster Fire Station.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Park Hotel
Continue to Park Hotel.
One Stop
Continue to One Stop.
White Rose Way
Continue to White Rose Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Taco Bell
Continue to Taco Bell.
Social
Continue to Social.
Unitarian and Free Christian Church
Continue to Unitarian and Free Christian Church.
Wheatley Hotel
Continue to Wheatley Hotel.
Glass House
Continue to Glass House.
Barnby Dun Social Club
Continue to Barnby Dun Social Club.
Co-operative Food
Continue to Co-operative Food.
Olive Tree
Continue to Olive Tree.
Clay Lane Roundabout
Continue to Clay Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
FlooringSuperstore
Continue to FlooringSuperstore.
House Martin
Continue to House Martin.
Tesco Express
Continue to Tesco Express.
Lonsdale
Continue to Lonsdale.
Victoria Boutique
Finish back near Victoria Boutique, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 16 turns · 9 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 12 turns · 5 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 12 turns · 3 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 46.5 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Doncaster test centre, not an official DVSA route.