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Practice route
Challenging

High Wycombe · Route 1

Near High Wycombe test centre

56.4 km
Distance
35 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Moderate

Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts, 8 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 56.4 km practice route near High Wycombe 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, national-speed roads, 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 stations, churches, shops and schools, 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 High Wycombe 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

2
Left turns
6
Right turns
9
Roundabouts
5
Traffic lights
25
Total steps

Skills & features

17
Roundabouts
8.8 km
Dual carriageway
30, 40, 60, 70 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • National-speed roads
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • A-roads 27.1 km
  • Trunk roads 8.8 km
  • Minor roads 8.8 km
  • Residential 6.9 km
  • Unclassified 0.9 km
  • service_other 0.6 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 102-step drive on real, named roads (about 56.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive northeast.

    37 m

  2. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    12 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Frederick Place.

    Frederick Place86 m

  4. Turn left:

    Turn left onto London Road/A40. Continue on A40.

    A402.0 km

  5. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A40.

    17 m

  6. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A40.

    London Road725 m

  7. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A40.

    36 m

  8. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A40. Continue on A40.

    A401.0 km

  9. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.

    4 m

  10. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout.

    121 m

  11. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    Marlow Hill1.1 km

  12. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Marlow Road.

    131 m

  13. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Marlow Road.

    Marlow Road319 m

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Desborough Avenue.

    Desborough Avenue179 m

  15. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lancaster Road.

    Lancaster Road110 m

  16. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellington Road.

    Wellington Road113 m

  17. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    185 m

  18. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wellington Road.

    Wellington Road78 m

  19. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lancaster Road.

    Lancaster Road110 m

  20. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Desborough Avenue.

    Desborough Avenue1.5 km

  21. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Desborough Road.

    Desborough Road818 m

  22. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Way/A40.

    Abbey Way256 m

  23. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Oxford Road/A40.

    61 m

  24. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Oxford Road/A40. Continue on A40.

    A40359 m

  25. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Westbourne Street.

    Westbourne Street203 m

  26. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Desborough Road.

    Desborough Road197 m

  27. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Desborough Avenue.

    Desborough Avenue1.7 km

  28. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Marlow Road.

    Marlow Road266 m

  29. Turn left:

    Move left.

    148 m

  30. Turn left:

    Move left.

    57 m

  31. Roundabout:

    Move left onto Handy Cross Roundabout.

    Handy Cross Roundabout239 m

  32. Keep left:

    Keep left to take A404.

    A4043.2 km

  33. Take exit:

    Take the exit.

    284 m

  34. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marlow Road/A4155.

    21 m

  35. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Marlow Road/A4155.

    Marlow Road2.8 km

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Road.

    Abbey Road246 m

  37. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Chapman Lane.

    Chapman Lane64 m

  38. Turn left:

    Move left onto Elm Lane.

    Elm Lane14 m

  39. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Elm Lane.

    Elm Lane208 m

  40. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Marlow Road/A4155.

    Marlow Road2.8 km

  41. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.

    217 m

  42. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A404.

    A4043.4 km

  43. Roundabout:

    Move left onto Handy Cross Roundabout.

    Handy Cross Roundabout369 m

  44. Turn left:

    Move left onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    Marlow Hill682 m

  45. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    101 m

  46. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    Marlow Hill1.2 km

  47. Turn left:

    Move left.

    22 m

  48. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.

    2 m

  49. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout.

    32 m

  50. Turn right:

    Move right onto Queen Victoria Road/A404. Continue on A404.

    A4041.3 km

  51. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Amersham Hill Drive.

    Amersham Hill Drive137 m

  52. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Amersham Hill Drive.

    Amersham Hill Drive338 m

  53. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Amersham Hill Drive.

    Amersham Hill Drive338 m

  54. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Amersham Hill Drive.

    Amersham Hill Drive137 m

  55. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Amersham Hill/A404.

    Amersham Hill410 m

  56. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lucas Road.

    Lucas Road700 m

  57. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Totteridge Road.

    Totteridge Road239 m

  58. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bowerdean Road.

    Bowerdean Road585 m

  59. Turn right:

    Move right onto Hillview Road.

    Hillview Road537 m

  60. Turn left:

    Turn left onto East drive.

    East drive116 m

  61. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Totteridge Drive.

    Totteridge Drive291 m

  62. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Totteridge Lane.

    Totteridge Lane261 m

  63. Turn left:

    Move left onto Hatter's Lane.

