Everyday situations
How to ask for directions in English
A2
Stopping someone, asking where something is, understanding the answer: the phrases you need in a street you don't know.
Quick answer
Asking for directions is a classic in English textbooks, and in real life too, when the map on your phone stops working in the middle of London. The hard part is not the question (Excuse me + Where is …? is enough) but the answer. People speak fast and use place words like past, across from or round the corner, which you can't translate word for word. They also often mention local landmarks (buildings or places that help you find the way) that you don't know. The best plan: ask a simple question, listen for the main directions (left, right, straight on), and don't be shy about asking people to repeat or explain.
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Stopping someone in the street
Always start with Excuse me. It is the universal signal that makes people stop.
- You
Excuse me, could you help me?
FormalorExcuse me, I'm lost.
NeutralorSorry to bother you.
Formal→ Optional, but very polite before your question.orHi, do you speak English?
→ Use it if you are not sure which language the person speaks. - Other person
Sure, what can I do for you?
2. Asking for a place or the way there
Where is = a fixed place; How do I get to = the way there; Is there a ... near here = looking for a type of place.
- You
Excuse me, where is Trafalgar Square, please?
NeutralorHow do I get to Trafalgar Square?
→ How do I get to + place: the most common phrase.orWhat's the best way to Trafalgar Square?
NeutralorI'm looking for Trafalgar Square.
→ Not I'm looking at: the preposition is for. - Other person
Trafalgar Square? It's quite a way from here.
- You
Could you show me on the map?
Formal - Other person
Sure. We're here, and it's there.
- You
Is there a pharmacy near here?
- Other person
Yes, there's one next to the post office.
3. Asking about distance and time
To know if you can walk there or not.
- You
Is it far from here?
orHow long does it take to walk there?
orCan I walk there?
- Other person
It's about a 10-minute walk.
orIt's just round the corner.
orIt's a stone's throw away.
→ An idiom: a stone's throw away means very close.orIt's quite far. You'd better take the tube.
UK→ Another possible answer: it is too far to walk. - You
OK, thanks. I'll walk, then.
4. Understanding the answer
Directions use 6 verbs: go, turn, take, cross, pass, follow. And 4 key prepositions.
- You
OK, so how do I get there?
- Other person
Go straight ahead / Go straight on.
- You
OK. And then?
- Other person
Turn left / Turn right at the traffic light.
- You
OK, at the traffic light. And after that?
- Other person
Take the second street on the right.
- You
The second street on the right. Then?
- Other person
Cross the road / Cross the bridge, then go past the supermarket.
- You
How will I know I'm there?
- Other person
It's on your left, across from the bank.
→ Across from means on the other side, facing it (US). In the UK: opposite.orIt's on your right, next to the post office.
5. Asking again, checking, saying thank you
A good habit: never pretend that you have understood.
- Other person
Left at the bank, then right. You can't miss it.
→ A typical friendly phrase at the end: You can't miss it means it is very easy to find. - You
Sorry, could you repeat that?
FormalorCould you speak more slowly, please?
FormalorI'm sorry, I didn't catch the last part.
- Other person
Of course. Left at the bank, then second right.
- You
So, left at the bank and then right?
→ Saying it again in your own words helps you check. - Other person
That's it.
- You
That's very helpful, thank you.
FormalorThanks a lot!
InformalorCheers, mate!
InformalUK→ Very British and informal (mate means friend).
Useful vocabulary
Direction verbs
- to go straight (on/ahead)to keep going, not turning
- to turn (left / right)to change direction
- to take (a street)to go into a street
- to crossto go to the other side
- to pass / to go pastto go by something
- to followto go along something
Things you see in the street
- traffic lightred, amber and green lights for cars
- roundabouta round junction where cars circle
- crossroads / intersectionwhere two roads meet
- crosswalk(US)black and white stripes on the road
- zebra crossing(UK)black and white stripes on the road
- pavement / sidewalkthe path next to the road
- cornerthe point where two streets join
- block(US)the buildings between two streets
Prepositions of place
- next toright beside something
- across from / oppositeon the other side, facing it
- betweenwith one thing on each side
- behindat the back of
- in front ofclose to the front of
- on the corner ofwhere two streets meet
- round the corner(UK)very close, just out of sight
- around the corner(US)very close, just out of sight
Transport and places
- underground / tube(UK)trains that run under a city
- subway(US)trains that run under a city
- bus stopa sign where you wait for transport
- train stationwhere you catch a railway service
- town centre / downtownthe busy middle part of a city
- post officewhere you send letters and parcels
- chemist / pharmacy(UK)a shop that sells medicine
- drugstore / pharmacy(US)a shop that sells medicine
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| On the other side, facing it | Opposite | Across from |
| Trains under a city | The Underground / the Tube | The subway |
| Very close, just out of sight | Round the corner | Around the corner |
| The path next to the road | Pavement | Sidewalk |
| Where people walk over the road | Zebra crossing | Crosswalk |
| The shop that sells medicine | Chemist / chemist's | Drugstore / pharmacy |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I am lost, not I am loosed
Lost is the past participle of to lose. To say you don't know where you are, say I'm lost. ✗ I am loose (loose means not tight, or free). ✗ I'm losed (it does not exist). The correct form is simply I'm lost.
2. Where is the station?, not Where is station?
English almost always needs an article (the) before a concrete noun. ✓ Where is the station / the museum / the post office? Without the, it sounds like a text message, and foreign. Exception: names (Where is Oxford Street?).
3. How long time ❌
How long already means “how much time”, so adding time is wrong. ✓ How long does it take? ✗ How long time does it take?
4. UK round the corner or US around the corner
Same words, two habits: British people often say round the corner (with no a-), and Americans prefer around the corner. Everyone understands both, but your choice shows which kind of English you learned.
5. I am looking at Oxford Street ❌
To look at means to watch something with your eyes. To try to find something, say to look for. ✓ I'm looking for Oxford Street (you are trying to find it). ✗ I'm looking at Oxford Street (you are watching it, which makes no sense when you are asking the way).
Practice quiz
Related pages: Asking for directions
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
How do you ask for directions in English?+
Always start with Excuse me to stop someone. Then ask your question: Where is + place + please? (for a fixed place), How do I get to + place? (for the way there) or Is there a + place + near here? (to find a type of shop). Finish with Thank you.
Is it I'm lost or I'm loose?+
Say I'm lost. Lost is the past participle (the third form of the verb) of to lose. Never say I am loose (loose means not tight) or I'm losed (it does not exist). You can add more details: I'm lost, I'm looking for + place.
What is the difference between “Where is” and “How do I get to”?+
Where is + place asks where something is: the person may just point. How do I get to + place asks for the way there: the person will give you directions step by step. For a street you don't know, How do I get to is often more useful.
How do you understand directions in English?+
Focus on 6 verbs: go straight (don't turn), turn (go left or right), take (choose a street), cross (go to the other side), pass (go by something) and follow (go along something). And 4 prepositions: next to (beside), across from / opposite (on the other side, facing it), between (with one thing on each side) and on your left / right.
How do you say a place is 10 minutes away on foot?+
Say It's about a 10-minute walk. Note: 10-minute has a hyphen and no s, because it works like an adjective. You can also say It's a 10-minute walk from here or It takes about 10 minutes on foot.
Which direction words are different in British and American English?+
The underground train: the Tube / the Underground (UK) / the subway (US). The path next to the road: pavement (UK) / sidewalk (US). Facing: opposite (UK) / across from (US). The shop for medicine: chemist (UK) / drugstore (US). Very close: round the corner (UK) / around the corner (US).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/asking-for-directions
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.