Near Kettering test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts and 11 turns across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 73.1 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 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, 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, shops 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 199-step drive on real, named roads (about 80.5 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 2nd exit onto Holdenby.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holdenby.
Holdenby219 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Holdenby.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holdenby.
Holdenby331 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Holdenby.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holdenby.
Holdenby218 m
Turn right onto Boughton.
Boughton186 m
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 4th exit.
Wicksteed Park Interchange207 m
Exit the roundabout.
6.0 km
Take exit 6.
44 m
Take exit 6.
307 m
Turn left to take the ramp.
A148.0 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 Road286 m
Enter Barton Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road Roundabout79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road282 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue256 m
Keep left to stay on Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue89 m
Turn right onto Belvoir Drive.
Belvoir Drive147 m
Turn right onto Beaufort Drive.
Beaufort Drive154 m
Turn left onto Finch Drive.
Finch Drive147 m
Turn left onto Linnet Drive.
Linnet Drive101 m
Turn left onto Belvoir Drive.
Belvoir Drive329 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue107 m
Turn right onto Cottesmore Avenue.
Cottesmore Avenue353 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue127 m
Keep left to take Grosvenor Road.
Grosvenor Road201 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane831 m
Turn left.
12 m
Turn left.
96 m
Turn left.
19 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane844 m
Turn left onto Radnor Way.
Radnor Way84 m
Keep left to stay on Radnor Way.
Radnor Way683 m
Turn left onto Woodland Avenue.
Woodland Avenue456 m
Keep left to take Grosvenor Road.
Grosvenor Road201 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane832 m
Turn left.
12 m
Turn left.
96 m
Turn left.
19 m
Turn right onto Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane901 m
Keep right to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane654 m
Turn right to stay on Polwell Lane.
Polwell Lane605 m
Keep left to take Bridle Road.
Bridle Road266 m
Turn left onto Nene Road.
Nene Road200 m
Turn left onto Park Road.
Park Road138 m
Turn left onto Regent Road.
Regent Road69 m
Turn right onto Glebe Road.
Glebe Road161 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road166 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 right onto Barton Road/A6003. Continue on Barton Road.
Barton Road571 m
Turn left onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane432 m
Keep left to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane103 m
Keep left to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane373 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Deeble Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road781 m
Keep right to stay on Deeble Road.
Deeble Road132 m
Turn left onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way569 m
Keep right to stay on Churchill Way.
Churchill Way125 m
Turn left onto St John's Road.
St John's Road319 m
Keep right to stay on St John's Road.
St John's Road559 m
Turn right onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road103 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Warkton Lane.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane909 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 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
Turn right onto Finedon Road.
Finedon Road198 m
Turn right onto Whitney Road.
Whitney Road324 m
Turn right onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way97 m
Turn right onto Finedon Street.
Finedon Street341 m
Turn left onto Finedon Road.
Finedon Road103 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street325 m
Keep right to stay on High Street.
High Street581 m
Keep right to take Kettering Road.
Kettering Road410 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.
A6213 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 2nd exit.
Broughton Interchange228 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 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 Road6 m
Keep right to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road455 m
Turn left to stay on Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road323 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 Road266 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Broughton Interchange32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A142.8 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 right at the fork.
100 m
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 5th exit onto Isham Road.
Wicksteed Park Interchange262 m
Exit the roundabout onto Isham Road.
Isham Road1.9 km
Turn right onto Kettering Road.
Kettering Road30 m
Keep left to stay on Kettering Road.
Kettering Road1.6 km
Keep left to take Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane406 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Orion Way.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Orion Way.
Orion Way150 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 6th exit.
Wicksteed Park Interchange255 m
Exit the roundabout onto A14/E 24.
A146.0 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 Way153 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 3 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 32.5 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.
Wicksteed Park Interchange
Continue to Wicksteed Park Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Broughton Interchange
Continue to Broughton Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
M&S Simply Food
Continue to M&S Simply Food.
Building Blocks Christian Day Nursery
Continue to Building Blocks Christian Day Nursery.
Stirrup Cup
Continue to Stirrup Cup.
Barton Chippy
Continue to Barton Chippy.
Glebe Stores
Continue to Glebe Stores.
Abeona Nursery
Continue to Abeona Nursery.
Rhymetime Nursery
Continue to Rhymetime Nursery.
Church of St Nihcolas Owen
Continue to Church of St Nihcolas Owen.
Apple Tree Day Nurseries
Continue to Apple Tree Day Nurseries.
Burton Latimer Methodist Churc
Continue to Burton Latimer Methodist Churc.
Toller United Reform Church
Continue to Toller United Reform Church.
Peacock
Continue to Peacock.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
All Saints, Pytchley
Continue to All Saints, Pytchley.
Overstone Arms
Continue to Overstone Arms.
Vision Express
Continue to Vision Express.
B&M Retail
Finish back near B&M Retail, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 13 turns
8 roundabouts · 18 turns · 2 sets of lights
12 roundabouts · 12 turns
This route is 73.1 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.