A description of my recent family holiday to Norway 🇳🇴, including rambling about how I can’t stand beach holidays 🏖️, chasing my son around different international airports 🏃, visiting Oslo ⛴️, Bergen 🏠, fjords 🚤 and mountains 🏔️. Edward Munch’s The Scream 😱, staying in a cabin with no hot water, shower or washing machine, swimming in a freezing lake 🥶, catching a trout 🎣 and driving an electric Jaguar 🐆(that’s a car). Includes a PDF with vocabulary in context, definitions, full transcript, and vocabulary quiz.
Here is the second part of this double episode all about great things to see and do while in London 🇬🇧. Listen to my friends and family talking about the city 🏙️, learn some fascinating bits of history 🔥, get inside tips 🗺️ and learn some vocabulary in the process.
4. 📘 Vocabulary from “Favourite Things to Do in London” (Part 2)
bustling (adj.) Definition: full of activity and energy Example: He says it’s bustling with activity.
cantilevered (adj.) Definition: supported at only one end, allowing for extension Example: Tower Bridge with its cantilevered road.
derelict (adj.) Definition: in very poor condition Example: The bridge… got derelict and had to be replaced.
auction (noun) Definition: a public sale where items are sold to the highest bidder Example: He bought it in an auction for two and a half million dollars.
spire (noun) Definition: a pointed structure on top of a building, especially a church Example: The Shard with its great tall spire.
sneakily (adv.) Definition: in a secretive or clever way Example: I usually try and do it sneakily by going to the Leicester Square box office.
quirky (adj.) Definition: strange in an interesting or attractive way Example: It was great sitting at tables that are on gravestones. So just it was very quirky.
serendipitous (adj.) Definition: occurring by chance in a happy or beneficial way Example: You can do a bit of serendipitous show watching.
crypt (noun) Definition: an underground room beneath a church Example: They have a cafe in the crypt.
to get your bearings (phrase) Definition: to figure out where you are Example: You just don’t get your bearings.
fry-up (noun) Definition: a traditional English cooked breakfast Example: Maybe go for a cup of tea and a fry up somewhere.
to dig through (phrasal verb) Definition: to search through a pile or collection of items Example: Dig through some of the vinyl boxes there.
mooch about (phrasal verb) Definition: to wander about in a relaxed way Example: Have a mooch about, maybe go for a cup of tea.
to rifle through (phrasal verb) Definition: to search quickly through something Example: There are always interesting places to go and rifle through.
formative years (noun phrase) Definition: the years that shape one’s development Example: Something from your past, your formative teenage years.
venue (noun) Definition: a place where events are held Example: A small venue on Denmark Street.
cosy (adj.) Definition: warm, comfortable and inviting Example: They’re just cosy, you know, when it’s dark and rainy.
bland (adj.) Definition: lacking strong flavour or character Example: Maybe they’re a bit bland compared to what you can get.
nailed (verb, informal) Definition: done very well Example: We’ve got restaurants in London absolutely nailed.
foodie (noun, informal) Definition: a person who loves food Example: I’m a big foodie and I miss it a lot.
hard pushed (phrase) Definition: finding something difficult to do Example: You’d be hard pushed to find a place that had a better selection of food.
little one (noun, informal) Definition: a young child Example: When I can take the little one out with me…
walk of life (noun phrase) Definition: a person’s background or occupation Example: You will see every form and walk of life.
stop off (phrasal verb) Definition: to stop somewhere briefly during a journey Example: You can always stop off for a drink on the way.
invigorated (adj.) Definition: filled with energy Example: I felt really invigorated by the energy there.
popping up (phrasal verb) Definition: appearing or opening suddenly Example: There are always new ones popping up on the outskirts of London.
one of a kind (phrase) Definition: unique Example: The experience is one of a kind.
pub (noun) Definition: a traditional British bar serving drinks and often food Example: I just love the atmosphere of pubs in the UK.
Changing of the Guard (noun phrase) Definition: a traditional ceremony where the guards at Buckingham Palace are changed Example: You’ve got the Changing of the Guards, which is a sort of ceremony.
black pudding (noun) Definition: a type of blood sausage often part of a traditional English breakfast Example: Black pudding is from blood, a blood sausage.
builder’s tea (noun) Definition: a strong, traditional British tea with milk and sugar Example: A nice strong cup of builder’s tea.
to promote (verb) Definition: to make something more publicly visible or known Example: I did move one of her books out so that the cover was showing just to try and promote Anna’s work.
record shop (noun) Definition: a store that sells vinyl records and sometimes CDs or cassettes Example: I love spending an afternoon with friends, going around various record shops.
gig (noun) Definition: a live music performance Example: I love going to gigs in London.
