Near Erith test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts, 10 turns and 1 signalled junction across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 77.1 km practice loop near Erith 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 Crabtree Manorway North, Thames Road, Fraser Road and Bedonwell Road. 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 independent driving. 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, pubs, stations and churches, 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 Erith 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 131-step drive on real, named roads (about 77.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
59 m
Turn right onto Crabtree Manorway North.
Crabtree Manorway North187 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Crabtree Manorway North.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Crabtree Manorway North.
Crabtree Manorway North181 m
Turn left.
99 m
Turn left.
568 m
Turn left.
318 m
Turn left onto Mulberry Way.
Mulberry Way257 m
Enter Crabtree Manorway North and take the 2nd exit onto Anderson Way.
Crabtree Manorway North27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Anderson Way.
Anderson Way211 m
Move left.
9 m
Move right onto Anderson Way.
Anderson Way26 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Picardy Manorway/A2016.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Picardy Manorway/A2016.
Picardy Manorway344 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Eastern Way/A2016.
71 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Way/A2016.
Eastern Way2.1 km
Take the A2041 exit.
338 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
Harrow Manorway497 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
149 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
Harrow Manorway491 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
380 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
Harrow Manorway497 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
Harrow Manorway254 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harrow Manorway/A2041.
Harrow Manorway542 m
Enter Knee Hill and take the 3rd exit onto Knee Hill/B213.
Knee Hill122 m
Exit the roundabout onto Knee Hill/B213.
B2132.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lower Road/B213.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Road/B213.
Lower Road931 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
Bronze Age Way1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Queens Road/A206.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Queens Road/A206. Continue on A206.
A206818 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northend Road/A206.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northend Road/A206.
Northend Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Thames Road/A206.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road277 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Thames Road/A206.
78 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road462 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thames Road/A206.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road462 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thames Road/A206.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road544 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way759 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way887 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A282.
124 m
Exit the roundabout onto A282/E 15.
A2824.9 km
Take exit 30 onto A13 towards London/Tilbury/Thurrock Lakeside/Services.
769 m
Enter Mardyke Junction and take the 2nd exit.
Mardyke Junction13 m
Exit the roundabout onto A13.
A1310.3 km
Take the Goresbrook exit onto A1306 towards Dagenham/Hornchurch.
A13362 m
Turn left onto Goresbrook Interchange.
Goresbrook Interchange3 m
Make a sharp right to stay on Goresbrook Interchange.
Goresbrook Interchange185 m
Turn right onto Ripple Road/A1306.
Ripple Road568 m
Turn left onto Heathway/A1240.
Heathway654 m
Turn right onto Ford Road.
Ford Road182 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street458 m
Move left onto Whitebarn Lane.
Whitebarn Lane192 m
Move left onto Oval Road North.
Oval Road North191 m
Turn right onto Ballards Road/B178.
Ballards Road342 m
Turn left onto Ballards Road/B178. Continue on B178.
B17849 m
Turn right onto Oval Road South/B178.
Oval Road South86 m
Turn left onto New Road/A1306. Continue on A1306.
A13061.1 km
Turn right onto Marsh Way/A1311.
Marsh Way513 m
Enter Marsh Way Junction and take the 2nd exit.
Marsh Way Junction34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A13.
A137.8 km
Take the Mardyke exit onto A282.
294 m
Keep right to take A282.
139 m
Enter Mardyke Junction and take the 3rd exit.
Mardyke Junction439 m
Exit the roundabout.
411 m
Keep right to take A282/E 15.
A2824.9 km
Take exit 1A onto A206 towards Swanscombe/Erith/Bluewater.
A282438 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A206.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto A206.
A206206 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way879 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way740 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bob Dunn Way/A206.
Bob Dunn Way1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thames Road/A206.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road553 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thames Road/A206.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road473 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Thames Road/A206.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road469 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Thames Road/A206.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thames Road/A206.
Thames Road288 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Northend Road/A206.
131 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northend Road/A206.
Northend Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto South Road/A206.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto South Road/A206. Continue on A206.
A206808 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bexley Road/A220.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bexley Road/A220.
Bexley Road100 m
Move right onto Fraser Road/A206.
Fraser Road809 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Fraser Road/A206.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Fraser Road/A206. Continue on A206.
A2062.5 km
Turn left onto Bedonwell Road.
Bedonwell Road146 m
Turn right onto Glenview.
Glenview518 m
Turn right onto West Heath Road.
West Heath Road97 m
Turn right onto Amberley Road.
Amberley Road394 m
Turn right onto Glenview.
Glenview423 m
Turn right onto West Heath Road.
West Heath Road97 m
Turn right onto Amberley Road.
Amberley Road708 m
Turn left onto King Harolds Way.
King Harolds Way667 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bedonwell Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bedonwell Road.
Bedonwell Road252 m
Turn left onto Parsonage Manorway.
Parsonage Manorway681 m
Turn right onto Brook Street.
Brook Street442 m
Turn left onto Hengist Road.
Hengist Road90 m
Turn left onto Penda Road.
Penda Road407 m
Turn right onto Carlton Road.
Carlton Road449 m
Turn left onto Bexley Road/A220.
Bexley Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
Bronze Age Way2.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
125 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bronze Age Way/A2016.
Bronze Age Way1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lower Road/B213.
97 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Road/B213.
Lower Road210 m
Turn right to take the Bronze Age Way ramp.
Bronze Age Way990 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Anderson Way.
87 m
Exit the roundabout onto Anderson Way.
Anderson Way251 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Crabtree Manorway North.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Crabtree Manorway North.
Crabtree Manorway North35 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Erith · 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
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 24.9 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 (20, 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.
Crabtree Manorway North
Start near Crabtree Manorway North.
Morgan
Continue to Morgan.
Harrow Manorway / Lensbury Way
Continue to Harrow Manorway / Lensbury Way.
Southmere Lake
Continue to Southmere Lake.
Guru Nanak Durbar Sikh Temple
Continue to Guru Nanak Durbar Sikh Temple.
St Augustine’s Church
Continue to St Augustine’s Church.
Lower Road / Church Manorway
Continue to Lower Road / Church Manorway.
Thames Road
Continue to Thames Road, taking the junction with good observation.
SusCon
Continue to SusCon.
Dagenham Dock
Continue to Dagenham Dock.
Admiral Vernon
Continue to Admiral Vernon.
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Continue to Cherubim and Seraphim Church.
Essex Point
Continue to Essex Point.
Joyce Green Lane Terminus
Continue to Joyce Green Lane Terminus.
Medway Road
Continue to Medway Road.
Fraser Road
Continue to Fraser Road, taking the junction with good observation.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Croft Day Nursery
Continue to Croft Day Nursery.
Bedonwell Road
Continue to Bedonwell Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Erith
Finish back near Erith, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 19 turns
11 roundabouts · 10 turns · 2 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 14 turns · 1 set of lights
13 roundabouts · 8 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 77.1 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Erith test centre, not an official DVSA route.