Near Garretts Green test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 12 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 55.3 km practice route near Garretts Green 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 Cooks Lane, Spitfire Island and Tyburn House Island. 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, 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 pubs, churches, shops and named junctions, 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 Garretts Green 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 136-step drive on real, named roads (about 55.3 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast.
130 m
Turn right onto Granby Avenue.
Granby Avenue742 m
Turn left onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane763 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Garretts Green Lane.
68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane282 m
Turn left onto Markfield Road.
Markfield Road129 m
Turn left onto Rotherfield Road.
Rotherfield Road198 m
Turn left onto Brinsley Road.
Brinsley Road106 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Garretts Green Lane.
91 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane260 m
Turn right onto Mickleton Avenue.
Mickleton Avenue273 m
Turn right onto Admington Road.
Admington Road219 m
Keep right to stay on Admington Road.
Admington Road64 m
Turn right onto Kenmure Road.
Kenmure Road272 m
Turn right onto Sheldon Heath Road.
Sheldon Heath Road499 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Sheldon Heath Road.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sheldon Heath Road.
Sheldon Heath Road414 m
Turn left onto Este Road.
Este Road145 m
Turn left onto Hengham Road.
Hengham Road412 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Sheldon Heath Road.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sheldon Heath Road.
Sheldon Heath Road782 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Radleys.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Radleys.
The Radleys800 m
Turn left onto Mackadown Lane.
Mackadown Lane59 m
Keep straight to stay on Mackadown Lane.
Mackadown Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto St Giles Road.
St Giles Road546 m
Turn left onto Haywood Road.
Haywood Road435 m
Turn right onto Shirestone Road.
Shirestone Road120 m
Turn right to stay on Shirestone Road.
Shirestone Road342 m
Turn right onto Tile Cross Road.
Tile Cross Road755 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Tile Cross Road.
78 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tile Cross Road.
Tile Cross Road1.0 km
Turn right onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane251 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cooks Lane.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Forth Drive.
Forth Drive237 m
Keep right to stay on Forth Drive.
Forth Drive436 m
Turn right onto Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road177 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Moorend Avenue.
184 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue471 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue284 m
Enter Pine Square and take the 2nd exit onto Moorend Avenue.
Pine Square75 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue1.2 km
Keep left to stay on Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue62 m
Turn left onto Chelmsley Lane.
Chelmsley Lane127 m
Move left onto Wood Lane.
Wood Lane36 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Wood Lane.
Wood Lane36 m
Move right onto Chelmsley Lane.
Chelmsley Lane127 m
Turn right onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue62 m
Keep left to stay on Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue335 m
Keep right to stay on Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue903 m
Enter Pine Square and take the 2nd exit onto Moorend Avenue.
Pine Square79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue288 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Moorend Avenue.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorend Avenue.
Moorend Avenue476 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452.
107 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452.
A452664 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A452/Collector Road.
114 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Collector Road.
A4525.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Newport Road.
145 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Newport Road. Continue on A452.
A452652 m
Enter Spitfire Island and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Spitfire Island85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A45216 m
Keep right to stay on A452/Chester Road.
A452239 m
Keep left to stay on A452/Chester Road.
A452279 m
Take the exit.
A381.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kingsbury Road.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingsbury Road.
Kingsbury Road707 m
Turn right onto Spring Lane.
Spring Lane641 m
Move right onto Moor End Lane.
Moor End Lane170 m
Turn right onto Berkswell Road.
Berkswell Road184 m
Turn left onto Allman Road.
Allman Road348 m
Turn right onto Holly Lane.
Holly Lane761 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Kingsbury Road.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingsbury Road.
Kingsbury Road1.5 km
Enter Tyburn House Island and take the 4th exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Tyburn House Island106 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A452592 m
Enter Spitfire Island and take the 2nd exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Spitfire Island108 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road. Continue on A452.
A452606 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
81 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Collector Road.
A4522.9 km
Take the exit on the right.
128 m
Make a sharp right onto A452/Collector Road.
A4522.0 km
Turn left onto Parkfield Drive.
Parkfield Drive277 m
Turn right onto Beechcroft Road.
Beechcroft Road582 m
Turn right onto Chester Road/B4118.
Chester Road597 m
Make a right U-turn onto Birmingham Road.
Birmingham Road106 m
Turn right onto Hall Road/B4118.
Hall Road286 m
Turn left onto Bradford Road/B4114.
Bradford Road19 m
Keep right to stay on B4114.
B41141.3 km
Keep right to stay on Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road1.0 km
Keep left to stay on Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road366 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Chester Road/B4114.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road188 m
Keep left to stay on Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road258 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Chester Road/B4114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chester Road/B4114.
Chester Road685 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cooks Lane.
75 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane290 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cooks Lane.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane712 m
Turn right onto Eileen Gardens.
Eileen Gardens129 m
Turn left onto Hillside Drive.
Hillside Drive100 m
Move left to stay on Hillside Drive.
Hillside Drive126 m
Turn left onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane991 m
Keep right to stay on Forth Drive.
Forth Drive118 m
Turn left to stay on Forth Drive.
Forth Drive117 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Forth Drive.
Forth Drive116 m
Turn right to stay on Forth Drive.
Forth Drive356 m
Turn left onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane1.1 km
Turn left to stay on Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane9 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cooks Lane.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cooks Lane.
Cooks Lane1.2 km
Keep left to take Meadway.
Meadway104 m
Keep left to stay on Meadway.
Meadway435 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Meadway.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Meadway.
Meadway295 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Holbeach Road.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holbeach Road.
Holbeach Road22 m
Turn left onto Meadway.
Meadway131 m
Keep left to stay on Meadway.
Meadway252 m
Turn left onto Meadway.
Meadway105 m
Keep right to stay on Meadway.
Meadway228 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Meadway.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Meadway.
Meadway295 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Garretts Green Lane.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Garretts Green Lane.
68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane411 m
Turn left onto Rotherfield Road.
Rotherfield Road198 m
Turn left onto Brinsley Road.
Brinsley Road106 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Garretts Green Lane.
91 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garretts Green Lane.
Garretts Green Lane763 m
Turn right onto Granby Avenue.
Granby Avenue415 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Garretts Green · Route 9 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 17.1 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 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.
Garretts Green Sports Bar
Start near Garretts Green Sports Bar.
St Thomas' Church Garretts Green
Continue to St Thomas' Church Garretts Green.
Pizza Bank
Continue to Pizza Bank.
Radley Motor Co
Continue to Radley Motor Co.
St Peter
Continue to St Peter.
Cooks Lane
Continue to Cooks Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Centurion
Continue to Centurion.
Chelmsey Wood Seventh Day Adventist CommunityChurch
Continue to Chelmsey Wood Seventh Day Adventist CommunityChurch.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
Spitfire Island
Continue to Spitfire Island, taking the junction with good observation.
Tyburn House Island
Continue to Tyburn House Island, taking the junction with good observation.
Catholic Church of SS. Peter & Paul
Continue to Catholic Church of SS. Peter & Paul.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Tyburn House
Continue to Tyburn House.
Spar
Continue to Spar.
Ellis
Continue to Ellis.
Kingshurst Evangelical Church
Continue to Kingshurst Evangelical Church.
White Hart
Continue to White Hart.
Our Lady Help of Christians
Continue to Our Lady Help of Christians.
Little Scallywags Day Nursery
Finish back near Little Scallywags Day Nursery, completing the loop.
9 roundabouts · 15 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 9 turns · 6 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 11 turns · 3 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 55.3 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Garretts Green test centre, not an official DVSA route.