Near Gateshead test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 18 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 74.7 km practice loop near Gateshead test centre, taking roughly 40 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 independent driving. 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, shops, churches and stations, 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 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 185-step drive on real, named roads (about 74.7 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.
396 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road648 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 Street233 m
Move left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road150 m
Turn right onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road319 m
Turn right onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road752 m
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.
A17.0 km
Take exit 75 onto A186 towards Hexham/City (West).
319 m
Keep right to take A186 towards Newcastle Upon Tyne (West).
91 m
Enter East Denton Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto West Road/A186.
East Denton Interchange135 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Road/A186.
West Road562 m
Move left onto Silver Lonnen/A191.
Silver Lonnen1.1 km
Turn right onto Netherby Drive.
Netherby Drive1.3 km
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway221 m
Turn right onto Redewater Road.
Redewater Road51 m
Turn right onto Powburn Gardens.
Powburn Gardens226 m
Turn left onto Fenham Hall Drive.
Fenham Hall Drive770 m
Turn right onto Ponteland Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.8 km
Keep right to take St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard16 m
Turn right to stay on St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard807 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A189788 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Askew Road West.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout365 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Askew Road West.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West684 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street477 m
Turn right onto Teemers Drive.
Teemers Drive131 m
Turn right onto North Side.
North Side73 m
Turn right onto Easter Street.
Easter Street68 m
Turn right onto Ash Street.
Ash Street50 m
Turn right to stay on Ash Street.
Ash Street10 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Ash Street.
Ash Street10 m
Turn left to stay on Ash Street.
Ash Street50 m
Turn left to stay on Ash Street.
Ash Street68 m
Turn right onto North Side.
North Side70 m
Turn right onto Spring Street.
Spring Street56 m
Turn left onto July Courtyard.
July Courtyard150 m
Turn left onto Fall Pass.
Fall Pass55 m
Turn right onto North Side.
North Side85 m
Turn right onto Autumn Drive.
Autumn Drive873 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cuthbert Street.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Turn right onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road550 m
Turn left onto Saltwell Road.
Saltwell Road2.2 km
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road143 m
Turn right to stay on Station Road.
Station Road221 m
Turn left onto Saltwell Road South.
Saltwell Road South1.7 km
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road175 m
Turn left onto Rawling Road.
Rawling Road68 m
Turn left onto Saltwell Street.
Saltwell Street97 m
Turn right onto Saltwell Place.
Saltwell Place168 m
Turn right onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road496 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 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 Road619 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road388 m
Turn left onto Westmorland Road.
Westmorland Road1.1 km
Move left onto Buddle Road.
Buddle Road708 m
Turn left onto B1305.
B1305143 m
Turn left onto Whitehouse Road/B1305.
Whitehouse Road188 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A191.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A191.
Scotswood Road253 m
Keep right to stay on A191.
A19189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1.
62 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A14.2 km
Take exit 77 onto A696/A167 towards Jedburgh/City Centre.
A1422 m
Enter Kenton Bar Interchange and take the 4th exit towards A167/City (Centre).
Kenton Bar Interchange258 m
Exit the roundabout towards A167/City (Centre).
A167379 m
Enter Kenton Bar and take the 1st exit onto Kenton Lane/A191.
Kenton Bar19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kenton Lane/A191.
Kenton Lane834 m
Turn left onto Drayton Road.
Drayton Road141 m
Turn left onto Balmain Road.
Balmain Road300 m
Turn left onto Hillsview Avenue.
Hillsview Avenue190 m
Turn right onto Bradwell Road.
Bradwell Road26 m
Turn left onto Anfield Road.
Anfield Road131 m
Turn right to stay on Anfield Road.
Anfield Road232 m
Turn left onto Hillsview Avenue.
Hillsview Avenue226 m
Turn right onto Runnymede Way.
Runnymede Way62 m
Turn left onto Balmain Road.
Balmain Road55 m
Turn right onto Drayton Road.
Drayton Road141 m
Turn right onto Kenton Lane/A191.
Kenton Lane834 m
Enter Kenton Bar and take the 1st exit onto A167/Ponteland Road.
Kenton Bar23 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Ponteland Road.
A167463 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A167/Ponteland Road.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Ponteland Road.
A167324 m
Enter Springfield Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A167/Ponteland Road.
Springfield Roundabout36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Ponteland Road. Continue on A167.
A1673.5 km
Continue on A167(M)/Central Motorway East.
A167(M)1.5 km
Keep right to stay on A167(M)/Central Motorway East.
A167(M)398 m
Continue on A167.
A1671.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A184/Park Lane.
148 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/Park Lane.
A184105 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street438 m
Turn left onto High West Street/B1426. Continue on B1426.
B1426188 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A167.
224 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A167596 m
Turn right onto Shipcote Terrace.
Shipcote Terrace116 m
Turn right onto Prince Consort Road.
Prince Consort Road432 m
Turn left onto Lincoln Street.
Lincoln Street186 m
Turn left onto Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road108 m
Turn right onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road284 m
Turn right onto Keswick Street.
Keswick Street145 m
Turn right onto Windermere Street West.
Windermere Street West220 m
Turn left onto Coatsworth Road.
Coatsworth Road570 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road410 m
Turn right 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 Road550 m
Turn right onto Hydepark Street.
Hydepark Street120 m
Turn right onto Brighton Road.
Brighton Road59 m
Turn left onto Whitehall Road.
Whitehall Road319 m
Turn right onto Saltwell Road.
Saltwell Road202 m
Turn left onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road1.1 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 left to take A184.
A1841.1 km
Move left towards Dunston.
149 m
Turn left towards Dunston.
Derwentwater Road219 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 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 right towards Teams.
Derwentwater Road53 m
Stay straight to take the A184 ramp.
A184703 m
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.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
360 m
Turn right onto Dunston Interchange.
Dunston Interchange1.0 km
Turn right onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead · Route 5 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.
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 19.4 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.
Tudor Rose
Start near Tudor Rose.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Wed2b
Continue to Wed2b.
Denton Hotel
Continue to Denton Hotel.
St James and St Basil
Continue to St James and St Basil.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary
Continue to Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary.
Whickham House
Continue to Whickham House.
Saltwell Social Club
Continue to Saltwell Social Club.
Primitive Methodist church (closed)
Continue to Primitive Methodist church (closed).
St Michael's Church
Continue to St Michael's Church.
Gateway Church
Continue to Gateway Church.
St Cuthberts
Continue to St Cuthberts.
St. Peter's Church
Continue to St. Peter's Church.
Wynne-Jones Building
Continue to Wynne-Jones Building.
Redeemed Christian Church Of God
Continue to Redeemed Christian Church Of God.
Gateshead & Whickham Spiritualist Centre
Continue to Gateshead & Whickham Spiritualist Centre.
Cathedral Church of St. Mary
Continue to Cathedral Church of St. Mary.
Brighton Road Studios
Continue to Brighton Road Studios.
St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church
Finish back near St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 5 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 19 turns · 7 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 74.7 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead test centre, not an official DVSA route.