Near Gloucester test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts, 23 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 37 navigation steps.
This is an independent 52.5 km practice loop near Gloucester test centre, taking roughly 55 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 Telford Way. 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 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 shops, pubs, schools and churches, 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 Gloucester 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 161-step drive on real, named roads (about 52.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northwest on Falcon Close.
Falcon Close7 m
Turn left to stay on Falcon Close.
Falcon Close12 m
Turn right to stay on Falcon Close.
Falcon Close69 m
Turn right to stay on Falcon Close.
Falcon Close70 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Merlin Drive.
51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive130 m
Turn left onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Bristol Road280 m
Turn left onto A430.
A430150 m
Take the exit on the right.
A430101 m
Keep left to take Bristol Road.
Bristol Road22 m
Continue on Bristol Road.
Bristol Road1.4 km
Keep right to stay on Bristol Road.
Bristol Road277 m
Turn right onto Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue282 m
Keep left to stay on Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue378 m
Turn left onto The Oval.
The Oval210 m
Turn left onto Raikes Road.
Raikes Road174 m
Turn right onto Wilton Road.
Wilton Road158 m
Turn left onto Cecil Road.
Cecil Road73 m
Turn left onto Seymour Road.
Seymour Road75 m
Turn right onto Granville Street.
Granville Street318 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Granville Street.
Granville Street318 m
Turn left onto Seymour Road.
Seymour Road246 m
Turn right onto Balfour Road.
Balfour Road76 m
Turn right onto Bloomfield Terrace.
Bloomfield Terrace121 m
Turn right onto Linden Road.
Linden Road437 m
Turn left onto Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue18 m
Turn right onto Tuffley Crescent.
Tuffley Crescent40 m
Keep right to stay on Tuffley Crescent.
Tuffley Crescent423 m
Turn left onto Podsmead Road.
Podsmead Road336 m
Turn right onto Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue17 m
Keep left to stay on Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue172 m
Turn left onto The Oval.
The Oval317 m
Move left onto King Edwards Avenue.
King Edwards Avenue99 m
Turn right onto Linden Road.
Linden Road307 m
Turn right onto Calton Road.
Calton Road489 m
Turn left onto Tuffley Avenue.
Tuffley Avenue269 m
Turn right onto Stroud Road/B4072.
Stroud Road317 m
Keep right to stay on Stroud Road/B4072.
Stroud Road37 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4173.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4173.
A41731.2 km
Turn left.
72 m
Move left.
5 m
Turn left.
17 m
Turn right onto Stroud Road/A4173.
Stroud Road201 m
Keep right to stay on A4173.
A4173935 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A38/Finlay Road.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38/Finlay Road. Continue on A38.
A381.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Tredworth Road.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tredworth Road.
Tredworth Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Stroud Road/B4072.
Stroud Road1.6 km
Keep right to stay on Stroud Road/B4072.
Stroud Road58 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4173.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4173.
A41731.2 km
Turn left.
72 m
Move left.
5 m
Turn left.
17 m
Turn right onto Stroud Road/A4173.
Stroud Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A38/Finlay Road.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38/Finlay Road. Continue on A38.
A381.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Tredworth Road.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tredworth Road.
Tredworth Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Stroud Road/B4072.
Stroud Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Pembury Road.
Pembury Road168 m
Turn left onto A38/Finlay Road. Continue on A38.
A381.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A38/Finlay Road.
142 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38/Finlay Road. Continue on A38.
A38684 m
Keep left to take A38/Finlay Road.
A38597 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4173.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4173.
A4173722 m
Turn left onto Fox Elms Road.
Fox Elms Road190 m
Turn left to stay on Fox Elms Road.
Fox Elms Road178 m
Turn right onto Woods Orchard.
Woods Orchard52 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Woods Orchard.
Woods Orchard52 m
Turn left onto Fox Elms Road.
Fox Elms Road178 m
Turn left to stay on Fox Elms Road.
Fox Elms Road164 m
Turn left onto Woods Orchard Road.
Woods Orchard Road163 m
Turn right onto Forest View Road.
Forest View Road410 m
Turn left onto Woods Orchard Road.
Woods Orchard Road170 m
Turn right onto Stroud Road/A4173. Continue on A4173.
A41731.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A38.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38.
A381.0 km
Turn right onto Podsmead Road.
Podsmead Road32 m
Turn left onto Byron Avenue.
Byron Avenue344 m
Turn left onto Shakespeare Avenue.
Shakespeare Avenue96 m
Turn left onto Lower Tuffley Lane.
Lower Tuffley Lane136 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Lower Tuffley Lane.
