Near Loughton test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 19 turns and 1 signalled junction across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 28.6 km practice route near Loughton 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 Robin Hood 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 roundabout approach & exit, 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, shops, pubs and schools, 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 Loughton 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 75-step drive on real, named roads (about 28.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast.
20 m
Turn right onto King's Green.
King's Green14 m
Turn left onto High Road/A121. Continue on A121.
A121578 m
Turn right onto Church Lane.
Church Lane296 m
Turn right.
62 m
Turn right onto Carroll Hill.
Carroll Hill175 m
Turn left onto The Uplands.
The Uplands405 m
Turn left onto Church Hill/A121. Continue on A121.
A121179 m
Turn left onto Traps Hill.
Traps Hill532 m
Turn left onto Church Lane.
Church Lane795 m
Turn left onto Rectory Lane/A1168. Continue on Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane109 m
Turn left to stay on Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane242 m
Make a right U-turn at The Greens Close to stay on Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane324 m
Turn left onto Pyrles Lane.
Pyrles Lane473 m
Turn right onto Hillyfields.
Hillyfields46 m
Turn right.
136 m
Turn left onto Burney Drive.
Burney Drive490 m
Turn right onto Westall Road.
Westall Road43 m
Turn right onto Etheridge Road.
Etheridge Road340 m
Turn right onto Colebrook Lane.
Colebrook Lane277 m
Turn right onto Brady Avenue.
Brady Avenue180 m
Turn right onto Goldingham Avenue.
Goldingham Avenue200 m
Turn left onto Burney Drive.
Burney Drive219 m
Turn right onto Westall Road.
Westall Road406 m
Turn right onto Rectory Lane/A1168. Continue on Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane589 m
Turn left to stay on Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane242 m
Turn right onto The Greens Close.
The Greens Close15 m
Turn left onto Rectory Lane.
Rectory Lane217 m
Turn right onto Golding's Hill/A121.
Golding's Hill68 m
Turn right onto Lower Road.
Lower Road134 m
Turn left to stay on Lower Road.
Lower Road175 m
Turn left onto Golding's Hill/A121. Continue on A121.
A1214.3 km
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road262 m
Turn left onto Epping New Road/A104.
Epping New Road85 m
Turn left onto Hills Road.
Hills Road59 m
Turn left onto Trent Road.
Trent Road92 m
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road77 m
Turn right onto Epping New Road/A104.
Epping New Road3.0 km
Enter Robin Hood Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Earl's Path.
Robin Hood Roundabout92 m
Exit the roundabout onto Earl's Path.
Earl's Path887 m
Turn right onto Smarts Lane.
Smarts Lane689 m
Turn left onto High Beech Road.
High Beech Road32 m
Turn right onto High Road/A121.
High Road330 m
Turn right onto Upper Park.
Upper Park513 m
Turn left onto Nursery Road.
Nursery Road141 m
Turn left onto Longfield.
Longfield187 m
Turn left to stay on Longfield.
Longfield21 m
Turn right to stay on Longfield.
Longfield128 m
Turn right onto Nursery Road.
Nursery Road141 m
Turn right onto Upper Park.
Upper Park513 m
Turn left onto High Road/A121. Continue on A121.
A1211.1 km
Turn left onto York Hill.
York Hill39 m
Turn left onto King's Green.
King's Green70 m
Turn right onto High Road/A121.
High Road1.2 km
Turn left onto The Crescent.
The Crescent315 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue185 m
Turn right onto Algers Road.
Algers Road150 m
Turn left onto Lower Park Road.
Lower Park Road10 m
Turn right onto Algers Road.
Algers Road48 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue317 m
Turn right onto Spring Grove.
Spring Grove383 m
Turn right onto High Road/A121. Continue on A121.
A1211.5 km
Turn left onto York Hill.
York Hill39 m
Turn left onto King's Green.
King's Green70 m
Turn right onto High Road/A121.
High Road555 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road353 m
Turn left onto Old Station Road.
Old Station Road10 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alderton Hill.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alderton Hill.
Alderton Hill1.1 km
Turn left onto Traps Hill.
Traps Hill18 m
Turn left onto Spareleaze Hill.
Spareleaze Hill791 m
Turn right onto Brook Road.
Brook Road109 m
Turn right onto Brooklyn Avenue.
Brooklyn Avenue438 m
Turn left onto High Road/A121.
High Road229 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Loughton · Route 15 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.
Roundabout
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Robin Hood Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
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.
St John the Baptist
Start near St John the Baptist.
Halo Hair Care
Continue to Halo Hair Care.
Papa John's
Continue to Papa John's.
Loughton Bathrooms
Continue to Loughton Bathrooms.
My Dream Kitchen
Continue to My Dream Kitchen.
E.S.S.
Continue to E.S.S..
Plume of Feathers
Continue to Plume of Feathers.
Loughton Methodist Church
Continue to Loughton Methodist Church.
St Mary the Virgin
Continue to St Mary the Virgin.
Braeside School
Continue to Braeside School.
Glyn Hopkin Sales
Continue to Glyn Hopkin Sales.
Warren Wood
Continue to Warren Wood.
Robin Hood Roundabout
Continue to Robin Hood Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Carpenters Arms
Continue to Carpenters Arms.
Forest Hall
Continue to Forest Hall.
Hollybush
Continue to Hollybush.
Fifteen York Hill
Continue to Fifteen York Hill.
Loughton Station
Continue to Loughton Station.
Roding Valley High School
Continue to Roding Valley High School.
Hōb
Finish back near Hōb, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 3 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 13 turns
3 roundabouts · 18 turns · 1 set of lights
5 roundabouts · 13 turns
This route is 28.6 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Loughton test centre, not an official DVSA route.