Near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts, 23 turns and 8 signalled junctions across 35 navigation steps.
This is an independent 82.0 km practice route near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, taking roughly 50 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 churches, parks, shops 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 Gateshead (Elswick) 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 236-step drive on real, named roads (about 81.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast.
14 m
Turn right.
15 m
Turn left onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive29 m
Turn right to stay on Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road917 m
Take the A1 exit.
A1577 m
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Keep right to take A189.
A1891.2 km
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road386 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street64 m
Turn right onto Penn Street.
Penn Street760 m
Turn left onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
Turn right.
37 m
Turn right.
88 m
Turn left onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road299 m
Turn right onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road759 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street39 m
Keep right to stay on Dunn Street.
Dunn Street37 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road385 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road69 m
Keep right to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road54 m
Move right to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road11 m
Turn right onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
A1891.8 km
Take the exit.
263 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A111449 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road630 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Metro Centre.
49 m
Exit the roundabout towards Metro Centre.
A11141.2 km
Turn right onto Railway Street.
Railway Street25 m
Turn left to stay on Railway Street.
Railway Street379 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road157 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road859 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road82 m
Turn left onto Gunn Street.
Gunn Street81 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Gunn Street.
Gunn Street81 m
Turn right onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road82 m
Turn left onto Dunston Bank.
Dunston Bank614 m
Turn right onto Whickham Highway/B6317. Continue on B6317.
B63172.1 km
Move left onto George Street.
George Street113 m
Turn left.
21 m
Turn left.
52 m
Turn right onto George Street.
George Street47 m
Turn left onto Swalwell Bank/B6317.
Swalwell Bank895 m
Turn left onto Hexham Road/B6317.
Hexham Road507 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694. Continue on A694.
A694555 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A694.
70 m
Exit the roundabout onto A694.
A694336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
51 m
Exit the roundabout towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
A694391 m
Take the A695 exit.
Scotswood Bridge479 m
Keep right to take A695 towards Newcastle.
Scotswood Road1.8 km
Turn left onto Whitehouse Road/B1305.
Whitehouse Road172 m
Turn right to stay on B1305.
B1305143 m
Turn right onto Buddle Road.
Buddle Road708 m
Turn left onto Saint John's Road.
Saint John's Road371 m
Turn right onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road247 m
Move right to stay on Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road1.3 km
Move right onto Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road407 m
Turn left onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard282 m
Keep right to stay on St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard61 m
Turn right to stay on St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard6 m
Move right onto Gallowgate/B1311.
Gallowgate257 m
Turn left onto Percy Street/B1307.
Percy Street463 m
Keep left to stay on B1307.
B13072.0 km
Enter Blue House Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Jesmond Dene Road/A189.
Blue House Roundabout33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Jesmond Dene Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.7 km
Move right onto Haddricks Mill Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A18963 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Killingworth Road/A189.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Killingworth Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Salters Lane/A189.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane/A189.
Salters Lane841 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Salters Lane/A189.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane/A189.
Salters Lane330 m
Enter West Moor and take the 2nd exit onto Benton Lane/B1505.
West Moor90 m
Exit the roundabout onto Benton Lane/B1505.
Benton Lane450 m
Turn left onto Park Terrace/B1505.
Park Terrace228 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Killingworth Drive/B1505.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Killingworth Drive/B1505. Continue on B1505.
B1505669 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B1505.
Station Road141 m
Turn right onto West Bailey.
West Bailey46 m
Turn left to stay on West Bailey.
West Bailey931 m
Turn left onto Garth 16.
Garth 1698 m
Turn left onto Agincourt.
Agincourt66 m
Turn right onto Bannockburn.
Bannockburn54 m
Turn right onto Blenheim.
Blenheim51 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Blenheim.
Blenheim51 m
Turn left onto Bannockburn.
Bannockburn54 m
Turn left onto Agincourt.
Agincourt66 m
Turn right onto Garth 16.
Garth 1698 m
Turn right onto West Bailey.
West Bailey931 m
Turn right to stay on West Bailey.
West Bailey46 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B1505.
Station Road141 m
Turn right onto Station Road/B1505. Continue on B1505.
B1505669 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Moorside/B1505.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moorside/B1505.
Moorside228 m
Turn right onto Benton Lane/B1505.
Benton Lane436 m
Enter West Moor and take the 2nd exit onto Salters Lane/A189.
West Moor99 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane/A189.
Salters Lane328 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Salters Lane/A189.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane/A189.
Salters Lane823 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Salters Lane/A189.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A189.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A18938 m
Turn left onto Haddricks Mill Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A189944 m
Turn right onto Matthew Bank/A189. Continue on A189.
A189758 m
Enter Blue House Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Great North Road/B1318.
Blue House Roundabout9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great North Road/B1318.
