Category Archives: Learning

939. Our favourite things to do in London (Part 1)

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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

This page contains (below) some very useful things (you’re welcome). Including:

  1. A PDF transcript
  2. The video of my Walk & Talk in London
  3. A summary of the places and recommendations from this episode
  4. A vocabulary list from the episode

1. PDF with transcript, list of London travel tips & vocabulary list👇

2. Watch my Walk & Talk video in London 👇

https://youtu.be/Rd8Auzn-KfI

3. A Summary of the Recommendations from the Episode (Part 1) 👇

Here you will find a summary of the places and recommendations from this audio episode (Part 1).

🏙️ Walk and Talk Route (Luke’s YouTube Video Tour)

  • South Bank walk – scenic route along the River Thames
  • London Eye – iconic giant wheel
  • Big Ben & Houses of Parliament – historic landmarks
  • Whitehall & Downing Street – political heart of the UK
  • Horse Guards Parade – ceremonial military area
  • The Mall & Buckingham Palace – royal route and residence
  • Trafalgar Square – iconic public square
  • Covent Garden – shopping, street performances
  • Leicester Square – film and theatre hub
  • Piccadilly Circus – neon lights and atmosphere
  • Sherlock Holmes statue (Baker Street) – literary sightseeing

🎨 Amber Minogue

  • National Portrait Gallery – classic British portraiture
  • National Gallery – major European art, next door
  • Wallace Collection – smaller gallery featuring The Swing by Fragonard
  • Hampstead Heath – great for a peaceful walk in nature
  • Brick Lane – best curry in town
  • Angel (The Bill Murray Comedy Club) – stand-up comedy night

🍻 Martin

  • City of York Pub (Holborn) – pub with roots from 1430
  • Seven Stars Pub (behind the law courts) – survived the Great Fire of London
  • Old Cheshire Cheese Pub – dark wood, cellars, and historical nooks
  • Holborn Area – for old pubs and side-street exploring
  • Inns of Court (near Chancery Lane) – fascinating, tucked-away legal history

👧 Luke’s Daughter (Child 1)

  • Borough Market – amazing food stalls (especially sausage rolls)
  • 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.”

Image by liushuquan from Pixabay

937. A Birthday Ramble / The Spinning Wheel of Random Questions

It’s my birthday 🥳 so join me for a relaxed and light-hearted ramble, first with some comments about recent episodes and other podcast housekeeping, and then a series of talking points with the Spinning Wheel of Random Questions ☸️ including bits about how being an English teacher affects my social interactions 💬, the infamous ice-cream wars of Ice-Cream Island 🏝️, leading an army of English learners into battle on the back of an Elephant 🐘, the title of my (hypothetical) autobiography 📖, and my age revealed at the end of the episode. Full transcript available 📄.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Get the PDF with speaking questions, and full transcript 👇

936. How AI Can Boost Your English with LEP (feat. Alastair Budge)

In this episode, I’m joined by Alastair Budge from Leonardo English to explore how you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to boost your English, especially when combined with podcasts. We go through specific, practical ways to actively engage with podcast content using AI — improving your listening, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and even speaking. Alastair shares a set of very useful prompts and techniques you can try out straight away, and we discuss the pros and cons of using AI for language learning. There’s also a bit of fun as I try chatting with an AI version of myself. Download the free PDF in the show notes for all the prompts and ideas we mentioned, plus a full transcript.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/68ECoRwRkrA

Get the PDF with all prompts, and a full episode transcript 👇


935. Terrible Traffic Jams & Self-Driving Cars (Topic & Vocabulary)

This episode is all about the exciting topic of driving, getting stuck in traffic jams, the future of our roads and how self-driving cars might be the solution 🚗. What is so annoying about traffic jams? Why do they even happen in the first place? Have you seen your first self-driving car yet? Will they solve our driving problems, or not? The episode is full of anecdotes, analysis, opinions and plenty of vocabulary. PDF available.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/exEVFQdtEuw

Get the PDF here with transcript, vocabulary list & vocabulary quiz.

