English for Giving Directions: Phrases and Practice
Excuse me, how do I get to the station? Go straight along this street, take the second left at the traffic lights, and the station is on your right. Asking the way in English is a short exchange: one polite question, one answer built from a few fixed phrases, and one check that you understood.
Below: the questions to ask, the phrases that carry a route, two short dialogues and a vocabulary list. Level: A2 to B1.
Asking for directions politely
| Situation | What to say |
|---|---|
| Opening the question | Excuse me, how do I get to the station? |
| Something nearby | Is there a pharmacy near here? |
| Which way to walk | Which way is the park? |
| Checking the road | Am I going the right way for the museum? |
| Distance | Is it far from here? |
| Asking to be shown | Could you show me on the map? |
Excuse me opens the exchange and thank you closes it. How do I get to… invites a full route; Which way is… asks for one direction. The same frames carry everyday small talk.
Phrases for giving directions
Go, turn and take are the three verbs you need first.
| Phrase | What it means |
|---|---|
| go straight (on) | Keep going without turning |
| go along this street | Follow this street |
| turn left / turn right | Change direction at a corner |
| take the first turning | Take the first side street |
| take the second left | Count the side streets |
| at the traffic lights | At the corner with lights |
| at the roundabout | At the circular junction |
| go past the bank | Continue beyond it |
| go through the park | Cross the park |
In Britain a side street is a turning; in the United States, take the first right. A good answer finishes with a landmark, not a street name.
Prepositions of place
| Word | Example |
|---|---|
| on your left / right | The post office is on your left. |
| next to / beside | It's next to the bakery. |
| opposite / across from | The café is opposite the station. |
| between | It's between the bank and the bookshop. |
| at the end of | The museum is at the end of this street. |
| on the corner of | The pharmacy is on the corner of King Street. |
| just around the corner | The market is just around the corner. |
Opposite and across from mean the same; across from is the American form.
Distance and time
- It's about a five-minute walk.
- It's not far — ten minutes at most.
- It's two blocks away — in Britain, "a couple of streets".
- It's a bit of a walk. Polite for a fairly long trip.
On the bus: which stop, and do I change?
| Question | Answer you may hear |
|---|---|
| Which bus goes to the city centre? | The number 12 stops right outside. |
| Where do I get off? | Get off at the third stop, after the church. |
| Do I need to change? | Change at the main square and take the number 6. |
Ask the driver to tell you when your stop comes — Could you tell me when to get off? is completely normal. See public transport phrases and taxi phrases.
The polite way to say you did not understand
- Sorry, could you say that again?
- Could you speak more slowly, please?
- Do you mean left or right?
- Is that the first left or the second left?
- Can you show me on the map?
Then repeat the route back: So, straight on, then the second left at the lights? This catches most misunderstandings before you walk the wrong way.
Dialogue 1: asking the way in the street
| You | Local person |
|---|---|
| Excuse me, sorry to bother you. How do I get to the train station? | Go straight along this street, then take the second left at the traffic lights. |
| The second left at the lights? | That's right. Then it's on your right, opposite a large hotel. |
| And is it far from there? | Not far — about a five-minute walk. |
| Opposite a hotel. Thank you very much. | You're welcome. You can't miss it. |
Dialogue 2: asking which stop on the bus
| You | Bus driver |
|---|---|
| Excuse me, does this bus go to the museum? | Yes, it stops right outside. |
| Could you tell me when to get off? | Get off at the fourth stop, after the roundabout. |
| Do I need to change? | No, this bus goes all the way. |
| Sorry, which stop again? | The fourth stop — I'll call it out. |
In both dialogues the traveller repeats a number or a side, and the answer is confirmed. That check is the part learners skip most often.
Vocabulary list
- direction — the way from one place to another.
- turning — a side street.
- junction — where roads meet.
- crossroads — a junction where two roads cross.
- roundabout — a circular junction ("traffic circle" in American English).
- pavement — the path beside the road ("sidewalk" in American English).
- block — the distance between two streets.
- landmark — a building used as a guide.
- opposite — facing something on the other side.
- nearby — a short distance away.
British and American differences
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pavement | sidewalk | The path beside the road |
| roundabout | traffic circle | The circular junction |
| underground / the Tube | subway | In Britain, "subway" is a pedestrian tunnel |
| the first floor | the second floor | In Britain it is above the ground floor |
| take the first turning | take the first right | Same instruction, different wording |
Neither version is wrong; use the words of the country you are in. Some of these pairs also appear in common mistakes for beginners.
Practice tips for learners and teachers
- Start with Excuse me and finish with thank you. Practise the whole exchange.
- Say the route back. Repeating the turns out loud helps you hold on to them.
- Practise with a real map. Ask a partner for four routes in a row.
- Learn one landmark per route. Street names are forgotten; a bank is not.
Teachers can turn the dialogues into a role-play: one learner asks for places while the other gives the route. Travellers can pair this page with shopping phrases.
Frequently asked questions
How do I ask for directions in English?
Start with Excuse me and name the place: Excuse me, how do I get to the station? Add please or thank you, and finish with thank you.
What is the difference between opposite and across from?
They mean the same thing. Opposite is usual in British English and across from in American English. Both describe two buildings facing each other across a street.
How do I say how long a walk is in English?
Use the time, not a distance: It's about a five-minute walk. If it is longer, say It's a bit of a walk; if it is close, It's just around the corner.
What do I say if I do not understand the directions?
Say Sorry, could you say that again? or Could you speak more slowly, please? Then repeat the route back: So, straight on, then the second left?
How do I ask which bus stop to get off at?
Ask Do I need to change? and Could you tell me when to get off? Drivers often answer with a stop number, such as the fourth stop.