Near Herne Bay test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts and 22 turns across 40 navigation steps.
This is an independent 69.8 km practice loop near Herne Bay 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 Eddington Junction, Clapham Hill Junction, Queen's Roundabout, Thanet Way and Sea Street. 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 named junctions, shops, parks 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 Herne Bay 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 145-step drive on real, named roads (about 69.8 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive south.
19 m
Turn left onto The Boulevard.
The Boulevard173 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto The Boulevard.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Boulevard.
The Boulevard300 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
6 m
Exit the roundabout.
86 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
3 m
Exit the roundabout.
423 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Margate Road.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margate Road.
Margate Road110 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
321 m
Keep right to take A290/A299/B2205 towards Herne Bay/Whitstable/Sturry/Canterbury.
A299837 m
Keep right to take A290/A299/B2205 towards Herne Bay/Whitstable/Sturry/Canterbury.
A299208 m
Enter Eddington Junction and take the 3rd exit onto Herne Relief Road.
Eddington Junction58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Herne Relief Road.
Herne Relief Road70 m
Stay straight to take the A299 ramp towards Whitstable/London.
A2997.8 km
Take the Clapham Hill exit onto A290 towards Herne Bay.
383 m
Enter Clapham Hill Junction and take the 4th exit onto Clapham Hill/A290.
Clapham Hill Junction86 m
Exit the roundabout onto Clapham Hill/A290.
Clapham Hill217 m
Enter Clapham Hill Junction and take the 3rd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Clapham Hill Junction59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Thanet Way334 m
Turn right to take the A299 ramp towards Margate.
A29910.7 km
Take the exit.
263 m
Keep left to take Sweechbridge Road.
Sweechbridge Road196 m
Turn right onto May Street.
May Street334 m
Make a sharp left.
22 m
Make a right U-turn.
22 m
Make a sharp right onto May Street.
May Street334 m
Turn right to stay on May Street.
May Street44 m
Turn left onto Heart in Hand Road.
Heart in Hand Road2.1 km
Turn left onto Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane26 m
Turn right to stay on Maypole Lane.
Maypole Lane24 m
Turn right onto Ford Hill.
Ford Hill1.7 km
Turn right to take the ramp.
268 m
Turn left onto A299/Thanet Way.
A2991.2 km
Take the A291 exit towards Herne Bay/Sturry/Canterbury.
A299394 m
Move left onto Margate Road.
Margate Road105 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Margate Road.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margate Road.
Margate Road109 m
Turn left to stay on Margate Road.
Margate Road705 m
Move right onto Ford Road.
Ford Road42 m
Turn left.
35 m
Turn left onto Margate Road.
Margate Road751 m
Turn right to stay on Margate Road.
Margate Road108 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Margate Road.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margate Road.
Margate Road110 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
321 m
Keep right to take A290/A299/B2205 towards Herne Bay/Whitstable/Sturry/Canterbury.
A299837 m
Keep right to take A290/A299/B2205 towards Herne Bay/Whitstable/Sturry/Canterbury.
A299208 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Eddington Junction/A291.
92 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eddington Junction/A291.
Eddington Junction89 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A291.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A291.
Thanet Way112 m
Enter Eddington Junction and take the 1st exit onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Eddington Junction6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Canterbury Road1.0 km
Enter Queen's Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Queen's Roundabout58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Canterbury Road1.0 km
Enter Eddington Junction and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A291.
Eddington Junction26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A291.
Thanet Way109 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Eddington Junction/A291.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eddington Junction/A291.
Eddington Junction85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Herne Relief Road.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Herne Relief Road.
Herne Relief Road70 m
Stay straight to take the A299 ramp towards Whitstable/London.
A2997.8 km
Take the Clapham Hill exit onto A290 towards Herne Bay.
383 m
Enter Clapham Hill Junction and take the 4th exit onto Clapham Hill/A290.
Clapham Hill Junction86 m
Exit the roundabout onto Clapham Hill/A290.
Clapham Hill217 m
Enter Clapham Hill Junction and take the 3rd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Clapham Hill Junction59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Thanet Way1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Thanet Way597 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Thanet Way2.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990.
Thanet Way105 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thanet Way/A2990.
47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thanet Way/A2990. Continue on A2990.
A29902.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
105 m
Exit the roundabout.
34 m
Make a sharp right onto Greenhill Road (East).
Greenhill Road (East)34 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Greenhill Bridge Road/B2205.
88 m
Exit the roundabout onto Greenhill Bridge Road/B2205.
Greenhill Bridge Road179 m
Turn right onto Sea Street/B2205.