venue (noun) Definition: a place where an event or performance happens Example: A small venue on Denmark Street.
dive bar (noun) Definition: a small, unpretentious, and often slightly run-down bar Example: It was probably a dive bar or pub that also puts on live music.
redeveloped (adj./verb) Definition: renovated or rebuilt for modern use Example: They kind of got rid of a lot of the authentic music shops as the place has been redeveloped.
emotional value (noun phrase) Definition: personal significance due to memories or associations Example: It also has some emotional value.
cosy atmosphere (noun phrase) Definition: a warm, comfortable and pleasant environment Example: I just love the cosy atmosphere of pubs.
backstabbing (noun) Definition: betrayal, especially from someone you trust Example: Stopping at rejection, disappointment, backstabbing central.
shattered dreams (noun phrase) Definition: hopes or goals that have been destroyed or failed Example: Stopping at rejection, disappointment… and shattered dreams parkway.
skeleton with headphones (humorous phrase) Definition: someone who has been waiting or listening for a very long time (an inside joke for LEPster) Example: You haven’t turned into a skeleton with a pair of headphones on.
Here is part 1 of a double episode about London 🇬🇧 and great things you can see and do there 🎡. Listen to my friends and family describing their favourite things to do in the city 🍻, get some travel tips 🏙️, get a mini history lesson 🏛️, and learn some vocabulary in the process.
Shoreditch Art Hotel – stylish family hotel with a splash-friendly indoor pool
🎭 James Simpson
Walk from Waterloo Station to South Bank – scenic and vibrant
National Theatre – top venue for live drama
Royal Festival Hall – great for classical concerts
Waterloo Bridge – beautiful panoramic views (Big Ben, St. Paul’s, London Eye)
Trafalgar Square – central landmark
Covent Garden – high-level street performers (buskers)
Pubs – especially for fish & chips and live music/comedy
🎨 Aaron
Tate Britain (Pimlico) – traditional British art
Clore Gallery – features works by J.M.W. Turner
Rowing on the Serpentine (Hyde Park) – romantic and relaxing
Boat trip on the Thames – great views, fun for parties or sightseeing
🍺 Moz (Murder Mile Podcast)
Coach & Horses Pub (Soho) – authentic old boozer with sticky floors and history
London Pubs in General – each one unique, steeped in character and tradition
Pub Navigation Tip – “navigate by pubs” instead of street names!
🚣 Luke – Canal & Hidden London Recommendations
Little Venice – peaceful canal basin with narrowboats and cafes
Regent’s Canal (via Regent’s Park) – walk/cycle past the zoo and elegant homes
Camden Lock / Camden Market – food, shops, live music, and bustling atmosphere
Granary Square (King’s Cross) – modern redevelopment, fountains, restaurants
🎭 Luke’s Mum
National Portrait Gallery – just reopened after refurbishment
National Theatre – excellent productions
Royal Court Theatre (Sloane Square) – cutting-edge theatre
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre – historical open-air venue, great experience
4. 📚 Vocabulary from “Our Favourite Things to Do in London (Part 1)”
Here is a selection of vocabulary which I explained during the episode.
pop (in / next door / to) Definition: To go somewhere briefly or quickly. Example: Amber – “I couldn’t resist popping next door to the National Gallery.”
take the pressure off Definition: To reduce the feeling of obligation or stress. Example: Martin – “It takes the pressure off thinking you have to spend a decent amount of time if you’ve paid for a ticket.”
tucked away Definition: Located in a quiet or hidden place. Example: Martin – “The Seven Stars pub is tucked away down a little street.”
narrow Definition: Not wide. Example: Martin – “An extremely narrow, rickety mediaeval staircase.”
rickety Definition: Poorly made and likely to collapse. Example: Martin – “An extremely narrow, rickety mediaeval staircase.”
nooks and crannies Definition: Small, hidden or remote parts or corners. Example: Martin – “Lots of dark wood, little nooks and crannies.”
cellar Definition: A room below ground level, often used for storage. Example: Martin – “Two floors of cellar where the beer barrels used to be kept.”
busker Definition: A person who performs music or other entertainment in the street for money. Example: James Simpson – “See some buskers, like a live show that’s free.”
busking Definition: Performing in public places for money. Example: Luke – “Busking is the act of performing in the street.”
mushy peas Definition: Cooked peas that are mashed into a soft consistency. Example: Luke – “A plate of fish and chips with a little bowl of mushy peas.”
rowing boat Definition: A small boat propelled with oars. Example: Aaron – “We went on a rowing boat on the Serpentine.”
barely Definition: Only just; almost not. Example: Moz – “Tiny doors that you can barely get through.”
