Describe a Place: The Ultimate Guide

In IELTS Speaking Part 2, it is really common to be asked to describe a place. Here is a detailed template which you can use as a whole, or in parts. Go here for Describe a Person: The Ultimate Guide, and here for Describe a Time or Event: The Ultimate Guide.

Note: Consider going through these exercises for both an outside place and an inside place.

Examples of these questions are:

Warning: There is a lot of information in this post and includes grammar and vocabulary. You have a choice. You can either go through the post and use the order as a template for any question about describing a person. OR You can use different parts of the post to improve your answers.

To speak well about a place, use the following answer order.

1: Say what it is and where it is.	2: Say what it looks like.
3: Say what its purpose is.	4: Say why it is special and how you feel about it.

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Stage 1

Step 1 – stage 1

1/ Say what it is and where it is.

1. Use words for types of places correctly.

Examples:

Bertha – I want to talk about the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is a very famous historic site in the northwest of Beijing, in the suburbs…

James – I would like to talk about a bar called D22…

Catherine – Maybe it’s a bit unrealistic, but I would love to own a luxury flat

The first thing you need to do when giving a monologue about a place is to say what kind of place it is.

Vocabulary to help you with places

Examples:

Let me tell you about a theatre I once saw when I was travelling…

I would like to talk about the Lavender Fields in Norfolk, which is a very popular tourist attraction.

I’m going to talk about a lovely little park in the countryside outside London.

Step 2 – stage 1

Prepositions of Location

Bertha –  I want to talk about the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is a very famous historic site in the northwest of Beijing, in the suburbs…

James – I would like to talk about a bar called D22. D22 is a bar located in Ho Chi Minh City, quite near to Marie Curie High School…

Catherine – Maybe it’s a bit unrealistic, but I would love to own a luxury flat. It’s located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, right in the centre of downtown, close to all the best restaurants and shops…

Notice that they all say where their place is located immediately after they have said what the place is – this helps to introduce the place you are describing.

Essential prepositions of location:

in + an enclosed or larger place

…in New York City…

…in the countryside…

…in the middle of nowhere…

at + a certain place or location

…at the top of the mountain…

…at the end of the street…

on + a surface or road

…on the fifth floor…

…on a main road…

…on the outskirts of the city…

over/ above + a certain place or location

…above a Japanese restaurant…

Every day the Chinese flag flies over Tiananmen Square.

next to/ beside/ by + a certain place or location

…by the seaside…

…next to the Bell Tower…

…beside South Lake…

opposite/across from + a certain place or location

I work opposite my favourite restaurant.

The Fruit Market is just across from Riddle Square.

between + two places or locations

Hue, which is between Saigon and Ha Noi,…

My house is between the mountains and the sea.

in front of + a certain place or location

The Bund in Shanghai is just in front of the main historic buildings.

The Virgin Mary Statue stands in front of Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica.

outside of (a town/ city)

Ben Duoc Temple is just outside of Vientiane.

There’s a fascinating market outside of the city centre.

near (to)

Nghe An, which is very near to Laos,…

New York City is near the sea.

far from

It would be far from the city centre.

The UK is extremely far from Japan.

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STAGE 2 

Say what it looks like.

1.Use expressions of size and shape accurately.

Tianfu Square is a vast open space in Chengdu
Westminster Cathedral is the largest church in the UK.

2.Use expressions of character and appearance correctly.

St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is a great example of Gothic architecture.
IFS is an enormous, shiny shopping mall.

3.Use linking phrases correctly.

In addition to having hosted the Olympic swimming contests, the Water Cube is also a fascinating piece of architecture.

Step 1 – stage 2

Expressions of Size and Shape

Bertha …Most of the Summer Palace is actually Kunming Lake, a large open area of water. The lake is surrounded by a large number of hills on which are various examples of traditional Chinese architecture…

James  …I would like to talk about a bar called D22… lt’s really a small place, although it’s quite long when you get inside…

Catherine  …The apartment would have at least two huge bedrooms, one lounge, a massive kitchen and one or two bathrooms – it’d be great if one of the bathrooms en-suite!…

To describe a place well, you should say something about its size.

Vocabulary for size and shape

However, you should be a little careful about how to use these words naturally to describe different things. It’s important to remember these adjective+ noun collocations:

a vast mountain range/landscape/lake/desert

a massive/gigantic/huge/enormous/immense building/ house/shopping complex/room

a cramped room/house/dormitory

a broad avenue/ street

a squat house/building

a tall/high building/mountain

a winding path/country road/mountain pass

a tiny/minuscule/incredibly small object/doorway/window

You can also use the following phrases to talk about the dimensions of the place: (number) metres/ kilometres by (number) metres/ kilometres

George Square is 320 metres by 100 metres.

(number) metres/ kilometres square

The size of West Lake in Hangzhou is about 6.5 kilometres square.

