Near Lincoln test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 23 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 78.8 km practice loop near Lincoln 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 Doddington Roundabout, Skellingthorpe Roundabout, Hykeham Roundabout and Mill Lane. 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 shops, named junctions, stations and pubs, 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 Lincoln 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 134-step drive on real, named roads (about 78.7 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
55 m
Turn right.
29 m
Turn left onto Earlsfield Close.
Earlsfield Close134 m
Turn right onto Sadler Road.
Sadler Road817 m
Turn left onto Doddington Road/B1190.
Doddington Road945 m
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A46.
Doddington Roundabout5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A46859 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Whisby Road.
100 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Doddington Road.
Doddington Road765 m
Turn right onto Black Lane.
Black Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto Lincoln Road/B1190.
Lincoln Road1.2 km
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A46.
Doddington Roundabout134 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A46772 m
Turn left onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road348 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Whisby Road.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Station Road.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Station Road.
Station Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Saint Davids Road.
Saint Davids Road226 m
Turn left onto Saint Peters Avenue.
Saint Peters Avenue34 m
Turn right onto Saint Clements Road.
Saint Clements Road130 m
Turn right onto Saint Hugh's Drive.
Saint Hugh's Drive64 m
Turn left onto Saint Aidens Road.
Saint Aidens Road130 m
Turn left onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road226 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A1434.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1434.
A14341.1 km
Turn left onto Tritton Road/A1192.
Tritton Road4.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brayford Way.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brayford Way.
Brayford Way471 m
Move left onto Carholme Road/B199.
Carholme Road141 m
Turn right onto Newland/B199.
Newland166 m
Turn left onto Orchard Street.
Orchard Street203 m
Turn right onto West Parade/B1308.
West Parade72 m
Move left onto Motherby Lane.
Motherby Lane141 m
Turn left onto Hungate.
Hungate80 m
Turn left onto Spring Hill.
Spring Hill210 m
Move left onto Drury Lane.
Drury Lane46 m
Turn right onto Union Road.
Union Road263 m
Turn right onto Westgate.
Westgate114 m
Turn left onto Chapel Lane.
Chapel Lane109 m
Turn right.
34 m
Make a right U-turn.
34 m
Turn left onto Chapel Lane.
Chapel Lane110 m
Turn right onto Westgate.
Westgate114 m
Move right onto Burton Road.
Burton Road167 m
Turn left onto Upper Long Leys Road.
Upper Long Leys Road328 m
Turn left onto Yarborough Road.
Yarborough Road594 m
Move right onto The Avenue/B1273.
The Avenue394 m
Move left onto Brayford Way.
Brayford Way472 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tritton Road/A1192.
102 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tritton Road/A1192. Continue on Tritton Road.
Tritton Road4.3 km
Turn right onto A1434.
A14341.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Newark Road/A1434.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road226 m
Turn right onto Saint Aidens Road.
Saint Aidens Road130 m
Turn right onto Saint Hugh's Drive.
Saint Hugh's Drive306 m
Turn left onto Saint Johns Avenue.
Saint Johns Avenue127 m
Turn left onto Saint Marys Road.
Saint Marys Road64 m
Turn right onto Saint Hugh's Drive.
Saint Hugh's Drive129 m
Turn left onto Saint Aidens Road.
Saint Aidens Road130 m
Turn right onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Nero Way.
Nero Way101 m
Make a left U-turn at Nero Way to stay on Nero Way.
Nero Way45 m
Turn left to stay on Nero Way.
Nero Way22 m
Turn right to stay on Nero Way.
Nero Way77 m
Turn right onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A1434.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1434.
A1434232 m
Turn right onto Dore Avenue.
Dore Avenue727 m
Turn left onto Mulberry Avenue.
Mulberry Avenue153 m
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway749 m
Turn left onto Fosse Drive.
Fosse Drive92 m
Turn right onto A1434.
A1434176 m
Turn left onto Tritton Road/A1192.
