Near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 2 roundabouts, 21 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 109.3 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 68 South 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, shops, named junctions 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 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 257-step drive on real, named roads (about 109.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
17 m
Turn left.
15 m
Turn left onto Whitfield Court.
Whitfield Court76 m
Turn left onto St. John's Road.
St. John's Road555 m
Turn left onto Browney Lane/B6300.
Browney Lane2.0 km
Keep left to stay on B6300.
B6300166 m
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 Road851 m
Keep right to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road1.2 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 Street464 m
Make a sharp left onto Church Street.
Church Street1.6 km
Keep left to take South Road/A177.
South Road226 m
Keep left to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road743 m
Keep right to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road63 m
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.
A167160 m
Keep right to stay on A167 towards Darlington/The South.
A167106 m
Keep right to stay on A167 towards Darlington/The South.
A167104 m
Keep right to stay on A167 towards Darlington/The South.
A1671.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Ferryhill/Newton Aycliffe/Darlington.
A167401 m
Keep left to stay on A167.
A167545 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 Lane428 m
Keep left to stay on Chair Lane.
Chair Lane847 m
Turn right.
298 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane214 m
Keep left to stay on Mill Lane.
Mill Lane401 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.
Front Street247 m
Keep left to stay on B6288.
B6288215 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A167.
85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A167654 m
Keep left to stay on A167.
A1671.0 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.
A6882.2 km
Keep straight to stay on A688.
A688247 m
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.
A688255 m
Keep right to stay on A688.
A688237 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 Lane463 m
Keep right to take Grange Park Crescent.
Grange Park Crescent114 m
Keep left to stay on Grange Park Crescent.
Grange Park Crescent558 m
Keep left to stay on Grange Park Crescent.
Grange Park Crescent19 m
Turn left onto Henry Avenue.
Henry Avenue1.2 km
Turn left onto Durham Road/A177. Continue on A177.
A1771.1 km
Keep left to stay on A177.
A1771.0 km
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.
A688240 m
Keep left to stay on A688.
A688152 m
Keep left to stay on A688.
A688104 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.
A688182 m
Keep right to stay on A688.
A6882.3 km
Enter Thinford Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Thinford Roundabout457 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.
316 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 Street103 m
Turn left onto Villa Street.
Villa Street23 m
Turn left.
102 m
Turn left onto Shafto Street.
Shafto Street70 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 4th exit towards A1(M)/Darlington.
184 m
Exit the roundabout towards A1(M)/Darlington.
A688933 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 Roundabout110 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/A1(M)/Newcastle.
A68830 m
Keep right to stay on A688 towards Bowburn/A1(M)/Newcastle.
A6882.2 km
Keep straight to stay on A688.
A688247 m
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.
A688255 m
Keep right to stay on A688.
A688237 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 Avenue710 m
Turn right onto A177.
A1771.5 km
Keep left to stay on A177.
A1772.2 km
Keep straight to stay on A177.
A177114 m
Keep right to stay on A177.
A17765 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hallgarth Street.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street464 m
Move right onto New Elvet.
New Elvet154 m
Keep left to stay on New Elvet.
New Elvet208 m
Keep right to take New Elvet Bridge.
New Elvet Bridge73 m
Move left onto New Elvet.
New Elvet13 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 Road138 m
Keep left to stay on North Road.
North Road23 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 Street400 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Sunderland.
11 m
Exit the roundabout towards Sunderland.
A69032 m
Keep right to stay on A690/St Godric's Road towards Sunderland.
A690169 m
Enter Milburngate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A690/Sunderland.
Milburngate roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout towards A690/Sunderland.
A69010 m
Keep right to stay on A690 towards Sunderland.
A690445 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 1st exit towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bowburn/Coxhoe/The Pump House.
A1774.5 km
Turn left onto Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue12 m
Keep straight to stay on Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue266 m
Turn right onto Edward Avenue.
Edward Avenue138 m
Keep left to stay on Edward Avenue.
Edward Avenue100 m
Turn right onto Surtees Avenue.
Surtees Avenue471 m
Turn right onto Durham Road/A177. Continue on A177.
A1774.6 km
Keep straight to stay on A177.
A177179 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road707 m
Move left onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane22 m
Enter Quarryheads Lane roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Potters Bank.
Quarryheads Lane roundabout13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Potters Bank.
Potters Bank938 m
Turn right onto A167/Darlington Road.
A167242 m
Keep left to stay on A167/Darlington Road.
A167561 m
Keep straight to stay on A167.
A167274 m
Turn right onto St Monica Grove.
