Near Kettering test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 18 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 60.5 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 Barton Road Roundabout and Kettering Gateway Roundabout. 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 pubs, named junctions, churches and shops, 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 225-step drive on real, named roads (about 63.4 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 2nd exit onto Orion Way.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way151 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road270 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road/A509.
Kettering Road229 m
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 2nd exit.
Wicksteed Park Interchange50 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A141.7 km
Take exit 10.
134 m
Take exit 10.
266 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Barton Road/A6003.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road116 m
Enter Barton Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road443 m
Keep left to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road96 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive166 m
Turn left onto Finch Drive.
Finch Drive147 m
Turn left onto Beaufort Drive.
Beaufort Drive207 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue87 m
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road209 m
Keep left to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road48 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive166 m
Turn left onto Finch Drive.
Finch Drive147 m
Turn left onto Beaufort Drive.
Beaufort Drive207 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue87 m
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road258 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive166 m
Turn left onto Finch Drive.
Finch Drive147 m
Turn left onto Beaufort Drive.
Beaufort Drive207 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue87 m
Turn right onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road285 m
Enter Barton Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road Roundabout52 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road91 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bedford A6/Rushden/Higham Ferrers/Finedon.
158 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bedford A6/Rushden/Higham Ferrers/Finedon.
A6195 m
Enter Burton Latimer Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Burton Latimer Roundabout65 m
Exit the roundabout.
42 m
Move left onto Kettering Road.
Kettering Road172 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Burton Latimer.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Burton Latimer.
Kettering Road415 m
Keep right to stay on Kettering Road.
Kettering Road203 m
Keep left to stay on Kettering Road.
Kettering Road209 m
Keep left to take High Street.
High Street209 m
Keep right to stay on High Street.
High Street284 m
Move left onto Higham Road.
Higham Road837 m
Turn left onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A61.3 km
Keep right to stay on A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6468 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6527 m
Move left.
39 m
Enter Kettering Gateway Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
Kettering Gateway Roundabout56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6308 m
Enter Burton Latimer Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A6/Kettering Road.
Burton Latimer Roundabout82 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Kettering Road.
A6201 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A144.9 km
Take exit 8.
62 m
Take exit 8.
108 m
Take exit 8 on the right.
100 m
Take exit 8 on the right.
113 m
Take exit 8 on the right.
36 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 4th exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Broughton Interchange229 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road259 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road324 m
Keep left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road280 m
Turn right to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road442 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue223 m
Turn right onto Meadow Road.
Meadow Road53 m
Keep right to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road372 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street146 m
Turn left onto Lower Street.
Lower Street85 m
Turn right onto Trafalgar Road.
Trafalgar Road19 m
Move left onto Lower Street.
Lower Street65 m
Keep right to stay on Lower Street.
Lower Street72 m
Move right to stay on Lower Street.
Lower Street19 m
Turn right onto Northall Street/A4300.
Northall Street116 m
Keep left to stay on Northall Street/A4300.
Northall Street159 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road852 m
Turn right onto Park View.
Park View44 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue231 m
Turn left onto Park Road.
Park Road190 m
Turn right onto Balfour Street.
Balfour Street207 m
Turn right onto Bath Road.
Bath Road360 m
Turn left onto Avondale Road.
Avondale Road44 m
Keep right to stay on Avondale Road.
Avondale Road474 m
Turn right onto Stamford Road/A4300.
Stamford Road163 m
Move left onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue722 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue1.1 km
Move left to stay on A6098.
A609845 m
Move left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road142 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road706 m
Turn right onto St Botolph's Road.
St Botolph's Road1.2 km
Keep right to take Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane201 m
Turn left onto Nene Close.
Nene Close41 m
Keep left to stay on Nene Close.
Nene Close41 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Nene Close.
Nene Close82 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane1.4 km
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road694 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep left to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road172 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue209 m
Move left to stay on Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue516 m
Turn left onto Stamford Road/A4300. Continue on A4300.
A4300439 m
Turn right onto Bath Road.
Bath Road270 m
Turn left onto Nelson Street.
Nelson Street109 m
Keep right to stay on Nelson Street.
Nelson Street78 m
Turn left onto Regent Street.
Regent Street452 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road217 m
Turn left onto Eskdaill Street/A4300.
Eskdaill Street101 m
Keep left to stay on Eskdaill Street/A4300.
Eskdaill Street223 m
Turn left onto Montagu Street/A4300. Continue on A4300.
