Near Loughborough test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 19 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 88.6 km practice route near Loughborough test centre, taking roughly 45 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, Woodthorpe Roundabout and Forest 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, 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, 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 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 170-step drive on real, named roads (about 88.4 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 Road314 m
Turn left onto Queen's Road/A60. Continue on A60.
A60454 m
Keep left to stay on A60.
A60570 m
Turn right onto A6/Leicester Road.
A6282 m
Turn right onto A6/Barrow Street.
A693 m
Turn left onto Aumberry Gap.
Aumberry Gap75 m
Turn right onto Pinfold Gate.
Pinfold Gate61 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Pinfold Gate.
Pinfold Gate150 m
Turn left onto Leicester Road/B5350. Continue on Leicester Road.
Leicester Road180 m
Keep left to take A6.
A62.3 km
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road670 m
Keep right to stay on Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road429 m
Move right onto High Street.
High Street355 m
Turn left onto Leicester Road.
Leicester Road528 m
Keep right to stay on Leicester Road.
Leicester Road11 m
Turn right onto Wood Lane.
Wood Lane2.1 km
Keep left to stay on Wood Lane.
Wood Lane486 m
Keep left to take Swithland Lane.
Swithland Lane890 m
Keep left to stay on Swithland Lane.
Swithland Lane192 m
Keep left to stay on Swithland Lane.
Swithland Lane153 m
Keep left to stay on Swithland Lane.
Swithland Lane728 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road345 m
Turn left onto Thurcaston Lane.
Thurcaston Lane958 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.
A62.1 km
Turn right onto King Street/A60. Continue on A60.
A6085 m
Turn right onto Great Central Road.
Great Central Road215 m
Turn right onto King Edward Road.
King Edward Road152 m
Turn right onto Lime Avenue.
Lime Avenue131 m
Turn left onto Albert Promenade.
Albert Promenade225 m
Turn left onto Beeches Road.
Beeches Road247 m
Turn right onto King George Avenue.
King George Avenue196 m
Turn right onto King George Road.
King George Road64 m
Turn right onto Tuckers Road.
Tuckers Road190 m
Turn left onto Beeches Road.
Beeches Road270 m
Turn left onto A6/Leicester Road. Continue on A6.
A61.7 km
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6.
One Ash Roundabout16 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A632 m
Keep left to stay on A6.
A6110 m
Keep left to stay on A6.
A6265 m
Keep left to stay on A6.
A6134 m
Keep left to stay on A6.
A62.5 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.
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 Lane555 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 Lane199 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 Lane1.4 km
Turn left onto A6/Loughborough Road.
A61.2 km
Enter Wanlip Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Wanlip Roundabout136 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.
A62.1 km
Turn right onto King Street/A60. Continue on A60.
A601.0 km
Turn right onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road602 m
Move right to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road59 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road1.2 km
Keep left to take Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road103 m
Keep left to stay on Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road2.1 km
Turn right onto Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane106 m
Keep left to stay on Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane1.4 km
Keep left to take Prestwold Lane/B676.
Prestwold Lane3.2 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 Street948 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barrow Road.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barrow Road.
Barrow Road421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Farley Way.
71 m
Exit the roundabout onto Farley Way.
Farley Way915 m
Turn left onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road85 m
Keep right to stay on Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road496 m
Turn left onto Castledine Street.
Castledine Street115 m
Turn left onto Barrow Road.
Barrow Road74 m
Turn right onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road981 m
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
One Ash Roundabout12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
Terry Yardley Way698 m
Keep right to stay on Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
Terry Yardley Way158 m
Enter Woodthorpe Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ling Road/A6004.
Woodthorpe Roundabout60 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ling Road/A6004.
Ling Road804 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Ling Road/A6004.
Park Road Roundabout100 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ling Road/A6004.
Ling Road800 m
Enter Woodthorpe Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Ling Road/A6004.
Woodthorpe Roundabout144 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ling Road/A6004.
Ling Road804 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Park Road.
Park Road Roundabout4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road122 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Park Road.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road759 m
Turn right onto Silverton Road.
Silverton Road254 m
Turn right onto Farndale Drive.
Farndale Drive74 m
Keep right to stay on Farndale Drive.
Farndale Drive98 m
Move right to stay on Farndale Drive.
Farndale Drive59 m
Make a sharp left to stay on Farndale Drive.
Farndale Drive405 m
Turn left onto Pytchley Drive.
Pytchley Drive189 m
Turn right onto Belvoir Drive.
Belvoir Drive392 m
Keep left to take Valley Road.
Valley Road169 m
Turn right onto Outwoods Road.
Outwoods Road612 m
Enter Outwoods Drive and take the 2nd exit onto Outwoods Avenue.
Outwoods Drive33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Outwoods Avenue.
Outwoods Avenue62 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Outwoods Avenue.
Outwoods Avenue62 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Outwoods Drive.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Outwoods Drive.
Outwoods Drive145 m
Keep left to stay on Outwoods Drive.
Outwoods Drive331 m
Turn right onto Forest Road.
Forest Road373 m
Enter Forest Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Forest Road Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way833 m
Enter Ashby Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Ashby Road Roundabout46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way441 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 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout63 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 Road546 m
Keep right to stay on Ashby Road/A512.
Ashby Road143 m
Turn right onto Radmoor Road.
Radmoor Road480 m
Turn right to stay on Radmoor Road.
Radmoor Road370 m
Turn right onto York Road.
York Road219 m
Turn right onto William Street.
William Street150 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 Street41 m
Turn right onto Browns Lane.
Browns Lane349 m
Turn right onto Royland Road/B5350.
Royland Road119 m
Move right to stay on 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 13 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.
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 Woodthorpe Roundabout, Forest Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 35.6 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.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Start near BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.
Loughborough Mosque and Islamic Cultural Association
Continue to Loughborough Mosque and Islamic Cultural Association.
Kilo Wine Bar
Continue to Kilo Wine Bar.
Wheatsheaf
Continue to Wheatsheaf.
Ashton Green Road
Continue to Ashton Green Road, taking the junction with good observation.
I G Muddimer
Continue to I G Muddimer.
Davies & Stevens
Continue to Davies & Stevens.
Rothley Court
Continue to Rothley Court.
Loughborough
Continue to Loughborough.
Barrow Methodist Church
Continue to Barrow Methodist Church.
Soar Bridge Inn
Continue to Soar Bridge Inn.
Woodthorpe Roundabout
Continue to Woodthorpe Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Good Shepherd
Continue to Good Shepherd.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Continue to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Beacon Christian Centre
Continue to Beacon Christian Centre.
Forest Road Roundabout
Continue to Forest Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Lougborough Salvation Army Church and Community Centre
Continue to Lougborough Salvation Army Church and Community Centre.
Saint Mary's
Continue to Saint Mary's.
Church of the Resurrection
Continue to Church of the Resurrection.
Trinity Methodist Church
Finish back near Trinity Methodist Church, 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 88.6 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Loughborough test centre, not an official DVSA route.