Near Horsforth test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 22 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 34 navigation steps.
This is an independent 42.3 km practice loop near Horsforth test centre, taking roughly 45 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 pubs, churches 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 Horsforth 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 140-step drive on real, named roads (about 42.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest on Springfield Gardens.
Springfield Gardens198 m
Turn right onto Springfield Mount.
Springfield Mount62 m
Turn left onto Broadgate Avenue.
Broadgate Avenue379 m
Turn left onto A6120/Broadway. Continue on A6120.
A6120486 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Low Lane.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane133 m
Keep right to stay on Low Lane.
Low Lane199 m
Turn left onto Springfield Mount.
Springfield Mount151 m
Turn right onto Springfield Rise.
Springfield Rise152 m
Turn right onto Low Lane.
Low Lane390 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane214 m
Turn left to stay on Low Lane.
Low Lane300 m
Keep straight to stay on Butcher Hill.
Butcher Hill769 m
Turn left onto Spen Lane.
Spen Lane530 m
Keep left to stay on Spen Lane.
Spen Lane84 m
Turn left onto A6120/Ring Road West Park.
A6120633 m
Keep right to stay on A6120/Ring Road West Park.
A6120626 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A6120/Ring Road.
97 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6120/Ring Road. Continue on A6120.
A61201.7 km
Enter Lawnswood Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A660/Otley Road.
Lawnswood Roundabout91 m
Exit the roundabout onto A660/Otley Road.
A660283 m
Turn right onto Weetwood Road.
Weetwood Road209 m
Turn left onto Weetwood Grange Grove.
Weetwood Grange Grove85 m
Turn left onto A660/Otley Road.
A660395 m
Enter Lawnswood Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A660/Otley Road.
Lawnswood Roundabout47 m
Exit the roundabout onto A660/Otley Road.
A660425 m
Keep right to stay on A660/Otley Road.
A660860 m
Turn right onto St Helen's Lane.
St Helen's Lane563 m
Turn right.
44 m
Turn right.
42 m
Turn left.
56 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn left onto St Helen's Lane.
St Helen's Lane337 m
Turn left onto Adel Lane.
Adel Lane381 m
Keep right to stay on Adel Lane.
Adel Lane247 m
Keep right to stay on Adel Lane.
Adel Lane109 m
Turn right onto Weetwood Lane.
Weetwood Lane111 m
Turn right onto A6120/Ring Road Weetwood.
A6120888 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6120/Ring Road West Park.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6120/Ring Road West Park.
A61201.1 km
Keep right to stay on A6120.
A6120626 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Low Lane.
62 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane83 m
Turn left onto Broadgate Lane.
Broadgate Lane1.0 km
Keep right to take North Broadgate Lane.
North Broadgate Lane255 m
Turn left onto Church Avenue.
Church Avenue72 m
Keep left to stay on Church Avenue.
Church Avenue192 m
Turn right onto Church Lane.
Church Lane233 m
Turn right onto Hall Park Avenue.
Hall Park Avenue44 m
Turn left onto Hall Park Rise.
Hall Park Rise163 m
Turn left onto Hall Park Avenue.
Hall Park Avenue194 m
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road113 m
Keep right to stay on Church Road.
Church Road363 m
Turn left towards Ring Road/Harrogate/Wetherby/York.
A61201.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6120/Ring Road.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6120/Ring Road. Continue on A6120.
A61201.7 km
Enter Lawnswood Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A660/Otley Road.
Lawnswood Roundabout7 m
Exit the roundabout onto A660/Otley Road.
A660425 m
Keep right to stay on A660/Otley Road.
A66045 m
Make a right U-turn at Lawnswood Gardens to stay on A660/Otley Road.
A660472 m
Enter Lawnswood Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A660/Otley Road.
Lawnswood Roundabout131 m
Exit the roundabout onto A660/Otley Road.
A660367 m
Keep left to stay on A660/Otley Road.
A6601.7 km
Turn left onto Holt Lane.
Holt Lane510 m
Move left onto Holt Road.
Holt Road73 m
Turn right onto Holt Park Approach.
Holt Park Approach415 m
Turn left onto Holt Park Road.
Holt Park Road113 m
Turn left onto Holt Park Lane.
Holt Park Lane50 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Holt Park Lane.
Holt Park Lane51 m
Turn right onto Holt Park Road.
Holt Park Road165 m
Turn left onto Holt Park Crescent.
Holt Park Crescent53 m
Keep left to stay on Holt Park Crescent.
Holt Park Crescent30 m
Turn left to stay on Holt Park Crescent.
Holt Park Crescent187 m
Turn left onto Holt Park Grove.
Holt Park Grove61 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Holt Park Grove.
Holt Park Grove61 m
Turn left onto Holt Park Crescent.
Holt Park Crescent267 m
Turn right onto Holt Park Road.
Holt Park Road279 m
Turn right onto Holt Crescent.
Holt Crescent190 m
Turn right onto Holtdale Approach.
Holtdale Approach531 m
Turn left onto Holtdale Drive.
Holtdale Drive53 m
Turn right onto Holtdale Close.
