Near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 22 turns and 8 signalled junctions across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 98.8 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 Lobley Hill Interchange, Fawdon Interchange and Great Parkway. 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 parks, churches, pubs 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 264-step drive on real, named roads (about 99.8 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 Road742 m
Turn right onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street372 m
Turn left onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road745 m
Keep right to stay on Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road331 m
Turn left onto Forth Banks/B1600. Continue on B1600.
B1600412 m
Turn right onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street18 m
Keep left to stay on Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street77 m
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A189.
Scotswood Road226 m
Move left to stay on A189.
A189708 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A1892.0 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
89 m
Take exit 70 on the right towards Whickham/Dunston.
288 m
Move left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace196 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road70 m
Keep left to stay on Ellison Road.
Ellison Road11 m
Turn left onto Gunn Street.
Gunn Street36 m
Turn left.
79 m
Turn left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace41 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road144 m
Turn right onto School Avenue.
School Avenue65 m
Turn left onto Willow Avenue.
Willow Avenue71 m
Turn left onto King George Avenue.
King George Avenue57 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road236 m
Turn right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace308 m
Turn right to take the ramp.
558 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 Road393 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road397 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. Continue on A189.
A189749 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A1891.0 km
Take the exit.
263 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A111449 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road56 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road405 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114 towards Dunston.
Derwentwater Road168 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Metro Centre.
49 m
Exit the roundabout towards Metro Centre.
A11141.3 km
Turn right onto Railway Street.
Railway Street167 m
Turn right to stay on Railway Street.
Railway Street25 m
Turn right onto St Omers Road/A1114.
St Omers Road154 m
Turn right onto Railway Street.
Railway Street168 m
Turn right to stay on Railway Street.
Railway Street25 m
Turn left onto Colliery Road/A1114.
Colliery Road29 m
Keep right to stay on A1114.
A1114616 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street311 m
Keep right to stay on Team Street.
Team Street149 m
Keep left to stay on Team Street.
Team Street105 m
Keep left to stay on Team Street.
Team Street93 m
Turn right onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West592 m
Keep right to stay on Askew Road West.
Askew Road West91 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cuthbert Street.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street130 m
Turn right to take the ramp towards Team Valeey/Consett.
A1841.6 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep left to take A1.
A1165 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1207 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A1111 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A129 m
Take exit 68 onto A692/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1261 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A1.
Lobley Hill Interchange326 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A1153 m
Keep left to take A184.
A1842.4 km
Take the Redheugh Bridge Roundabout exit.
A184236 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Askew Road West.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cuthbert Street.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street163 m
Turn right to take the A184 ramp.
A184621 m
Take the exit.
263 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A111449 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road461 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114 towards Dunston.
Derwentwater Road168 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Dunston.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road429 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 Road480 m
Keep left to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114 towards Teams.
Derwentwater Road132 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114 towards Teams.
Derwentwater Road18 m
Turn right to stay on A1114.
A1114153 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 m
Move left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road150 m
Turn right onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road98 m
Turn left onto Queen Street.
Queen Street56 m
Turn left to stay on Queen Street.
Queen Street81 m
Turn right onto Hazel Road.
Hazel Road77 m
Turn left.
145 m
Turn right onto Hazel Road.
Hazel Road77 m
Turn left onto Queen Street.
Queen Street81 m
Turn right to stay on Queen Street.
Queen Street56 m
Turn right onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road98 m
Turn left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road149 m
Move right onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A1114154 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road56 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road405 m
Keep right to stay on Derwentwater Road/A1114 towards Dunston.
Derwentwater Road168 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Dunston.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road429 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 left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road527 m
Turn left.
66 m
Keep straight to take Dunston Road.
Dunston Road454 m
Take the exit.
A1569 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A1193 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A1187 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A1159 m
Keep right to stay on A1/E 15.
A1110 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A1130 m
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15.
A197 m
Take exit 68 onto A692/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1261 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Interchange6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road317 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road763 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road319 m
Turn left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road10 m
Keep right to stay on Angus Road.