Step 2 – stage 2

Expressions of Character and Appearance

Bertha …For me, the Summer Palace is a beautiful, open area which. represents the best of Chinese culture and history. Most of the Summer Palace is actually Kunming Lake, a large open area of water. The lake is surrounded by a large number of hills on which are various examples of traditional Chinese architecture…

James …To be honest, D22 is not an attractive place not only does it always seem dark and dingy – no matter how many lights are on – but there is also a permanent smell of cigarette smoke in the air…

Catherine   … The flat would be on a high floor – perhaps the top floor – of a brand-new high-rise apartment block with the most modern architectural style…. The style would be modern with varnished wooden floorboards, leather sofas and colourful rugs on the floor. The flat would be very airy and light, with lots of windows …’

As you can see, all of these model answers include words and expressions to accurately describe the appearance and character of a place. You should use them to sound much more natural.

Vocabulary for character and appearance

Here are a few common adjective + noun collocations:

a(n) airy/well-lit/light/ dingy/horrible room/house/flat/dormitory

a dark/gloomy/dank cave/woodland

a murky river/lake/pool/stream

an awe-inspiring work of art/scene/panorama/building

a majestic building/statue

a thrilling scene

a significant area of town/spot/historic site/symbol of our city

Here is more vocabulary regarding the physical appearance of a place

Here are a few common adjective + noun collocations:

a crumbling old building/wall

a tatty curtain/clothes/fabric/wooden structure

a run-down/shabby old building

a dusty room/building/yard

a(n) luxurious/opulent/sumptuous/upmarket/expensive palace/mansion/five-star hotel/ restaurant

If the place you are talking about is a building, you can also describe its appearance by saying what material the building is made of.

be made of + material

The Great Wall is made of thousands and thousands of bricks.

The ‘Gherkin’ building in London is made completely of glass.

material+ building

The Great Wall is an enormous brick wall.

The Pantheon in Rome is actually a concrete temple.

be covered in/with+ objects/designs

A city in southern China is completely covered in graffiti.

The roofs of the Forbidden City are covered with yellow tiles.

be decorated with + objects/designs

The mosque is decorated with dragons and flowers.

Lots of ancient tombs in Egypt are decorated with paintings of ancient Egyptian life.

be painted + colour

My dream house would be painted pink.

The building is painted white, just like the White House in Washington.

Step 3 – stage 2

Linking Phrases

James …To be honest, D22 is not an attractive place not only does it always seem dark and dingy – no matter how many lights are on – but there is also a permanent smell of cigarette smoke in the air…

When you describe a place, you should say what things can be found there, or talk about the qualities the place has. To do this you should use linking phrases such as the following:

as well as…also…/as well as+ verb-Ing…also…

As well as being a place of great natural beauty, it is also a place of great historical significance.

besides…also…/ besides+ verb-ing…also…

Besides being one of the most popular music venues in the city, the bar also has great food.

in addition to…also…/ in addition to + verb-ing ..also…

In addition to having hosted the Olympic swimming contests, the Water Cube is also a fascinating piece of architecture.

along with, ..also…

Along with great shops and designer outlets, Parkson Paragon also has a number of handy restaurants.

not only.. but also…

Loch Lomond in Scotland is not only beautiful and tranquil, but it’s also a great place to do activities such as fishing and hiking.

both…and…

This gym is both conveniently located and reasonably priced.

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STAGE 3

Say what its purpose is.

1.Use the passive voice to express purpose/significance of a place accurately.

Qing Chen Mountain was revered by the ancestors as a sacred mountain.

2.Use expressions to talk about past habits correctly.

I used to spend many hours painting by the river.
If I felt tired, I would go to the bar to relax.

3.Use popularity and fame expressions to say why a place is popular or famous.

My town is famous for the peony flowers that bloom in spring.

Step 1 – stage 3

The Passive Voice to Express Purpose/ Significance of a Place

Bertha  …Originally, the place was built by the emperor as his private palace and used to be closed to the public.

Catherine … … A flat like this would be perfect for my husband and I to live in and then bring up our child a new, gleaming kitchen would be great for preparing delicious dishes for our friends when they come to dinner, and the guests could be entertained in the comfortable and relaxing sitting room…

Notice that both Bertha and Catherine use the passive to talk about the purpose or signifi­cance of the place they are describing.

This is a very useful and natural way to talk about a place, so let’s remind ourselves of the passive structure:

be + past participle (+ by + agent)

The Pyramids of Egypt were constructed by unpaid workers.

Classical music is performed there every week.

This famous site is respected and admired by locals and tourists alike.

More practice using the Passive Voice

Step 2 – stage 3

Expressions to Talk about Past Habits

Bertha …Originally, the place was built by the emperor as his private palace and used to be closed to the public. However, now it is open for everybody to enjoy and serves as both a park and a tourist site. I visited the historic halls and grounds of the palace when I was young, but now when I go I like to just walk around the lake and take in the views.

James …when I was a student, I would go there all the time and hang out with my friends – it was great!…

The place that you describe will often be somewhere you have a personal history with, or somewhere you have been many times. To describe this, the past simple, “used to” and other habit phrases are extremely useful.

the past simple

I visited the river at weekends and went swimming.

My girlfriend and I exercised at the gym.

Note: You can use adverbs of frequency with the past simple.

I always visited the river at weekends and went swimming.

My girlfriend and I regularly exercised at the gym.

used to

I used to spend many hours painting by the river.