Sea Street180 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Sea Street/B2205.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sea Street/B2205. Continue on B2205.
B22051.8 km
Turn right onto Cavendish Road.
Cavendish Road366 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Cavendish Road.
Cavendish Road366 m
Turn left onto High Street/B2205.
High Street303 m
Turn left onto William Street.
William Street259 m
Turn left onto King's Road.
King's Road200 m
Turn left onto South Road.
South Road398 m
Turn right onto Mortimer Street.
Mortimer Street80 m
Turn left onto East Street.
East Street54 m
Turn left onto Charles Street.
Charles Street41 m
Turn left onto Chapel Street.
Chapel Street54 m
Turn left onto Mortimer Street.
Mortimer Street141 m
Turn right onto Canterbury Road.
Canterbury Road399 m
Enter Queen's Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Queen's Roundabout30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Canterbury Road/B2205.
Canterbury Road1.0 km
Enter Eddington Junction and take the 1st exit onto A299/Thanet Way.
Eddington Junction6 m
Exit the roundabout onto A299/Thanet Way.
A299952 m
Take the exit towards Beltinge/Broomfield.
247 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Margate Road.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margate Road.
Margate Road372 m
Turn right onto Reculver Road.
Reculver Road667 m
Turn left onto Sea View Road.
Sea View Road412 m
Turn left onto Salisbury Road.
Salisbury Road270 m
Turn left onto Beacon Avenue.
Beacon Avenue17 m
Turn left onto Beltinge Road.
Beltinge Road288 m
Turn right onto Sea View Road.
Sea View Road344 m
Turn right onto Reculver Road.
Reculver Road131 m
Turn right onto Grange Road.
Grange Road269 m
Turn right onto Landon Road.
Landon Road296 m
Turn right onto Beltinge Road.
Beltinge Road104 m
Turn right onto Glen Avenue.
Glen Avenue358 m
Turn right onto Grange Road.
Grange Road181 m
Turn right onto Landon Road.
Landon Road296 m
Turn right onto Beltinge Road.
Beltinge Road104 m
Turn right onto Glen Avenue.
Glen Avenue358 m
Turn right onto Grange Road.
Grange Road69 m
Turn right onto Rose Gardens.
Rose Gardens115 m
Turn left to stay on Rose Gardens.
Rose Gardens1 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Rose Gardens.
Rose Gardens1 m
Turn right to stay on Rose Gardens.
Rose Gardens115 m
Turn left onto Grange Road.
Grange Road157 m
Turn left onto Reculver Road.
Reculver Road1.2 km
Turn right onto Osborne Gardens.
Osborne Gardens724 m
Turn left onto Reculver Road.
Reculver Road940 m
Turn left onto Mickleburgh Hill.
Mickleburgh Hill369 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
22 m
Exit the roundabout.
423 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Margate Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Margate Road.
Margate Road109 m
Turn left to stay on Margate Road.
Margate Road705 m
Move right onto Ford Road.
Ford Road42 m
Turn left.
35 m
Turn left onto Margate Road.
Margate Road751 m
Turn right to stay on Margate Road.
Margate Road108 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
46 m
Exit the roundabout.
425 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
50 m
Exit the roundabout.
87 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto The Boulevard.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Boulevard.
The Boulevard263 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Herne Bay · 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.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Queen's Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 26.1 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.
Eddington Junction
Start near Eddington Junction.
Clapham Hill Junction
Continue to Clapham Hill Junction, taking the junction with good observation.
Kwik-Fit
Continue to Kwik-Fit.
Talmead Park
Continue to Talmead Park.
Broomfield Methodist Church
Continue to Broomfield Methodist Church.
Huntsman and Horn
Continue to Huntsman and Horn.
Queen's Roundabout
Continue to Queen's Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Thanet Way
Continue to Thanet Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
Sea Street
Continue to Sea Street, taking the junction with good observation.
Beacon Church
Continue to Beacon Church.
Herne Bay Baptist Church
Continue to Herne Bay Baptist Church.
Herne Bay Christ Church
Continue to Herne Bay Christ Church.
Herne Bay Infant School
Continue to Herne Bay Infant School.
Prince of Wales
Continue to Prince of Wales.
Beltinge Baptist Church
Continue to Beltinge Baptist Church.
Copper Pottle
Continue to Copper Pottle.
Rising Sun
Continue to Rising Sun.
Fresh Hair
Continue to Fresh Hair.
Brewers
Finish back near Brewers, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 20 turns · 2 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 21 turns · 1 set of lights
11 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
14 roundabouts · 16 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 69.8 km and takes about 55 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Herne Bay test centre, not an official DVSA route.