St Monica Grove63 m
Turn right to stay on St Monica Grove.
St Monica Grove98 m
Turn left onto Surtees Drive.
Surtees Drive67 m
Keep left to stay on Surtees Drive.
Surtees Drive10 m
Turn right onto St Aidan's Crescent.
St Aidan's Crescent129 m
Turn left onto Redhills Lane.
Redhills Lane289 m
Turn left onto A167/Newcastle Road. Continue on A167.
A167894 m
Keep right to take A167/Darlington Road.
A167369 m
Turn left onto Potters Bank.
Potters Bank942 m
Enter Quarryheads Lane roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane roundabout70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane20 m
Move left onto Quarryheads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane381 m
Keep left to take Stockton Road.
Stockton Road331 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 Avenue12 m
Keep straight to stay on Prince Charles Avenue.
Prince Charles Avenue108 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 Terrace227 m
Move right to stay on Bede Terrace.
Bede Terrace68 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.
A1772.6 km
Keep left to stay on A177.
A1772.2 km
Keep straight to stay on A177.
A177114 m
Keep right to stay on A177.
A17765 m
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 Elvet154 m
Keep left to stay on New Elvet.
New Elvet208 m
Keep right to take New Elvet Bridge.
New Elvet Bridge73 m
Move left onto New Elvet.
New Elvet13 m
Move left towards Crook/Consett.
11 m
Move left.
156 m
Turn left onto Saddler Street.
Saddler Street452 m
Turn left onto Bow Lane.
Bow Lane78 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bow Lane.
Bow Lane78 m
Turn right onto North Bailey.
North Bailey453 m
Turn right.
101 m
Make a left U-turn onto A690/Leazes Road.
A690409 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 Road81 m
Turn left onto Sutton Street.
Sutton Street104 m
Turn right onto Flass Street.
Flass Street129 m
Move left onto Redhills Lane.
Redhills Lane389 m
Turn left to stay on Redhills Lane.
Redhills Lane160 m
Turn left onto St Aidan's Crescent.
St Aidan's Crescent129 m
Turn left onto Surtees Drive.
Surtees Drive78 m
Turn right onto St Monica Grove.
St Monica Grove162 m
Turn left onto A167/Newcastle Road. Continue on A167.
A167711 m
Keep right to stay on A167.
A1671.9 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 1st exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North4 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road852 m
Keep right to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road1.2 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.
A177228 m
Keep left to stay on A177.
A177341 m
Keep straight to stay on A177.
A1771.9 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street78 m
Keep left to stay on High Street.
High Street491 m
Turn left onto Whitwell Acres.
Whitwell Acres268 m
Turn right to stay on Whitwell Acres.
Whitwell Acres716 m
Keep left to take Heathways.
Heathways354 m
Turn left to stay on Heathways.
Heathways185 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street410 m
Turn right onto A177.
A177524 m
Keep left to stay on A177.
A1772.2 km
Keep straight to stay on A177.
A177114 m
Keep right to stay on A177.
A17765 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
32 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road360 m
Turn left onto South Road/A177.
South Road1.1 km
Keep left to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road226 m
Keep left to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road744 m
Keep right to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road63 m
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 2nd exit.
Cock o' the North82 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road852 m
Keep right to stay on South Road/A177.
South Road1.2 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 Street211 m
Keep left to stay on Church Street.
Church Street308 m
Turn left towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road48 m
Keep right to stay on Stockton Road.
Stockton Road318 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 3 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.
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 32.7 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.
St. Bartholomews
Continue to St. Bartholomews.
Domino's
Continue to Domino's.
Integra 68 South access
Continue to Integra 68 South access, taking the junction with good observation.
Bowburn Methodist Church
Continue to Bowburn Methodist Church.
Trinity Methodist Church
Continue to Trinity Methodist Church.
Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane Working Mens Club
Continue to Low Spennymoor & Merrington Lane Working Mens Club.
Dragon Chinese
Continue to Dragon Chinese.
Christ the King
Continue to Christ the King.
King's Church Durham
Continue to King's Church Durham.
St Godric's
Continue to St Godric's.
City
Continue to City.
K.S. Davison
Continue to K.S. Davison.
Durham School
Continue to Durham School.
Sainsbury's Local
Continue to Sainsbury's Local.
Doorstep Green
Continue to Doorstep Green.
St Chad's College Chapel
Continue to St Chad's College Chapel.
Waddington Street United Reformed Church
Continue to Waddington Street United Reformed Church.
Avenue
Finish back near Avenue, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 20 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 109.3 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.