Near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 20 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 103.4 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.
Along the way you'll meet Integra 61 North and West access. 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, 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 churches, pubs, shops 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 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 200-step drive on real, named roads (about 103.4 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 1st exit towards Darlington/The South.
Cock o' the North7 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/The South.
A1671.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
A167946 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Tudhoe.
87 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 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.
A1771.3 km
Turn left onto Mill Lane/B1198. Continue on B1198.
B11981.9 km
Turn left onto Sherburn Lane.
Sherburn Lane259 m
Turn left onto A181.
A181930 m
Turn left to stay on A181.
A1812.3 km
Enter Gilesgate roundabout and take the 5th exit towards A181/(B1283)/Sherburn.
Gilesgate roundabout160 m
Exit the roundabout towards A181/(B1283)/Sherburn.
Gilesgate541 m
Move right towards Sherburn.
A1811.7 km
Keep left to take B1283.
B12831.5 km
Turn left onto Kidd Avenue.
Kidd Avenue366 m
Turn right onto Gray Avenue.
Gray Avenue67 m
Turn right onto Beech Road.
Beech Road92 m
Turn left onto Liddle Avenue.
Liddle Avenue82 m
Turn right to stay on Liddle Avenue.
Liddle Avenue356 m
Turn left onto Kidd Avenue.
Kidd Avenue53 m
Turn right onto Front Street/B1283.
B12833.7 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 Leazes Bowl and take the 2nd exit onto A690/Leazes Bowl.
Leazes Bowl26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A690/Leazes Bowl. Continue on A690.
A690437 m
Enter Milburngate roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A690/Consett/Chester-le-Street.
Milburngate roundabout54 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Consett/Chester-le-Street.
A691887 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto B6532.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6532.
B6532573 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Durham Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Durham Road.
Durham Road326 m
Turn right onto Finchale Road.
Finchale Road250 m
Turn right onto Lilac Avenue.
Lilac Avenue30 m
Turn left onto Beech Road.
Beech Road146 m
Turn left onto Flambard Road.
Flambard Road44 m
Turn left onto Finchale Road.
Finchale Road101 m
Turn right onto Ashleigh Avenue.
Ashleigh Avenue123 m
Turn left onto Newton Drive.
Newton Drive24 m
Turn right onto Gray Avenue.
Gray Avenue152 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Gray Avenue.
Gray Avenue152 m
Turn left onto Newton Drive.
Newton Drive24 m
Turn right onto Ashleigh Avenue.
Ashleigh Avenue123 m
Turn right onto Finchale Road.
Finchale Road296 m
Turn left onto High Carr Road.
High Carr Road330 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B6532.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6532.
B6532575 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A691.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto A691.
A691900 m
Enter Milburngate roundabout and take the 1st exit towards A690/Sunderland.
Milburngate roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Sunderland.
A690456 m
Enter Leazes Bowl and take the 2nd exit onto New Elvet.
Leazes Bowl26 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elvet.
New Elvet34 m
Move left onto New Elvet Bridge.
New Elvet Bridge436 m
Move left onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street472 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
63 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 1st exit towards Darlington/The South.
Cock o' the North7 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/The South.
A1671.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
A167946 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Tudhoe.
87 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 2nd exit onto A167.
85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A1671.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Ferryhill/A1(M)/Darlington.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Ferryhill/A1(M)/Darlington.
A1671.0 km
Enter Thinford Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Bowburn/A1(M)/Newcastle.
Thinford Roundabout6 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 Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto Henry Avenue.
Henry Avenue1.2 km
Turn left onto Durham Road/A177. Continue on A177.
A1771.6 km
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 Terrace210 m
Turn left onto Shafto Street.
Shafto Street51 m
Turn right onto Craddock Street.
Craddock Street98 m
Turn right onto Robert Street.
Robert Street34 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Robert Street.
Robert Street34 m
Turn left onto Craddock Street.
Craddock Street98 m
Turn left onto Shafto Street.
Shafto Street51 m
Turn right onto Clyde Terrace.
Clyde Terrace206 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.
A1771.1 km
Turn right onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue185 m
Turn left onto Margaret Court.
Margaret Court186 m
Turn left onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue65 m
Turn right onto Philip Avenue.
Philip Avenue224 m
Turn left onto Robert Terrace.
Robert Terrace65 m
Turn left onto Henry Avenue.
Henry Avenue711 m
Turn right onto A177.
A1773.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hallgarth Street.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street465 m
Move right onto New Elvet.
New Elvet449 m
Move left towards Crook/Consett.
A690453 m
Enter Milburngate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A690/Crook.
Milburngate roundabout28 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Crook.
A690205 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto North Road.
85 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Road.
North Road162 m
Turn left onto Albert Street.
Albert Street61 m
Turn right onto Victoria Terrace.
Victoria Terrace184 m
Turn left onto Obelisk Lane.
Obelisk Lane63 m
Turn left onto Albert Street.
Albert Street234 m
Turn right onto North Road.
North Road166 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Sunderland.
11 m
Exit the roundabout towards Sunderland.
A690202 m
Enter Milburngate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A690/Sunderland.
Milburngate roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Sunderland.
A690456 m
Enter Leazes Bowl and take the 2nd exit onto New Elvet.
Leazes Bowl26 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elvet.
New Elvet34 m
Move left onto New Elvet Bridge.
New Elvet Bridge436 m
Move right 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 1st exit onto Hallgarth Street.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street465 m
Make a sharp left onto Church Street.
Church Street520 m
Turn left 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 Street237 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Durham (Meadowfield) · Route 10 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 38.8 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.
Islamic Prayer Rooms
Start near Islamic Prayer Rooms.
St Oswald's Church
Continue to St Oswald's Church.
Croxdale Inn
Continue to Croxdale Inn.
St. Bartholomews
Continue to St. Bartholomews.
Rose Tree
Continue to Rose Tree.
La Pizza
Continue to La Pizza.
Manor House
Continue to Manor House.
St Nicholas Church
Continue to St Nicholas Church.
Framwellgate Moor Methodist Church
Continue to Framwellgate Moor Methodist Church.
Elvet Riverside 2
Continue to Elvet Riverside 2.
MG
Continue to MG.
Burger King
Continue to Burger King.
Integra 61 North and West access
Continue to Integra 61 North and West access, taking the junction with good observation.
Bowburn Methodist Church
Continue to Bowburn Methodist Church.
Fox Cub
Continue to Fox Cub.
Trinity Methodist Church
Continue to Trinity Methodist Church.
Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane Working Mens Club
Continue to Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane Working Mens Club.
Christ the King
Continue to Christ the King.
Seven Stars
Continue to Seven Stars.
St Godric's
Finish back near St Godric's, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 17 turns · 5 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 17 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 103.4 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.