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Practice route
Challenging

Letchworth · Route 19

Near Letchworth test centre

49.1 km
Distance
40 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Challenging

Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 14 turns and 1 signalled junction across 26 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 49.1 km practice route near Letchworth 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 Biggleswade South Roundabout, Biggleswade North Roundabout and Sollershott Circus. 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 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 schools, pubs, shops and churches, 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 Letchworth 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

5
Left turns
9
Right turns
10
Roundabouts
1
Traffic lights
26
Total steps

Skills & features

34
Roundabouts
20.5 km
Dual carriageway
20, 30, 40, 60, 70 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • National-speed roads
  • 20 mph zones
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • Trunk roads 20.5 km
  • Residential 9.6 km
  • A-roads 8.4 km
  • Minor roads 6.8 km
  • B-roads 2.8 km
  • service_other 0.2 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 79-step drive on real, named roads (about 49.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive south.

    22 m

  2. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place93 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place145 m

  4. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place335 m

  5. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place141 m

  6. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Pixmore Avenue.

    Pixmore Avenue453 m

  7. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Birds Hill.

    Birds Hill436 m

  8. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Station Road.

    20 m

  9. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Station Road.

    Station Road400 m

  10. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Station Place.

    42 m

  11. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Station Place.

    Station Place408 m

  12. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Birds Hill.

    27 m

  13. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Birds Hill.

    Birds Hill134 m

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Ridge Road.

    Ridge Road256 m

  15. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Ridge Road.

    Ridge Road155 m

  16. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Ridge Road.

    Ridge Road322 m

  17. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Birds Hill.

    Birds Hill135 m

  18. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Norton Way North.

    37 m

  19. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Norton Way North.

    Norton Way North322 m

  20. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Icknield Way.

    Icknield Way682 m

  21. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Cowslip Hill.

    Cowslip Hill689 m

  22. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wilbury Road.

    Wilbury Road266 m

  23. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Longmead.

    Longmead439 m

  24. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Cowslip Hill.

    Cowslip Hill221 m

  25. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wilbury Road.

    Wilbury Road456 m

  26. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Grange Road.

    Grange Road376 m

  27. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Southfields.

    Southfields103 m

  28. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Woodhurst.

    Woodhurst283 m

  29. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Orchard Way.

    Orchard Way574 m

  30. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Southern Way.

    21 m

  31. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Southern Way.

    Southern Way921 m

  32. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Western Way.

    Western Way381 m

  33. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Western Way.

    41 m

  34. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Western Way.

    Western Way206 m

  35. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Heathermere.

    Heathermere272 m

  36. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Southfields.

    Southfields129 m

  37. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Sherwood.

    Sherwood159 m

  38. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Midhurst.

    Midhurst170 m

  39. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Western Way.

    Western Way298 m

  40. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Woodhurst.

    Woodhurst283 m

  41. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Southfields.

    Southfields434 m

  42. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Eastern Way.

    Eastern Way267 m

  43. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Norton Road.

    Norton Road3.6 km

  44. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A507.

    113 m

  45. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A507.

    A5071.2 km

  46. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.

    25 m

  47. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15/London Road.

    A17.0 km

  48. Roundabout:

    Enter Biggleswade South Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1/E 15/Biggleswade Bypass.

    Biggleswade South Roundabout88 m

  49. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15/Biggleswade Bypass.

    A13.6 km

  50. Roundabout:

    Enter Biggleswade North Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A1/E 15/Biggleswade Bypass.

    Biggleswade North Roundabout146 m

  51. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15/Biggleswade Bypass.

    A13.6 km

  52. Roundabout:

    Enter Biggleswade South Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1/E 15/London Road.

    Biggleswade South Roundabout71 m

  53. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15/London Road.

    A16.5 km

  54. Take exit:

    Take exit 10 onto A507 towards Baldock/Stotfold.

    514 m

  55. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A507.

    27 m

  56. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A507.

    A507175 m

  57. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Great North Road/A507.

    65 m

  58. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Great North Road/A507. Continue on A507.

    A5072.7 km

  59. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Whitehorse Street/B656. Continue on B656.

    B6562.0 km

  60. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Baldock Road/B656.

    34 m

  61. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Baldock Road/B656.

    Baldock Road647 m

  62. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Baldock Road/A505.

    37 m

  63. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Baldock Road/A505. Continue on A505.

    A5051.8 km

  64. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Highfield.

    Highfield229 m

  65. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Sollershott West.

    Sollershott West462 m

  66. Roundabout:

    Enter Sollershott Circus and take the 4th exit onto Spring Road.

    Sollershott Circus64 m

  67. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Spring Road.

    Spring Road268 m

  68. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Baldock Road/A505.

    Baldock Road1.3 km

  69. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Baldock Road/B656.

    21 m

  70. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Baldock Road/B656.

    Baldock Road60 m

  71. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Pixmore Avenue.

    Pixmore Avenue386 m

  72. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wissen Drive.

    Wissen Drive228 m

  73. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Wissen Drive.

    Wissen Drive57 m

  74. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Wissen Drive.

    Wissen Drive134 m

  75. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Pixmore Avenue.

    Pixmore Avenue136 m

  76. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place141 m

  77. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place145 m

  78. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Jackmans Place.

    Jackmans Place62 m

  79. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Letchworth · Route 19 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • Biggleswade South Roundabout
  • Biggleswade North Roundabout
  • Sollershott Circus

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Baldock

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Kattz Kidz

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Salvation Army
  • Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
  • St Nicholas's Church
  • Saint Mary the Virgin
  • St Paul's

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Waiting Room
  • Three Horseshoes
  • Engine
  • Victoria

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Little Lock Shop
  • Coral
  • Gem Unisex Salon
  • Kims

Watch out for

  • Multiple roundabouts

    Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Biggleswade South Roundabout, Biggleswade North Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.

  • Dual-carriageway join

    About 20.5 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.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Kattz Kidz

    Start near Kattz Kidz.

  2. Waiting Room

    Continue to Waiting Room.

  3. Little Lock Shop

    Continue to Little Lock Shop.

  4. Salvation Army

    Continue to Salvation Army.

  5. Coral

    Continue to Coral.

  6. Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses

    Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  7. Gem Unisex Salon

    Continue to Gem Unisex Salon.

  8. Kims

    Continue to Kims.

  9. St Nicholas's Church

    Continue to St Nicholas's Church.

  10. Three Horseshoes

    Continue to Three Horseshoes.

  11. Biggleswade South Roundabout

    Continue to Biggleswade South Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  12. Biggleswade North Roundabout

    Continue to Biggleswade North Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  13. Next

    Continue to Next.

  14. Baldock

    Continue to Baldock.

  15. Engine

    Continue to Engine.

  16. Saint Mary the Virgin

    Continue to Saint Mary the Virgin.

  17. Victoria

    Continue to Victoria.

  18. St Paul's

    Continue to St Paul's.

  19. Sollershott Circus

    Continue to Sollershott Circus, taking the junction with good observation.

  20. Premier Basra Stores

    Finish back near Premier Basra Stores, completing the loop.

More routes at Letchworth test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 49.1 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Letchworth test centre, not an official DVSA route.