Original Published Test Routes
Step-by-step directions for all 19 original DVSA-published routes from Grange Way, Colchester.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
Turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, turn left
7
Maldon Rd
Take the 4th left
8
Salisbury Ave
At end of road, turn right
9
Butt Rd
At roundabout, turn left
10
Layer Rd
Turn right
11
Bodicea Way
At end of road, turn right
12
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
13
Berechurch Hall Rd
Take the 3rd left
14
Berechurch Rd
Turn right
15
Meyrick Crescent
At end of road, turn right
16
Mersea Rd
Take the 2nd left
17
Bourne Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
18
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
19
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
20
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
Turn left
5
Magdalen St
At roundabout, turn left
6
Mersea Rd
Take the 3rd right
7
Powhall Crescent
Go ahead
8
Circular Rd South
Turn right
9
Circular Rd West
At end of road, turn left
10
Butt Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
11
Drury Rd
Road continues
12
Drury Rd / Shrub End Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Norman Way
Turn left
14
The Commons
Turn left
15
Winston Ave
At end of road, turn right
16
Shrub End Rd
Turn left
17
Walnut Tree Way / Iceni Way
Take the 3rd right
18
John Kent Ave
At end of road, turn right
19
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
20
Berechurch Hall Rd
At end of road, turn left
21
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn left
22
Abbots Rd
At end of road, turn right
23
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
24
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
25
Grange Rd
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
At end of road, turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, turn left
7
Maldon Rd
Turn right
8
Creffield Rd
At end of road, turn left
9
Cambridge Rd
Turn right
10
Queens Rd
Turn left
11
Victoria Rd
Turn right
12
Queens Rd
At end of road, turn right
13
Cambridge Rd
At end of road, turn right
14
Maldon Rd / Shrub End Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
15
Bodicea Way
At end of road, turn right
16
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
17
Berechurch Hall Rd
At end of road, turn left
18
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
19
Abbotts Rd
At end of road, turn left
20
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
21
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
22
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
Turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Lexden Rd
Turn left
8
Church Lane
Turn left
9
Parsons Hill
Turn left
10
Magazine Farm Way
At end of road, turn right
11
Gainsborough Rd
Turn left
12
Van Dyck Rd
At end of road, turn left
13
The Commons
Turn right
14
Winston Ave
At end of road, turn left
15
Shrub End Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
16
Bodicea Rd
At end of road, turn right
17
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
18
Berechurch Hall Rd
At end of road, turn left
19
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
20
Abbotts Rd
At end of road, turn right
21
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
22
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
23
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Abbotts Rd
At roundabout, turn right
6
Mersea Rd
Take the 2nd left
7
Pownall Crescent
Take the 3rd left
8
Berechurch Rd
Take the 2nd left
9
Daniel Cole Rd
Turn right
10
Gurdon Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
Berechurch Rd
Turn left
12
Berechurch Hall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
13
Mersea Rd
Take the 3rd left
14
Haye Lane
At end of road, turn left
15
Abberton Rd
Turn left
16
Fingringhoe Rd
At roundabout, turn right
17
Whithall Rd
Turn right
18
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
At end of road, turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Lexden Rd
Turn right
8
Lockhart Ave
At end of road, turn right
9
Lexden Rd
At roundabout, turn right
10
Cymbeline Way
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
11
Ave of Remembrance
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
12
Westway
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
13
Balkerne Hill
At roundabout, turn left
14
Southway
Turn left
15
Headgate
At traffic lights, turn right
16
St Johns St
Turn right
17
Stanwell St
Turn left
18
Southway
At roundabout, go ahead
19
Magdalen St
Turn right
20
Military Rd / Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
21
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
22
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
5
Military Rd
At end of road, turn left
6
Magdelen St
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Southway
At roundabout, turn right
8
Balkerne Hill
At roundabout, go ahead
9
Westway
At roundabout, turn left
10
Colne Bank Ave / Cymberline Way
At roundabout, turn left
11
Lexden Rd
Take the 3rd right
12
St Clare Rd / Alton Drive
Turn left
13
Fitzwalter Rd
At end of road, turn right
14
Lexden Rd
