Near Hereford test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 24 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 37 navigation steps.
This is an independent 41.8 km practice loop near Hereford test centre, taking roughly 50 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 schools, pubs, stations 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 Hereford 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 157-step drive on real, named roads (about 42.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
32 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road17 m
Turn left to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road55 m
Keep right to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road
Keep right to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road61 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road116 m
Turn right to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road115 m
Turn left onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road464 m
Keep left to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road812 m
Turn left to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road91 m
Turn right onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road107 m
Keep right to stay on Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road206 m
Take the exit on the right.
74 m
Move right onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road1.5 km
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Roman Road/A4103.
Holmer Roundabout29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road554 m
Turn right onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane469 m
Turn right onto Kingsway.
Kingsway727 m
Turn left onto Queensway.
Queensway313 m
Turn left onto College Green.
College Green60 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto College Green.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto College Green.
College Green35 m
Keep left to stay on College Green.
College Green85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto College Green.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto College Green.
College Green56 m
Turn right onto Kingsway.
Kingsway264 m
Turn right to stay on Kingsway.
Kingsway32 m
Move right onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane240 m
Move right onto College Road.
College Road21 m
Turn left onto Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane33 m
Keep straight to stay on Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane874 m
Turn right onto A465/Aylestone Hill.
A465146 m
Keep left to stay on A465/Aylestone Hill.
A465293 m
Turn left onto Southbank Road.
Southbank Road223 m
Move left to stay on Southbank Road.
Southbank Road354 m
Turn right onto Folly Lane.
Folly Lane332 m
Turn left onto A438/Ledbury Road.
A438214 m
Turn left onto Burden Road.
Burden Road100 m
Turn right onto Seaton Avenue.
Seaton Avenue15 m
Turn left onto Whitehouse Way.
Whitehouse Way104 m
Keep left to stay on Whitehouse Way.
Whitehouse Way77 m
Turn left onto Whittern Way.
Whittern Way791 m
Turn right onto Folly Lane.
Folly Lane345 m
Turn left onto A465/Aylestone Hill. Continue on A465.
A465592 m
Keep right to take Commercial Road.
Commercial Road424 m
Turn right onto A438.
A438500 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Take the exit on the right.
92 m
Move right onto A438/Eign Street. Continue on A438.
A438708 m
Turn left onto White Horse Street.
White Horse Street436 m
Turn left onto Westfaling Street.
Westfaling Street524 m
Move left onto Barton Road.
Barton Road509 m
Turn left onto Berrington Street.
Berrington Street94 m
Keep right to stay on Berrington Street.
Berrington Street94 m
Turn right onto West Street.
West Street118 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A438/Newmarket Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout86 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Newmarket Street. Continue on A438.
A438615 m
Keep left to stay on A438.
A4381.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A438/Ledbury Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Ledbury Road.
A438488 m
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road228 m
Keep left to stay on Church Road.
Church Road58 m
Turn left onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue198 m
Move left onto Salisbury Avenue.
Salisbury Avenue47 m
Turn left onto A438/Ledbury Road.
A438384 m
Turn right onto Folly Lane.
Folly Lane708 m
Turn right onto A465/Aylestone Hill.
A46551 m
Turn left onto Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane485 m
Keep left to stay on Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane422 m
Turn right onto College Road.
College Road21 m
Move left onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane106 m
Keep straight to stay on Old School Lane.
Old School Lane642 m
Turn left onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road552 m
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A49.
Holmer Roundabout68 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49.
A49531 m
Keep right to stay on A49.
A491.5 km
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road346 m
Keep left to stay on Church Road.
Church Road170 m
Keep right to stay on Church Road.
Church Road1.1 km
Turn right.
212 m
Keep right at the fork.
195 m
Keep right at the fork.
549 m
Turn left onto A49.
A49772 m
Keep left to stay on A49.
A49651 m
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A49/Holmer Road.
Holmer Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Holmer Road.
A49159 m
Keep left to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49848 m
Turn left onto A49/Holmer Road. Continue on A49.
A49382 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49719 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Move left to stay on A49/Victoria Street.
A49152 m
Turn left onto West Street.
West Street204 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A438/Newmarket Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout86 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Newmarket Street. Continue on A438.
A438502 m
Turn left onto Commercial Road/A4193.
Commercial Road620 m
Turn right onto Southbank Road.
Southbank Road223 m
Move left to stay on Southbank Road.
Southbank Road25 m
Turn right to stay on Southbank Road.
Southbank Road18 m
Turn right onto Bodenham Road.
Bodenham Road17 m
Move left onto Southbank Road.
Southbank Road223 m
Turn left onto A465/Aylestone Hill. Continue on A465.
A465167 m
Keep right to take Commercial Road.
Commercial Road461 m
Turn right onto A438.
A438500 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Move left to stay on A49/Victoria Street.
A49152 m
Turn left onto West Street.
West Street203 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street111 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49295 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A49449 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Farriers Way.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Farriers Way.
Farriers Way98 m
Turn left onto Burcott Road.
Burcott Road400 m
Move left onto Mortimer Road.
Mortimer Road263 m
Turn left onto A49/Newtown Road.
A49245 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Farriers Way.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Farriers Way.
Farriers Way97 m
Turn right onto Burcott Road.
Burcott Road168 m
Turn right onto Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street106 m
Turn right onto Newtown Road/B4359.
Newtown Road178 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road. Continue on A49.
A49384 m
Turn left onto Priory Place.
Priory Place100 m
Move right onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road968 m
Keep left to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road75 m
Turn right onto Highmore Street.
Highmore Street471 m
Turn left onto Lyde Street.
Lyde Street79 m
Turn left onto Westfield Street.
Westfield Street207 m
Keep left to stay on Westfield Street.
Westfield Street80 m
Turn left onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road416 m
Keep right to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road360 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road115 m
Turn left to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road291 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn left.
258 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road484 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Hereford · Route 3 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.
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 16.2 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.
Brookfield School
Start near Brookfield School.
Three Elms
Continue to Three Elms.
Hereford College of Arts (College Road Campus)
Continue to Hereford College of Arts (College Road Campus).
Churchill House
Continue to Churchill House.
Aconbury
Continue to Aconbury.
Hereford Country Bus Station
Continue to Hereford Country Bus Station.
City Bus Station
Continue to City Bus Station.
Plough Inn
Continue to Plough Inn.
St Francis Xavier
Continue to St Francis Xavier.
Orange Tree
Continue to Orange Tree.
St Giles Chapel
Continue to St Giles Chapel.
Rose and Crown
Continue to Rose and Crown.
Saint Barnabas
Continue to Saint Barnabas.
St Francis Xavier's RC Primary
Continue to St Francis Xavier's RC Primary.
St Peter
Continue to St Peter.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Christian Life Centre
Continue to Christian Life Centre.
Freedom Church
Continue to Freedom Church.
Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps
Continue to Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps.
St Mary
Finish back near St Mary, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 4 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 5 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 16 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 41.8 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Hereford test centre, not an official DVSA route.