Speaking Topics

Let’s talk about LONDON

Conversation cards

Where in the world is London? How many tourist attractions What is there to see and do in
What do you know about it? can you name? London?
Brainstorm in groups. Have you visited any? Plan a 3-day city trip.
Talk about it.

How do people get around in What is London nightlife like? Which big event is happening in
London? What can you do in the evening? London in 2012?
Compare public transport to your Brainstorm. Do you think it will be
own city. successful?

Is London a big city? What typical local food can you Do you think London is a cheap or
What’s the population of eat in London? expensive city? Use the Internet
London? Make a list. to find out how much you’d spend
Guess. daily as a tourist.

Do you know any famous people Is London a dangerous place to What’s the time difference
who live in London? visit? between London and your city?
Where do they live? What could happen? Find out.
What do you know about them? Discuss in group.

In Hyde Park there is Speakers’ What happened in London in What’s ‘The Gherkin’?
Corner. 1666? Do research and report to the
What could this be? Do research and report to the class.
Brainstorm or speculate. class.

Who’s the mayor of London? London is home to several What is ‘the Changing of the
What do you know about him? football teams. Guards’ and why is it popular
Do research. How many can you name? with tourists?

10 Downing Street
1
Big Ben
Boris Johnson 8
5 Buckingham Palace 12
Double-decker
2
Harrods 9
Local pub
The London Eye
13
3 6 Madame Tussauds
Millennium Dome
10
St Paul’s Cathedral
Tower Bridge
4 Tower of London
Trafalgar Square 11 14
7
 Speaking Topics

London is the capital of England and
the UK. . The combination of England,
Scotland and Wales is also called
(Great) Britain. The UK comprises
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
See below; other attractions include Answers may vary
the Zoo, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester
Square; most of these can be seen
doing a sightseeing trip in an open
double-decker tourist bus.

Underground (also called the Tube), There are many pubs, cinemas, Summer Olympics 2012
bus (including double-deckers), taxi restaurants, theatres (located in the
(usually black), there are several train West End), discos, nightclubs etc.
stations as well

About 8 million ‘pub grub’ (e.g. bangers and mash, steak Answers may vary,
and kidney pie, etc), fish and chips,
Indian and Pakistani food (curries,
baltis)

Queen Elisabeth (Buckingham Palace)
Gordon Brown (10 Downing St)
Not more dangerous than other big Answers may vary.
cities. Watch out for pickpockets in
crowded places and don’t flash money,
jewelry or expensive camera gear
poorer boroughs.

People get on a ‘soapbox’ and proclaim The Great Fire of London The Gherkin is the
their views to the world. nickname for the
office block located
at 30 St Mary Axe.

Boris Johnson - Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, The changing of the (royal) guards is a
Eccentric member of the Conservative Fulham, West Ham United, Charlton ceremonial event that takes place
party Athletic, Queen’s Park Rangers several times a day and attracts lots of
sightseers with cameras.

10 Downing Street Home of the British Prime Minister (Gordon Brown, Jan 2010) 14
Big Ben Famous bell in the clock tower near Houses of Parliament 6
Boris Johnson Mayor of London (Jan 2010), member of Conservative Party or Tories 5
Buckingham Palace Home of Queen Elisabeth II of England 1
Double-decker Typical red bus with upper and lower deck 2
Harrods Famous department store owned by Mohamed Al Fayed 11
Local pub Where locals and tourists alike have a pint and a meal 12
The London Eye Huge Ferris Wheel 13
Madame Tussauds Wax museum 9
Millennium Dome Exhibition and concert hall constructed for the Millennium celebration 8
St Paul’s Cathedral Famous cathedral 7
Tower Bridge Picturesque bridge over the River Thames 3
Tower of London Former prison; the Crown Jewels are kept there (and many lost their heads there) 10
Trafalgar Square Big square sporting Nelson’s Column (with statue of Admiral Nelson) 4
More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/regions/london.htm