Let's learn about places around town!

Exploring the town is like opening a treasure map filled with exciting places to discover! Each corner of our town has something special to offer, whether it’s a cozy spot for a snack, a lively park for play, or a quiet library for reading.

For children, learning about these places is not just about recognizing where things are, but also about understanding how they contribute to our everyday lives and the community around us.

Let’s take a walk through the town and discover the vocabulary that makes each place an important part of our community!

Places around town vocabulary list

Understanding the names and functions of places around town enhances our ability to interact with and enjoy our community. Studycat’s Learn English for kids app includes the following words, where children are able to learn and remember them through constant repetition and awesome fun.

Here’s a guide to some key locations that make a town special:

school

A fun place where children go to learn every day.

“Children carry their backpacks to school every morning.”

park

A public area with natural landscapes and play spaces.

“The park is full of trees and has a playground for kids.”

playground

An outdoor area designed for children to play.

“The playground is equipped with slides and swings.”

restaurant

A place where you can buy and eat meals.

“The family enjoyed dinner at their favorite restaurant.”

shop

A small store or boutique.

“She bought a beautiful dress from the local shop.”

street

A public road in a city or town.

“The main street is lined with shops and cafes.”

Names of public buildings in English

Public services are essential to the functioning of any town, providing safety, health, and convenience to its residents. Understanding these locations helps children recognize the important roles they play in the community.

• post office A place where you can send letters and packages. “She went to the post office to mail a birthday card to her friend.”
• fire station A building where fire trucks and firefighters are based, ready to respond to emergencies. “The fire station is just around the corner from our house.”
• police station A place where police officers work to keep the community safe. “They visited the police station on a school field trip to learn about safety.”
• hospital A large building where sick or injured people receive medical care. “The hospital is where doctors and nurses help people get better.”
• library A quiet place filled with books where people can read or borrow books to take home. “She goes to the library every week to check out new books.”
• town hall A building where the local government works and where community meetings are held. “The town hall is where important decisions about the community are made.”
• courthouse A place where legal cases are heard and decided. “The courthouse is a place where people go to resolve disputes.”
• community center A place where people gather for activities, events, and classes. “The community center offers art classes and sports activities for kids.”
• post box A box where you can drop off letters to be sent through the mail. “He dropped the letter into the post box on his way to school.”
• bus stop A designated place where buses pick up and drop off passengers. “She waits at the bus stop every morning to go to school.”

Names of shopping and dining places in English

Shopping and dining are activities that bring us together, whether we’re picking up groceries, buying new clothes, or enjoying a meal out. These places are central to our social life and daily routine.

• supermarket A large store where you can buy food, drinks, and household items. “They went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner.”
• bakery A shop where bread, cakes, and pastries are made and sold. “She loves going to the bakery for fresh croissants in the morning.”
• pharmacy A store where you can buy medicine and other health-related products. “He picked up his prescription from the pharmacy after school.”
• grocery store A smaller store that sells food and household goods, often more locally focused. “The grocery store around the corner has the best fresh produce.”
• cafe A small restaurant where you can buy coffee, tea, and light snacks. “They met at the cafe for an afternoon snack and a chat.”
• market An open space where vendors sell fresh produce, meats, and other goods, often outdoors. “The market is bustling with people buying fresh fruits and vegetables.”
• butcher shop A store where fresh meat is sold. “She bought some steaks from the butcher shop for the weekend barbecue.”
• toy store A shop that sells toys and games for children. “He spent his allowance on a new action figure at the toy store.”
• clothing store A shop where clothes are sold. “She bought a new dress from her favorite clothing store.”
• restaurant A place where you can buy and eat meals. “They celebrated his birthday with dinner at a nice restaurant.”

Recreation and entertainment places in English

Recreation and entertainment spots are where we go to have fun, relax, and enjoy ourselves. These places are vital for building social connections and unwinding after a busy day.

• cinema A place where movies are shown on a big screen. “They went to the cinema to watch the latest animated movie.”
• playground An outdoor area designed for children to play, usually with swings, slides, and climbing structures. “The playground is her favorite place to play after school.”
• park A public area with open spaces, trees, and play areas, perfect for outdoor activities. “They spent the afternoon having a picnic in the park.”
• sports center A facility where people can play sports, exercise, and participate in physical activities. “He takes swimming lessons at the sports center.”
• zoo A place where animals are kept for public viewing. “They saw lions and giraffes at the zoo.”
• swimming pool A large pool of water where people can swim, often located indoors or outdoors. “She practices her swimming at the local swimming pool.”
• skating rink A place where people can skate on ice or roller skates. “They went to the skating rink for a fun afternoon of ice skating.”
• amusement park A large outdoor area with rides, games, and shows for entertainment. “The amusement park has roller coasters, ferris wheels, and fun games.”
• museum A place where historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural artifacts are displayed. “They visited the science museum to learn about dinosaurs.”
• bowling alley A place where people can play the game of bowling. “He scored a strike at the bowling alley.”

Names of travel and transport places in English

Travel and transport locations are essential for getting around town and beyond. Knowing these places helps children understand how we move from one place to another and the services that support travel.

• train station A place where trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers. “They took the train from the station to visit their grandparents.”
• airport A place where airplanes take off and land, and where passengers board flights. “The airport was busy with travelers heading to different destinations.”
• bus station A terminal where buses arrive and depart, often for long-distance travel. “The bus station was crowded with people waiting for their buses.”
• taxi stand A designated place where taxis wait for passengers. “They hailed a taxi at the stand outside the hotel.”
• gas station A place where fuel is sold for vehicles. “They stopped at the gas station to fill up the car on the way to the park.”
• parking lot An open area where cars can be parked. “They found a spot in the parking lot near the store.”
• car rental A service where people can rent cars for temporary use. “They rented a car for their road trip from the car rental service.”
• ferry terminal A place where ferries dock to pick up and drop off passengers and vehicles. “They boarded the ferry at the terminal to cross the river.”
• bike shop A store that sells and repairs bicycles. “He took his bike to the bike shop for a tune-up.”
• subway station A place where underground trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers. “They took the subway from the station to the city center.”

Discovering these places helps us understand and appreciate the structure and pulse of our town. Studycat’s friends guide us through each location, making the journey both fun and educational!

How to learn and remember words about places

Learning about places around town with Studycat involves more than just memorization—it’s about engaging with our environment in meaningful ways. Here are a few strategies to help remember these new words:

• Explore local maps: Look at maps of your town with your child and point out different places with their English name.
• Role-playing: Pretend to visit various places around town and talk about what you can do at each location.
• Scavenger hunt: Create a scavenger hunt that includes finding different places in your town or neighborhood.
• Drawing maps: Have children draw a map of their town and label different places.
• Storytelling: Make up stories that involve different town locations to help solidify their names and functions through practice.

As we finish our tour of the town, remember that every place we’ve learned about today plays a vital role in the community. Until our next urban adventure, keep discovering and discussing the wonderful places around your town!