Lower Tuffley Lane136 m
Turn right onto Shakespeare Avenue.
Shakespeare Avenue96 m
Turn right onto Byron Avenue.
Byron Avenue344 m
Turn right onto Podsmead Road.
Podsmead Road109 m
Turn right onto Epney Road.
Epney Road174 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Epney Road.
80 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epney Road.
Epney Road252 m
Turn left onto A38/Cole Avenue.
A381.1 km
Turn right onto A430.
A430116 m
Take the exit on the right.
A43044 m
Keep left to take Bristol Road.
Bristol Road79 m
Continue on Bristol Road.
Bristol Road1.4 km
Keep right to stay on Bristol Road.
Bristol Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Trier Way/A430.
Trier Way1.4 km
Turn right onto Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way115 m
Move right to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way283 m
Keep right to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way364 m
Keep left to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way118 m
Keep right to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way125 m
Keep left to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way105 m
Keep right to stay on Metz Way/A4302.
Metz Way315 m
Turn left onto A38/Eastern Avenue.
A38363 m
Turn right onto York Road.
York Road225 m
Turn left onto Durham Road.
Durham Road196 m
Turn right onto Wells Road.
Wells Road87 m
Turn right onto Chester Road.
Chester Road241 m
Turn right onto York Road.
York Road289 m
Turn left onto A38/Eastern Avenue.
A381.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A38/Eastern Avenue.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38/Eastern Avenue.
A38353 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
60 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38/Finlay Road. Continue on A38.
A38684 m
Keep left to take A38/Finlay Road.
A38597 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A38.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A38.
A382.0 km
Move left onto A38/Cole Avenue. Continue on A38.
A381.4 km
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway175 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Newhaven Road.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newhaven Road.
Newhaven Road93 m
Keep left to stay on Newhaven Road.
Newhaven Road462 m
Enter Telford Way and take the 3rd exit onto Naas Lane.
Telford Way59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Naas Lane.
Naas Lane208 m
Enter Naas Lane Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Naas Lane Roundabout68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Bristol Road1.0 km
Enter Tesco Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Tesco Roundabout69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Bristol Road1.0 km
Turn left onto A430.
A430150 m
Take the exit on the right.
A430101 m
Keep left to take Bristol Road.
Bristol Road22 m
Continue on Bristol Road.
Bristol Road601 m
Turn left.
17 m
Turn right.
45 m
Turn right onto Bristol Road.
Bristol Road591 m
Move right.
46 m
Turn left onto A430.
A43016 m
Take the exit on the right.
A430211 m
Move right onto Bristol Road/B4008.
Bristol Road250 m
Move right to stay on Bristol Road/B4008.
Bristol Road101 m
Turn right onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive133 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merlin Drive.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive220 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merlin Drive.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive137 m
Keep left to stay on Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive217 m
Keep left to stay on Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive28 m
Turn left onto Welland Road.
Welland Road86 m
Move left to stay on Welland Road.
Welland Road119 m
Turn right to stay on Welland Road.
Welland Road36 m
Turn left to stay on Welland Road.
Welland Road149 m
Turn right onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive172 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merlin Drive.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merlin Drive.
Merlin Drive219 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Falcon Close.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Falcon Close.
Falcon Close70 m
Turn left to stay on Falcon Close.
Falcon Close40 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gloucester · 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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
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 14.3 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, 60 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.
McDonald's
Start near McDonald's.
Avenue
Continue to Avenue.
Your Coop Food
Continue to Your Coop Food.
Calton Primary School
Continue to Calton Primary School.
Saint Barnabas
Continue to Saint Barnabas.
Manuels
Continue to Manuels.
Saint Aldate
Continue to Saint Aldate.
New Apostolic Church
Continue to New Apostolic Church.
Saint Luke
Continue to Saint Luke.
Trinity Baptist Church
Continue to Trinity Baptist Church.
Asda Express
Continue to Asda Express.
Johnsons Mazda
Continue to Johnsons Mazda.
Saint Stephen
Continue to Saint Stephen.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Salvation Army - Gloucester
Continue to Salvation Army - Gloucester.
Great Western
Continue to Great Western.
Formula One Autocentres
Continue to Formula One Autocentres.
Telford Way
Continue to Telford Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Khoja Shi'a Muslim Community
Continue to Khoja Shi'a Muslim Community.
Pets at Home
Finish back near Pets at Home, completing the loop.
13 roundabouts · 12 turns · 5 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 8 turns · 3 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 11 turns · 5 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 9 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 52.5 km and takes about 55 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gloucester test centre, not an official DVSA route.