Near Loughborough test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 16 turns and 10 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 75.3 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 One Ash Roundabout, Beacon Road Roundabout and Alan Moss 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, stations, pubs and named junctions, 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 172-step drive on real, named roads (about 79.3 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 Hill197 m
Move left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane215 m
Turn left onto Toothill Road/B589.
Toothill Road319 m
Turn left onto Rectory Place.
Rectory Place222 m
Turn left onto Church Gate.
Church Gate54 m
Turn left onto Sparrow Hill.
Sparrow Hill72 m
Move left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane610 m
Turn right onto Burder Street.
Burder Street233 m
Turn right onto Glebe Street.
Glebe Street56 m
Turn left onto Ratcliffe Road.
Ratcliffe Road210 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Ratcliffe Road.
Ratcliffe Road408 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane331 m
Turn left onto Clarence Street/B589.
Clarence Street241 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 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 Road3.0 km
Keep left to take 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 Drive63 m
Turn left.
32 m
Make a right U-turn.
32 m
Turn right onto Cotes Drive.
Cotes Drive63 m
Turn left onto Normanton Drive.
Normanton Drive64 m
Turn left onto Bottleacre Lane.
Bottleacre Lane269 m
Turn left onto Belton Road/A6004.
Belton Road154 m
Turn right onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane612 m
Keep left to stay on B589.
B589113 m
Keep right to take Bridge Street.
Bridge Street219 m
Turn left onto The Rushes/A512. Continue on A512.
A512256 m
Turn right onto Derby Square/A512. Continue on A512.
A512190 m
Turn left onto Frederick Street.
Frederick Street351 m
Turn left onto Browns Lane.
Browns Lane289 m
Turn left onto Ward's End/B5350.
Ward's End51 m
Keep right to stay on B5350.
B5350366 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street158 m
Turn right onto Baxter Gate.
Baxter Gate182 m
Turn right onto A6/Jubilee Way. Continue on A6.
A6365 m
Turn right onto Leicester Road/B5350.
Leicester Road263 m
Turn right onto Baxter Gate.
Baxter Gate182 m
Turn right onto A6/Jubilee Way. Continue on A6.
A6365 m
Make a right U-turn at Leicester Road/B5350 to stay on A6.
A6781 m
Turn left onto A6/Bridge Street.
A6205 m
Turn right to take the A6 ramp.
A6224 m
Turn right onto A6/Fennel Street. Continue on A6.
A6740 m
Turn left onto A6/Leicester Road.
A6654 m
Keep right to stay on A6/Leicester Road.
A6675 m
Keep right to stay on A6.
A61.1 km
Enter One Ash Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Loughborough Road.
One Ash Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Loughborough Road.
Loughborough Road584 m
Turn left onto Farley Way.
Farley Way912 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6.
A61.2 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.
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 A60.
A601.2 km
Keep left to stay on Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road103 m
Keep left to stay on Loughborough Road/A60.
Loughborough Road2.2 km
Keep left to stay on Prestwold Lane.
Prestwold Lane1.4 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 Road921 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 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 Lane200 m
Move left onto Westfield Lane.
Westfield Lane1.2 km
Move left onto Station Road.
Station Road345 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.
A61.5 km
Keep left to take Shelthorpe Road.
Shelthorpe Road71 m
Turn left to stay on Shelthorpe Road.
Shelthorpe Road522 m
Turn left onto Shelthorpe Avenue.
Shelthorpe Avenue189 m
Turn left onto Woodthorpe Road.
Woodthorpe Road267 m
Turn left onto Shelthorpe Road.
Shelthorpe Road318 m
Move left onto Park Road.
Park Road127 m
Enter Park Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ling Road/A6004.
Park Road Roundabout6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ling Road/A6004.
Ling Road799 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 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Park Road Roundabout38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way251 m
Keep right to stay on Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way182 m
Enter Beacon Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Beacon Road Roundabout31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way488 m
Enter Forest Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Forest Road Roundabout39 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 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 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 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Ashby Road Roundabout47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way97 m
Keep right to stay on Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way736 m
Enter Forest Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Forest Road Roundabout41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Epinal Way/A6004.
Epinal Way479 m
Enter Beacon Road Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road98 m
Turn left onto Beacon Drive.
Beacon Drive168 m
Turn left onto Blackham Road.
Blackham Road256 m
Turn right onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road39 m
Enter Beacon Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road Roundabout30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Beacon Road.
Beacon Road155 m
Turn left onto Wallace Road.
Wallace Road355 m
Turn left onto Forest Road/B5350.
Forest Road157 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 Road271 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 Road833 m
Keep right to stay on B5350.
B5350512 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Loughborough · Route 8 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 One Ash Roundabout, Beacon Road Roundabout, Alan Moss Road Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 23.4 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.
All Saints with Holy Trinity
Start near All Saints with Holy Trinity.
Loughborough Spiritualist Church
Continue to Loughborough Spiritualist Church.
Loughborough
Continue to Loughborough.
Amber Rooms
Continue to Amber Rooms.
Tap & Clapper
Continue to Tap & Clapper.
Geeta Bhawan
Continue to Geeta Bhawan.
Junction Church
Continue to Junction Church.
One Ash Roundabout
Continue to One Ash Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Continue to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.
Loughborough Mosque and Islamic Cultural Association
Continue to Loughborough Mosque and Islamic Cultural Association.
Simply Pleasure
Continue to Simply Pleasure.
Barrow Methodist Church
Continue to Barrow Methodist Church.
Moorings
Continue to Moorings.
Miller & Carter Rothley
Continue to Miller & Carter Rothley.
Wheatsheaf
Continue to Wheatsheaf.
Dolphin Autocentre
Continue to Dolphin Autocentre.
Beacon Road Roundabout
Continue to Beacon Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Alan Moss Road Roundabout
Continue to Alan Moss Road Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Emmanuel Church
Continue to Emmanuel Church.
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 75.3 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.