Near Middlesbrough test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 16 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 73.6 km practice loop near Middlesbrough 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 Marton Road Interchange. 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, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads, independent driving 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, schools 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 Middlesbrough 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 148-step drive on real, named roads (about 73.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northwest on Maxwell Road.
Maxwell Road57 m
Turn left onto Sotherby Road.
Sotherby Road218 m
Turn right onto Queensway.
Queensway288 m
Turn left onto South Bank Road.
South Bank Road454 m
Turn right onto Cargo Fleet Lane/A171.
Cargo Fleet Lane123 m
Enter Cargo Fleet Lane Roundabout and take the 7th exit towards Whitby/Guisborough.
Cargo Fleet Lane Roundabout184 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitby/Guisborough.
Cargo Fleet Lane763 m
Turn right onto Longlands Road/A1085.
Longlands Road1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Stokesley.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Stokesley.
Longlands Road421 m
Enter Marton Road and take the 3rd exit onto Longlands Road/A172.
Marton Road37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longlands Road/A172.
Longlands Road407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards North Ormesby.
80 m
Exit the roundabout towards North Ormesby.
A10853.3 km
Turn left onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road753 m
Turn left onto Hampden Street.
Hampden Street200 m
Turn left onto Maxton Road.
Maxton Road245 m
Turn right onto Shinwell Crescent.
Shinwell Crescent88 m
Turn right onto Hampden Street.
Hampden Street397 m
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road762 m
Turn right onto Trunk Road/A1085. Continue on A1085.
A10853.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Stokesley.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Stokesley.
Longlands Road421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Road/A172.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road118 m
Turn left to stay on Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road233 m
Turn right onto Park Road South.
Park Road South395 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Park Road South.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Road South.
Park Road South662 m
Turn left onto Westminster Road.
Westminster Road693 m
Move left onto Cumberland Road.
Cumberland Road67 m
Turn right onto Valley Road.
Valley Road265 m
Turn left onto Marton Grove Road.
Marton Grove Road343 m
Turn right onto Lambton Road.
Lambton Road137 m
Turn left onto Bishopton Road.
Bishopton Road72 m
Turn right onto Castle Way.
Castle Way508 m
Turn right onto Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road312 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Valley Road.
75 m
Exit the roundabout onto Valley Road.
Valley Road14 m
Turn right onto Bishopton Road.
Bishopton Road342 m
Turn right onto Fairfield Road.
Fairfield Road209 m
Turn right onto Meadowsweet Lane.
Meadowsweet Lane104 m
Turn left onto Bishopton Road.
Bishopton Road121 m
Turn left onto Valley Road.
Valley Road32 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Burn Road.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road312 m
Turn left onto Castle Way.
Castle Way508 m
Turn right onto Bishopton Road.
Bishopton Road120 m
Turn left onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road719 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Longlands Road/A172.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longlands Road/A172.
Longlands Road407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards North Ormesby.
80 m
Exit the roundabout towards North Ormesby.
A10853.3 km
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road882 m
Turn left onto Fabian Road.
Fabian Road28 m
Turn left.
142 m
Turn right onto Burns Road.
Burns Road158 m
Turn right onto Shelley Crescent.
Shelley Crescent184 m
Turn left onto Burns Road.
Burns Road96 m
Turn left.
142 m
Turn right onto Fabian Road.
Fabian Road28 m
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road872 m
Turn left onto Trunk Road/A1085. Continue on A1085.
A10853.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Stokesley.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Stokesley.
Longlands Road421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Road/A172.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road118 m
Turn left to stay on Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road912 m
Enter Belle Vue Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Marton Burn Road.
Belle Vue Roundabout42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road225 m
Turn right to stay on Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road433 m
Turn left onto The Vale.
The Vale485 m
Turn left onto Emerson Avenue.
Emerson Avenue859 m
Enter Belle Vue Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Marton Road/A172.
Belle Vue Roundabout45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road1.9 km
Move left to stay on A172.
A17270 m
Move left onto B1380.
B13802.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Guisborough/Whitby/Stokesley.
59 m
Exit the roundabout towards Guisborough/Whitby/Stokesley.
Sunny Field416 m
Turn left onto Ainstable Road.
Ainstable Road275 m
Turn right onto Laburnum Road.
Laburnum Road336 m
Turn left onto Sycamore Road.
Sycamore Road440 m
Turn right onto Laburnum Road.
Laburnum Road258 m
Turn left onto Ainstable Road.
Ainstable Road275 m
Turn right onto Sunny Field/A171.
Sunny Field416 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Street/B1380.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street/B1380. Continue on B1380.
