Tour of London

Tourists on a tour bus in London

Take a tour of London by listening to this tour guide and do the exercises to improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Do this exercise before you listen.

Audio file

Transcript

Tour guide: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this fantastic tour of London by bus. My name’s Greg and I’m your guide this afternoon on our tour of London. As you can see, we’re on an open-top bus, so you can see all the attractions from your seat and you don’t need to walk anywhere. And please don’t worry about the rain, I’m sure it’ll stop soon. A-a-and please ask any questions at any time.
Tourist 1: I have a question.
Tour guide: Yes?
Tourist 1: Do you have extra umbrellas? I mean, if it rains a lot.
Tour guide: Err, no, we don’t have any extra umbrellas, but don’t worry, I’m sure the rain will stop soon. Right, OK, so where are we going on our wonderful tour? Well, the tour takes two hours and we are going to visit all the famous sites. First we’ll see Madame Tussauds, the museum with wax models of famous people and celebrities, then we’ll drive along the most famous shopping street in the world, Oxford Street. After that we’ll see the famous clock Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament. As we drive along the river you’ll see the popular attraction, the London Eye, from which you can see the whole city on a sunny day. Then we’ll see Tower Bridge and the famous Tower of London before arriving at Buckingham Palace, just in time for a cup of tea with the Queen.
Tourist 2: Is that included in the tour? A cup of tea with the Queen?
Tour guide: Err, well, no, not exactly, but there’s a lovely café near the palace where you can get a cup of tea. (Sound of a storm right overhead, loud thunder and very heavy downpour)
Tourist 1: I have another question.
Tour guide: Yes?
Tourist 1: Can we have our money back? We’re getting off the bus.
Tour guide: Err, well, you see ... Quick! Run! Everyone off the bus! ... 

Discussion

Have you been to any of these places? Which city would you like to take a tour in? Why?

Language level
Average: 3.7 (55 votes)
Personal online tutoring
EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council’s one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds.

Comments

Submitted by carlottamoretti on Wed, 07/24/2024 - 10:21

I saw London last summer
I'd like travel in Japan

Submitted by anton on Fri, 02/16/2024 - 02:24

I’ve never been in London. I’d like to take a tour to Germany. I want to go to Germany because it has great architecture, a beautiful nightlife, and stunning landscapes.

Submitted by Engeveryjoy on Thu, 01/04/2024 - 13:53

I’ve never been in London. I’d like to take a tour to Rome. I’ve herd a lot about its beauty, architecture and history.
It is a great idea to see all of these live.

Submitted by Axel S on Fri, 02/16/2024 - 03:07

I have never been to London, but it would be nice to visit. I would like to travel to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower

In reply to by Engeveryjoy

Submitted by Turtle08 on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 14:27

I've never been in London and I would like to visit it. When I was very young I visited Paris, but I don't remember it very well, so I would like to go there again.

Submitted by cherry00 on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 14:04

I've never been in London but I'd like to vist it. I would like to take a tour in Madrid, in Mexico City and in Berlin.

Submitted by Baldbanana on Tue, 07/05/2022 - 10:29

I've never been to London. I'd like to visit New York and Paris or other famous places, because I saw lots of pictures of them, but I can't just enjoy them before I'd go there
Profile picture for user FlowerQueen

Submitted by FlowerQueen on Sat, 06/04/2022 - 08:44

I haven't been to London yet. I'd like to go on a tour in Los Angeles.

Submitted by goksu on Thu, 06/02/2022 - 12:13

I would love to go abroad and visit London
Profile picture for user Ebrarr

Submitted by Ebrarr on Wed, 06/01/2022 - 07:52

l'd Love to visit Paris

Submitted by janjack on Sun, 11/28/2021 - 14:52

I have never been to London. I would like to visit Amsterdam. Because I want to see the city, that stands on the water.

Submitted by VkNk on Thu, 04/07/2022 - 13:29

I have never been to London but I want to visit it. I want to take a tour of London because Big Ben, Tower Bridge and others are so interesting

In reply to by janjack

Submitted by vafue on Sat, 11/27/2021 - 03:24

great activity
Profile picture for user Tato_Learner22

Submitted by Tato_Learner22 on Mon, 11/01/2021 - 19:38

I've never been in London, travelling there is too expensive. I would like travelling to US because I have relatives in there and I want to know many places in the US.
Profile picture for user MuradYT

Submitted by MuradYT on Wed, 06/09/2021 - 14:19

I have never been to London. I would like to visit Rio-de-Janeiro or Paris.
Profile picture for user Kostantinus

Submitted by Kostantinus on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 11:03

I have never been to London, but I would like to.

Submitted by Nooname on Mon, 01/11/2021 - 17:46

I've never been to London,but ı would like to

Submitted by Exilec on Mon, 01/11/2021 - 05:36

Yes I have. I haven't been to the London Eye, or to Madam Tussaud's museum but I 've been to the other places, like Tower Bridge and Big Ben.

Submitted by Aleksandralopatina on Fri, 01/08/2021 - 18:11

I like the sights in London. They describe its greatness, beauty, show individuality. The most famous attraction is Big Ben. The famous clock stands near the Parliament. It has four dials and five large bells. Many people think that this is the name of the clock tower in London, but in fact this is the name of the 13-ton bell that is inside it.

Submitted by _Mironov2021 on Sun, 01/10/2021 - 09:42

There are many beautiful sights in London. I'd like to see Buckingham Palace.Buckingham Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in London. It is the official residency o the British monarchy.

In reply to by Aleksandralopatina

Submitted by Daria_piskovets on Sun, 01/03/2021 - 14:02

You can see many different beautiful sights in London, but I like Big Ben the most. The famous clock Big Ben stands near the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is really a Big Bell. It weighs 13,720 kilograms. The clock has four faces and five Big bells. The English people built the tower and the clock in 1858.

