Near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 17 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 99.0 km practice route near Durham (Meadowfield) 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, 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 schools, churches, pubs and parks, 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 Durham (Meadowfield) 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 165-step drive on real, named roads (about 97.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
17 m
Turn right.
15 m
Turn left onto Whitfield Court.
Whitfield Court42 m
Turn left onto St. John's Road.
St. John's Road555 m
Turn left onto Browney Lane/B6300. Continue on B6300.
B63002.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
5 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1671.9 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 3rd exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North47 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hallgarth Street.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street465 m
Make a sharp left onto Church Street.
Church Street2.6 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 4th exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North82 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
43 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
A1771.2 km
Turn right towards Shincliffe Village.
Low Road317 m
Move left onto High Street.
High Street381 m
Turn left onto Willow Tree Avenue/A177. Continue on A177.
A1771.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road361 m
Turn left onto South Road/A177.
South Road2.1 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 4th exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North82 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
43 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
A1772.5 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street601 m
Turn right onto A177.
A1772.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road361 m
Turn left onto South Road/A177.
South Road2.1 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 4th exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North82 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
43 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
A1774.5 km
Turn left onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue121 m
Turn left onto Bede Terrace.
Bede Terrace189 m
Turn right onto Robson Crescent.
Robson Crescent103 m
Turn right onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue365 m
Turn left onto Bede Terrace.
Bede Terrace296 m
Turn left onto Burn Street.
Burn Street142 m
Turn right onto Runcie Road.
Runcie Road101 m
Turn right onto The Leazes/A177. Continue on A177.
A177469 m
Turn right onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue121 m
Turn left onto Bede Terrace.
Bede Terrace189 m
Turn right onto Robson Crescent.
Robson Crescent103 m
Turn left onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue153 m
Turn left onto George Street.
George Street403 m
Turn left onto Tail-upon-End Lane.
Tail-upon-End Lane23 m
Turn right onto A177.
A1773.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road361 m
Turn left onto South Road/A177.
South Road2.1 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 4th exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North82 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
43 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
A1775.1 km
Turn left.
57 m
Turn right onto Steavenson Street.
Steavenson Street181 m
Turn right.
50 m
Turn left onto Durham Road/A177. Continue on A177.
A177275 m
Enter Bowburn Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A688.
Bowburn Interchange414 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688596 m
Enter Integra 61 North and West access and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
Integra 61 North and West access12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688497 m
Enter Integra 68 South access and take the 1st exit onto A688.
Integra 68 South access6 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A6881.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A6882.5 km
Enter Thinford Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
Thinford Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688407 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A68837 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A688.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688964 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland.
83 m
Exit the roundabout towards Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland.
A688906 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit.
180 m
Exit the roundabout.
317 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Middlestone Moor.
15 m
Exit the roundabout towards Middlestone Moor.
Clyde Terrace19 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street.
Clarence Street20 m
Turn left to stay on Clarence Street.
Clarence Street84 m
Turn right onto Stratton Street.
Stratton Street103 m
Turn right onto Drake Street.
Drake Street37 m
Turn right onto Craddock Street.
Craddock Street98 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street.
Clarence Street61 m
Turn right onto Clyde Terrace.
Clyde Terrace36 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Kirk Merrington.
50 m
Exit the roundabout towards Kirk Merrington.
314 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A688.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688897 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A1(M)/Darlington.
184 m
Exit the roundabout towards A1(M)/Darlington.
A688934 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A68832 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A68834 m
Move left to stay on A688.
A688402 m
Enter Thinford Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Bowburn/A1(M)/Newcastle.
Thinford Roundabout109 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/A1(M)/Newcastle.
A6882.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Tursdale/Bowburn/Durham/A1(M).
12 m
Exit the roundabout towards Tursdale/Bowburn/Durham/A1(M).
A6881.2 km
Enter Integra 68 South access and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
Integra 68 South access59 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688493 m
Enter Integra 61 North and West access and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
Integra 61 North and West access68 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688581 m
Enter Bowburn Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A177.
