Chadderton

Somewhere real to practise

3 circuits from Chadderton test centre at 9 Broadgate, Broadway Business Park, each one 30 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Chadderton test actually uses. Turn by turn, with the roundabout exits numbered, and a manoeuvre to try on each one.

Straight to the routes Swap your Chadderton test

Is your test on the right date? If it is too soon or too far off, a learner at Chadderton who wants the opposite could swap with you. Get an email when one joins

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 and road types the test actually assesses. Drive the roads, not a sequence.

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Nobody can read a numbered list while driving, 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 them on WhatsApp. 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 places we hand it, and it will sometimes take a turn this page would not print.

About the Google Maps links

Google does not follow our route. It draws its own between the places we give it, and it is bound by none of the rules these pages are built on, two of which matter here: no turn in the road and no motorway.

So a route goes to Google in legs, and each leg ends at a real place to stop: a car park, a quiet side street, a loop road, with a manoeuvre to do there. The next leg starts from a parked car, so there is nothing behind you for Google to turn round for. Every leg is opened in Google Maps and checked by hand before its button goes on the page.

A route whose legs have not been checked yet has no Google Maps button. Drive it with the written directions read out, which is how the test itself works anyway.

Two other things Google 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 · the Kingsway and Mainway East roundabout → the Manchester New Road and Middleton Way roundabout

Kingsway and Middleton

Along Greengate and Mainway East to the Kingsway roundabouts, down Mount Road into Middleton, round the Middleton Way roundabouts, then home along Grimshaw Lane. Eight roundabouts in under five miles, and the one to drive first.

4.8 milesabout 30 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 4 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 1.3 milesTo Apple Way Open inGoogle Maps

Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out

Right off Kingsway, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Kingsway.
Directions for the passenger, leg 15 steps
1. 1
  Start on the test centre access road 260 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Greengate 0.5 miles
3. 3
  Turn left into Mainway East 0.3 miles
4. 4
  At the Kingsway and Mainway East roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Kingsway 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn right into Apple Way 80 yards
6. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 2 · 1 mileTo Mill Fold Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Right off Manchester New Road, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Manchester New Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 26 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Apple Way to the end 80 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Kingsway 80 yards
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Mount Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Mount Road 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn right into Manchester New Road 290 yards
6. 6
  Turn right into Mill Fold Road 80 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 3 · 1.1 milesTo Sandy Lane Open inGoogle Maps

Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Grimshaw Lane, a quiet residential road
Check all round before each move, and finish facing back the way you came in, ready for the next leg.
Directions for the passenger, leg 37 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Mill Fold Road to the end 80 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Manchester New Road 150 yards
3. 3
  At the Manchester New Road and Middleton Way roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Oldham Road 310 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Oldham Road 170 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn right into Townley Street 280 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Grimshaw Lane 0.4 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into Sandy Lane 90 yards
8. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 4 · 1.3 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 44 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Sandy Lane to the end 90 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Grimshaw Lane 0.5 miles
3. 3
  Turn right into Greengate 0.7 miles
4. 4
  Turn left into the test centre.
5. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Route 2 · Greengate Roundabout → the Featherstall Road North and Quebec Street roundabout

Broadway and Featherstall Road

Out through Greengate Roundabout and along Broadway, a long, fast main road, to Featherstall Road North at the edge of Oldham, then back by Broadway, Lydia Becker Way and Foxdenton Lane. Five roundabouts and the most time on faster roads.

9.4 milesabout 48 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 5 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 2.3 milesTo Thatch Leach Open inGoogle Maps

Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out

Left off Broadway, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Broadway.
Directions for the passenger, leg 16 steps
1. 1
  Start on the test centre access road 260 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Greengate 0.4 miles
3. 3
  At Greengate Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Hollinwood Avenue 0.5 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Broadway 1.2 miles
5. 5
  Turn left into Thatch Leach 50 yards
6. 6
  Turn right to stay on Thatch Leach 30 yards
7. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 2 · 3 milesTo Melbourne Street Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Right off Middleton Road, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Middleton Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 210 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Thatch Leach to the end 30 yards
2. 2
  Turn left to stay on Thatch Leach 50 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Broadway 0.7 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Middleton Road 0.7 miles
5. 5
  Turn left into Featherstall Road North 0.2 miles
6. 6
  At the Featherstall Road North and Quebec Street roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Featherstall Road North 190 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 5th exit onto Featherstall Road North 190 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
8. 8
  At the Featherstall Road North and Quebec Street roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Featherstall Road North 0.2 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9. 9
  Turn right into Middleton Road 0.5 miles
10. 10
  Turn left into Melbourne Street 80 yards
11. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 3 · 0.8 milesTo Burnley Lane Open inGoogle Maps

Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road

Left off Chadderton Way, a quiet residential road
Check all round before each move, and finish facing back the way you came in, ready for the next leg.
Directions for the passenger, leg 35 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Melbourne Street to the end 80 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Middleton Road 230 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Victoria Street 0.5 miles
4. 4
  Carry on into Burnley Lane 150 yards
5. 5
  Turn right to stay on Burnley Lane 60 yards
6. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 4 · 1.6 milesTo Mill Fold Gardens Open inGoogle Maps

Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out

Right off Lydia Becker Way, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Lydia Becker Way.
Directions for the passenger, leg 47 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Burnley Lane to the end 60 yards
2. 2
  Turn left to stay on Burnley Lane 150 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Victoria Street 220 yards
4. 4
  Turn right into Eustace Street 0.3 miles
5. 5
  Turn left into Broadway 0.7 miles
6. 6
  Turn right into Lydia Becker Way 380 yards
7. 7
  Turn right into Mill Fold Gardens 70 yards
8. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 5 · 1.7 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 57 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Mill Fold Gardens to the end 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Lydia Becker Way 380 yards
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Lydia Becker Way 290 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Carry on into Foxdenton Lane 0.3 miles
  
  Signed Grimshaw Lane along the way, and it is the same road.
5. 5
  Turn right into Grimshaw Lane 280 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Greengate 0.7 miles
7. 7
  Turn left into the test centre.
8. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Practising for the wrong date? A learner at Chadderton who wants the opposite date could swap with you, and DVSA does the swap on the phone. Tell me when one joins

Route 3 · the Nowell Road and Waverley Road roundabout → the Manchester New Road and Middleton Way roundabout

Middleton town centre and Rochdale Road

By Grimshaw Lane into Middleton, through Market Place and out along Rochdale Road to the Nowell Road roundabout, then back through the town centre on Long Street and Assheton Way. Seven roundabouts and busy town traffic.

7.5 milesabout 41 min

Test centre1Stops

Send to my navigator on WhatsApp

Drive it in 5 legs

Each button opens one leg in Google Maps. A leg ends at a stop with something to practise, so do the leg, park, do the manoeuvre, then open the next.

Leg 1 · 1.3 milesTo Sandy Lane Open inGoogle Maps

Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road

Right off Grimshaw Lane, a quiet residential road
Check all round before each move, and finish facing back the way you came in, ready for the next leg.
Directions for the passenger, leg 14 steps
1. 1
  Start on the test centre access road 260 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Greengate 0.7 miles
3. 3
  Turn left into Grimshaw Lane 0.5 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Sandy Lane 90 yards
5. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 2.3 milesTo Radclyffe Street Open inGoogle Maps

Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out

Right off Rochdale Road, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Rochdale Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 211 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Sandy Lane to the end 90 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Grimshaw Lane 0.4 miles
3. 3
  Turn right into Townley Street 0.3 miles
4. 4
  Turn left into Market Place 180 yards
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Long Street 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Carry on into Rochdale Road 0.2 miles
7. 7
  Turn right to stay on Rochdale Road 330 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Nowell Road 320 yards
9. 9
  At the Nowell Road and Waverley Road roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Nowell Road 320 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
10. 10
  Turn right into Rochdale Road 280 yards
11. 11
  Turn left into Radclyffe Street 110 yards
12. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 3 · 0.5 milesTo Durnford Street Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road

Right off Long Street, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Long Street.
Directions for the passenger, leg 34 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Radclyffe Street to the end 110 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Rochdale Road 0.3 miles
3. 3
  Carry on into Long Street 240 yards
4. 4
  Turn right into Durnford Street 130 yards
5. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 4 · 0.8 milesTo East Crescent Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then move off again

On the route, the residential stretch of East Crescent
Stop close to the kerb and parallel to it. Before moving off, check the mirrors and the blind spot, and signal only if it helps someone.
Directions for the passenger, leg 46 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Durnford Street to the end 130 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Long Street 220 yards
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Assheton Way 280 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Oldham Road 310 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  At the Manchester New Road and Middleton Way roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Manchester New Road 250 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn left into East Crescent 60 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then move off again.
Leg 5 · 2.5 milesBack to the test centre Open inGoogle Maps
The last leg. Nothing to do at the end of it but park.
Directions for the passenger, leg 58 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along East Crescent 60 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Manchester New Road 360 yards
3. 3
  At the Manchester New Road and Middleton Way roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Oldham Road 310 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Oldham Road 170 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
5. 5
  Turn right into Townley Street 280 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Grimshaw Lane 0.9 miles
7. 7
  Turn right into Greengate 0.7 miles
8. 8
  Turn left into the test centre.
9. You are back at the test centre. Park where you started.

Stop only where it is safe and legal, and read the signs: a car park is somebody's, and a residential street has driveways and junctions to stay clear of.

Before you drive it

Watch somebody else drive Chadderton first

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

Find more Chadderton route videos

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

Chadderton · free

Is your Chadderton test on the right date?

Practising for a date that is too far off, or one that comes before you are ready? A swap with a learner at Chadderton who wants the opposite moves both of you, and DVSA does it over the phone. DVSA's median wait from booking to test at Chadderton was 16.1 weeks in September 2026. Tell us which way you want to move and we email you when a learner who could swap with you joins. Your email is never shown to anyone.

One email to confirm, no password, and one click takes you off the list. How we handle your details.

No test booked yet? There is nothing to swap until you have one. Book on GOV.UK, then come back.

Where the roads come from

Every road, roundabout and car park named on this page comes from OpenStreetMap, used under the Open Database Licence. 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.

Somewhere real to practise

Before you drive any of these

You drive. Somebody else reads.

Kingsway and Middleton

Drive it in 4 legs

Broadway and Featherstall Road

Drive it in 5 legs

Middleton town centre and Rochdale Road

Drive it in 5 legs

Watch somebody else drive Chadderton first

You are already on Driving Test Hero

Is your Chadderton test on the right date?

Where the roads come from