Near Kettering test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 11 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 39.3 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, Barton Road Roundabout and Broughton 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, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads, independent driving 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 shops, pubs, named junctions 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 122-step drive on real, named roads (about 39.6 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 Road341 m
Turn left onto Bryant Road.
Bryant Road809 m
Turn left onto Highfield Crescent.
Highfield Crescent189 m
Turn left to stay on Highfield Crescent.
Highfield Crescent105 m
Turn right onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road41 m
Turn right to stay on Highfield Road.
Highfield Road279 m
Keep left to take Bryant Road.
Bryant Road154 m
Turn left onto Edward Road.
Edward Road171 m
Turn right onto Thomas Road.
Thomas Road89 m
Move right onto Martin Road.
Martin Road221 m
Turn right onto Bryant Road.
Bryant Road187 m
Keep right to stay on Bryant Road.
Bryant Road498 m
Turn left onto Highfield Crescent.
Highfield Crescent190 m
Turn left to stay on Highfield Crescent.
Highfield Crescent105 m
Turn right onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road41 m
Turn right to stay on Highfield Road.
Highfield Road279 m
Keep left to take Bryant Road.
Bryant Road384 m
Turn right onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road371 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.
71 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 3rd 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 Drive107 m
Turn right onto Belvoir Drive.
Belvoir Drive400 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive268 m
Turn left onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road650 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 Road172 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Deeble Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road180 m
Keep left to stay on Deeble Road.
Deeble Road788 m
Keep left to stay on Deeble Road.
Deeble Road190 m
Turn left onto Saint Catherine's Road.
Saint Catherine's Road783 m
Turn right onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane384 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Warkton Lane.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane182 m
Turn right to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane106 m
Turn right to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane671 m
Turn left onto Barton Road.
Barton Road1.1 km
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 3rd exit.
233 m
Exit the roundabout.
8.1 km
Take exit 6.
351 m
Turn left to take the ramp.
A142.5 km
Take exit 8 towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
52 m
Take exit 8 towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
105 m
Take exit 8 towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
105 m
Take exit 8 on the right towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
170 m
Take exit 8 on the right towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
36 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Broughton Interchange10 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 Road242 m
Keep left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road116 m
Keep left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road245 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 Avenue363 m
Keep left to stay on Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue119 m
Keep left to stay on Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue205 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards (A6003)/All routes avoiding low bridge/Corby.
52 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 Avenue686 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue20 m
Turn left onto Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road261 m
Turn right onto Station Road/B575.
Station Road231 m
Turn left onto Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road44 m
Keep right to stay on Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road618 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 right onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road88 m
Keep left to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road571 m
Keep straight to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road675 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 2 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 Barton Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 13.3 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 (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.
Lock'nStore
Start near Lock'nStore.
Plantool
Continue to Plantool.
Bryant Road Stores
Continue to Bryant Road Stores.
Mikado Pheasant
Continue to Mikado Pheasant.
Mens Room
Continue to Mens Room.
Park House
Continue to Park House.
Wicksteed Park Interchange
Continue to Wicksteed Park Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Barton Road Roundabout
Continue to Barton Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Shell Barton Seagrave
Continue to Shell Barton Seagrave.
Atlantis Fish Bar
Continue to Atlantis Fish Bar.
Piper
Continue to Piper.
Abeona Nursery
Continue to Abeona Nursery.
Broughton Interchange
Continue to Broughton Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
Lidl
Continue to Lidl.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Mr Tyre Kettering
Continue to Mr Tyre Kettering.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
Kids Planet Day Nursery
Continue to Kids Planet Day Nursery.
Wayfarers Inn
Finish back near Wayfarers Inn, 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 39.3 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.