Bowburn Interchange15 m
Exit the roundabout onto A177.
A177254 m
Turn right onto Crow Trees Lane.
Crow Trees Lane151 m
Turn left onto Wylam Street.
Wylam Street175 m
Turn left.
46 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street.
Clarence Street150 m
Turn right onto Crow Trees Lane.
Crow Trees Lane100 m
Turn left onto Durham Road/A177. Continue on A177.
A177237 m
Enter Bowburn Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A688.
Bowburn Interchange414 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688596 m
Enter Integra 61 North and West access and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
Integra 61 North and West access12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A688497 m
Enter Integra 68 South access and take the 1st exit onto A688.
Integra 68 South access6 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A6881.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A688.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A688.
A6882.5 km
Enter Thinford Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A167.
Thinford Roundabout136 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A1671.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A167.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A1671.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Tudhoe.
13 m
Exit the roundabout towards Tudhoe.
B6288450 m
Turn right onto Chair Lane.
Chair Lane1.3 km
Turn right.
298 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane616 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Mill Lane.
Mill Lane616 m
Turn right.
298 m
Turn left onto Chair Lane.
Chair Lane1.3 km
Turn left onto Front Street/B6288. Continue on B6288.
B6288463 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Durham/Newcastle.
13 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Newcastle.
A167944 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
39 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1671.9 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 3rd exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North47 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road3.0 km
Move left onto New Elvet.
New Elvet13 m
Move right towards Sunderland.
New Elvet21 m
Enter Leazes Bowl and take the 1st exit towards A690/Sunderland.
Leazes Bowl43 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Sunderland.
A690498 m
Turn left to stay on A690/Leazes Road.
A69016 m
Enter Gilesgate roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A181/(B1283)/Sherburn.
Gilesgate roundabout98 m
Exit the roundabout towards A181/(B1283)/Sherburn.
Gilesgate541 m
Move right towards Sherburn.
A1811.1 km
Turn left onto Dragon Lane.
Dragon Lane733 m
Turn left onto Sunderland Road.
Sunderland Road1.6 km
Enter Gilesgate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A690/City Centre/Consett.
Gilesgate roundabout18 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/City Centre/Consett.
A690527 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A690/Leazes Bowl.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A690/Leazes Bowl.
A69029 m
Make a right U-turn at Leazes Bowl to stay on A690/Leazes Bowl.
A69065 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
52 m
Exit the roundabout.
156 m
Turn left onto Saddler Street.
Saddler Street453 m
Turn left onto Bow Lane.
Bow Lane37 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Durham (Meadowfield) · Route 1 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.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
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 29.8 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.
Master's House
Start near Master's House.
Southend House
Continue to Southend House.
Islamic Prayer Rooms
Continue to Islamic Prayer Rooms.
St Oswald's Church
Continue to St Oswald's Church.
Rose Tree
Continue to Rose Tree.
Seven Stars
Continue to Seven Stars.
Avenue
Continue to Avenue.
Christ the King
Continue to Christ the King.
Doorstep Green
Continue to Doorstep Green.
Bowburn Methodist Church
Continue to Bowburn Methodist Church.
Fox Cub
Continue to Fox Cub.
Jubilee Independent Methodist Church
Continue to Jubilee Independent Methodist Church.
Domino's
Continue to Domino's.
Strawberry Lane School
Continue to Strawberry Lane School.
Croxdale Inn
Continue to Croxdale Inn.
St. Bartholomews
Continue to St. Bartholomews.
King's Church Durham
Continue to King's Church Durham.
Durham City Baptist Church
Continue to Durham City Baptist Church.
Durham Quaker Meeting
Continue to Durham Quaker Meeting.
St Chad's College Chapel
Finish back near St Chad's College Chapel, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 4 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 20 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 17 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 99.0 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre, not an official DVSA route.