Nottingham (Colwick)

Somewhere real to practise

4 circuits from the test centre on Nottingham (Colwick) test centre, from DVSA's centre file, each one 44 minutes or more, taking in the junctions a Nottingham 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 Nottingham test

Is your test on the right date? If it is too soon or too far off, a learner at Nottingham (Colwick) 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 Daleside Road and Manvers Street roundabout → the Gordon Road and Rectory Road roundabout

Lady Bay Bridge and West Bridgford

West along Daleside Road and over the Trent by Lady Bay Bridge, round West Bridgford by Abbey Circus and Gordon Road, then home along Radcliffe Road and Meadow Lane. Eight roundabouts, and the one to drive first.

9.1 milesabout 45 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 · 2.8 milesTo Poulton Drive Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car

On the route, the residential stretch of Poulton Drive between Daleside Road and Freeth Street
Pick a gap at least a car and a half long, clear of driveways, and keep checking all round as you reverse in.
Directions for the passenger, leg 18 steps
1. 1
  Start on Private Road No. 5 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 160 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 0.7 miles
5. 5
  Carry on into Daleside Road East 1.1 miles
  
  Signed Mile End Road along the way, and it is the same road.
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 310 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
8. 8
  Turn left into Poulton Drive 100 yards
9. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then parallel park behind a parked car.
Leg 2 · 1.3 milesTo Abbey Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then move off

On the route, the residential stretch of Abbey Road between Radcliffe Road and Priory Road
Cross to the right only when the road is clear both ways, and check over both shoulders before you rejoin on the left.
Directions for the passenger, leg 27 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Poulton Drive 120 yards
2. 2
  Carry on into Freeth Street 240 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Holme Street 140 yards
4. 4
  Turn left into Meadow Lane 110 yards
5. 5
  Turn left into Lady Bay Bridge 0.9 miles
6. 6
  Carry on into Radcliffe Road 100 yards
7. 7
  Turn right into Abbey Road 60 yards
8. Stop here: Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then move off.
Leg 3 · 1.1 milesTo Ella Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then move off again

On the route, the residential stretch of Ella Road between Albert Road and Trevelyan Road
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 34 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Abbey Road 0.4 miles
2. 2
  Turn right into Abbey Circus 210 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Gordon Road 0.3 miles
4. 4
  At the Gordon Road and Rectory Road roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Albert Road 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then move off again.
Leg 4 · 2.8 milesTo Colwick Park Close Open inGoogle Maps

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

Right off Mile End Road, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Mile End Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 49 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Ella Road 120 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Trevelyan Road 120 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Radcliffe Road 0.6 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Meadow Lane 300 yards
5. 5
  At the Daleside Road and Manvers Street roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road East 1.0 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
8. 8
  Carry on into Mile End Road 120 yards
9. 9
  Turn right into Colwick Park Close 70 yards
10. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 5 · 1.1 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 56 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Colwick Park Close to the end 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Mile End Road 80 yards
3. 3
  Carry on into Colwick Loop Road 0.6 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into the slip road 260 yards
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
6. 6
  Turn right into Private Road No. 5 70 yards
7. 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 · the Bath Street and Beck Street roundabout → Sneinton Dale

St Ann's and Sneinton

Into the edge of the city by Manvers Street and Lower Parliament Street, up through St Ann's on narrow, hilly streets, across Sneinton, then home by Carlton Hill and Netherfield. Seven roundabouts and plenty of tight residential roads.

8.8 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 · 1.1 milesTo Colwick Park Close Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off Mile End Road, 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 15 steps
1. 1
  Start on Private Road No. 5 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 160 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 0.7 miles
5. 5
  Turn left into Colwick Park Close 70 yards
6. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 3 milesTo Curzon Street Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off St Ann's Well Road, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards St Ann's Well Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 211 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Colwick Park Close to the end 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Mile End Road 230 yards
3. 3
  Carry on into Daleside Road East 1.0 miles
4. 4
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  At the Daleside Road and Manvers Street roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Manvers Street 0.6 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
7. 7
  Turn left into Southwell Road 90 yards
8. 8
  Turn right into Lower Parliament Street 0.3 miles
9. 9
  Turn right into King Edward Street 230 yards
10. 10
  At the Bath Street and Beck Street roundabout, take the 1st exit onto St Ann's Well Road 120 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
11. 11
  Turn left into Curzon Street 70 yards
12. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 3 · 1.1 milesTo Alma Road Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off Carlton Road, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Carlton Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 36 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Curzon Street to the end 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into St Ann's Well Road 130 yards
3. 3
  At the Bath Street and Beck Street roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Bath Street 0.2 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4. 4
  Turn left into Handel Street 240 yards
5. 5
  Turn left into Carlton Road 0.5 miles
6. 6
  Turn left into Alma Road 140 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 4 · 1.6 milesTo Southdale Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the left, then move off again

