Birmingham (Kingstanding)

Somewhere real to practise

6 circuits from the test centre on 205 Birdbrook Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, each one 41 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Birmingham test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Swap your Birmingham test Straight to the routes

Before you drive any of these

Practising in your own car is legal and it is the cheapest way to get better. The rules are short:

Whoever sits beside you must be over 21, qualified to drive that type of car, and have held their full licence for three years.
The car needs L plates front and rear, and insurance that covers you as a learner. Some insurers also want the supervisor to be over 25.
No motorways. A learner can only go on one with an approved instructor in a dual-control car, so none of these routes touch one.

The rules on GOV.UK

These are not the examiner's routes, and nobody else's are either.

DVSA stopped publishing test routes in 2010 and refuses freedom-of-information requests for them. Since December 2017 four tests in five are led by a sat nav the examiner sets up, so even the examiner's route is not a fixed thing you could learn.

What these are: loops on the real roads around the centre, put together so you meet the junctions, speeds and road types the test actually assesses. Drive the roads, not a sequence.

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Nobody can read a numbered list at 30 mph, and a sat nav will not tell you which exit to take early enough to get in the right lane. So these routes are written for the person in the passenger seat: the supervising driver who has to be there anyway.

Two ways to do that: print the route and put it on their lap, or send it to their phone. Either way they call the turns and you drive.

If the phone and the written steps disagree, the written steps are the route. Google plots its own line between the points we hand it, and it will sometimes take a turn this page would not print.

About the Google Maps links

Google takes nine points per link and plots its own line between them. It is not following our route, it is drawing its own through the same places, and it is bound by none of the rules these pages are built on. Three of those rules matter here: no turn in the road, no motorway, and nothing over 50 mph. A phone can do all three between two of our points.

So the route is handed over in parts rather than one link. Nine points across twelve miles is one every mile and a half, and a mile and a half is enough for a phone to take a different road entirely. Three or four links put a point every four hundred metres or so, and each one sits just past a turn rather than on a roundabout, because a point on a roundabout says you went through it and nothing about which way you left.

That is a much closer line than one link gives. It is still not ours, and on a long straight with no turns in it there is nothing for a waypoint to pin.

Two other things it will not tell you: its travel time assumes a confident driver in clear traffic, so expect ours to be closer; and it will happily route you down something a learner should not be on. Look at it before you set off.

The small map on each route is ours, drawn from the same data. It needs no permission, loads instantly and prints, which is why it is the one you see first.

Route 1 · Hockley Circus → Lucas Circus

Hockley Circus and Lucas Circus

South into Hockley and back, on roads that never leave thirty. The shortest of the six and the one to drive first.

8.6 milesabout 41 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 2 Maps: part 2 of 2

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 2 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.0 miles 30
7
Turn left into Birchfield Road 320 yards 30
8
At Six Ways Island, take the 4th exit onto Lozells Road 230 yards30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9
Turn left into Wheeler Street 260 yards 30?
10
Turn right into Gerrard Street 0.3 miles 30?
11
Carry on into Nursery Road 0.3 miles 30?
12
Turn left into Hunters Road 160 yards 30?
13
At Hockley Circus, take the 1st exit onto New John Street West 0.2 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
14
At Lucas Circus, take the 1st exit onto Great King Street North 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
Carry on into Wheeler Street 0.5 miles 30?
16
Turn right into Lozells Road 220 yards 30
17
At Six Ways Island, take the 1st exit onto an unnamed road 250 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
Turn right into A34 1.0 miles 30
19
Turn right into Walsall Road 270 yards 30
20
Carry on into Aldridge Road 1.4 miles 30?
21
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 90 yards 30
22
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
23
Turn right into Birdbrook Road 0.4 miles 30
24
At Dyas Road, take the 3rd exit onto an unnamed road
Approach in the right lane, signal right, then signal left once you pass the exit before yours.
25
Turn left into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 2 · Lucas Circus → Six Ways Island

Lucas Circus and Six Ways Island

Down to Hockley and across to Six Ways Island in Aston, through some of the busiest streets in the city. Traffic is the whole difficulty here.

