English Travel Phrases
Most travel situations reuse the same polite frames. Ask directions with 'Excuse me, how do I get to…?', buy tickets with 'A single to…, please', and confirm a route with 'Does this train stop at…?'. Master these and you can handle a whole journey.
Level: A2. Travel repeats the same short jobs: find your way, buy a ticket, catch the right train or bus, and ask for help when something goes wrong. Each job has two or three set phrases. Learn the phrases once and you can carry them from the airport to the station to the street.
By the end of this page you can…
…stop a stranger politely and ask directions, buy a ticket, check that a bus or train goes where you want, and say you are lost or need help.
Asking the way
Open with Excuse me — it is the polite signal that you are about to ask a stranger something. Then use one of these frames.
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me, where is the station? | stopping someone to ask a place | neutral polite |
| How do I get to the city centre? | asking the way to somewhere | neutral |
| Is it far from here? | checking the distance | neutral |
| Which way is the exit? | finding your way out | neutral |
| Can you show me on the map? | asking someone to point it out | polite |
Tickets and transport
At a counter or machine, say where you are going and add please. In Britain a one-way ticket is a single and a round trip is a return.
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| A single to Oxford, please. | buying a one-way ticket (BrE) | neutral polite |
| A return to Leeds, please. | buying a round-trip ticket (BrE) | neutral |
| What time is the next train? | checking the timetable | neutral |
| Does this bus go to the airport? | confirming the route | neutral |
| Which platform is it? | finding where to board | neutral |
Problems and asking for help
When something goes wrong, keep it short and clear. Staff deal with these situations every day.
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| I think I’m lost. | you cannot find your way | neutral |
| Can you help me, please? | asking for help | polite |
| I’ve missed my train. | telling staff a problem | neutral |
| Is there a later one? | asking for an alternative | neutral |
| Could you speak more slowly, please? | you did not catch it | polite |
A short conversation
You: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station? Local: Go straight on, then it’s on your left, opposite the bank. You: Is it far? Local: No, about five minutes on foot. You: Thank you very much!
Example sentences
Press play and copy the rhythm. Say each line out loud as if you were really travelling.
- Excuse me, where is the bus stop?Starting a question to a stranger.
- How do I get to the city centre?Asking the way somewhere.
- Is it far from here?Checking the distance.
- Is it within walking distance?Asking if you can walk there.
- Which way is the exit?Finding your way out.
- Can you show me on the map?Asking someone to point it out.
- A single to Oxford, please.Buying a one-way ticket (British English).
- A return to Leeds, please.Buying a round-trip ticket (British English).
- What time is the next train?Checking the timetable.
- Does this bus go to the airport?Confirming the route before you board.
- Which platform is it?Finding where to wait for the train.
- Where do I change for the blue line?Asking about changing trains.
- I think I'm lost.You cannot find your way.
- Can you help me, please?A short, clear request for help.
- I've missed my train.Telling staff what went wrong.
- Is there a later one?Asking for an alternative.
- Could you speak more slowly, please?You did not catch what they said.
- How much is a day pass?Asking the price of travel.
- Does this train stop at Reading?Checking the train stops where you need.
- Thank you, that's really helpful.A friendly way to finish.
Quick recap before you practise.
Common mistakes
These are the errors learners make most often. Fix them and your travel English sounds natural straight away.
- ❌ Where is the station? (to a stranger, with no opener) → ✅ Excuse me, where is the station? — start with Excuse me.
- ❌ I want a ticket to London. → ✅ Could I have a ticket to London, please? — I want sounds like a demand.
- ❌ How I can get to the centre? → ✅ How do I get to the centre? — the order is how + do + I.
- ❌ Is far from here? → ✅ Is it far from here? — English needs the subject it.
- ❌ This bus goes to airport? → ✅ Does this bus go to the airport? — use does + base verb and the article the.
Usage notes
- single / return (BrE) = one-way / round-trip (AmE): the ticket words differ by country but mean the same thing.
- platform (BrE) = track (AmE): where the train arrives; a gate is for planes.
- How do I get to…? / Which way is…? / Where is…? are three polite ways to ask the way; all take Excuse me first.
- lift (BrE) = elevator (AmE): worth knowing in stations and airports.
- For the full airport and transport vocabulary, see the related lessons at the bottom of this page.
Practice
Travel phrases practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
1 Match each situation to the right phrase.
- You want the way to the centre
- You want a one-way ticket
- You cannot find your way
- You did not hear the answer
Show answer
- You want the way to the centre → How do I get to the city centre?
- You want a one-way ticket → A single to Oxford, please.
- You cannot find your way → I think I'm lost.
- You did not hear the answer → Could you speak more slowly, please?
Each travel situation has a short, set phrase.
Hint: the polite opener
Show answer
Excuse — 'Excuse me' signals you are about to ask a stranger something.
Hint: English needs a subject here
Show answer
it — English can't drop the subject: say 'Is it far?'.
5 Put the words in order to confirm a route.
Show answer
does this bus go to the airport? — Yes/no questions start with 'does': Does this bus go to the airport?
Quiz
Travel phrases quiz
11 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
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Show answer
Excuse me, — 'Excuse me' is the standard polite opener before you ask.
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single — In British English a one-way ticket is a 'single'; a round trip is a 'return'.
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I'm lost. — Use the verb 'to be': I'm lost (I am lost).
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Does this bus go to the airport? — Use 'Does' + base verb and the article 'the'.
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Could you speak more slowly, please? — A polite request with 'Could you … please?' works best.
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the distance — It asks how far away the place is.
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return — 'Return' (BrE) = 'round-trip' (AmE).
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I think I'm lost. — 'I think I'm lost' tells someone exactly what is wrong.
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Could I have a ticket to London, please? — 'Could I have … please?' is polite; 'I want' and 'Give me' sound like demands.
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Show answer
the platform — Trains leave from a 'platform' (BrE); 'gate' is for planes.
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Show answer
Excuse me — 'Excuse me' gets attention; 'Sorry' apologises or asks to repeat.
Recap cheat-sheet
| Situation | Say |
|---|---|
| Start a question | Excuse me, … |
| Ask the way | How do I get to …? |
| Buy a ticket | A single/return to …, please. |
| Confirm a route | Does this bus go to …? |
| You’re lost | I think I’m lost. |
| Need help | Can you help me, please? |
Next
- Deep-dive lessons: English: Travel & the Airport · English: Public Transport · English: Directions & Places · English: Sightseeing & Tourism
- Next phrase set: English Restaurant Phrases
- More phrase sets: English Phrases
- New here? Start with Start Learning English Here
All English phrases topics
Vocabulary, pronunciation, phrases, practice and exam help, ordered by level. Pick a topic and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.
Phrases
A1 4 topics · 4 ready
A2 7 topics · 7 ready
- 05 English Travel Phrases You are here
- 06 English Restaurant Phrases
- 07 English Hotel Phrases
- 08 English Shopping Phrases
- 09 English Asking Directions Phrases
- 10 English Emergency Phrases
- 11 English Airport Phrases