Tritton Road526 m
Turn left onto Doddington Road/B1190.
Doddington Road2.5 km
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A46.
Doddington Roundabout121 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A462.5 km
Enter Skellingthorpe Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lincoln Road.
Skellingthorpe Roundabout11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Lower Church Road.
Lower Church Road31 m
Make a sharp left to stay on Lower Church Road.
Lower Church Road48 m
Make a sharp left onto Church Road.
Church Road25 m
Move right onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road1.3 km
Enter Skellingthorpe Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A46.
Skellingthorpe Roundabout113 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A462.5 km
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A46.
Doddington Roundabout75 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A46772 m
Turn left onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road348 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Whisby Road.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Station Road.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Station Road.
Station Road2.4 km
Turn left onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road32 m
Turn right onto Chapel Lane.
Chapel Lane296 m
Turn left onto Middle Street.
Middle Street220 m
Move left onto School Lane.
School Lane175 m
Turn left onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road162 m
Turn right onto Moor Lane.
Moor Lane840 m
Turn left onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road2.2 km
Enter Hykeham Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A46.
Hykeham Roundabout103 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A462.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A46.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A46853 m
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 8th exit onto A46.
Doddington Roundabout422 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A46772 m
Turn left onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road348 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Whisby Road.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Station Road.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Station Road.
Station Road2.4 km
Turn right onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane923 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Mill Lane.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane774 m
Turn right onto Long Lane.
Long Lane599 m
Make a sharp right onto Boundary Lane.
Boundary Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road167 m
Turn left onto Thorpe Lane.
Thorpe Lane755 m
Turn right to stay on Thorpe Lane.
Thorpe Lane21 m
Turn left to stay on Thorpe Lane.
Thorpe Lane37 m
Turn right to stay on Thorpe Lane.
Thorpe Lane755 m
Turn right onto Newark Road/A1434.
Newark Road583 m
Enter Hykeham Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A46.
Hykeham Roundabout103 m
Exit the roundabout onto A46.
A462.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Whisby Road.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whisby Road.
Whisby Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Doddington Road.
Doddington Road765 m
Turn right onto Black Lane.
Black Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto Lincoln Road/B1190.
Lincoln Road1.2 km
Enter Doddington Roundabout and take the 6th exit onto Doddington Road/B1190.
Doddington Roundabout314 m
Exit the roundabout onto Doddington Road/B1190.
Doddington Road951 m
Turn right onto Sadler Road.
Sadler Road817 m
Turn left onto Earlsfield Close.
Earlsfield Close56 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Lincoln · Route 9 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
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 Doddington Roundabout, Skellingthorpe Roundabout, Hykeham Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 15.8 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, 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.
BP
Start near BP.
Doddington Roundabout
Continue to Doddington Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Hykeham
Continue to Hykeham.
Centurion
Continue to Centurion.
Nosey Parker
Continue to Nosey Parker.
Bridge House
Continue to Bridge House.
University of Lincoln
Continue to University of Lincoln.
Horse and Groom
Continue to Horse and Groom.
St Faith and St Martin Church of England Junior School
Continue to St Faith and St Martin Church of England Junior School.
Elite Fish & Chip Company
Continue to Elite Fish & Chip Company.
NXS Computers
Continue to NXS Computers.
Fox and Hounds
Continue to Fox and Hounds.
Poachers Den
Continue to Poachers Den.
Bluebells Lincoln Ltd
Continue to Bluebells Lincoln Ltd.
Swan Holme Tavern
Continue to Swan Holme Tavern.
Skellingthorpe Roundabout
Continue to Skellingthorpe Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Ark Church
Continue to Ark Church.
Parish Church of All Saints
Continue to Parish Church of All Saints.
Hykeham Roundabout
Continue to Hykeham Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Mill Lane
Finish back near Mill Lane, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 17 turns · 3 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 22 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 4 sets of lights
This route is 78.8 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Lincoln test centre, not an official DVSA route.