B13802.3 km
Turn right onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road1.9 km
Enter Belle Vue Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Burn Road.
Belle Vue Roundabout16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road225 m
Turn right to stay on Marton Burn Road.
Marton Burn Road433 m
Turn left onto The Vale.
The Vale485 m
Turn left onto Emerson Avenue.
Emerson Avenue859 m
Enter Belle Vue Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Road/A172.
Belle Vue Roundabout18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Longlands Road/A172.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Longlands Road/A172.
Longlands Road407 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards North Ormesby.
80 m
Exit the roundabout towards North Ormesby.
A10853.3 km
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road882 m
Turn left onto Fabian Road.
Fabian Road28 m
Turn left.
142 m
Turn right onto Burns Road.
Burns Road158 m
Turn right onto Shelley Crescent.
Shelley Crescent184 m
Turn left onto Burns Road.
Burns Road96 m
Turn left.
142 m
Turn right onto Fabian Road.
Fabian Road28 m
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road872 m
Turn left onto Trunk Road/A1085. Continue on A1085.
A10853.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Stokesley.
6 m
Exit the roundabout towards Stokesley.
Longlands Road421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Marton Road/A172.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road118 m
Turn left to stay on Marton Road/A172.
Marton Road233 m
Turn right onto Park Road South.
Park Road South395 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Valley Road.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Valley Road.
Valley Road578 m
Make a sharp left to stay on Valley Road.
Valley Road614 m
Enter Park Road South and take the 2nd exit onto Park Vale Road.
Park Road South29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Vale Road.
Park Vale Road853 m
Turn left onto Southfield Road.
Southfield Road481 m
Turn right onto Woodlands Road.
Woodlands Road248 m
Turn right onto Borough Road.
Borough Road1.2 km
Turn right to take the A66 ramp.
A662.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A66.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A66.
A66527 m
Turn right onto Normanby Road.
Normanby Road569 m
Turn right onto Hampden Street.
Hampden Street200 m
Turn left onto Maxton Road.
Maxton Road245 m
Turn right onto Shinwell Crescent.
Shinwell Crescent88 m
Turn right onto Hampden Street.
Hampden Street197 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street322 m
Turn left onto Redcar Road.
Redcar Road76 m
Turn right onto Upper Oxford Street.
Upper Oxford Street186 m
Turn left onto Middlesbrough Road.
Middlesbrough Road249 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A66.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto A66.
A662.9 km
Take the Marton Road Interchange exit.
Marton Road Interchange319 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A66/Marton Road Interchange.
188 m
Exit the roundabout onto A66.
A66439 m
Keep right to stay on A66.
A661.3 km
Enter Cargo Fleet Lane Roundabout and take the 5th exit towards Whitby/Guisborough.
Cargo Fleet Lane Roundabout183 m
Exit the roundabout towards Whitby/Guisborough.
Cargo Fleet Lane140 m
Turn left onto South Bank Road.
South Bank Road439 m
Turn right onto Queensway.
Queensway288 m
Turn left onto Sotherby Road.
Sotherby Road218 m
Turn right onto Maxwell Road.
Maxwell Road51 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Middlesbrough · Route 7 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.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 7.1 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 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.
Salvation Army Pallister Park
Start near Salvation Army Pallister Park.
Buccaneer
Continue to Buccaneer.
Saint Peter's Catholic College
Continue to Saint Peter's Catholic College.
St Joseph’s
Continue to St Joseph’s.
St Oswald
Continue to St Oswald.
Cleveland Ironstone Eston Mines Obelisk
Continue to Cleveland Ironstone Eston Mines Obelisk.
Grove Hill
Continue to Grove Hill.
Belle Vue Convenience Off Licence
Continue to Belle Vue Convenience Off Licence.
Marton
Continue to Marton.
Ormesby Methodist Church
Continue to Ormesby Methodist Church.
Heron Foods
Continue to Heron Foods.
Broadwell Road
Continue to Broadwell Road.
Freshy's
Continue to Freshy's.
Clareville Common
Continue to Clareville Common.
Dar-ul Islam Central Mosque
Continue to Dar-ul Islam Central Mosque.
Teesside Christadelphians
Continue to Teesside Christadelphians.
South Bank Mosque
Continue to South Bank Mosque.
St John the Evangelist
Continue to St John the Evangelist.
Masjid-E-Nomira
Continue to Masjid-E-Nomira.
Marton Road Interchange
Finish back near Marton Road Interchange, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 20 turns · 2 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 13 turns · 3 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 15 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 73.6 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Middlesbrough test centre, not an official DVSA route.