My family used to spend every summer camping at Juniper Steep Waterfall.

habit phrases

If I felt stressed, I would go to the bar to relax.

When I needed some more designer clothes, my mother would go to the shopping mall near my home.

Step 3 – stage 3

Popularity and Fame Expressions

James …Despite D22 being a bar, it’s more of a music venue than a place to go for a drink. In fact, it’s pretty famous in Ho Chi Minh City because so many bands play there every week, and on Friday and Saturday nights the atmosphere is fantastic!…

Catherine … A new, gleaming kitchen would be great for preparing delicious dishes for our friends when they conic to dinner and the guests could be entertained in the comfortable and relaxing sitting room…

Popularity and fame expressions will help you explain why the place you are describing is famous or popular.

be famous for + noun/verb-ing

be famous because + clause

be renowned for + noun/verb-ing

be noted for + noun/verb-ing

be popular with + types of people

be great for/excellent for/particularly good for + noun/verb-ing

Examples:

Chengdu is famous for the local cuisine.

The Grand Canyon is famous because it is so beautiful.

The Victory Hotel is renowned for the live music it has on the weekend.

The Cu Chi Tunnel is noted for its size and historical importance.

The new shopping mall is only really popular with wealthy people because the prices are so high.

The new sports centre is great for meeting like-minded sports enthusiasts.

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STAGE 4 

Say why it is special and how you feel about it.

1.Use the zero and first conditionals to talk about habits and preferences accurately.  

If I want to have a good time, I just need to go to Acoustic on the weekend.
I’ve never been there myself, but if I have the chance, I will certainly take a trip to Malaysia

2.Use expressions for how you feel correctly.

It’s important to me because…
I always like(d) to … there.

3.Use adjectives to describe the qualities of a place accurately.

The waterfall is a relaxing yet energizing place of natural beauty.

Bertha …The Summer Palace is really important to me because it is so tranquil. If I need a place to relax and unwind, I immediately think of the Summer Palace. Although there are usually lots of tourists walking around, it’s still quite easy to find a quiet place all to myself. My work is quite stressful and so it’s good to escape the city for a while – the Summer Palace is my haven!

James …I really value D22 because whenever I go there, it brings back loads of memories from when I was at university, having fun with my friends. It makes me feel really nostalgic! Besides, D22 is still a cool place to go – if I want to have a good time, I just need to go to D22, drink some beer and get ready to mosh.

Catherine …I know that this kind of flat will be difficult to buy, especially as my family is not very rich. However, if I am very stressful in my career and make loads of money one day, this is the kind of flat I’ll buy. I think almost everybody would be happy to live in a flat like this – I just hope that one day I can!

Step 1 – stage 4

The Zero & First Conditionals to Talk about Habits & Preferences

Let’s have a look at how Bertha, James and Catherine use the zero and first conditionals to talk about habits and preferences.

Notice that all of the above model answer extracts use the zero and first conditionals to talk about what they like to do at the places they are talking about. You will sound much more natural if you can use these to talk about your habits and preferences.

Zero conditional

This is used to talk about things that are always true.

if/ when+ present verb, present verb

If l am hungry, I go to a restaurant.

When I am hungry, I go to a restaurant,

present verb+ if I when+ present verb

I go to a restaurant if l am hungry,

I go to a restaurant when I am hungry

First conditional

This is used to talk about things that might happen in the future if something else happens.

if+ present verb, will+ verb

If l have enough time, I will go shopping.

will+ verb+ if+ present verb

I will go shopping if I have enough time.

More information on Conditional Sentences

Step 2 – stage 4

Expressions for How You Feel

Bertha …The Summer Palace is really important to me because it is so tranquil…

Mike I really value D22 because whenever I go there, it brings back loads of memories from when I was at university, having fun with my friends. It makes me feel really nostalgic!…

Usually to describe a place, the one you decide to talk about will be one that is special to you. So, you should use some expressions to explain how you feel about the place and why it is special to you.

Look at the following useful expressions:

I like/love (the place) because…

I value (the place) because…

(The place) is important to me because…

(The place) makes me feel…

(The place) reminds me of…

(The place) provides me with..,

(The place) gives me…

(The place) lets me…

Examples:

I love the Greasy Spoon café near my house because the food is so great and such good value!

The British Museum always makes me feel inspired to learn more about other countries and cultures.

The Legion Field provides me and my friends with a pleasant, green space in which to play sports or just hang around.

Step 3 – stage 4

Adjectives to Describe the Qualities of a Place

You should try to use a varied range of adjectives to help you describe a place; this will make it much more interesting and make you sound more natural.

Really useful adjectives to describe a place

Examples:

I usually love the bustling atmosphere of the market, though sometimes I can be a bit too hectic.

Friday Woods is an enchanting little forest where you can get a taste of nature.

I love Helen’s Coffee Shop because it provides me with a cosy and comfortable place to study or relax.

Conclusion

Please remember that you can either use the information on this page in parts to improve how you describe a place, or you can use it as a guide to give a complete answer. Also, please learn the vocabulary you like and think you will use, rather than every word. Everyone has their favourite words and expressions, so be yourself!