Angus Road139 m
Move right onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 m
Turn left onto A184.
A184637 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A19.6 km
Keep left to stay on A1/E 15 towards Morpeth.
A1114 m
Keep straight to stay on A1/E 15 towards Morpeth.
A1219 m
Keep right to stay on A1/E 15 towards Morpeth.
A1262 m
Keep right to stay on A1/E 15 towards Morpeth.
A1134 m
Keep straight to stay on A1/E 15 towards Morpeth.
A13.2 km
Take exit 79 onto A1056/(B1318) towards Wide Open/Killingworth/Gosforth/Great Park.
132 m
Take exit 79 on the right onto A1056/(B1318) towards Wide Open/Killingworth/Gosforth/Great Park.
104 m
Take exit 79 on the right onto A1056/(B1318) towards Wide Open/Killingworth/Gosforth/Great Park.
122 m
Keep left at the fork.
85 m
Move left onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway510 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Great Parkway.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway456 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto North Park.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Park.
North Park183 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto North Park.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Park.
North Park179 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Great Parkway.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway447 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Great Parkway.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway672 m
Enter Gosforth Park Interchange and take the 5th exit.
Gosforth Park Interchange293 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A112.5 km
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
100 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
245 m
Move left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road320 m
Turn left.
14 m
Turn left.
40 m
Turn right onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road620 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road699 m
Turn left onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road603 m
Move left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road41 m
Turn right.
43 m
Turn left onto Beresford Street.
Beresford Street74 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Beresford Street.
Beresford Street74 m
Turn left.
32 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114290 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street350 m
Keep straight to stay on Team Street.
Team Street109 m
Keep left to stay on Team Street.
Team Street105 m
Keep left to stay on Team Street.
Team Street93 m
Turn right onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West592 m
Keep right to stay on Askew Road West.
Askew Road West91 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cuthbert Street.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road738 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A184/West Central Route.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/West Central Route.
A184484 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.
172 m
Move left onto Redheugh Bridge/A189. Continue on A189.
A189692 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 Street90 m
Keep left to stay on Dunn Street.
Dunn Street269 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 Way114 m
Keep right to stay on Arena Way.
Arena Way175 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 Road210 m
Keep right to stay on Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road131 m
Keep right to stay on Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road120 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 Road393 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road397 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. Continue on A189.
A189749 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A1892.0 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
89 m
Take exit 70 on the right towards Whickham/Dunston.
288 m
Move left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace196 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road70 m
Keep left to stay on Ellison Road.
Ellison Road11 m
Turn left onto Gunn Street.
Gunn Street36 m
Turn left.
79 m
Turn left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace41 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road32 m
Turn right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace308 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A1558 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 Road1.1 km
Turn left onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive109 m
Turn left onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road388 m
Turn right onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead (Elswick) · Route 17 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.
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 33.5 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.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Start near Redheugh Bridge Park.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Eagle Gay Bar
Continue to Eagle Gay Bar.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Kamo
Continue to Kamo.
Newcastle Motorcycles - Honda
Continue to Newcastle Motorcycles - Honda.
Tudor Rose
Continue to Tudor Rose.
Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary
Continue to Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary.
Lobley Hill Interchange
Continue to Lobley Hill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Shell Shop
Continue to Shell Shop.
Ravensworth Road Methodist Church
Continue to Ravensworth Road Methodist Church.
Lennon's News
Continue to Lennon's News.
Waggon Team
Continue to Waggon Team.
Team-Auto
Continue to Team-Auto.
LGV Services
Continue to LGV Services.
Fawdon Interchange
Continue to Fawdon Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Great Parkway
Continue to Great Parkway, taking the junction with good observation.
Dunston Hill Methodist Church
Continue to Dunston Hill Methodist Church.
Gateshead
Continue to Gateshead.
Globe
Finish back near Globe, completing the loop.
5 roundabouts · 25 turns · 6 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 23 turns · 8 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 20 turns · 7 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
This route is 98.8 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.