Near Loughborough test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 22 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 79.4 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 Woodthorpe Roundabout 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, 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, named junctions, shops 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 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 194-step drive on real, named roads (about 79.6 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.
Leicester Road105 m
Turn right onto Southfield Road/B5350. Continue on B5350.
B5350514 m
Move right onto Royland Road/B5350.
Royland Road64 m
Turn left onto Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road19 m
Turn left to stay on Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road653 m
Enter Forest Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Forest Road.
Forest Road Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Forest Road.
Forest Road243 m
Turn left onto Holt Drive.
Holt Drive24 m
Turn right to stay on Holt Drive.
Holt Drive23 m
Turn right onto Forest Road.
Forest Road270 m
Enter Forest Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road Roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road156 m
Turn right to take the ramp.
Wallace Road374 m
Turn left onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road102 m
Turn right onto Mayfield Drive.
Mayfield Drive344 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road498 m
Turn right to stay on Park Road.
Park Road127 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Park Road.
Park Road Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road122 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Park Road.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road124 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Park Road.
Park Road Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road126 m
Turn left to stay on Park Road.
Park Road403 m
Turn left onto Oliver Road.
Oliver Road133 m
Turn left onto Middleton Place.
Middleton Place121 m
Turn left onto Charnwood Road.
Charnwood Road71 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road279 m
Turn right to stay on Park Road.
Park Road127 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Park Road.
Park Road Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road122 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Park Road.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road.
Park Road124 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ling Road/A6004.
Park Road Roundabout68 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ling Road/A6004.
Ling Road800 m
Enter Woodthorpe Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
Woodthorpe Roundabout54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
Terry Yardley Way157 m
Keep straight to stay on Terry Yardley Way/A6004.
Terry Yardley Way683 m
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6/Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout4 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 Road42 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street/B589.
Clarence Street242 m
Turn right onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane528 m
Turn right onto Station Boulevard.
Station Boulevard60 m
Keep left to take Station Boulevard/A6004.
Station Boulevard501 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 left onto A6/Leicester Road.
A62.1 km
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Sarson Street.
Sarson Street67 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 2nd exit onto A6/Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Loughborough Road.
A62.4 km
Turn right onto A6/Barrow Street. Continue on A6.
A6739 m
Turn right onto A6/Bridge Street.
A616 m
Turn right onto A6/Fennel Street.
A61.3 km
Move right onto Royland Road/B5350.
Royland Road87 m
Move right onto Forest Road/B5350. Continue on B5350.
B5350158 m
Keep left to take Ward's End.
Ward's End132 m
Turn right onto South Street.
South Street84 m
Turn left onto Woodgate/B5350.
Woodgate5 m
Turn right onto Beehive Lane.
Beehive Lane56 m
Turn right onto Southfield Road/B5350. Continue on B5350.
B5350397 m
Move right onto Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road106 m
Turn left onto Browns Lane.
Browns Lane289 m
Turn right onto Frederick Street.
Frederick Street352 m
Turn right onto Ashby Road/A512. Continue on A512.
A512156 m
Turn left onto The Rushes/A512.
The Rushes141 m
Turn right to take the A6 ramp.
A6648 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane644 m
Keep left to stay on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane1.8 km
Move right onto Leake Lane.
Leake Lane1.4 km
Keep right to stay on Leake Lane.
Leake Lane136 m
Keep left to stay on Leake Lane.
Leake Lane898 m
Turn left onto Ashby Road/A6006.
Ashby Road3.4 km
Keep left to stay on Rempstone Road/A6006.
Rempstone Road259 m
Keep left to stay on Rempstone Road/A6006.
Rempstone Road106 m
Keep left to stay on Rempstone Road/A6006.
Rempstone Road117 m
Keep right to stay on Rempstone Road/A6006.
Rempstone Road108 m
Keep right to stay on Rempstone Road/A6006.
Rempstone Road564 m
Turn left onto Moor Lane.
Moor Lane81 m
Keep left to stay on Moor Lane.
Moor Lane104 m
Keep right to stay on Moor Lane.
Moor Lane286 m
Turn right onto Main Street.
Main Street754 m
Keep left to stay on Main Street.
Main Street112 m
Keep right to stay on Main Street.
Main Street774 m
Keep left to take Stanford Road.
Stanford Road1.7 km
Keep left to take Normanton Lane.
Normanton Lane206 m
Move right onto Main Street.
Main Street1.8 km
Keep right to stay on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane111 m
Turn left onto Station Boulevard.
Station Boulevard554 m
Turn left onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road289 m
Move right to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road59 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road909 m
Turn right onto Barrow Road/B676.
Barrow Road418 m
Turn right onto Cotes Road.