Take the 2nd left
15
Lockhart Ave
At end of road, turn right
16
The Chantry
At end of road, turn right
17
Sussex Rd
At end of road, turn left
18
Lexden Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
19
Southway
At roundabout, go ahead
20
Magdalen St
Turn right
21
Military Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
22
Old Heath Rd
Take the 4th left
23
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
24
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd
Take the 2nd left
5
Barnhall Ave / Cavendish Ave
At end of road, turn left
6
Barnhall Ave
At end of road, turn left
7
Churchill Way
Turn left
8
Normandy Ave
At end of road, turn right
9
Mersea Rd
Take the 2nd left
10
Pownall Crescent
Take the 3rd left
11
Berechurch Rd
Go ahead
12
Bounstead Rd
At end of road, turn left
13
Layer Rd
Turn left
14
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
15
Abbots Rd
At roundabout, turn left
16
Old Heath Rd
Turn right
17
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
18
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
5
Rowhedge Rd / Head St / Rectory Rd
At end of road, turn left
6
Fingringhoe Rd
At end of road, turn right
7
Abberton Rd
Take the 2nd right
8
Fingringhoe Rd
Turn right
9
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 2nd exit, turn left
10
The Willows
At end of road, turn right
11
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
12
Bourne Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
14
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
15
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Abbotts Rd
At roundabout, turn left
6
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn left
7
Queensland Drive
Turn right
8
Adelaide Drive
At end of road, turn left
9
Queensland Drive
At roundabout, turn left
10
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
11
Berechurch Hall Rd
Take the 3rd left
12
Bounstead Rd
At end of road, turn left
13
Layer Rd
Turn left
14
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
15
Abbotts Rd
At roundabout, turn left
16
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
17
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
18
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd / Fingeringhoe Rd
At end of road, turn right
5
Aberton Rd
Turn right
6
Haye Lane
At end of road, turn right
7
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 2nd exit, turn left
8
Queen Elizabeth Way
At end of road, turn left
9
Mersea Rd
Turn left
10
The Willows
Take the 2nd left
11
Silverthorne Close
At end of road, turn left
12
The Willows
At end of road, turn left
13
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 2nd exit, turn right
14
Bourne Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
15
Wimpole Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
16
Hythe Hill
At roundabout, turn right
17
Maudlyn Rd
At roundabout, turn right
18
Haven Rd
At roundabout, turn right
19
Whitehall Rd
Take the 2nd left
20
Grange Rd
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
At end of road, turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, 2nd exit, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
7
Balkerne Hill
At roundabout, 2nd exit, go ahead
8
Westway
At roundabout, turn left
9
Cymbeline Way
Take the 2nd left
10
Glen Ave
At end of road, turn left
11
Lexden Rd
Take the 2nd left
12
Lockhart Ave
At end of road, turn left
13
Lexden Rd
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
14
Maldon Rd
Take the 4th left
15
Salisbury Ave
At end of road, turn right
16
Butt Rd
Turn left
17
Circular Rd West
Turn left
18
Circular Rd Nth
Turn right
19
Circular Rd East
At end of road, turn left
20
Berechurch Rd
Turn right
21
Meyrick Crescent
At end of road, turn right
22
Mersea Rd
Take the 2nd left
23
Bourne Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
24
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
25
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
26
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd / Military Rd
Turn left
5
Magdelen St
At roundabout, 2nd exit, go ahead
6
Southway
At roundabout, turn left
7
Maldon Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
8
Norman Way
Turn left
9
The Commons
Turn left
10
Winston Ave
At end of road, turn right
11
Shrub End Rd
Turn left
12
Walnut Tree Way
Turn left
13
Rayner Rd
Turn left
14
Walnut Tree Way / Iceni Way
Take the 3rd right
15
John Kent Ave
At end of road, turn right
16
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
17
Berechurch Hall Rd
At end of road, turn left
18
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
19
Abbotts Rd
At end of road, turn left
20
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
21
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
22
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn right
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn left
4
Haven Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Colne Causeway
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Eastern Approach / Greenstead Ring
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Avon Way
Turn left
8
Magnolia Drive
