Near Loughborough test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 19 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 55.7 km practice route near Loughborough 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 Ashton Green Road and One Ash 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, 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 churches, schools, shops and stations, 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 Loughborough 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 136-step drive on real, named roads (about 57.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest.
80 m
Turn left onto Gordon Road.
Gordon Road61 m
Turn right onto Station Boulevard/A6004.
Station Boulevard440 m
Turn right onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road654 m
Turn left onto Sparrow Hill.
Sparrow Hill282 m
Move left onto A6/Jubilee Way.
A695 m
Turn left onto Moor Lane.
Moor Lane313 m
Turn left onto Wharncliffe Road/A60. Continue on A60.
A60692 m
Turn left onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road340 m
Turn left onto Sparrow Hill.
Sparrow Hill250 m
Make a right U-turn onto Pinfold Gate.
Pinfold Gate206 m
Keep right to take Sparrow Hill.
Sparrow Hill34 m
Turn left onto Baxter Gate.
Baxter Gate65 m
Keep straight to stay on Baxter Gate.
Baxter Gate35 m
Turn right onto A6/Lemyngton Street.
A6128 m
Turn left onto Church Gate.
Church Gate29 m
Turn right onto Stone Yard.
Stone Yard59 m
Turn right onto Biggin Street.
Biggin Street26 m
Turn left onto A6/Fennel Street.
A6200 m
Turn right onto A6/Bridge Street.
A6263 m
Turn right onto Rectory Road.
Rectory Road42 m
Keep left to stay on Rectory Road.
Rectory Road
Keep left to stay on Rectory Road.
Rectory Road51 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Rectory Road.
Rectory Road94 m
Turn left onto Toothill Road/B589. Continue on B589.
B589178 m
Keep right to take Bridge Street.
Bridge Street260 m
Turn left onto The Rushes/A512. Continue on A512.
A512245 m
Turn right onto Derby Square/A512. Continue on A512.
A512178 m
Keep right to stay on A512.
A51223 m
Turn left onto Frederick Street.
Frederick Street280 m
Turn right onto Arthur Street.
Arthur Street144 m
Turn right onto William Street.
William Street58 m
Turn right onto Curzon Street.
Curzon Street44 m
Keep straight to stay on Curzon Street.
Curzon Street76 m
Turn right onto Frederick Street.
Frederick Street60 m
Turn right onto Arthur Street.
Arthur Street348 m
Turn left onto Burfield Avenue.
Burfield Avenue178 m
Turn left onto Frederick Street.
Frederick Street102 m
Keep left to stay on Frederick Street.
Frederick Street113 m
Turn left onto Arthur Street.
Arthur Street144 m
Turn right onto William Street.
William Street23 m
Turn left onto Burleigh Road.
Burleigh Road118 m
Turn right onto Chestnut Street.
Chestnut Street137 m
Turn left onto Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road293 m
Keep left to stay on Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road547 m
Enter Ashby Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Ashby Road Roundabout97 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way441 m
Enter Alan Moss Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Alan Moss Road/A6004.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout109 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alan Moss Road/A6004.
Alan Moss Road632 m
Turn left onto Tyler Avenue.
Tyler Avenue295 m
Turn left onto Knightthorpe Road.
Knightthorpe Road667 m
Turn right onto Epinal Way.
Epinal Way367 m
Enter Warwick Way Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Epinal Way.
Warwick Way Roundabout89 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way.
Epinal Way504 m
Keep right to stay on Epinal Way.
Epinal Way69 m
Enter Alan Moss Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way241 m
Turn right onto Garendon Road.
Garendon Road314 m
Turn left onto Garendon Green.
Garendon Green64 m
Turn right to stay on Garendon Green.
Garendon Green779 m
Turn right onto Schofield Road.
Schofield Road129 m
Move right onto Thorpe Hill.
Thorpe Hill426 m
Move right onto Alan Moss Road.
Alan Moss Road220 m
Keep right to stay on Alan Moss Road.
Alan Moss Road500 m
Enter Alan Moss Road Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout109 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way443 m
Enter Ashby Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road547 m
Keep right to stay on Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road107 m
Turn left onto Storer Road.
Storer Road218 m
Turn left onto Fearon Street.
