Near Kettering test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 13 turns and 1 signalled junction across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 64.9 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, Broughton Interchange 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, 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 churches, pubs, 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 112-step drive on real, named roads (about 64.7 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 Lane2.1 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 onto A14/E 24.
A146.0 km
Take exit 6.
351 m
Turn left to take the ramp.
A148.0 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 Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane671 m
Turn left to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane106 m
Turn left to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane182 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Deeble Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road1.1 km
Turn left onto St John's Road.
St John's Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Saint Matthew's Road.
Saint Matthew's Road273 m
Turn left onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road713 m
Turn left onto St John's Road.
St John's Road197 m
Turn left onto Templar Road.
Templar Road222 m
Turn left onto Churchill Way.
Churchill Way200 m
Turn right onto Deeble Road.
Deeble Road237 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 left to stay on Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Warkton Lane.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Warkton Lane.
Warkton Lane1.6 km
Turn left onto Pipe Lane.
Pipe Lane1.5 km
Turn left onto Stamford Road/A4300.
Stamford Road1.3 km
Move left onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue723 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
Turn right onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road317 m
Turn left onto Pytchley Road/A509.
Pytchley Road1.3 km
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 towards Wellingboro'/A509/Isham/Gt Harrowden.
Wicksteed Park Interchange166 m
Exit the roundabout towards Wellingboro'/A509/Isham/Gt Harrowden.
A509936 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A509/Kettering Road.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A509/Kettering Road. Continue on A509.
A5095.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Northen Way/A510.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northen Way/A510.
Northen Way1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Stewarts Road/A510.
70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stewarts Road/A510.
Stewarts Road553 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Sanders Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sanders Road.
Sanders Road154 m
Turn right onto Paterson Road.
Paterson Road96 m
Turn right onto Links Road.
Links Road232 m
Turn left.
165 m
Make a right U-turn.
165 m
Turn right onto Links Road.
Links Road232 m
Turn left onto Paterson Road.
Paterson Road96 m
Turn left onto Sanders Road.
Sanders Road145 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Stewarts Road/A510.
68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stewarts Road/A510.
Stewarts Road559 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Northen Way/A510.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northen Way/A510.
Northen Way1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A509/Kettering Road.
73 m
Exit the roundabout onto A509/Kettering Road. Continue on A509.
A5095.4 km
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 3rd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
Wicksteed Park Interchange175 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 Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Barton Road/A6003.
Barton Road290 m
Move left onto A6098.
A60981.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue726 m
Move right onto Stamford Road/A4300.
Stamford Road635 m
Turn right to stay on Stamford Road.
Stamford Road28 m
Turn left to stay on Stamford Road.
Stamford Road85 m
Make a left U-turn at Stamford Road onto Stamford Road/A4300.
Stamford Road746 m
Turn right onto Stamford Road/A4300. Continue on A4300.
A4300729 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street/A6900.
Victoria Street243 m
Turn right onto Queen Street/A6900.
Queen Street219 m
Turn left onto Horsemarket/A6900.
Horsemarket21 m
Move right to stay on Horsemarket/A6900.
Horsemarket1.1 km
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 Road1.3 km
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 1st exit onto Orion Way.
6 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 7 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 27.4 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.
All Saints, Pytchley
Start near All Saints, Pytchley.
Overstone Arms
Continue to Overstone Arms.
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.
Abeona Nursery
Continue to Abeona Nursery.
Barton Road Roundabout
Continue to Barton Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Ise Lodge News
Continue to Ise Lodge News.
Woolcomber
Continue to Woolcomber.
St John's
Continue to St John's.
Piper
Continue to Piper.
Park House
Continue to Park House.
Saint Peters Church
Continue to Saint Peters Church.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Isham Quickstop
Continue to Isham Quickstop.
Warren
Continue to Warren.
Windmill Club
Continue to Windmill Club.
Pollard Evangelical Church
Continue to Pollard Evangelical Church.
Praise Community Church Centre
Continue to Praise Community Church Centre.
McDonald's
Finish back near McDonald's, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 11 turns
8 roundabouts · 13 turns
8 roundabouts · 18 turns · 2 sets of lights
12 roundabouts · 12 turns
This route is 64.9 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.