Near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 25 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 34 navigation steps.
This is an independent 115.5 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, Great Parkway and North Park. 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, pubs, 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 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 232-step drive on real, named roads (about 115.4 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 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 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.
A1892.8 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
378 m
Move left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace196 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 right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace859 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road157 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road379 m
Turn right onto Railway Street.
Railway Street25 m
Turn left onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A11141.2 km
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 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 Road394 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.
A1892.8 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep left to stay on A1.
A1166 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1349 m
Take exit 68 onto A692/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 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.
A184237 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 Street333 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road409 m
Turn right onto Coatsworth Road.
Coatsworth Road495 m
Turn right onto Bewick Road.
Bewick Road311 m
Turn right onto Rectory Road.
Rectory Road243 m
Turn right onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road132 m
Turn left onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Askew Road West.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West143 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards A189.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout towards A189.
A189865 m
Move right to stay on A189.
A189338 m
Turn right onto Westmorland Road/A186.
Westmorland Road150 m
Move left onto Clayton Street West/A695.
Clayton Street West146 m
Turn right onto Bewick Street.
Bewick Street104 m
Turn right onto Neville Street/A186. Continue on A186.
A186258 m
Turn left onto Marlborough Crescent/A695.
Marlborough Crescent150 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A189.
Scotswood Road226 m
Move left to stay on A189.
A189680 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 right onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road131 m
Turn left onto Rectory Road.
Rectory Road328 m
Turn left onto Windermere Street West.
Windermere Street West167 m
Turn left onto Rydal Street.
Rydal Street78 m
Turn left onto Bewick Road.
Bewick Road187 m
Turn left onto Rectory Road.
Rectory Road236 m
Turn left onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road137 m
Turn left onto Rydal Street.
Rydal Street78 m
Turn left onto Grasmere Street West.
Grasmere Street West87 m
Turn left onto Keswick Street.
Keswick Street81 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road344 m
Turn right onto Rawling Road.
Rawling Road68 m
Turn left onto Saltwell Street.
Saltwell Street97 m
Turn right onto Saltwell Place.
Saltwell Place168 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426. Continue on B1426.
B14261.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
98 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road331 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A1.
Lobley Hill Interchange251 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A1153 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A113.8 km
Take exit 79 onto A1056/(B1318) towards Wide Open/Killingworth/Gosforth/Great Park.
445 m
Move left onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway509 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 Park184 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 Parkway448 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.
A113.4 km
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Take the Redheugh Bridge Roundabout exit.
A184237 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A184.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout280 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184.
A18424 m
Keep right to stay on A184.
A184284 m
Continue on A184.
A1841.5 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A13.8 km
Take exit 73 onto A694 towards Consett/Newcastle/Blaydon.
470 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A694.
34 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
Continue on A695.
A6951.7 km
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridge Street/B6317.
Blaydon Roundabout120 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street/B6317. Continue on B6317.
B63171.3 km
Turn right onto Haugh Lane.
Haugh Lane274 m
Turn right onto King Oswald Drive.
King Oswald Drive143 m
Turn right onto Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive17 m
Turn left to stay on Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive65 m
Turn left to stay on Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive186 m
Turn left onto Battle View.
Battle View83 m
Turn left onto King Oswald Drive.
King Oswald Drive341 m
Turn left onto Newburn Bridge Road.
Newburn Bridge Road274 m
Turn left onto Stella Road/B6317. Continue on B6317.
B63171.4 km
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Highway1.4 km
Keep right to take A694.
A694777 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way72 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way500 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114769 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1114.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1114.
A11141.7 km
Turn right.
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.
A1114291 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street614 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road100 m
Turn left onto Upton Street.
Upton Street162 m
Turn right onto Amberley Street.
Amberley Street120 m
Turn right onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street128 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road228 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.
A1114291 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street659 m
Turn right onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West684 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 stay on A1.
A1166 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1349 m
Take exit 68 onto A692/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 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
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 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
Turn right onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street96 m
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A189.
Scotswood Road226 m
Move left to stay on A189.
A1892.7 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
378 m
Move left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace196 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 right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace308 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A1565 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 Road389 m
Turn right onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead (Elswick) · Route 8 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.
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 40.0 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.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Shop n Drive
Continue to Shop n Drive.
Lobley Hill Interchange
Continue to Lobley Hill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Newcastle Chinese Christian Church
Continue to Newcastle Chinese Christian Church.
Primitive Methodist church (closed)
Continue to Primitive Methodist church (closed).
LGV Services
Continue to LGV Services.
St Oswalds Hospice Charity Outlet
Continue to St Oswalds Hospice Charity Outlet.
Great Parkway
Continue to Great Parkway, taking the junction with good observation.
North Park
Continue to North Park, taking the junction with good observation.
A Wood Idea
Continue to A Wood Idea.
Alpkit & Sonder Bikes
Continue to Alpkit & Sonder Bikes.
Kingdom Hall
Continue to Kingdom Hall.
Blaydon
Continue to Blaydon.
Carpets 4 U
Continue to Carpets 4 U.
Barry's Home Bakery Ltd
Continue to Barry's Home Bakery Ltd.
Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary
Continue to Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary.
Mosaic tap
Finish back near Mosaic tap, completing the loop.
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 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 115.5 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.