Turn left
9
Hamlet Drive
At end of road, turn left
10
Avon Way
Take the 2nd left
11
Kingfisher Close
At end of road, turn left
12
Longridge
At end of road, turn right
13
Bromley Rd
Take the 2nd right
14
Tye Rd
At end of road, turn left
15
Clacton Rd
Take the 2nd right
16
School Rd
Turn right
17
Bird Farm Rd
At end of road, turn right
18
Brightlingsea Rd
Turn right
19
Colchester Rd
At end of road, turn left
20
St Andrews Ave
Turn left
21
Eastern Approach
At roundabout, go ahead
22
Colne Causeway
At roundabout, turn left
23
Haven Rd
Turn right
24
Whitehall Rd
Take the 3rd left
25
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Old Heath Rd
Take the 2nd left
5
Barnhall Ave
Take the 2nd left
6
Cavendish Ave
Turn right
7
Barnhall Ave
At end of road, turn left
8
Old Heath Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
9
Wimpole Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
10
Magdalen St
At roundabout, turn left
11
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn left
12
Queensland Drive
Turn right
13
Adelaide Drive
At end of road, turn left
14
Queensland Drive
At roundabout, turn left
15
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn left
16
Fingeringhoe Rd
At end of road, turn left
17
Abberton Rd
Turn left
18
Fingeringhoe Rd / Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
19
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
20
Grange Rd
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn right
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn left
4
Haven Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Colne Causeway
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Eastern Approach
At roundabout, turn right
7
St Andrews Avenue A133
Turn left
8
Tye Rd
At end of road, turn left
9
Bromley Rd
Take the 2nd left
10
Longridge / Owls Retreat
At end of road, turn left
11
Longridge
Turn right
12
Hamlet Drive
At end of road, turn right
13
Magnolia Drive
At end of road, turn right
14
Avon Way
Go ahead
15
Eastern Approach
At roundabout, turn right
16
Hawkins Rd
At end of road, turn left
17
Hythe Station Rd
At roundabout, turn left
18
Hythe Quay
At roundabout, turn left
19
Haven Rd
Turn right
20
Whitehall Rd
Take the 3rd left
21
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn right
3
Whitehall Rd
At end of road, turn left
4
Haven Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Colne Causeway
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Eastern Approach
At roundabout, go ahead
7
St Andrews Ave
At roundabout, turn right
8
Harwich Rd
Turn left
9
Brinkley Crescent
Turn left
10
Broadmead
At end of road, turn left
11
Churnwood Rd
At end of road, turn right
12
Harwich Rd
At roundabout, turn left
13
Bromley Rd
Take the 3rd right
14
Tye Rd
At end of road, turn right
15
Elmstead Rd
At roundabout, turn left
16
Eastern Approach
At roundabout, go ahead
17
Colne Causeway
At roundabout, turn left
18
Haven Rd
Turn right
19
Whitehall Rd
Take the 3rd left
20
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Abbots Rd
Turn right
6
Mountbatten Drive
At end of road, turn right
7
Abbots Rd
At roundabout, turn left
8
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
9
Berechurch Hall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
10
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
11
John Kent Ave / Hazel Ave
Turn left
12
John Kent Ave
At end of road, turn left
13
Iceni Way / Walnut Tree Way
Turn right
14
Willet Drive
At end of road, turn left
15
Duncan Rd
At end of road, turn right
16
Eldred Ave
At end of road, turn left
17
Bodicea Way
At traffic lights, turn right
18
Shrub End Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
19
Maldon Rd
Take the 3rd left
20
Cambridge Rd / Beverley Rd
At end of road, turn right
21
Lexden Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
22
Southway
At roundabout, go ahead
23
Magdalen St
Turn right
24
Military Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
25
Old Heath Rd
Take the 3rd left
26
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
27
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grange Way
At end of road, turn left
3
Whitehall Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Abbots Rd
At roundabout, turn left
6
Mersea Rd
At roundabout, turn right
7
Berechurch Hall Rd
At roundabout, turn right
8
Layer Rd
At roundabout, turn left
9
John Kent Ave
At end of road, turn left
10
Iceni Way / Walnut Tree Way
Take the 2nd right
11
Rayner Rd
At end of road, turn left
12
Bodicea Way
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Shrub End Rd / Drury Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
14
Butt Rd
Turn right
15
Circular Rd West
At end of road, turn left
16
Circular Rd South
Go ahead
17
Berechurch Rd
Turn right
18
Meyrick Crescent
At end of road, turn right
19
Mersea Rd
Take the 2nd left
20
Bourne Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
21
Old Heath Rd
At roundabout, turn left
22
Whitehall Rd
Turn right
23
Grange Way
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
Route & Road Guide
Road Type Split
Approximate breakdown based on road names and instructions across all 19 routes.
