Near Kettering test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 9 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 31.6 km practice loop near Kettering test centre, taking roughly 40 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 Wicksteed Park Interchange. 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 shops, churches, pubs 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 Kettering 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 138-step drive on real, named roads (about 36.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest.
9 m
Turn left.
38 m
Turn left.
31 m
Turn right onto Orion Way.
Orion Way17 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way69 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way131 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way148 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way142 m
Turn right to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way159 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Pytchley Lane.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane233 m
Move left onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road476 m
Keep left to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road598 m
Turn left onto London Road/A6003.
London Road275 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road46 m
Keep left to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road747 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road155 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Avenue.
Bowling Green Avenue139 m
Turn left onto Paul's Court.
Paul's Court40 m
Turn right to stay on Paul's Court.
Paul's Court58 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Paul's Court.
Paul's Court58 m
Turn left to stay on Paul's Court.
Paul's Court40 m
Turn right onto Bowling Green Avenue.
Bowling Green Avenue13 m
Keep left to stay on Bowling Green Avenue.
Bowling Green Avenue126 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road75 m
Turn right onto Sheep Street/A6003.
Sheep Street53 m
Turn right to stay on Sheep Street.
Sheep Street121 m
Turn left onto George Street.
George Street143 m
Turn left onto Saunders Close.
Saunders Close36 m
Turn right onto George Street.
George Street143 m
Turn right onto Sheep Street.
Sheep Street120 m
Turn right onto Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road159 m
Keep right to stay on Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road121 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue25 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road20 m
Keep right to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road441 m
Turn right onto Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane449 m
Keep left to stay on Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane852 m
Turn right onto Warren Hill/A4300.
Warren Hill234 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Town Centre/General Hospital.
54 m
Exit the roundabout towards Town Centre/General Hospital.
Rothwell Road640 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards (A6003)/All routes avoiding low bridge/Corby.
10 m
Exit the roundabout towards (A6003)/All routes avoiding low bridge/Corby.
Northfield Avenue875 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue84 m
Turn right onto Northfield Close.
Northfield Close42 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Northfield Close.
Northfield Close42 m
Turn left onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue82 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue618 m
Keep left to stay on Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue258 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Wadcroft/London Road.
47 m
Exit the roundabout towards Wadcroft/London Road.
Northfield Avenue464 m
Turn left onto Meadow Road.
Meadow Road93 m
Keep straight to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road134 m
Keep right to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road114 m
Turn left onto Commercial Road.
Commercial Road173 m
Turn right onto Trafalgar Road.
Trafalgar Road167 m
Move left onto Lower Street.
Lower Street137 m
Turn left onto Lower Street/A4300.
Lower Street195 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Street/A4300.
Lower Street149 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit towards Supermarkets/Newlands/Shool Lane.
135 m
Exit the roundabout towards Supermarkets/Newlands/Shool Lane.
A4300471 m
Keep left to take Northall Street/A4300.
Northall Street159 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road268 m
Turn left onto Dryden Street.
Dryden Street216 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street67 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close83 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close26 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close11 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn right onto Field Street.
Field Street142 m
Turn right onto Buccleuch Street.
Buccleuch Street226 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road95 m
Keep right to stay on Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road597 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road144 m
Turn right onto Neale Avenue.
Neale Avenue611 m
Turn right onto Hallwood Road.
Hallwood Road407 m
Turn right onto Reservoir Road.
Reservoir Road127 m
Turn right onto Shakespeare Road.
Shakespeare Road430 m
Turn right onto Blandford Avenue.
Blandford Avenue298 m
Turn right onto Hallwood Road.
Hallwood Road74 m
Turn right onto Neale Avenue.
Neale Avenue611 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road757 m
Turn right onto Dryden Street.
Dryden Street216 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street67 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close83 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close26 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close11 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street140 m
Turn right onto Northall Street/A4300. Continue on A4300.
A4300357 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Street/A4300.
Lower Street116 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Wadcroft/London Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout towards Wadcroft/London Road.
Northfield Avenue686 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road462 m
Turn left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road172 m
Keep right to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road150 m
Keep left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road254 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road265 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 4th exit.
Broughton Interchange249 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A142.8 km
Take exit 6.
44 m
Take exit 6.
307 m
Turn left to take the ramp.
A145.9 km
Take exit 9 towards Kettering (S),Wellingboro' A509.
79 m
Take exit 9 on the right towards Kettering (S),Wellingboro' A509.
150 m
Take exit 9 towards Kettering (S),Wellingboro' A509.
44 m
Keep left to take Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road296 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road270 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Orion Way.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way152 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Pytchley Lane.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane2.1 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street1.9 km
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
Wicksteed Park Interchange136 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road228 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road270 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Orion Way.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way153 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Orion Way.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way162 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way73 m
Turn right to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way100 m
Turn right to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way49 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Kettering · Route 1 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.
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 9.0 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, 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.
Plantool
Start near Plantool.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
St Edward's
Continue to St Edward's.
Old Market Inn
Continue to Old Market Inn.
Pampas Lounge
Continue to Pampas Lounge.
McDonald's
Continue to McDonald's.
Easy2PC
Continue to Easy2PC.
Fitzys Mens Barber
Continue to Fitzys Mens Barber.
Quakers Friends' Meeting House
Continue to Quakers Friends' Meeting House.
Saint Andrews
Continue to Saint Andrews.
Toddlerz Day Nursery
Continue to Toddlerz Day Nursery.
Queen of Hearts Nursery and Pre-School
Continue to Queen of Hearts Nursery and Pre-School.
Midland Band Club
Continue to Midland Band Club.
Hyper Mart
Continue to Hyper Mart.
Kettering Salvation Army
Continue to Kettering Salvation Army.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
M&S Simply Food
Continue to M&S Simply Food.
Wicksteed Park Interchange
Continue to Wicksteed Park Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Mens Room
Finish back near Mens Room, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 11 turns
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 13 turns
8 roundabouts · 18 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 31.6 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Kettering test centre, not an official DVSA route.