Category Archives: Social English

940. Our favourite things to do in London (Part 2)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Just like for part 1, 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👇

940. Our favourite things to do in London (Part 2) TranscriptDownload

2. Watch my Walk & Talk video in London 👇

https://youtu.be/Rd8Auzn-KfI

3. A Summary of the Recommendations from the Episode (Part 2) 👇

Here you will find a summary of the places and recommendations from this audio episode (Part 2).

🚶 Walks and General Exploration

  • Walk along the South Bank of the Thames
  • Walk from Victoria Station to Leicester Square via Westminster, St. James’s Park, and Buckingham Palace
  • Walk through St. James’s Park, Green Park, and Hyde Park
  • Stroll around Soho, especially in the early evening
  • Wander around areas like Brixton, treating it like a little village
  • Explore Chiswick and its high street markets

🌉 River Thames & Bridges

  • Stand on bridges like Waterloo Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge, and London Bridge
  • Visit the Port of London and view The Shard
  • Learn the story of the bus that jumped Tower Bridge in 1952

🏛️ Landmarks & Cultural Sites

  • Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
  • Downing Street (Prime Minister’s residence)
  • Trafalgar Square – fountains, Nelson’s Column
  • Covent Garden Market
  • Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus
  • Baker Street and the Sherlock Holmes statue
  • Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
  • Chinatown for Chinese food
  • Dalston for Vietnamese cuisine
  • Green Lanes (North London) for Turkish food
  • Brick Lane for Bangladeshi culture and food

🎭 Arts & Entertainment

  • See a musical in London’s West End (e.g., Les Misérables, The Lion King)
  • Go to the Leicester Square box office for discounted theatre tickets
  • Visit St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church and the Cafe in the Crypt
  • Do brass rubbings at St. Martin’s
  • Go to Tate Modern (free exhibitions and contemporary art)
  • Visit The National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery

📚 Bookshops & Browsing

  • Visit Waterstones Piccadilly (huge multi-storey bookshop with a café)
  • Browse independent bookshops and check for your own books (like Anna Brooke!)

🎧 Music & Record Shopping

  • Explore record shops in Soho and elsewhere
  • Go to live gigs in small venues (e.g., Denmark Street, Camden Underworld)
  • Go to band rehearsal studios in Brixton

🍽️ Food & Drink

  • Enjoy pubs for cosy atmospheres (e.g., The Porter House in Covent Garden)
  • Eat at food markets across the city
  • Explore restaurants representing many world cuisines
  • Try a proper fry-up breakfast in Brixton
  • Grab pastries and coffee from weekend food markets

⚽ Sport & Atmosphere

  • Attend a Premier League football match for the electric atmosphere
    (e.g., Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Crystal Palace)

🛍️ Markets & Shopping

  • Visit Portobello Road Market (antiques, second-hand goods)
  • Browse Chiswick’s Sunday Markets:
    • Cheese Market (the last in the UK!)
    • Antiques Market
    • Flower Market
    • Food Market

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.

Get the skeleton with headphones t-shirt here! https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Skeleton-With-Headphones-by-LEPLuke/170787870.WFLAH

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

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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👇

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

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

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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 👇

937. A Birthday Ramble _ The Spinning Wheel of Random Questions PDFDownload

934. Sign Language is Fascinating (with Siobhan Dodd)

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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 👇

934. Sign Language is Fascinating (with Siobhan Dodd)Download

Siobhan’s Links

931. Overcoming Fears (with Zdenek)

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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
931. Overcoming Fears with ZdenekDownload

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)

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😿 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 👇

930. Can I eat my cat? + other weird Google questions, answeredDownload

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

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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)

929. Sarah Donnelly_ The Only American In Paris US vs UK Accent QuizDownload

927. Walk & Talk: Medieval Museum (with Amber, Paul & Kyle)

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Finally, it’s here – the medieval museum episode with Amber & Paul. Join us as we visit the museum of the middle ages in Paris. Learn about the history of the middle ages, find out about some of the art and artefacts from that period, including some fantastic symbolic tapestries, sculptures and weapons, and have fun with a few jokes along the way.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/OVyAGFojRaw?si=FCj6eIwhOnvItHu7

The audio and video versions are slightly different. The audio version has more content recorded in the studio, with lessons about the historical context of the middle ages and an overview of the main historical periods in European history.

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

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

923. A Rambling Exercise for Fluency / Late-Winter 2025

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/DitClfcmHsA?si=FidE8Exk97XaWap2

PDF Transcript 👇 (you’re welcome 😎)

923. A Rambling Exercise for Fluency _ Late-Winter 2025 (Transcript)Download

Luke on The Following Through Podcast 👇 Warning: strong language! 💩

Click here to listen to The Following Through Podcast on Apple Podcasts and other players 👉 https://pod.link/1797539101

A video clip from my appearance on The Following Through Podcast (with subtitles) 👇 yes, this is my “following through” story 💩