Near Kettering test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts and 13 turns across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 62.3 km practice loop near Kettering 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.
Along the way you'll meet Wicksteed Park Interchange, Burton Latimer Roundabout and Barton Road 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, churches, named junctions 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 155-step drive on real, named roads (about 58.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest.
8 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 Way100 m
Turn right to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way74 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way74 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way100 m
Turn left to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way73 m
Turn right to stay on Orion Way.
Orion Way159 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Pytchley Lane.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane28 m
Make a sharp right to stay on Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane27 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pytchley Lane.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane233 m
Move left onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road322 m
Turn right onto Patrick Road.
Patrick Road89 m
Turn left onto Northumberland Road.
Northumberland Road69 m
Turn right onto Devon Drive.
Devon Drive136 m
Turn right onto Northumberland Road.
Northumberland Road161 m
Turn right onto Hertford Road.
Hertford Road256 m
Turn left onto Devon Drive.
Devon Drive76 m
Turn right onto Northumberland Road.
Northumberland Road555 m
Turn right onto Sussex Road.
Sussex Road333 m
Turn left onto Patrick Road.
Patrick Road89 m
Turn left onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road582 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 1st exit onto Pytchley Lane.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane28 m
Make a sharp right to stay on Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane27 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Orion Way.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way151 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 6th exit onto Pytchley Road/A509.
160 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road1.3 km
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 Road793 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 Road263 m
Turn right onto Northfield Avenue.
Northfield Avenue201 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
20 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 Road462 m
Turn left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road577 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road266 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Broughton Interchange32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A144.9 km
Take exit 10.
401 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Bedford A6/Rushden/Higham Ferrers/Finedon.
226 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 Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Finedon Road.
Finedon Road103 m
Turn right onto Finedon Street.
Finedon Street341 m
Turn right onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way20 m
Turn left onto Park Road.
Park Road414 m
Turn left onto Regent Road.
Regent Road69 m
Turn right onto Glebe Road.
Glebe Road161 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road167 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane508 m
Turn left to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane2.0 km
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road985 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue660 m
Turn left onto Piper's Hill Road.
Piper's Hill Road92 m
Turn right onto Hillcrest Avenue.
Hillcrest Avenue149 m
Turn left onto Belvedere Road.
Belvedere Road135 m
Turn left onto Linden Avenue.
Linden Avenue126 m
Turn left onto Piper's Hill Road.
Piper's Hill Road204 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue630 m
Move left to stay on A6098.
A609845 m
Move left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road967 m
Turn right onto St Botolph's Road.
St Botolph's Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane1.3 km
Turn left onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way804 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street936 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kettering Road.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kettering Road.
Kettering Road171 m
Move left.
33 m
Enter Burton Latimer Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6/Kettering Road.
Burton Latimer Roundabout26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Kettering Road.
A6201 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barton Road/A6003.
144 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 Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane909 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Deeble Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road914 m
Turn left onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way560 m
Turn right onto Lomond Drive.
Lomond Drive245 m
Turn right onto St John's Road.
St John's Road547 m
Turn left onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road742 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue224 m
Turn left onto Saint Mary's Road/A6900.
Saint Mary's Road1.0 km
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road53 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road231 m
Turn right onto Sheep Street/A6003. Continue on A6003.
A6003334 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 2nd exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue223 m
Turn right onto Meadow Road.
Meadow Road426 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street146 m
Turn left onto Lower Street.
Lower Street85 m
Turn left onto Trafalgar Road.
Trafalgar Road325 m
Turn left onto Jutland Way.
Jutland Way130 m
Turn right onto Meadow Road.
Meadow Road108 m
Turn left onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue222 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 Road577 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road266 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Broughton Interchange32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A144.9 km
Take exit 10.
401 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Bedford A6/Rushden/Higham Ferrers/Finedon.
226 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 Road758 m
Turn right onto Pioneer Avenue.
Pioneer Avenue522 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road1.6 km
Turn right onto A509/Kettering Road.
A509433 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A509/Kettering Road.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A509/Kettering Road.
A509932 m
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Isham Road.
Wicksteed Park Interchange7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Isham Road.
Isham Road1.9 km
Turn right onto Kettering Road.
Kettering Road2.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Orion Way.
46 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.
401 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 Road539 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive28 m
Turn left onto Barton Road.
Barton Road243 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Kettering · Route 14 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Burton Latimer Roundabout, Barton Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 15.7 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.
Park House
Start near Park House.
Gateway Community Church
Continue to Gateway Community Church.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
Wicksteed Park Interchange
Continue to Wicksteed Park Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Burton Latimer Roundabout
Continue to Burton Latimer 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.
Piper
Continue to Piper.
Pepper
Continue to Pepper.
Barton Road Roundabout
Continue to Barton Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Abeona Nursery
Continue to Abeona Nursery.
Rhymetime Nursery
Continue to Rhymetime Nursery.
Averil Phillips & Family
Continue to Averil Phillips & Family.
Peacock
Continue to Peacock.
Toller United Reform Church
Continue to Toller United Reform Church.
All Saints, Pytchley
Continue to All Saints, Pytchley.
Overstone Arms
Continue to Overstone Arms.
BYD
Continue to BYD.
B&M Retail
Finish back near B&M Retail, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 11 turns
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 18 turns · 2 sets of lights
12 roundabouts · 12 turns
This route is 62.3 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Kettering test centre, not an official DVSA route.