Fearon Street143 m
Turn left onto Cumberland Road.
Cumberland Road74 m
Turn right onto Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road437 m
Enter Ashby Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Ashby Road Roundabout97 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way442 m
Enter Alan Moss Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way.
Epinal Way76 m
Keep straight to stay on Epinal Way.
Epinal Way505 m
Enter Warwick Way Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Epinal Way.
Warwick Way Roundabout89 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way.
Epinal Way449 m
Keep right to stay on Epinal Way.
Epinal Way124 m
Enter Alan Moss Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alan Moss Road/A6004.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alan Moss Road/A6004.
Alan Moss Road836 m
Turn right onto A6/Derby Road. Continue on A6.
A6535 m
Move left onto A6/Bridge Street.
A6900 m
Turn left onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road560 m
Move right to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road59 m
Keep left to stay on A60.
A601.3 km
Keep left to stay on Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road2.1 km
Turn right onto Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane1.5 km
Keep left to take Prestwold Lane/B676.
Prestwold Lane169 m
Keep left to stay on Prestwold Lane/B676.
Prestwold Lane3.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Nottingham Road.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road83 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road838 m
Enter Jerusalem Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bridge Street.
Jerusalem Roundabout41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street949 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A61.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A62.3 km
Take the exit.
367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit.
51 m
Exit the roundabout.
113 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Loughborough Road.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road100 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Loughborough Road.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Hallfields Lane.
Hallfields Lane554 m
Keep straight to stay on Hallfields Lane.
Hallfields Lane160 m
Turn left onto Town Green Street.
Town Green Street232 m
Turn right onto Wellsic Lane.
Wellsic Lane200 m
Move left onto Westfield Lane.
Westfield Lane1.2 km
Move left onto Station Road.
Station Road344 m
Turn left onto Thurcaston Lane.
Thurcaston Lane41 m
Keep left to stay on Thurcaston Lane.
Thurcaston Lane916 m
Turn left onto Leicester Road.
Leicester Road23 m
Keep left to stay on Leicester Road.
Leicester Road1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ashton Green Road.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ashton Green Road.
Ashton Green Road535 m
Turn left onto Greengate Lane.
Greengate Lane419 m
Keep right to stay on Greengate Lane.
Greengate Lane1.0 km
Turn left onto A6/Loughborough Road.
A61.2 km
Enter Wanlip Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6.
Wanlip Roundabout137 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A6788 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A64.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A63.0 km
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A6/Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout106 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Loughborough Road. Continue on A6.
A62.4 km
Move left onto Southfield Road/B5350. Continue on B5350.
B5350531 m
Move right onto Royland Road/B5350.
Royland Road87 m
Move right onto Forest Road/B5350. Continue on B5350.
B5350158 m
Keep right to stay on B5350.
B5350512 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Loughborough · Route 12 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 One Ash Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 15.3 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 (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.
Geeta Bhawan
Start near Geeta Bhawan.
Junction Church
Continue to Junction Church.
King's Church Loughborough
Continue to King's Church Loughborough.
Loughborough United Reformed Church
Continue to Loughborough United Reformed Church.
Lougborough Salvation Army Church and Community Centre
Continue to Lougborough Salvation Army Church and Community Centre.
Saint Mary's
Continue to Saint Mary's.
Knightthorpe Methodist Church
Continue to Knightthorpe Methodist Church.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Continue to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Upper School Block K
Continue to Upper School Block K.
St Peter's Centre
Continue to St Peter's Centre.
Kriss Morrison Cooper Funeral Directors
Continue to Kriss Morrison Cooper Funeral Directors.
Loughborough
Continue to Loughborough.
Barrow Methodist Church
Continue to Barrow Methodist Church.
Soar Bridge Inn
Continue to Soar Bridge Inn.
Rothley Court
Continue to Rothley Court.
Wheatsheaf
Continue to Wheatsheaf.
Ashton Green Road
Continue to Ashton Green Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Dolphin Autocentre
Continue to Dolphin Autocentre.
One Ash Roundabout
Continue to One Ash Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Wheeltapper
Finish back near Wheeltapper, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 12 turns · 5 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 21 turns · 7 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 21 turns · 4 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 10 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 55.7 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Loughborough test centre, not an official DVSA route.