    Hatter's Lane433 m

  64. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wingate Avenue.

    Wingate Avenue79 m

  65. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wingate Close.

    Wingate Close55 m

  66. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Wingate Close.

    Wingate Close55 m

  67. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wingate Avenue.

    Wingate Avenue79 m

  68. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Hatter's Lane.

    Hatter's Lane1.0 km

  69. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto London Road/A40.

    11 m

  70. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A40. Continue on A40.

    A401.1 km

  71. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Gomm Road.

    Gomm Road177 m

  72. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Orchard Road.

    Orchard Road417 m

  73. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Cock Lane.

    Cock Lane91 m

  74. Turn left:

    Turn left onto London Road/A40. Continue on A40.

    A401.8 km

  75. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Road.

    Station Road358 m

  76. Turn left:

    Move left onto Kingsmead Road.

    Kingsmead Road30 m

  77. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Treadaway Hill.

    Treadaway Hill806 m

  78. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Heath End Road.

    Heath End Road229 m

  79. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Sheepridge Lane.

    Sheepridge Lane2.4 km

  80. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Marlow Road/A4155.

    Marlow Road518 m

  81. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Road.

    Abbey Road246 m

  82. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Chapman Lane.

    Chapman Lane64 m

  83. Turn left:

    Move left onto Elm Lane.

    Elm Lane14 m

  84. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Elm Lane.

    Elm Lane208 m

  85. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Marlow Road/A4155. Continue on A4155.

    A4155827 m

  86. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    100 m

  87. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    14 m

  88. Turn right:

    Turn right onto The Parade/A4155. Continue on A4155.

    A41553.5 km

  89. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.

    217 m

  90. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A404.

    A4043.4 km

  91. Roundabout:

    Move left onto Handy Cross Roundabout.

    Handy Cross Roundabout369 m

  92. Turn left:

    Move left onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    Marlow Hill682 m

  93. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    101 m

  94. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Marlow Hill/A404.

    Marlow Hill1.1 km

  95. Turn left:

    Turn left.

    89 m

  96. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Way/A40.

    Abbey Way115 m

  97. Keep left:

    Keep left to take Lily's Walk.

    Lily's Walk354 m

  98. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Suffield Hill.

    Suffield Hill109 m

  99. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Suffield Road.

    Suffield Road475 m

  100. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Desborough Avenue.

    Desborough Avenue1.3 km

  101. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Lancaster Road.

    Lancaster Road98 m

  102. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the High Wycombe · Route 1 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Chestnut Avenue
  • King George V
  • Trinity Church
  • High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 17)
  • High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 18)

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Little Marlow Church of England School
  • Innovation Hub
  • Events Hall

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Cherith Christian Fellowship
  • Wycombe Islamic Society
  • St Wulstans Catholic Church
  • Flackwell Heath Methodist Church

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Black Lion
  • Crooked Billet
  • KEG Craft Beer

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Justim

Watch out for

  • 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 8.8 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 (30, 40, 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.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Chestnut Avenue

    Start near Chestnut Avenue.

  2. King George V

    Continue to King George V.

  3. Trinity Church

    Continue to Trinity Church.

  4. Cherith Christian Fellowship

    Continue to Cherith Christian Fellowship.

  5. High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 17)

    Continue to High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 17).

  6. High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 18)

    Continue to High Wycombe Bus Station (Bay 18).

  7. Justim

    Continue to Justim.

  8. Little Marlow Church of England School

    Continue to Little Marlow Church of England School.

  9. Black Lion

    Continue to Black Lion.

  10. Innovation Hub

    Continue to Innovation Hub.

  11. High Street

    Continue to High Street.

  12. Wycombe Islamic Society

    Continue to Wycombe Islamic Society.

  13. St Wulstans Catholic Church

    Continue to St Wulstans Catholic Church.

  14. Ford Street

    Continue to Ford Street.

  15. Loudwater Turn

    Continue to Loudwater Turn.

  16. Rayners Avenue

    Continue to Rayners Avenue.

  17. Flackwell Heath Methodist Church

    Continue to Flackwell Heath Methodist Church.

  18. Crooked Billet

    Continue to Crooked Billet.

  19. KEG Craft Beer

    Continue to KEG Craft Beer.

  20. Events Hall

    Finish back near Events Hall, completing the loop.

More routes at High Wycombe test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 56.4 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near High Wycombe test centre, not an official DVSA route.