Residential
100%
What to Expect at Colchester
- Roundabouts are a defining feature — averaging 6.6 per route. Route 6 is the most demanding with 10, including Whitehall Rd.
- Pass rate 48%, close to the national average of 47.9% — a fair test. Consistent preparation across all routes is what counts.
- Routes vary significantly in length — from 16 to 28 steps. Route 18 is the most demanding overall; Route 8 the most straightforward.
- 19 traffic light encounters across all routes — worth practising smooth stops and confident pull-aways before your test.
- Relatively open routes — averaging just 12 turns per route. Speed management and smooth progress matter here as much as junction accuracy.
- Key roads to know: Grange Way, Whitehall Rd and Mersea Rd — these appear across the most routes and are the most likely to feature on your test.
Tricky Spots on the Colchester Test
Junctions and road sections that appear frequently and catch learners out.
1
Giving Way at Abbots Rd
Many Colchester test routes pass through Abbots Rd, making it one of the junctions most worth practising. The key is committing to a lane early and staying calm — hesitation, incorrect signalling or clipping the wrong lane are all easily picked up by an examiner.
2
Navigating Abberton Rd
Abberton Rd crops up on a large number of Colchester routes and rewards candidates who stay observant throughout. Keep your speed appropriate, watch for side junctions and be ready to respond to parked vehicles or emerging traffic.
3
Emerging onto Aberton Rd
Aberton Rd is used on several Colchester routes for direction changes that test your ability to judge gaps and commit confidently. Make sure your mirrors are checked well in advance, signal early and do not rush the emerge — patience here is a strength, not a weakness.
4
The Abbotts Rd Junction
You may be asked to take different exits at Abbotts Rd depending on the route, so versatility is key. Always approach with a planned exit, check your mirrors, signal in good time and hold back if there is any doubt about traffic from your right.
Most Frequent Roads
These roads appear across the most routes — be sure to practise them.
| Road | Routes | Frequency | Typical Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grange Way | 19 / 19 | Left turn | |
| Whitehall Rd | 19 / 19 | Right turn | |
| Mersea Rd | 14 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Old Heath Rd | 14 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Berechurch Hall Rd | 9 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Layer Rd | 9 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Southway | 8 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Magdelen St | 7 / 19 | Roundabout | |
| Old Heath Rd / Military Rd | 7 / 19 | Left turn | |
| Abbotts Rd | 5 / 19 | Roundabout |
Roundabout Analysis
The routes include 126 roundabouts across 19 routes — these are the most important.
Whitehall Rd
High
Mersea Rd
High
Old Heath Rd
High
Southway
High
Layer Rd
High
Magdelen St
High
Berechurch Hall Rd
High
Abbots Rd
Medium
Colchester Test Centre
Address
Colchester Driving Test Centre
Grange Way, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8HF
Grange Way, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8HF
Phone
0300 200 1122
DVSA general enquiries
Amenities
Disabled Access
Parking
Toilets
Tests Offered
ADI part 2
ADI part 3
Car
Opening Hours
- Mon 8:00–16:00
- Tue 8:00–16:00
- Wed 8:00–16:00
- Thu 8:00–16:00
- Fri 8:00–16:00
- Sat Closed
- Sun Closed
Pass Rate
48.0%
vs 47.9% national average
Waiting Time
20.5 wks
Latest DVSA data
Routes Available
19
ADI part 2, ADI part 3, Car
Avg Route Length
23
Steps (16–28 range)