A4300729 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue464 m
Keep left to stay on Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue258 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue1.1 km
Move left to stay on A6098.
A609845 m
Move left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road142 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road706 m
Turn right onto St Botolph's Road.
St Botolph's Road1.2 km
Keep right to take Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane832 m
Turn right to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane508 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road167 m
Turn right onto Glebe Road.
Glebe Road347 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street111 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road352 m
Keep right to stay on Station Road.
Station Road16 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane508 m
Turn left to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane654 m
Keep right to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane1.3 km
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road694 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep left to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road490 m
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road96 m
Keep straight to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road178 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road794 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road231 m
Turn right onto Sheep Street/A6003. Continue on A6003.
A600382 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B575.
Station Road231 m
Turn left onto Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road44 m
Keep right to stay on Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road422 m
Keep left to take Broadway.
Broadway196 m
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road505 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road277 m
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road490 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road706 m
Turn right onto St Botolph's Road.
St Botolph's Road348 m
Turn right.
12 m
Turn left.
96 m
Turn left.
19 m
Turn left onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane433 m
Turn right onto Barton Road/A6003. Continue on Barton Road.
Barton Road1.1 km
Make a right U-turn at Linnet Drive to stay on Barton Road.
Barton Road40 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Barton Road.
Barton Road20 m
Make a left U-turn at Linnet Drive onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road670 m
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road1.2 km
Keep right to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road119 m
Keep left to stay on Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road490 m
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road96 m
Keep straight to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road178 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road509 m
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway133 m
Turn left onto Argyll Street.
Argyll Street131 m
Turn right onto Hawthorn Road.
Hawthorn Road277 m
Turn left onto Headlands.
Headlands148 m
Turn left onto Glebe Avenue.
Glebe Avenue108 m
Turn left to stay on Glebe Avenue.
Glebe Avenue41 m
Turn right onto Roundhill Road.
Roundhill Road89 m
Turn left onto Garfield Street.
Garfield Street227 m
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway102 m
Turn right onto Headlands.
Headlands340 m
Turn left 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 Close83 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Saunders Close.
Saunders Close83 m
Turn right onto George Street.
George Street143 m
Turn right onto Sheep Street.
Sheep Street120 m
Turn right onto Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road29 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B575.
Station Road231 m
Turn left onto Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road531 m
Turn right onto Argyll Street.
Argyll Street131 m
Turn right onto Hawthorn Road.
Hawthorn Road124 m
Turn left onto Garfield Street.
Garfield Street96 m
Turn left onto Roundhill Road.
Roundhill Road361 m
Turn left onto London Road/A6003.
London Road473 m
Turn right onto Saint Mary's Road/A6900.
Saint Mary's Road13 m
Move right to stay on Saint Mary's Road/A6900.
Saint Mary's Road339 m
Turn right to stay on Saint Mary's Road.
Saint Mary's Road282 m
Turn left onto Linden Avenue.
Linden Avenue41 m
Turn left onto Saint Mary's Road/A6900.
Saint Mary's Road629 m
Turn left onto London Road/A6003.
London Road736 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road181 m
Keep right to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road96 m
Turn right onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road628 m
Keep right to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road104 m
Keep straight to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road602 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Orion Way.
107 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 12 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Barton Road Roundabout, Kettering Gateway Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 11.1 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, 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.
Park House
Start near Park House.
Barton Road Roundabout
Continue to Barton Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Burton Latimer Methodist Churc
Continue to Burton Latimer Methodist Churc.
Church of St Nihcolas Owen
Continue to Church of St Nihcolas Owen.
Kettering Gateway Roundabout
Continue to Kettering Gateway Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
Toller United Reform Church
Continue to Toller United Reform Church.
Quakers Friends' Meeting House
Continue to Quakers Friends' Meeting House.
News, Food and Wine
Continue to News, Food and Wine.
Piper
Continue to Piper.
Kettering Salvation Army
Continue to Kettering Salvation Army.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness.
Glebe Stores
Continue to Glebe Stores.
Gateway Community Church
Continue to Gateway Community Church.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
Shell Barton Seagrave
Continue to Shell Barton Seagrave.
Broadway Stores
Continue to Broadway Stores.
Argyll Club
Continue to Argyll Club.
St Michael & All Angels
Continue to St Michael & All Angels.
Lock'nStore
Finish back near Lock'nStore, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 11 turns
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 13 turns
12 roundabouts · 12 turns
This route is 60.5 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.