8.7 milesabout 42 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 3 Maps: part 2 of 3 Maps: part 3 of 3

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 3 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.0 miles 30
7
Turn left into Birchfield Road 320 yards 30
8
At Six Ways Island, take the 4th exit onto Lozells Road 230 yards30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9
Turn left into Wheeler Street 0.5 miles 30?
10
Carry on into Great King Street North 0.2 miles 30?
11
At Lucas Circus, take the 5th exit onto Great King Street North 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
Carry on into Wheeler Street 0.5 miles 30?
13
Turn right into Lozells Road 220 yards 30
14
At Six Ways Island, take the 2nd exit onto Witton Road 0.8 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Witton Road 340 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
16
Carry on into Brookvale Road 0.7 miles 30
17
Turn left into The Ridgeway 0.8 miles 30
18
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Warren Road 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
Turn left into Hawthorn Road 0.3 miles 30
20
Carry on into Dyas Road 0.3 miles 30
21
Turn right into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 3 · Six Ways Island → Hockley Circus

Six Ways Island and Hockley Circus

Aston first and then Hockley, taking in seven roundabouts without once going above thirty. A good second drive.

9 milesabout 44 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 2 Maps: part 2 of 2

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 2 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.0 miles 30
7
Turn left into Birchfield Road 320 yards 30
8
At Six Ways Island, take the 4th exit onto Lozells Road 0.3 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9
Turn left into Berners Street 320 yards 30?
10
Turn right into Gerrard Street 260 yards 30?
11
Carry on into Nursery Road 0.3 miles 30?
12
Turn left into Hunters Road 160 yards 30?
13
At Hockley Circus, take the 3rd exit onto Heaton Street 0.2 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
14
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Boulton Middleway 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
At Lucas Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Great King Street North 0.3 miles30?
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
16
Carry on into Wheeler Street 0.5 miles 30?
17
Turn right into Lozells Road 220 yards 30
18
At Six Ways Island, take the 1st exit onto an unnamed road 250 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
Turn right into A34 1.0 miles 30
20
Turn right into Walsall Road 270 yards 30
21
Carry on into Aldridge Road 1.4 miles 30?
22
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 90 yards 30
23
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
24
Turn right into Birdbrook Road 0.4 miles 30
25
At Dyas Road, take the 3rd exit onto an unnamed road
Approach in the right lane, signal right, then signal left once you pass the exit before yours.
26
Turn left into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 4 · Aston Cross → Six Ways

Aston Cross and Six Ways

Down the A5127 to Aston Cross and back up through Six Ways in Erdington, which is a different junction from Six Ways Island. Steady rather than quick.

9.6 milesabout 44 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 2 Maps: part 2 of 2

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 2 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.4 miles 30
7
Turn left into A34 100 yards 30
8
Turn left into Park Lane 0.5 miles 30?
9
At Aston Cross, take the 2nd exit onto Rocky Lane 0.4 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10
Carry on into Walter Street 250 yards 30?
11
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Long Acre 0.7 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
12
Turn left into Cuckoo Road 170 yards 30
13
Carry on into Lichfield Road 350 yards 30
14
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Gravelly Hill 1.1 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
At Six Ways, take the 2nd exit onto Summer Road 0.3 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
16
Carry on into Gravelly Lane 250 yards 30?
17
Turn left into Station Road 130 yards 30?
18
Turn right into Short Heath Road 0.8 miles 30
19
Carry on into Perry Common Road 1.5 miles 30

Signed Hawthorn Road and Dyas Road along the way, and it is the same road.
20
Turn right into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 5 · Hockley Circus → Aston Cross

Hockley Circus and Aston Cross

The full width of inner north Birmingham, west to Hockley and east to Aston. Eight roundabouts and a great deal of traffic between them.

10.1 milesabout 48 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 3 Maps: part 2 of 3 Maps: part 3 of 3

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 3 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.0 miles 30
7
Turn left into Birchfield Road 320 yards 30
8
At Six Ways Island, take the 4th exit onto Lozells Road 230 yards30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
9
Turn left into Wheeler Street 260 yards 30?
10
Turn right into Gerrard Street 0.3 miles 30?
11
Carry on into Nursery Road 0.3 miles 30?
12
Turn left into Hunters Road 160 yards 30?
13
At Hockley Circus, take the 1st exit onto New John Street West 0.2 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
14
At Lucas Circus, take the 1st exit onto Great King Street North 0.3 miles30?
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
15
Carry on into Wheeler Street 380 yards 30?
16
Turn right into Clifford Street 0.2 miles 30?
17
Carry on into Park Lane 0.6 miles 30?

