Near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 22 turns and 8 signalled junctions across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 47.8 km practice route near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, taking roughly 45 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 Redheugh Bridge Roundabout. 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, named junctions, parks and shops, 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 136-step drive on real, named roads (about 47.7 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.
462 m
Keep straight to take Dunston Road.
Dunston Road454 m
Take the exit.
A1569 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A17 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 Street759 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 left onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road389 m
Turn right onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive121 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
66 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road619 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road388 m
Turn left onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road319 m
Turn left onto Brunel Terrace.
Brunel Terrace244 m
Turn right to stay on Clumber Street.
Clumber Street164 m
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road272 m
Turn left onto Park Road.
Park Road375 m
Turn left onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road319 m
Turn left onto Brunel Terrace.
Brunel Terrace41 m
Keep straight to stay on Brunel Terrace.
Brunel Terrace68 m
Turn right onto Wolsingham Street.
Wolsingham Street208 m
Turn left.
129 m
Turn left onto Sanderson Street.
Sanderson Street175 m
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road144 m
Turn left onto Clumber Street.
Clumber Street165 m
Turn left to stay on Clumber Street.
Clumber Street69 m
Turn right onto Brunel Terrace.
Brunel Terrace174 m
Turn right onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road763 m
Turn left onto Rye Hill.
Rye Hill296 m
Turn left onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road1.0 km
Turn left onto West View.
West View289 m
Turn left.
43 m
Turn left onto James Street.
James Street191 m
Turn left onto Chesterfield Road.
Chesterfield Road60 m
Turn right onto West View.
West View105 m
Turn right onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road78 m
Keep right to stay on Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road276 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane226 m
Move right onto Sceptre Street.
Sceptre Street72 m
Make a left U-turn to stay on Sceptre Street.
Sceptre Street291 m
Turn right onto Bentinck Road.
Bentinck Road291 m
Turn left onto Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road50 m
Keep left to stay on Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road1.7 km
Turn right onto Two Ball Lonnen/B1305.
Two Ball Lonnen206 m
Turn left onto Benwell Hill Road.
Benwell Hill Road473 m
Move left onto Saint Cuthbert's Road.
Saint Cuthbert's Road63 m
Turn left onto West Road/A186.
West Road1.8 km
Turn left onto Wingrove Road.
Wingrove Road9 m
Keep right to stay on Wingrove Road.
Wingrove Road195 m
Turn right onto Agricola Road.
Agricola Road67 m
Turn left onto Wingrove Avenue.
Wingrove Avenue144 m
Turn left onto Hadrian Road.
Hadrian Road593 m
Turn right onto Brand Avenue.
Brand Avenue197 m
Turn right onto Gowland Avenue.
Gowland Avenue96 m
Turn left onto Hadrian Road.
Hadrian Road306 m
Turn right onto Wingrove Road.
Wingrove Road342 m
Turn left onto Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road1.3 km
Move right to stay on Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road425 m
Turn right onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard489 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A189788 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A184/Askew Road.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout183 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/Askew Road.
A184847 m
Turn right onto A184/West Central Route.
A184525 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Prince Consort Road/B1426.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Prince Consort Road/B1426.
Prince Consort Road152 m
Keep right to stay on Prince Consort Road/B1426.
Prince Consort Road85 m
Turn left onto Arthur Street/B1426.
Arthur Street175 m
Turn right onto High West Street/B1426. Continue on B1426.
B1426188 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Old Durham Road/B1296.
171 m
Exit the roundabout onto Old Durham Road/B1296.
Old Durham Road74 m
Turn left onto Cemetery Road.
Cemetery Road92 m
Turn left onto Sutherland Street.
Sutherland Street28 m
Turn right onto Milton Square.
Milton Square38 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Milton Square.
Milton Square38 m
Turn left onto Sutherland Street.
Sutherland Street28 m
Turn right onto Cemetery Road.
Cemetery Road92 m
Turn right onto Old Durham Road/B1296.
Old Durham Road66 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1426.
118 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1426.
B142672 m
Keep left to stay on B1426.
B1426123 m
Turn left onto Arthur Street/B1426.
Arthur Street179 m
Turn right onto Prince Consort Road/B1426.
Prince Consort Road238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
129 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/Regent Street. Continue on A184.
A184453 m
Enter Park Lane and take the 1st exit onto A167/Gateshead Highway.
Park Lane28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Gateshead Highway. Continue on A167.
A1671.1 km
Keep right towards Other Routes.
A167(M)4.6 km
Keep left to stay on A167.
A16710 m
Keep left to stay on A167.
A167136 m
Move left onto Two Ball Lonnen/B1305.
Two Ball Lonnen706 m
Turn left onto Lonnen Avenue.
Lonnen Avenue218 m
Keep right to stay on Lonnen Avenue.
Lonnen Avenue222 m
Move left onto Cedar Road.
Cedar Road168 m
Turn right onto Palm Avenue.
Palm Avenue193 m
Turn right onto Hadrian Road.
Hadrian Road146 m
Move right onto Linden Avenue.
Linden Avenue352 m
Keep left to take Lonnen Avenue.
Lonnen Avenue301 m
Turn left onto Two Ball Lonnen/B1305.
Two Ball Lonnen893 m
Keep left to take Pease Avenue.
Pease Avenue200 m
Turn left onto Pendower Way.
Pendower Way477 m
Turn left onto Benwell Lane/B1311.
Benwell Lane1.2 km
Move right onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road181 m
Keep right to stay on Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road205 m
Turn right onto Georges Road.
Georges Road17 m
Turn right.
58 m
Turn left onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road157 m
Keep left to stay on Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road430 m
Turn left onto Saint John's Road.
Saint John's Road162 m
Turn right onto Armstrong Road.
Armstrong Road635 m
Turn right onto Atkinson Road/B1305.
Atkinson Road256 m
Turn left onto Benwell Lane/B1311.
Benwell Lane330 m
Turn left onto Hodgkin Park Road.
Hodgkin Park Road98 m
Keep left to stay on Hodgkin Park Road.
Hodgkin Park Road275 m
Turn right onto Armstrong Road.
Armstrong Road109 m
Turn left onto Chester Pike.
Chester Pike627 m
Turn left onto Whitehouse Road.
Whitehouse Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road491 m
Turn right onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive194 m
Keep right to stay on William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive777 m
Turn right onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road52 m
Keep right to stay on Monarch Road.
Monarch Road336 m
Turn right onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead (Elswick) · Route 15 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Redheugh Bridge Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 10.0 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.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Start near Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Nixon Hire
Continue to Nixon Hire.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Newcastle upon Tyne Seventh-day Adventist Church
Continue to Newcastle upon Tyne Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Tip Top
Continue to Tip Top.
St Michael's Church
Continue to St Michael's Church.
Ashfield Nursery School
Continue to Ashfield Nursery School.
Hindu Temple
Continue to Hindu Temple.
Fox and Hounds
Continue to Fox and Hounds.
Westfield Social Club
Continue to Westfield Social Club.
Robert Stewart Memorial
Continue to Robert Stewart Memorial.
St Matthew's Church, Big Lamp
Continue to St Matthew's Church, Big Lamp.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Gateshead
Continue to Gateshead.
Redeemed Christian Church Of God
Continue to Redeemed Christian Church Of God.
Wynne-Jones Building
Continue to Wynne-Jones Building.
Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries
Continue to Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries.
Hodgkin Park
Finish back near Hodgkin Park, completing the loop.
5 roundabouts · 25 turns · 6 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 23 turns · 8 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 20 turns · 7 sets of lights
This route is 47.8 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, not an official DVSA route.