sticky Definition: Having a surface that things stick to. Example: Moz – “The floor is sticky because it’s had like hundreds of years of beer on it.”
tar Definition: A thick, dark substance found in cigarette smoke. Example: Moz – “The ceiling is thick with tar from 300 years of smoking.”
boozer Definition: (British slang) A pub. Example: Moz – “They sit in their regular seat. It’s their boozer.”
brewery Definition: A place where beer is made. Example: Luke – “Fuller’s, one of the big brewing brands.”
take over Definition: To assume control of something. Example: Luke – “Fuller’s had taken over the pub.”
gutted Definition: Very disappointed. Example: Moz – “We were absolutely gutted.”
incensed Definition: Very angry. Example: Moz – “We were incensed.”
gastropub Definition: A pub that serves high-quality food. Example: Moz – “They’ll turn it into a gastropub.”
poncy Definition: Pretentious or affected. Example: Moz – “Full of poncy, pretentious food.
cash register / till Definition: A machine for recording sales and holding money. Example: Moz – “They’d put in a proper cash register.”
cubicle Definition: A small enclosed space, typically for a toilet. Example: Luke – “Cubicles which are the little places with doors.”
urinal Definition: A toilet fixture used by men to urinate. Example: Luke – “Urinals, things on the wall… you can stand at.”
refurbished Definition: Renovated and redecorated. Example: Mum – “They recently reopened after a refurbishment.”
particularly Definition: Especially. Example: Mum – “Having particularly enjoyed productions at the National Theatre.”thatched roof Definition: A roof made with straw or reeds. Example: Luke – “The thatched roof caught fire.”
In this episode I talk to my parents about the topic of William Shakespeare. Enjoy a conversation about this important figure in English language and culture, with two other important figures – my mum and dad!
We discuss the enduring appeal and significance of William Shakespeare’s work, biographical details of his life, the key themes in Shakespeare’s plays, and the impact of his language on modern English. We try to explain the qualities that make Shakespeare great, using examples from plays like Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth.
PDF available with transcript, vocabulary list and vocabulary quiz. Premium listeners – watch out for a language review of this episode coming soon, in P68 “Learn English with Shakespeare” parts 1 & 2.
When Walaa was first on this podcast in episode 703 she talked about living in Syria as a student during the civil war (or people’s revolution) but at that time she felt she could not talk in detail about the situation. Now that the Assad regime is no longer in control of Syria, Walaa feels she can talk more candidly about what it was like to live near Damascus during those days. Walaa’s descriptions are both shocking and moving. This is the topic of this episode, which is part 2 of a two-part series.
A rambling episode full of spontaneous speaking. Topics include an exercise for spoken fluency 🗣️, the benefits of listening to spontaneous speech 🎧, overcoming mental blocks 🌳, raising our kids to be bilingual 👨👩👧👦, reactions to recent episodes 🙉, thoughts about upcoming content 🔮, bird-related idioms 🐦, the phrasal verb “to follow through” including its rude meaning 💩 …and more! PDF transcript available.
Do you know more animal vocabulary than my 6-year-old daughter? Find out in this episode which covers over 60 items of vocabulary for describing animals, their body parts, habitats and behaviour. I am joined by my daughter for a quiz and chat about different kinds of animals. PDF available with quiz questions, vocabulary review & more.
Another fun chat with my friends Amber Minogue & Paul Taylor. This one was recorded in early January and we talk about running & fitness 🏃, falling out of bed 🛏️, my phone’s battery issues 🪫, our Christmas meals 🍗, Amber’s family bingo game 😅, Paul’s horrendous Christmas rat story & some rat facts 🐀, insights into the lives of urban pigeons and country cats 🐈, handheld microphone technique 🎤 and Paul’s lovely new jumper (or is it a sweater, or a pullover?)
No homework and no PDF this time. Just enjoy keeping up with this conversation and catching up with Amber & Paul once again.
This is a free sample of LEP Premium. The episode contains clips from my recent premium series: P64, in which I told a couple of anecdotes about catching a cold and travelling to England with my two young children. You will also hear me teaching a lot of the words, phrases and expressions that I used in my stories. The entire premium series will be available for premium subscribers this week, but here is a free sample for subscribers of the free version of my podcast. Links below for more information about my premium podcast series.
LEP Premium is my paid podcast series, in which I teach vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. There are 200+ episodes, video versions & PDF worksheets. It is designed to be used via a podcast app on your phone.
A conversation with my dad about his new book, which is about the history and wildlife of a famous Roman road which passes right through the heart of England. Expect stories from various periods of English history, plus descriptions of typical English bird life. English history and culture on Luke’s English Podcast.
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