934. Sign Language is Fascinating (with Siobhan Dodd)

Have you ever wondered about sign language, how it works and if it is similar to other languages like English? In this conversation I speak to Siobhan Dodd who is a sign language interpreter between English and BSL (British Sign Language). Siobhan is an enthusiastic and entertaining guest and we have a great chat about the nature of sign language, the challenges & opportunities faced by the deaf community today, and some of Siobhan’s memorable interpreting experiences, such as working at the Glastonbury music festival.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/OwOdynFdDYg

Get the episode transcript here 👇

Siobhan’s Links

931. Overcoming Fears (with Zdenek)

This episode features a conversation with Zdenek about fears and anxieties experienced in everyday life. We explore common fears such as driving, flying, culture shock, language learning and public speaking. Listen for stories of Luke’s fear of Paris cafes ☕️, airport anxiety ✈️, Luke’s dramatic scooter ride in Nha Trang 🛵, Zdenek’s fears of Vietnamese roads and driving 🛣️, Luke’s recent cycling accident in Paris 💥, Zdenek’s encounter with a London police officer 👮‍♂️, nerves about teaching 😳, and more.

The PDF worksheet offers a vocabulary list from the conversation, with definitions, examples, and quizzes and a full transcript to help you boost your English with the episode.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/_0yTntyjeA4?si=S0A_8s7agzO3Z69N

📄 Get the PDF here (lucky you – it’s very expensive but you can have it completely free) 👇

  • Detailed vocabulary list
  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Full episode transcript

Other links 👇

⚽️ The Footglish Podcast (Learn English with Football)

💬 Zdenek’s Discord server “The Achiever’s Chamber”

🏆 LEP Premium 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

930. Can I eat my cat? Weird Google Questions, Answered (Topics + Vocabulary)

😿 This episode is about the bizarre and funny questions that people input into Google. I explore and answer some of these questions, explaining some vocabulary. The result is an engaging and intellectually light-hearted discussion involving the usual mix of rambling, and English teaching.

The episode covers a range of topics, from personal health, sex and relationships to broader existential and practical issues, with some diverse and absurd moments. The language style is a mix of informal slang and neutral high-frequency vocabulary related to personal matters and common problems. I hope you enjoy it! PDF available with a full transcript and big vocabulary list.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/pf-zTmM8-H4

Get the episode PDF with full transcript, big vocabulary list & more 👇

Express yourself in English! Don’t be a ninja 🥷Leave a comment below 👇

929. Sarah Donnelly: The Only American In Paris + UK vs US Accent Quiz

Sarah Donnelly comes back onto LEP to catch up and to tell us about her stand-up special, now available to watch on YouTube, and to do a British English vs American English pronunciation quiz.

Sarah’s show is called The Only American in Paris and we discuss some of the themes of the show – the real experience of being a US citizen living in Paris, the Netflix show Emily in Paris, cultural differences, learning French, plus a pronunciation quiz to help you compare UK and US English.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/2iLkgCv5984?si=3TB9SqiCQZymt1Ob

Get the episode PDF👇 (pronunciation quiz and full transcript)

928. The Abduction (Learn English with a Short Story)

Learn English with another short story on Luke’s English Podcast. This one is about a learner of English who has an extraordinary experience. Listen to me tell the story, and summarise it, then explain plenty of natural, commonly occurring, up-to-date English vocabulary.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/u5rIOmG3dqc?si=UM_Mlx3DcJnAUQvh

📄 Get the PDF with story script and vocabulary notes 👇

924. Walaa Mouma Returns (Part 1) PhD Studies in Wales & Teaching English for Refugees

Walaa Mouma returns to the podcast after 4 years to give us an update about her academic studies and personal story, including getting married and moving to Wales, details of her PhD doctorate, as well as her other studies and volunteer work helping to teach English to refugees and asylum seekers. Walaa’s passion for this work is inspired by her own personal story of learning English, seeking asylum in the UK and studying in the UK’s academic system, which she first talked about in episode 703 of this podcast. Part 1 of a 2-part episode.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/G8S29ICPKVM

Links for English with Walaa

Walaa’s previous appearance on LEP (episode 703) 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ythdvbKKM&t=1s&ab_channel=Luke%27sEnglishPodcast