Near Hereford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 13 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 38.2 km practice route near Hereford test centre, taking roughly 35 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, 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 schools, churches, shops 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 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 133-step drive on real, named roads (about 38.1 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 left onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A438/Whitecross Road.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Whitecross Road. Continue on A438.
A4381.5 km
Move left onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49103 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 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road.
A4930 m
Move left to stay on Newtown Road.
Newtown Road69 m
Turn left onto Millbrook Street.
Millbrook Street75 m
Keep right to stay on Millbrook Street.
Millbrook Street48 m
Turn left onto Nolan Road.
Nolan Road105 m
Turn right onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49386 m
Make a right U-turn at Blackfriars Street to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A4957 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A49223 m
Turn right onto A465/City Link Road.
A465822 m
Turn right onto Commercial Road/A4193.
Commercial Road415 m
Turn right onto A438.
A438500 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A438/Newmarket Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout165 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Newmarket Street. Continue on A438.
A438615 m
Keep left to take A438/Bath Street.
A43845 m
Turn left onto Kyrle Street.
Kyrle Street176 m
Turn left onto Union Walk.
Union Walk129 m
Turn left onto Commercial Road/A4193.
Commercial Road174 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 Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49426 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 Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane58 m
Keep right to stay on Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane426 m
Keep left to stay on Venn's Lane.
Venn's Lane422 m
Turn left onto College Road.
College Road577 m
Turn right to stay on College Road.
College Road205 m
Turn left onto Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street106 m
Turn right onto Newtown Road/B4359.
Newtown Road92 m
Keep right to stay on Newtown Road/B4359.
Newtown Road85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49720 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.
A49151 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 Street112 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 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road. Continue on A49.
A49939 m
Keep straight to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49208 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49248 m
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Roman Road/A4103.
Holmer Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road863 m
Turn left onto Kempton Avenue.
Kempton Avenue260 m
Keep right to stay on Kempton Avenue.
Kempton Avenue558 m
Turn right onto Sandown Drive.
Sandown Drive36 m
Turn left onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road910 m
Keep right to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road864 m
Move left onto Priory Place.
Priory Place100 m
Turn right onto A49/Holmer Road. Continue on A49.
A49383 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 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 Street112 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 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road. Continue on A49.
A49384 m
Turn right onto A49/Holmer Road.
A49555 m
Keep straight to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49208 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49248 m
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Roman Road/A4103.
Holmer Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road1.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A438/Whitecross Road.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Whitecross Road. Continue on A438.
A4381.5 km
Move left onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49103 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Edgar Street Roundabout154 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 Street112 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.
A49133 m
Turn left onto Moor Street.
Moor Street122 m
Move left.
7 m
Make a right U-turn.
7 m
Move right onto Moor Street.
Moor Street122 m
Turn left onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49315 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 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 Road838 m
Turn left onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road613 m
Turn right onto Sheridan Road.
Sheridan Road89 m
Keep left to stay on Sheridan Road.
Sheridan Road471 m
Move left onto Moor Farm Lane.
Moor Farm Lane198 m
Turn left onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road395 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Yazor Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road395 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Hereford · 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.
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 18.5 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 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.
Holy Trinity
Continue to Holy Trinity.
Christian Life Centre
Continue to Christian Life Centre.
Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps
Continue to Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps.
Tudors Building Supplies
Continue to Tudors Building Supplies.
City Bus Station
Continue to City Bus Station.
Hereford Country Bus Station
Continue to Hereford Country Bus Station.
Hope City Church
Continue to Hope City Church.
Saint Nicholas
Continue to Saint Nicholas.
St Francis Xavier
Continue to St Francis Xavier.
Freedom Church
Continue to Freedom Church.
Saint Barnabas
Continue to Saint Barnabas.
Welcome Fish Bar
Continue to Welcome Fish Bar.
Screwfix
Continue to Screwfix.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Sandown Stores
Continue to Sandown Stores.
Golden Lion
Continue to Golden Lion.
Three Elms
Continue to Three Elms.
St Mary
Continue to St Mary.
Bargain Booze
Finish back near Bargain Booze, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 24 turns · 2 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 16 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 38.2 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Hereford test centre, not an official DVSA route.