On the route, the residential stretch of Southdale Road between Parkdale Road and Carlton Hill
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 47 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Alma Road to the end 140 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Carlton Road 0.2 miles
3. 3
  Turn right into Cardale Road 0.3 miles
4. 4
  At the Sneinton Dale roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Middledale Road
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
5. 5
  Turn left to stay on Middledale Road 220 yards
6. 6
  Turn right into Parkdale Road 130 yards
7. 7
  Carry on into Southdale Road 380 yards
8. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then move off again.
Leg 5 · 2 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 512 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Southdale Road 330 yards
2. 2
  Turn left to stay on Southdale Road 60 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Carlton Hill 300 yards
4. 4
  Turn right into Station Road 0.5 miles
5. 5
  Carry on into Victoria Road 190 yards
6. 6
  Turn right into Meadow Road 210 yards
7. 7
  Turn left into Chaworth Road 370 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Private Road No. 1 210 yards
9. 9
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 130 yards
10. 10
  Turn right into the slip road 260 yards
11. 11
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
12. 12
  Turn right into Private Road No. 5 70 yards
13. 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 Nottingham (Colwick) who wants the opposite date could swap with you, and DVSA does the swap on the phone. Tell me when one joins

Route 3 · Sneinton Dale → Lucknow Drive

Sneinton Dale and Mapperley

By Colwick Road and Sneinton Dale up into Thorneywood and Mapperley, round the Lucknow Drive roundabout, then back down Porchester Road and through Carlton. Five roundabouts, steep streets and parked cars on both sides.

11.3 milesabout 61 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 Bendigo Lane Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off Racecourse Road, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Racecourse Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 17 steps
1. 1
  Start on Private Road No. 5 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 160 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 0.7 miles
5. 5
  Carry on into Daleside Road East 1.1 miles
  
  Signed Mile End Road along the way, and it is the same road.
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Racecourse Road 70 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  Turn left into Bendigo Lane 100 yards
8. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 2.6 milesTo Saint Bartholomew's Road Open inGoogle Maps

Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then move off

On the route, the residential stretch of Saint Bartholomew's Road between Thorneywood Mount and Ransom Road
Cross to the right only when the road is clear both ways, and check over both shoulders before you rejoin on the left.
Directions for the passenger, leg 210 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Bendigo Lane to the end 100 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Racecourse Road 70 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Colwick Road 0.4 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Trent Road 140 yards
5. 5
  Turn right into Sneinton Boulevard 250 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Port Arthur Road 210 yards
7. 7
  Turn right into Sneinton Dale 0.5 miles
8. 8
  At the Sneinton Dale roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Porchester Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
9. 9
  Turn left into Thorneywood Mount 0.4 miles
10. 10
  Turn right into Saint Bartholomew's Road 180 yards
11. Stop here: Pull up on the right, reverse two car lengths, then move off.
Leg 3 · 2.2 milesTo Belvoir Street Open inGoogle Maps

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

Right off Woodborough Road, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Woodborough Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 310 steps
1. 1
  Check your mirrors and blind spot, then move off along Saint Bartholomew's Road 210 yards
2. 2
  Carry on into Ransom Road 0.8 miles
3. 3
  Turn left into Woodborough Road 170 yards
4. 4
  Turn right into Mapperley Hall Drive 130 yards
5. 5
  At the Lucknow Drive roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Warwick Road 380 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  Turn right into Arlington Drive 120 yards
7. 7
  Carry on into Richmond Drive 300 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Lucknow Drive 160 yards
9. 9
  Turn left into Woodborough Road 0.5 miles
10. 10
  Turn right into Belvoir Street 110 yards
11. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 4 · 2 milesTo Forester Grove Open inGoogle Maps

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

Right off Foxhill Road Central, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Foxhill Road Central.
Directions for the passenger, leg 48 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Belvoir Street to the end 110 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Woodborough Road 250 yards
3. 3
  Turn right into Porchester Road 0.7 miles
4. 4
  Turn left into Morley Road 230 yards
5. 5
  Carry on into Prospect Road 0.3 miles
6. 6
  Turn right into Ernest Road 90 yards
7. 7
  Turn left into Foxhill Road Central 0.6 miles
8. 8
  Turn right into Forester Grove 120 yards
9. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 5 · 2.1 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 511 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Forester Grove to the end 120 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Foxhill Road East 0.4 miles
3. 3
  Turn right into Cavendish Road 200 yards
4. 4
  Carry on into Station Road 0.6 miles
  