Great North Road998 m
Keep left to stay on B1318.
B1318115 m
Take the ramp on the right.
A167(M)1.6 km
Keep right to stay on A167(M)/Central Motorway East.
A167(M)398 m
Continue on A167.
A1671.1 km
Enter Park Lane and take the 2nd exit onto A184/Park Lane.
Park Lane148 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/Park Lane. Continue on A184.
A184462 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A184/West Central Route.
105 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/West Central Route.
A184485 m
Take the A184 exit.
A184863 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Askew Road West.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout138 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
43 m
Exit the roundabout.
285 m
Move left onto Tyne Road East.
Tyne Road East1.4 km
Turn left onto Clockmill Road/A1114.
Clockmill Road509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road684 m
Turn left onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street76 m
Turn right onto Amberley Street.
Amberley Street120 m
Turn left onto Upton Street.
Upton Street162 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road100 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street614 m
Turn right onto Clockmill Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114291 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street129 m
Turn right onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street85 m
Turn right.
113 m
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street97 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road631 m
Turn right to stay on A1114.
A1114153 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street110 m
Turn right.
48 m
Turn left.
24 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street134 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A1114154 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road630 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Dunston.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road430 m
Turn right onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road397 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street164 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street184 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road684 m
Stay straight to take the A184 ramp.
A184703 m
Keep right to take A189.
A1891.2 km
Move right to stay on A189.
A189329 m
Turn left onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road230 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Westmorland Road.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road156 m
Turn right to stay on Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road144 m
Turn left onto Maple Terrace.
Maple Terrace200 m
Turn left onto Maple Street.
Maple Street58 m
Turn right onto Kyle Close.
Kyle Close89 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Kyle Close.
Kyle Close89 m
Turn left onto Maple Street.
Maple Street58 m
Turn right onto Cambridge Street.
Cambridge Street200 m
Turn right onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road134 m
Move right to stay on Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road170 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Westmorland Road.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road244 m
Turn right onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard230 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A189788 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A184.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout281 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184.
A18424 m
Keep left at the fork.
175 m
Keep right at the fork.
29 m
Turn left onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street203 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road409 m
Turn right onto Coatsworth Road.
Coatsworth Road712 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road506 m
Turn right onto Rawling Road.
Rawling Road68 m
Turn left onto Saltwell Street.
Saltwell Street64 m
Turn right.
56 m
Turn right onto Miller Street.
Miller Street55 m
Turn right onto Rawling Road.
Rawling Road125 m
Turn left onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road506 m
Turn left onto Coatsworth Road.
Coatsworth Road712 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road410 m
Turn right onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Cuthbert Street.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road737 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A184/West Central Route.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/West Central Route.
A184485 m
Take the A184 exit.
A184863 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A189.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout225 m
Exit the roundabout towards A189.
A189865 m
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road386 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street360 m
Turn left onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road615 m
Turn left onto Shot Factory Lane.
Shot Factory Lane158 m
Turn left onto Arena Way.
Arena Way290 m
Move left.
14 m
Turn right.
190 m
Make a right U-turn.
190 m
Turn left.
14 m
Move right onto Arena Way.
Arena Way290 m
Turn right onto Shot Factory Lane.
Shot Factory Lane158 m
Turn left onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road462 m
Turn left onto Forth Banks/B1600. Continue on B1600.
B1600412 m
Move left onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street312 m
Turn right onto Plummer Street/A695.
Plummer Street72 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road386 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street360 m
Turn right onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road222 m
Turn left onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road733 m
Turn right onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive84 m
Move left to stay on William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive31 m
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road885 m
Turn left onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive962 m
Turn right onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road389 m
Turn right onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead (Elswick) · Route 12 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around 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 10.2 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.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Start near Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Riverside News
Continue to Riverside News.
Tudor Rose
Continue to Tudor Rose.
Kamo
Continue to Kamo.
Spoor
Continue to Spoor.
Mambo
Continue to Mambo.
Gateway Church
Continue to Gateway Church.
Haymarket Bus Station
Continue to Haymarket Bus Station.
Haymarket
Continue to Haymarket.
Brandling Villa
Continue to Brandling Villa.
West Moor and District Social Club
Continue to West Moor and District Social Club.
Brandling Park
Continue to Brandling Park.
Redeemed Christian Church Of God
Continue to Redeemed Christian Church Of God.
Gateshead
Continue to Gateshead.
St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church
Continue to St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Beis Medrash "Beis HaTalmud"
Continue to Beis Medrash "Beis HaTalmud".
Brighton Road Studios
Continue to Brighton Road Studios.
Mosaic tap
Finish back near Mosaic tap, completing the loop.
5 roundabouts · 25 turns · 6 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 20 turns · 7 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
This route is 82.0 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, not an official DVSA route.