Cotes Road470 m
Keep left to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road105 m
Keep right to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road112 m
Keep left to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road146 m
Keep left to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road400 m
Turn left onto Walton Lane.
Walton Lane1.6 km
Turn right onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road1.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Nottingham Road.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road268 m
Turn left onto Babington Road.
Babington Road440 m
Turn right onto The Banks.
The Banks214 m
Turn right onto Breadcroft Lane.
Breadcroft Lane78 m
Turn right onto Cave Road.
Cave Road108 m
Turn left onto Babington Road.
Babington Road235 m
Turn right onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road268 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Nottingham Road.
55 m
Exit the roundabout onto Nottingham Road.
Nottingham Road1.9 km
Turn left onto Walton Lane.
Walton Lane308 m
Keep left to stay on Walton Lane.
Walton Lane133 m
Keep left to stay on Walton Lane.
Walton Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto Cotes Road.
Cotes Road497 m
Keep right to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road116 m
Keep right to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road622 m
Turn left onto Barrow Road/B676.
Barrow Road418 m
Move left onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road414 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road579 m
Move left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road668 m
Turn left onto Bromhead Street.
Bromhead Street60 m
Turn left onto Bishop Street.
Bishop Street92 m
Turn left onto Queen's Road/A60.
Queen's Road60 m
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 Road910 m
Turn right onto Barrow Road/B676.
Barrow Road417 m
Turn right onto Cotes Road.
Cotes Road435 m
Move left onto Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane29 m
Keep right to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane131 m
Keep right to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane168 m
Keep right to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane143 m
Keep left to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane256 m
Keep left to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane121 m
Keep left to stay on Bandalls Lane.
Bandalls Lane333 m
Turn right onto Walton Lane.
Walton Lane522 m
Turn right onto Cotes Road.
Cotes Road497 m
Keep right to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road116 m
Keep right to stay on Cotes Road.
Cotes Road623 m
Turn left onto Barrow Road/B676.
Barrow Road418 m
Move left onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road414 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road579 m
Move left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road264 m
Turn right onto Station Boulevard/A6004.
Station Boulevard554 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane/A6004.
Meadow Lane188 m
Turn right onto Belton Road/A6004.
Belton Road153 m
Turn right onto Bottleacre Lane.
Bottleacre Lane63 m
Keep right to stay on Bottleacre Lane.
Bottleacre Lane205 m
Turn right onto Normanton Drive.
Normanton Drive64 m
Turn right onto Cotes Drive.
Cotes Drive94 m
Turn left onto Normanton Drive.
Normanton Drive64 m
Turn left onto Bottleacre Lane.
Bottleacre Lane269 m
Turn left onto Belton Road/A6004.
Belton Road122 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane/A6004. Continue on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane209 m
Turn right onto Station Boulevard.
Station Boulevard561 m
Turn left onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road289 m
Move right to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road59 m
Keep left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road910 m
Turn right onto Barrow Road/B676.
Barrow Road2.2 km
Turn left onto Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane80 m
Keep left to stay on Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road3.5 km
Move left to stay on Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road537 m
Turn right onto Clarence Street/B589.
Clarence Street241 m
Turn right onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane268 m
Turn right onto Cartwright Street.
Cartwright Street164 m
Turn left onto Glebe Street.
Glebe Street54 m
Turn right onto Ratcliffe Road.
Ratcliffe Road210 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Ratcliffe Road.
Ratcliffe Road409 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane331 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street/B589.
Clarence Street241 m
Turn right onto Nottingham Road/A60.
Nottingham Road382 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 Hill27 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Loughborough · Route 16 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, One Ash Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 8.8 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 (30, 40, 50, 60 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.
Emmanuel Church
Start near Emmanuel Church.
Trinity Methodist Church
Continue to Trinity Methodist Church.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Continue to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Woodthorpe Roundabout
Continue to Woodthorpe Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Spar
Continue to Spar.
Boat Inn
Continue to Boat Inn.
One Ash Roundabout
Continue to One Ash Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Co-operative Food
Continue to Co-operative Food.
White Hart
Continue to White Hart.
Junction Church
Continue to Junction Church.
Loughborough United Reformed Church
Continue to Loughborough United Reformed Church.
King's Church Loughborough
Continue to King's Church Loughborough.
Swan In The Rushes
Continue to Swan In The Rushes.
Plough
Continue to Plough.
Loughborough
Continue to Loughborough.
Harry's Tyres
Continue to Harry's Tyres.
Booze Zone
Continue to Booze Zone.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
Fat Sam's
Continue to Fat Sam's.
Tap and Mallet
Finish back near Tap and Mallet, 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 79.4 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.