  Signed Victoria Road along the way, and it is the same road.
5. 5
  Turn right into Meadow Road 210 yards
6. 6
  Turn left into Chaworth Road 370 yards
7. 7
  Turn left into Private Road No. 1 210 yards
8. 8
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 130 yards
9. 9
  Turn right into the slip road 260 yards
10. 10
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
11. 11
  Turn right into Private Road No. 5 70 yards
12. 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 4 · the Ambleside and Beckside roundabout → the Beckside and Melton Gardens roundabout

Gamston and Melton Road

Over Lady Bay Bridge to Gamston, along Beckside through the estates, then down Melton Road and Loughborough Road and back over the river. Ten roundabouts, the most of any route here.

12.6 milesabout 58 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 · 2.8 milesTo Poulton Drive Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off Daleside Road, a side 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 18 steps
1. 1
  Start on Private Road No. 5 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
3. 3
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit 160 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  Turn left into Colwick Loop Road 0.7 miles
5. 5
  Carry on into Daleside Road East 1.1 miles
  
  Signed Mile End Road along the way, and it is the same road.
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 310 yards
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
8. 8
  Turn left into Poulton Drive 110 yards
9. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 2 · 2.2 milesTo Elterwater Drive Open inGoogle Maps

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

Right off Ambleside, a quiet residential road
Keep it slow and look all round before every move. Finish facing back towards Ambleside.
Directions for the passenger, leg 26 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Poulton Drive to the end 110 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Daleside Road 150 yards
3. 3
  At the Daleside Road and Manvers Street roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Meadow Lane 300 yards
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
4. 4
  Turn left into Lady Bay Bridge 1.5 miles
5. 5
  Turn right into Ambleside 0.3 miles
6. 6
  Turn right into Elterwater Drive 70 yards
7. Stop here: Turn the car round in the road, then pull up on the left facing back out.
Leg 3 · 2.6 milesTo Tavistock Road Open inGoogle Maps

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

Right off Melton Road, a quiet residential road
Use forward and reverse, as few moves as you need, and finish facing back towards Melton Road.
Directions for the passenger, leg 36 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Elterwater Drive to the end 70 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Ambleside 0.4 miles
3. 3
  At the Ambleside and Beckside roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Beckside 0.8 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
4. 4
  At the Beckside and Melton Gardens roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Melton Gardens 0.4 miles
  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 Melton Road 0.8 miles
6. 6
  Turn right into Tavistock Road 100 yards
7. Stop here: Pull up on the left, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 4 · 1.3 milesTo Colwick Road Open inGoogle Maps

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

Left off Radcliffe Road, 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 45 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Tavistock Road to the end 100 yards
2. 2
  Turn right into Melton Road 0.7 miles
3. 3
  Turn right into Loughborough Road 0.4 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Radcliffe Road 290 yards
5. 5
  Turn left into Colwick Road 90 yards
6. Stop here: Parallel park behind a parked car, then turn the car round in the road.
Leg 5 · 3.7 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 511 steps
1. 1
  Facing back the way you came in, drive along Colwick Road to the end 90 yards
2. 2
  Turn left into Radcliffe Road 230 yards
3. 3
  Turn left into Lady Bay Bridge 0.4 miles
4. 4
  Turn right into Meadow Lane 300 yards
5. 5
  At the Daleside Road and Manvers Street roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.3 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
6. 6
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road 0.4 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
7. 7
  At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Daleside Road East 1.0 miles
  Approach in the left lane and signal left.
8. 8
  Carry on into Colwick Loop Road 0.7 miles
  
  Signed Mile End Road along the way, and it is the same road.
9. 9
  Turn right into the slip road 260 yards
10. 10
  At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Private Road No. 3 0.2 miles
  No signal on the approach. Keep left unless the markings say otherwise, then signal left after the exit before yours.
11. 11
  Turn right into Private Road No. 5 70 yards
12. 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 Nottingham 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 Nottingham route videos

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

Nottingham (Colwick) · free

Is your Nottingham (Colwick) 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 Nottingham (Colwick) who wants the opposite moves both of you, and DVSA does it over the phone. DVSA's median wait from booking to test at Nottingham (Colwick) was 13.3 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.

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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.

Lady Bay Bridge and West Bridgford

Drive it in 5 legs

St Ann's and Sneinton

Drive it in 5 legs

Sneinton Dale and Mapperley

Drive it in 5 legs

Gamston and Melton Road

Drive it in 5 legs

Watch somebody else drive Nottingham first

You are already on Driving Test Hero

Is your Nottingham (Colwick) test on the right date?

Where the roads come from