Signed Newbury Road along the way, and it is the same road.
18
At Aston Cross, take the 1st exit onto Lichfield Road 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Lichfield Road 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
20
Turn left into Grosvenor Road 250 yards 30?
21
Turn left into Queens Road 0.2 miles 30?
22
Carry on into Witton Lane 0.5 miles 30
23
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Witton Road 340 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
24
Carry on into Brookvale Road 0.7 miles 30
25
Turn left into The Ridgeway 0.8 miles 30
26
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Warren Road 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
27
Turn left into Hawthorn Road 0.3 miles 30
28
Carry on into Dyas Road 0.3 miles 30
29
Turn right into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Route 6 · Aston Cross → Lucas Circus

The long way round by Aston

Aston Cross and then Lucas Circus, which makes it the longest of the six. Worth driving once in the fortnight before the date, because tiredness is what turns a good drive into a careless fault.

10.5 milesabout 50 minup to 30 mph

Maps: part 1 of 3 Maps: part 2 of 3 Maps: part 3 of 3

Google takes nine points per link, so this route is handed over in 3 parts. Drive one, pull in somewhere safe, open the next.

1
Start on the test centre access road 50 yards 30
2
At Birdbrook Road, take the 1st exit onto Aldridge Road
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
3
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
4
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.7 miles 30
5
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 0.9 miles 30
6
Turn left into Walsall Road 1.4 miles 30
7
Turn left into A34 100 yards 30
8
Turn left into Park Lane 0.5 miles 30?
9
At Aston Cross, take the 3rd exit onto Aston Road North 190 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10
Turn left into Avenue Road 220 yards 30?
11
Turn right into Chester Street 110 yards 30?
12
Turn right into Whitehouse Street 210 yards 30?
13
Carry on into Aston Road North 0.2 miles 30?
14
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Newtown Middleway 0.3 miles30
No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
15
Carry on into New John Street West 0.6 miles 30
16
At Lucas Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Boulton Middleway 0.3 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
17
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Heaton Street 0.2 miles30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
18
At Hockley Circus, take the 2nd exit onto Hunters Road 140 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
19
Turn right into Nursery Road 0.3 miles 30?
20
Carry on into Gerrard Street 0.2 miles 30?
21
Turn left into Wheeler Street 290 yards 30?
22
Turn right into Lozells Road 220 yards 30
23
At Six Ways Island, take the 1st exit onto an unnamed road 250 yards30
Approach in the left lane and signal left.
24
Turn right into A34 1.0 miles 30
25
Turn right into Walsall Road 270 yards 30
26
Carry on into Aldridge Road 1.4 miles 30?
27
Turn right to stay on Aldridge Road 90 yards 30
28
Turn left to stay on Aldridge Road 60 yards 30
29
Turn right into Birdbrook Road 0.4 miles 30
30
At Dyas Road, take the 3rd exit onto an unnamed road
Approach in the right lane, signal right, then signal left once you pass the exit before yours.
31
Turn left into the test centre access road 50 yards 30

Add a manoeuvre

One will be chosen for you.

Suggested from the map, not from a visit. Look at the road and the signs before you commit to anything, and do not block a driveway or a junction.

Before you drive it

Watch somebody else drive Birmingham first

Instructors film these roads constantly. Watch for the roads: which roundabout, which multi-lane approach, where the limit drops. Not for a sequence to memorise, because the sequence is the one thing that changes.

Find more Birmingham route videos

Opens a YouTube search for this centre. A video only goes on this page once somebody here has watched the whole thing.

Where the roads come from

Every road, speed limit, roundabout and car park named on this page comes from OpenStreetMap, used under the Open Database Licence. A speed shown with a question mark is our inference from the road type rather than a signed limit in the data. Trust the signs, not us.

Distances and times are calculated, not driven. The turns between the junctions are worked out by OSRM, an open source router running on that same map data. The times assume town-centre averages, so treat them as a rough guide.

Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it, or fix it in OpenStreetMap and it corrects itself everywhere.