Holtdale Close72 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Holtdale Close.
Holtdale Close72 m
Turn left onto Holtdale Drive.
Holtdale Drive53 m
Turn left onto Holtdale Approach.
Holtdale Approach75 m
Turn left onto Otley Old Road.
Otley Old Road65 m
Keep right to stay on Otley Old Road.
Otley Old Road451 m
Keep right to stay on Otley Old Road.
Otley Old Road15 m
Turn right onto Tinshill Lane.
Tinshill Lane1.3 km
Turn right onto Tinshill Road.
Tinshill Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Wrenbury Crescent.
Wrenbury Crescent189 m
Keep left to stay on Wrenbury Crescent.
Wrenbury Crescent171 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane939 m
Turn right onto Tinshill Road.
Tinshill Road267 m
Move right onto Station Road.
Station Road53 m
Keep left to stay on Station Road.
Station Road30 m
Turn left onto Troy Road.
Troy Road504 m
Turn right onto King George Road.
King George Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Burley Lane.
Burley Lane75 m
Turn right onto Regent Road.
Regent Road50 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane130 m
Turn left onto Regent Crescent.
Regent Crescent86 m
Turn left onto Regent Avenue.
Regent Avenue105 m
Turn left onto Cragg Hill.
Cragg Hill110 m
Turn right onto Cragg Road.
Cragg Road142 m
Keep right to stay on Cragg Road.
Cragg Road56 m
Turn right onto A6120/Broadway.
A6120298 m
Turn left onto Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road337 m
Turn left onto Broadgate Lane.
Broadgate Lane19 m
Turn right onto King George Road.
King George Road509 m
Turn left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane504 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road84 m
Move left onto Tinshill Road.
Tinshill Road267 m
Turn left onto Wood Hill Road.
Wood Hill Road552 m
Turn right onto Dale Park Rise.
Dale Park Rise256 m
Turn right onto Dale Park Avenue.
Dale Park Avenue8 m
Keep left to stay on Dale Park Avenue.
Dale Park Avenue67 m
Turn right onto Tinshill Road.
Tinshill Road593 m
Turn left onto Tinshill Lane.
Tinshill Lane722 m
Turn right onto Bedford Drive.
Bedford Drive268 m
Turn right onto Silk Mill Drive.
Silk Mill Drive100 m
Turn right onto Woodnook Drive.
Woodnook Drive60 m
Turn left onto Tinshill Lane.
Tinshill Lane563 m
Turn left onto Tinshill Road.
Tinshill Road57 m
Move right onto Station Road.
Station Road312 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Long Row.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Long Row.
Long Row468 m
Move right onto Church Avenue.
Church Avenue87 m
Turn left onto North Broadgate Lane.
North Broadgate Lane59 m
Turn left onto Long Row.
Long Row58 m
Turn right onto Bachelor Lane.
Bachelor Lane477 m
Turn left onto Lister Hill.
Lister Hill197 m
Turn right onto Long Row.
Long Row53 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Long Row.
102 m
Exit the roundabout onto Long Row.
Long Row53 m
Turn left onto Lister Hill.
Lister Hill210 m
Turn right onto Low Lane.
Low Lane863 m
Turn right onto Springfield Gardens.
Springfield Gardens26 m
Turn left onto Back Low Lane.
Back Low Lane25 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Horsforth · Route 18 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.
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 15.3 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, 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.
Woodside Micro Pub
Start near Woodside Micro Pub.
Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Moor Grange
Continue to Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Moor Grange.
West Park United Reformed Church
Continue to West Park United Reformed Church.
Otley Road Ring Road West Park
Continue to Otley Road Ring Road West Park.
Otley Road Lawnswood
Continue to Otley Road Lawnswood.
Ring Road Weetwood Otley Road
Continue to Ring Road Weetwood Otley Road.
Church Avenue St Margarets Avenue
Continue to Church Avenue St Margarets Avenue.
Green Town Street
Continue to Green Town Street.
Otley Old Road Lawnswood
Continue to Otley Old Road Lawnswood.
Otley Road New Adel Lane
Continue to Otley Road New Adel Lane.
Holt Park Chestnut Drive
Continue to Holt Park Chestnut Drive.
Holtdale Approach Holtdale Green
Continue to Holtdale Approach Holtdale Green.
Otley Old Road Tinshill Lane
Continue to Otley Old Road Tinshill Lane.
Green Lane Moseley Wood Approach
Continue to Green Lane Moseley Wood Approach.
Tinshill Road Woodhill Road
Continue to Tinshill Road Woodhill Road.
Cragg Hill Baptist Church
Continue to Cragg Hill Baptist Church.
Wood Hill Road Wood Hill Gardens
Continue to Wood Hill Road Wood Hill Gardens.
Woodnook Drive Silk Mill Drive
Continue to Woodnook Drive Silk Mill Drive.
Station Road Troy Road
Continue to Station Road Troy Road.
Horsforth Old Ball
Finish back near Horsforth Old Ball, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
4 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 18 turns
This route is 42.3 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Horsforth test centre, not an official DVSA route.