Some useful vocabulary and phrases for describing cities

1. DESCRIBING A
TOWN OR CITY

2. Collect information
 Think about or find out information about the
following topics:
 location
 Population
 Landscape
 Climate
 Transport
 Tradition
 People / food / clothes
 Nightlife
 Sights to see / things to do
 Seasonal events

3. Useful language

4. Location
 A place can be described by its location, or its
relation to other places.
you can use:
 It’s situated / located … in the centre
/heart/middle of…, in the north / south / east /
west / south-east / south-west (of)… to the left /
right of ….. at the top of ….
 It’s ….kilometres/ minutes from….. / very close to
/ far from… in the town centre …/ on the south
coast of …
 It’s by the sea / on the coast / in the country / on the
river (name) / in a valley / on a plain / in the
mountains.

5. Adjectives
Huge - tiny
Modern - traditional
Peaceful - busy
Crowded -
Bustling
Interesting - boring
Historical
Ancient
Narrow
Breathtaking / stunning
Bare. Dry / fertile
Beautiful
Popular
Polluted
Turistic / touristy
Lively
Fascinating
Fantastic
Famous
Expensive
Exciting
Charming
Contemporary
Cosmopolitan
Picturesque
Noisy - quiet
Unspoilt
Rural - urban
Hilly , mountainous
Flat
Amazing
calm

6. Buildings
 Police station
 Hospital
 Bank
 Museum
 Sports centre
 Theatre / cinema
 Art gallery
 University
 Skycraper
 Bridge
 Church
• cathedral
• Shopping centre
• Department store
• Supermarket
• Swimming pool
• Library
• Chapel
• Castle
• Hotel / Inn / hostel
• Market
• Opera house
• Palace
• Monument
• Stadium
• Town hall

7. Places Shops
 Amusement park
 Zoo
 Park
 Countryside
 Pier
 Harbour
 Port
 Airport
 Suburbs
 Outskirts
 Forest
 Desert
Bookshop
Butcher’s
Baker’s
Chemist’s
Fishmonger’s
Stationer’s
Kiosk
Sweets shop
Optician’s
Shoe shop
Clothes shop
Ironmonger’s
Greengrocer’s / grocery store
Jeweller’s
Furniture shop
Florist’s
Launderette
Dry-cleaner’s
newsagent’s

8. Things to do
 It’s got…
lots of nightlife / spectacular views /
good shops / transport...
 You can….
go sightseeing / shopping / hiking….
visit museums / art galleries ….
take lots of photos
go to concerts / the theatre / exhibitions
practise a sport…
get on the tourist bus
relax on the beach…/ wander round the town
go for a boat ride on the lake / river

9. Comparative and superlative
 The best place to visit is…..
 The most popular….
 The most interesting …..
 This is one of the most………sights in….
 ……..(not) as …..as…..
 The …… is much (larger ) than…
 …. is a bit (more expensive) than…

10. Giving opinions and reasons
 What I like about….is……
 The main reason I like….. is…… because….
 What I don’t like about it is…. …because…
 The good thing about this place is…

11. How to recommend a place
 I would recommend a visit to…
 If you are looking for a …, don’t miss….
 This is a place every tourist should see…

12. Useful phrases
 The area around….has got beautiful…..
 You shouldn’t miss…
 It’s well known for….
 You can see…..
 It’s far away from….
 The views are….
 It offers….
 It`s popular with tourists because…
 It’s famous as..a seaside resort
 It has a population of about….

13. Some tips for the organization of the
composition
 INTRODUCTION:
Give information about the name and location of the
place you are going to describe.
State the reason for choosing it.
 MAIN BODY:
Give both general and specific details about the place:
give an overall impression by referring to landscape,
buildings, landmarks, etc, and particular details: sights
to see, places to go, things to do.
 CONCLUSION:
Express your feelings or opinion concerning the place
and give a recommendation.