Near Kettering test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts and 12 turns across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 53.9 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 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 pubs, shops, churches and named junctions, 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 163-step drive on real, named roads (about 53.7 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 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 3rd exit.
51 m
Exit the roundabout.
256 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Kettering Road/A509.
60 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 Road163 m
Turn left onto Avondale Road.
Avondale Road518 m
Turn right onto Bath Road.
Bath Road215 m
Turn left onto Salisbury Street.
Salisbury Street201 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road146 m
Turn right onto Balfour Street.
Balfour Street207 m
Turn right onto Bath Road.
Bath Road360 m
Turn left onto Avondale Road.
Avondale Road519 m
Turn right onto Stamford Road/A4300.
Stamford Road163 m
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 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 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.
A142.5 km
Take exit 8 towards Kettering (W)/Northampton A43/(M1 South).
471 m
Enter Broughton Interchange and take the 5th exit onto Northampton Road/A6013.
Broughton Interchange442 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 Road605 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 Avenue688 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Supermarkets/Newlands/Shool Lane.
92 m
Exit the roundabout towards Supermarkets/Newlands/Shool Lane.
A4300482 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street140 m
Turn right onto Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close11 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close26 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close83 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn right onto Field Street.
Field Street142 m
Turn right onto Buccleuch Street.
Buccleuch Street226 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road693 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road583 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road359 m
Turn right onto Cleveland Avenue.
Cleveland Avenue860 m
Turn left onto Longfellow Drive.
Longfellow Drive141 m
Turn right to stay on Longfellow Drive.
Longfellow Drive126 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Longfellow Drive.
Longfellow Drive166 m
Turn left to stay on Longfellow Drive.
Longfellow Drive141 m
Turn right onto Cleveland Avenue.
Cleveland Avenue480 m
Turn left onto Carriage Drive.
Carriage Drive415 m
Turn right onto Brambleside.
Brambleside384 m
Turn left onto Pennine Way.
Pennine Way231 m
Move right onto Cotswold Avenue.
Cotswold Avenue203 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road309 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road757 m
Turn right onto Dryden Street.
Dryden Street216 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street67 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close11 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close26 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close83 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn right onto Field Street.
Field Street142 m
Turn right onto Buccleuch Street.
Buccleuch Street226 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road693 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road225 m
Turn right onto Blandford Avenue.
Blandford Avenue586 m
Turn right onto Hallwood Road.
Hallwood Road74 m
Turn right onto Neale Avenue.
Neale Avenue611 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road757 m
Turn right onto Dryden Street.
Dryden Street216 m
Turn left onto Field Street.
Field Street67 m
Turn left onto Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close11 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close26 m
Turn left to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close83 m
Turn right to stay on Rockingham Close.
Rockingham Close32 m
Turn right onto Field Street.
Field Street142 m
Turn right onto Buccleuch Street.
Buccleuch Street226 m
Turn right onto Rockingham Road/A6003.
Rockingham Road75 m
Turn left onto Regent Street.
Regent Street453 m
Turn right onto Nelson Street.
Nelson Street295 m
Turn left.
1 m
Make a right U-turn.
1 m
Turn right onto Bath Lane.
Bath Lane107 m
Turn left onto Bath Road.
Bath Road270 m
Turn right onto Montagu Street/A4300.
Montagu Street290 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street/A6900.
Victoria Street85 m
Turn left onto Alfred Street.
Alfred Street245 m
Turn left onto Thorngate Street.
Thorngate Street71 m
Turn right onto Montagu Street/A4300. Continue on A4300.
A4300502 m
Turn right 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 Avenue414 m
Turn left onto Ise Road.
Ise Road332 m
Turn right onto Cheyne Walk.
Cheyne Walk190 m
Turn right onto Hood Walk.
Hood Walk144 m
Turn right onto Mill Dale Road.
Mill Dale Road171 m
Turn left onto Ise Road.
Ise Road170 m
Turn left onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue399 m
Turn left onto Pebbleford Road.
Pebbleford Road181 m
Turn left onto Cheyne Walk.
Cheyne Walk351 m
Turn left onto Ise Road.
Ise Road332 m
Turn right onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue416 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Windmill Avenue/A6098.
Windmill Avenue1.1 km
Move left to stay on A6098.
A609845 m
Move left onto Barton Road/A6003. Continue on Barton Road.
Barton Road2.6 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 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 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 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 8 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.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
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 9.3 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.
Park House
Start near Park House.
Atlantis Fish Bar
Continue to Atlantis Fish Bar.
Cordwainer
Continue to Cordwainer.
M & J Local
Continue to M & J Local.
Lock'nStore
Continue to Lock'nStore.
Vision Express
Continue to Vision Express.
All Saints, Pytchley
Continue to All Saints, Pytchley.
Wicksteed Park Interchange
Continue to Wicksteed Park Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Trading Post
Continue to Trading Post.
Quakers Friends' Meeting House
Continue to Quakers Friends' Meeting House.
Queen of Hearts Nursery and Pre-School
Continue to Queen of Hearts Nursery and Pre-School.
Youth Works Community College
Continue to Youth Works Community College.
Pocket Park
Continue to Pocket Park.
Beeswing
Continue to Beeswing.
Hyper Mart
Continue to Hyper Mart.
Carey Memorial Baptist Church
Continue to Carey Memorial Baptist Church.
Kettering Salvation Army
Continue to Kettering Salvation Army.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness.
Piper
Continue to Piper.
Barton Road Roundabout
Finish back near Barton Road Roundabout, 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 53.9 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.