Submitted by Valentina_909 on Wed, 12/23/2020 - 21:30

No, I haven't been to London. I would like to visit any city in Japan because I'm interested for its culture, its technology and extravagant food. I also would like to visit Rome for its tourists places.
Profile picture for user rafaelyeshua

Submitted by rafaelyeshua on Sun, 12/20/2020 - 17:31

i would like to visit the Eiffel tower, the liberty statue, the Big Ben, the japan's cities, the sidney theatre, the tutankamon's piramid, the russia's castles and the Everest
Profile picture for user PoLbUeNaRdO

Submitted by PoLbUeNaRdO on Mon, 11/02/2020 - 18:19

No, I didn´t visit London but I would like to have a tour of Madrid because it´s a great city and it has a lot of places to visit and have a look.

Submitted by altair28 on Tue, 10/20/2020 - 03:28

i have never been on England and its not one of my faouvorites, but i really like to travel and get tours around my cute mexico
Profile picture for user Xuka

Submitted by Xuka on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 17:01

I haven't been to any of these yet, but I know that these are the best in the UK and in the world to visit. I wish I would have a trip to those places. At the moment, I'd like to take a tour in Kyoto, Japan’s most beautiful city and world-famous for its refined culture, dining, and charm of rural Japan. Here has sublime Zen gardens, mysterious Buddhist temples, colorful Shinto shrines, graceful geisha. During spring, we'll experience the city with a backdrop of blooming cherry blossoms. And fall comes with warm hues of red, orange, and yellow from the maple trees that match perfectly with the warm-colored temples. The fact is, Kyoto is the most rewarding city in Japan and a place all travelers should visit at least once in their lives.
Profile picture for user Shashi

Submitted by Shashi on Sun, 07/12/2020 - 02:53

I have never to London.I would like to visit Sydney.Because it is a very beautiful city. I like to visit Sydney opera, Sea life Sydney aquarium and capital theater.
Profile picture for user Giovannichoi

Submitted by Giovannichoi on Tue, 06/23/2020 - 12:35

I've never been to UK, so I haven't been any of the attractions in UK too. But I know a lot about those places, for I'm interested in another countries.
Profile picture for user DIGIOTANIMES

Submitted by DIGIOTANIMES on Wed, 06/10/2020 - 15:50

I have never been to these places, the place I would like to visit is Japan since it is a country that I have wanted to visit to know where my culture was born and to be able to meet the creators of my culture and my favorite anime.

Submitted by Athony on Sun, 05/31/2020 - 02:20

I love London

Submitted by adrianabaizabal on Fri, 03/27/2020 - 03:52

It was a very pleasant subject, since London has always caught my attention, for various reasons, one in particular, my favorite boy band. Thanks to this audio, it allowed me to travel through my imagination to tourist places in this beautiful city. I learned interesting things and managed to expand my vocabulary. It is in my plans to visit London someday.

Submitted by Pablo_29 on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 19:27

Unfortunately not , But I want going to London to see a place which Arther Conan Doyle select to appear his imaginary character sherlock Holmes greatest detective upon the earth
Profile picture for user Raysan

Submitted by Raysan on Tue, 09/17/2019 - 14:30

I really want to visit Japan, even if I can just explore it once in my life. There are so many interesting things in Japan, such as kimonos, sushi, mochi, ramen, anime... Or I can visit the amazing Tokyo Skytree, the historical Tokyo Imperial Palace or the Ramen Museum. But the enormous problem here is that I can't speak and write anything in Japanese!

Submitted by Thu on Fri, 07/05/2019 - 10:12

I have never been to these places but my dream is visiting China. Because it's a big country, with a lot of handsome boys and pretty girls. I have learned a bit Chinese, so I think the community isn't too hard. Besides, China has lots of places to visit and of course, there are yummy foods and drinks, too. Especially, milk tea : >
Profile picture for user khanhlinh92004

Submitted by khanhlinh92004 on Thu, 07/19/2018 - 08:45

I would like to visit Paris, France because I think it is a lovely and wonderful city.

Submitted by Nylen on Tue, 06/05/2018 - 07:55

I would've love to fly to England to see the monuments and i heard there are some good fish and chips there :)

Submitted by cat28 on Thu, 03/29/2018 - 03:54

I've never been to London, someday I want to go there.
Profile picture for user Ahjeen

Submitted by Ahjeen on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 08:33

Almost all of 'em!

Submitted by AGoodEnglishLearner on Mon, 01/22/2018 - 09:59

Hello everyone. Great page!! I have a question, I have read on the transcript "in the tour" and "on the tour" Are both prepositions ok? Thank you!!
Profile picture for user Jonathan - Coordinator

Submitted by Jonathan - Coo… on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 06:05

Hi AGoodEnglishLearner! They are both correct, and in most situations you can use either one. But there is a slight difference in meaning. 

  • on the tour = during the tour
  • in the tour = included in the tour / as a part of the tour

Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)

In reply to by AGoodEnglishLearner

Profile picture for user bilko

Submitted by bilko on Sun, 01/14/2018 - 12:03

It is a funny and informative listening activity for me. I have never been in London before but i wish i will visit one day. Thanks to this part i learnt famous places in London. Thanks your contributions.

Submitted by phuong (not verified) on Thu, 09/03/2015 - 15:01

I haven't been in London. I wanna visit London oneday. I love England and London too. London is beautiful city which famous for many things as: the clock Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street and many things that i don't know. Especially, i can talk to native people and it's a experience for me to improve my speak english skill.
English courses near you