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London Underground train arriving at Old Street station

VOCABULARY VAULT · B1/B2 LEVEL

Public Transport in London

Navigating London: A Guide to the City's Public Transportation

B1/B2 · IntermediateVideo · Vocabulary · Exercises

Speaking · Warm-Up

Discuss these questions in pairs

Black cab and red double-decker bus on a London street

Work with a partner. Discuss the questions below before watching the video.

🚌

What means of transport do you consider the best in big cities?

🚇

Do you have a preference regarding public transport? What is it?

⚠️

What are the potential downsides of public transport?

🚗

Is there a scenario in which you would completely forego private transportation (a car)?

Listening · Video

Watch and Take Notes

Watch the video and fill in the table below with the upsides and downsides of each transport option mentioned by the speaker.

Transport✓ Upsides✗ Downsides
🚌Buses (Double-decker red buses)
⛴River Bus (Thames Clippers)
🚲Santander Cycles (Boris Bikes)
🚇London Underground (Tube)
🚆Trains (Overground, DLR, National Rail)
🚡Emirates Air Line Cable Car

Listening Comprehension · Exercise

True, False or Not Given

Decide if each statement is True (T), False (F), or Not Given (NG) according to the video.

1

A bus fare in London always costs £1.75, regardless of distance.

2

The River Bus has cafés and restrooms onboard.

3

Cycling in London is free if you use a Santander bike for less than 30 minutes.

4

The Emirates Air Line Cable Car is located in central London.

5

The Tube is the most popular and fastest transport option in London.

6

Buses are usually faster than the Underground.

7

Trains in London include the Overground and DLR.

8

The River Bus connects more than 20 different piers along the Thames.

9

The Emirates Cable Car is very practical for tourists.

10

The Underground has 270 stations and 11 lines.

Vocabulary · Exercise

Match the Words to Their Definitions

London Underground sign with red buses

Click a word on the left, then click its matching definition on the right to create a pair. All 10 pairs must be matched before checking.

0/10 matched

Words

Definitions

Speaking · Role Play

Tourist–Londoner Conversations

Pair up and act out different tourist–Londoner conversations. Student A is the tourist, Student B is the Londoner. Use target vocabulary: fare, commuter, drawback, congestion, affordable, etc.

1

Ask about the cheapest way to travel around London.

2

Ask for the fastest way to get to the airport.

3

Ask which transport is best for sightseeing.

4

Ask whether the River Bus is a good idea for everyday commuting.

5

Ask if cycling is safe in central London.

6

Ask which transport option avoids traffic jams.

7

Ask about the drawbacks of using buses.

8

Ask if the Tube is affordable compared to buses.

9

Ask how commuters travel from the suburbs to the city.

10

Ask about the most iconic London transport experience.

Vocabulary · Exercise

Fill in the Gaps

Fill in the gaps with the correct words from the box below.

Word Bank:

referred todailyfaredrawbackfamiliarsuburbsextensiveaffordableconvenienticonic
1
The London Underground is often as the Tube.
2
Sitting on the top deck of a double-decker bus gives a great view of life.
3
Many tourists choose buses because the is only £1.75 per ride.
4
A major of buses is traffic, which causes delays.
5
Cycling in London can be dangerous if you are not with the traffic rules.
6
The River Bus is an interesting option, but its main is the high price.
7
Trains are useful for traveling to the outside central London.
8
London has an transport network that covers almost every part of the city.
9
Travelers on a budget often look for the most means of transport.
10
The Emirates Cable Car is not very , because it connects areas that tourists rarely visit.

Word Formation · Exercise

Adjust the Words to Fit the Context

Use the word roots shown in the sidebar to form the correct word for each numbered gap.

1Bus travel is very in London.
2Rush-hour traffic causes long delays.
3The government is working to improve road .
4The London Underground is an system.
5Sitting on a red bus is an London experience.
6Trains are useful for people who every day.
7Cycling is becoming more in London.
8Every transport option has some .
9Many families live in areas and travel into the city.
10Tourists are often not with the Tube map.

Word Roots

1AFFORD
2CONGEST
3SAFE
4EXTEND
5ICON
6COMMUTE
7CONVENIENT
8DRAW
9SUBURB
10FAMILIAR

Collocations · Exercise

Fill in the Missing Words

Fill in the missing words using vocabulary from the lesson.

1
London has an transport network.
2
The main of the River Bus is its price.
3
During rush hour, traffic is common.
4
The Tube is often to as the Underground.
5
Many travel from outside London every day.
6
The cable car offers views of the city.
7
The bus is £1.75, no matter the distance.
8
Cycling can be dangerous without proper .
9
The red bus is an part of London life.
10
For tourists, Oyster cards are a very option.

Vocabulary · Exercise

Choose the Correct Word

Choose the best word (A–D) to complete each sentence. The words are drawn from the lesson vocabulary.

1

The London Underground is often           as the Tube by both locals and tourists.

2

Buses are the most           option for tourists because the flat fare is only £1.75.

3

The red double-decker bus is an           symbol of London, recognised around the world.

4

Traffic           during rush hour makes bus journeys slow and unpredictable.

5

The main           of the Emirates Cable Car is its location — it connects areas tourists rarely visit.

6

Many           travel from the suburbs into central London every morning by train or Tube.

7

London has an           transport network that covers nearly every corner of the city.

8

The Oyster card makes travelling around London very           — you just tap in and out.

9

Cyclists should always prioritise           and be aware of traffic rules on busy roads.

10

Trains are particularly useful for people who live in the           and need to travel into central London.

Speaking · Vocabulary Revision

Speaking Vocabulary Revision

Live Conversation Mode

Say a word or phrase, then tap it to mark it as used.

0 / 17
Not yet usedUsed in conversation