Near Kettering test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts and 16 turns across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 53.7 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, Broughton Interchange and Burton Latimer 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, 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 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 171-step drive on real, named roads (about 54.1 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 3rd exit onto Pytchley Lane.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane107 m
Keep left to stay on Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane299 m
Keep right at the fork.
1.7 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street1.9 km
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Wicksteed Park Interchange6 m
Exit the roundabout.
6.0 km
Take exit 6.
44 m
Take exit 6.
307 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 Road249 m
Turn left onto Bowhill.
Bowhill465 m
Turn right onto Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane100 m
Turn left onto Westhill Drive.
Westhill Drive203 m
Turn left onto Westhill Close.
Westhill Close101 m
Turn right to stay on Westhill Close.
Westhill Close10 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Westhill Close.
Westhill Close10 m
Turn left to stay on Westhill Close.
Westhill Close101 m
Turn right onto Westhill Drive.
Westhill Drive203 m
Turn left onto Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane219 m
Keep left to stay on Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane167 m
Turn right onto Windermere Road.
Windermere Road717 m
Turn left onto Bowhill.
Bowhill358 m
Turn right onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road268 m
Turn right onto Gipsy Lane/B5323.
Gipsy Lane170 m
Turn right onto Bowhill.
Bowhill465 m
Turn left onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Northampton Road192 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Avenue/A6003.
Northfield Avenue20 m
Turn left onto Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road33 m
Keep right to stay on Northampton Road/A6003.
Northampton Road227 m
Turn right onto Station Road/B575.
Station Road231 m
Turn left onto Queensberry Road.
Queensberry Road86 m
Turn right onto The Crescent.
The Crescent878 m
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road362 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road233 m
Keep left to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road44 m
Turn right onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road659 m
Keep straight to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road675 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 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 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 1st exit onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
Burton Latimer Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6307 m
Enter Kettering Gateway Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Kettering Gateway Roundabout58 m
Exit the roundabout.
47 m
Move left onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A667 m
Keep straight to stay on A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6359 m
Keep left to stay on A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6102 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A691 m
Keep left to stay on A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6250 m
Keep left to stay on A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A61.6 km
Keep right to take A6/Burton Road.
A62.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6/Irthlingborough Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Irthlingborough Road.
A6273 m
Turn right onto Hawthorne Road.
Hawthorne Road113 m
Turn right onto Mulso Road.
Mulso Road270 m
Turn right onto Wellingborough Road/A510.
Wellingborough Road105 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A6/Irthlingborough Road.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Irthlingborough Road.
A6146 m
Turn left onto Allen Road.
Allen Road112 m
Turn left onto Rock Road.
Rock Road175 m
Turn left onto Thrapston Road/A510.
Thrapston Road74 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A6/Burton Road.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Burton Road.
A61.9 km
Keep left to stay on A6.
A61.7 km
Keep right to take A6/Burton Latimer Bypass.
A6467 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.
A141.6 km
Take exit 9.
377 m
Keep right at the fork.
75 m
Enter Wicksteed Park Interchange and take the 4th exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
Wicksteed Park Interchange221 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 3rd exit onto Pytchley Road/A509.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road680 m
Keep left to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road659 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 Road319 m
Turn left onto Hawthorn Road.
Hawthorn Road314 m
Turn left onto Garfield Street.
Garfield Street170 m
Turn left onto St Michael's Road.
St Michael's Road289 m
Turn right onto Seagrave Street.
Seagrave Street62 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hillside Avenue.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hillside Avenue.
Hillside Avenue221 m
Turn left onto Springfield Road.
Springfield Road197 m
Turn left onto Boddington Road.
Boddington Road203 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto London Road/A6003.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road793 m
Turn left onto Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road38 m
Make a right U-turn at Bowling Green Road/A6003 to stay on Bowling Green Road/A6003.
Bowling Green Road32 m
Turn right onto London Road/A6003.
London Road806 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto London Road/A6003.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto London Road/A6003.
London Road233 m
Keep left to stay on London Road/A6003.
London Road44 m
Turn right onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road659 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 3rd exit onto Pytchley Lane.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pytchley Lane.
Pytchley Lane232 m
Move left onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road415 m
Keep left to stay on Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road402 m
Turn left onto Bryant Road.
Bryant Road46 m
Keep left to stay on Bryant Road.
Bryant Road263 m
Keep right to stay on Bryant Road.
Bryant Road498 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 Road261 m
Turn left onto Martin Road.
Martin Road221 m
Move left onto Thomas Road.
Thomas Road89 m
Turn left onto Edward Road.
Edward Road171 m
Turn right onto Bryant Road.
Bryant Road80 m
Keep right to stay on Bryant Road.
Bryant Road498 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 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 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 6 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. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 24.5 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 (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.
Overstone Arms
Start near Overstone Arms.
All Saints, Pytchley
Continue to All Saints, Pytchley.
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.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
Bathroom Studio
Continue to Bathroom Studio.
St Peter's School
Continue to St Peter's School.
Sunnylands Nursery
Continue to Sunnylands Nursery.
Kids Planet Day Nursery
Continue to Kids Planet Day Nursery.
Wayfarers Inn
Continue to Wayfarers Inn.
Burton Latimer Roundabout
Continue to Burton Latimer Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Asda Express
Continue to Asda Express.
Oh My Cod
Continue to Oh My Cod.
McDonald's
Continue to McDonald's.
B&M Retail
Continue to B&M Retail.
St Michael & All Angels
Continue to St Michael & All Angels.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
St Edward's
Continue to St Edward's.
Mens Room
Continue to Mens Room.
Mikado Pheasant
Finish back near Mikado Pheasant, 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 53.7 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.