Your neighbourhood is a great topic to talk about in everyday English or speaking exams. It’s personal, familiar, and easy to describe. In this post, you’ll learn how to talk about your neighbourhood, answer common questions, and improve your speaking with useful phrases and real examples.
Contents
Common questions about your neighbourhood
Here are some typical questions people might ask you about where you live:
- Where do you live?
- What’s your neighbourhood like?
- Do you enjoy living there?
- What are some good places near your home?
- How long have you lived in your neighbourhood?
- What do you like most about it?
- Has your neighbourhood changed over time?
- What kind of people live in your area?
Talking about your neighbourhood
This section shows you step-by step how to speak in a natural way about your own neighbourhood. Learn phrases, patterns and vocabulary for each stage. When you’re ready, move onto the “Bring it Together” section.
Introduce your neighbourhood
Say where you live and what kind of area it is.
- I live in a quiet neighbourhood near the city centre.
- My area is small, but it’s got everything I need.
- It’s mostly houses with some local cafés and shops.
- There’s a mix of families, older people, and students.
- It’s not far from the main train station.
Q: Where do you live?
I live in a small neighbourhood just outside the city centre. It’s quiet, friendly, and close to everything I need, like shops and transport.
Useful collocations
- quiet neighbourhood
- small area
- just outside the city
- close to everything
- mix of families and students
You can also say…
- It’s in a good location – it’s close to useful places
- It’s not too far from… – it’s near another place
- It’s a nice area – it feels good and safe
- There’s a good mix of people – different ages and backgrounds
How about you?
- I live in a neighbourhood that…
- My area is mostly…
- It’s close to…
- It’s a small place, but…
- One thing I like is…
- There are a lot of…
What you usually do there
Describe your typical routine or free time in your neighbourhood.
- I usually go for a walk in the park after work.
- I sometimes meet friends at a local café.
- I do my weekly shopping at the supermarket nearby.
- On weekends, I relax at home or visit the library.
- I often stop to chat with neighbours when I’m out.
Q: What do you usually do in your neighbourhood?
I usually go for walks in the evening or stop at the café for a coffee. At weekends, I do my shopping or just relax at home.
Useful collocations
- go for a walk / go for walks
- meet friends
- do the shopping
- relax at home
- sit around in cafés
You can also say…
- I hang out at… – I spend time there
- I go out for coffee – I visit a café
- I take it easy – I relax, do nothing stressful
- I do most things nearby – I don’t travel far
How about you?
- I usually spend time…
- On weekends, I like to…
- I often go to…
- After work, I…
- I sometimes meet…
- I do my shopping at…
How you ended up living there
Explain how or why you chose this neighbourhood.
- I moved here when I started a new job.
- A friend recommended the area to me.
- I was looking for somewhere quiet but close to the city.
- I found a flat online and decided to check it out.
- I didn’t know much about it at first, but now I love it.
Q: Why did you move to your neighbourhood?
I moved here because of work. It was close to my new office and seemed like a quiet, safe area. Now I feel really at home here.
Useful collocations
- moved here
- recommended the area
- quiet but close to the city
- found a flat
- feel at home
You can also say…
- I ended up here because… – I didn’t plan it, but it happened
- I was looking for something quiet – I wanted a peaceful place
- It seemed like a good option – it looked like a nice choice
- Now I feel settled – I feel comfortable living here
How about you?
- I moved here because…
- I found my place through…
- Someone told me about…
- I didn’t know much about…
- It was close to…
- I ended up here because…
How long you’ve lived there
Talk about how long you’ve been in your neighbourhood.
- I’ve lived here for about five years.
- I moved in just before starting my current job.
- I’ve been living here since 2019.
- It doesn’t feel that long because time went fast.
- At first it felt strange, but now it feels like home.
Q: How long have you lived there?
I’ve been living in this neighbourhood for about five years. It feels like home now and I don’t think I’ll move anytime soon.
Useful collocations
- lived here for five years
- moved in
- since 2019
- feels like home
- don’t think I’ll move
You can also say…
- It’s been a few years – I’ve lived here for some time
- Time goes quickly – time passes fast
- It feels like home – I’m comfortable and happy here
- I’ve settled in well – I’ve adjusted and feel good living here
How about you?
- I’ve been living here since…
- I moved in…
- It’s been about…
- At first, I felt…
- Now it feels…
- I think I’ll stay because…
Why you enjoy it
Share what you like most about your area.
- It’s got a good community feeling.
- The people are friendly and helpful.
- There’s a nice park where I can relax.
- It’s peaceful but still close to everything.
- I like the local cafés and weekend markets.
Q: What do you like about your neighbourhood?
I like the friendly atmosphere and how easy it is to get around. There’s a great park nearby and a few cafés where I often go.
Useful collocations
- community feeling
- friendly people
- nice park
- peaceful but close
- weekend markets
You can also say…
- It’s a lovely place to live – it’s really pleasant
- There’s always something going on – events or activities happen
- I feel safe here – I don’t worry
- It has a good vibe – it feels nice and friendly
How about you?
- One thing I enjoy is…
- I really like the…
- There’s a great…
- It feels very…
- It’s got a good…
- I enjoy spending time at…
What’s not so great
Mention a few things you don’t love about your neighbourhood.
- It can be a bit noisy at weekends.
- Parking is difficult in the evening.
- Public transport stops early at night.
- Sometimes the park gets crowded.
- There isn’t much to do for young people.
Q: Is there anything you don’t like about your neighbourhood?
The main problem is the noise at weekends. Also, parking can be a real challenge if I get home late.
Useful collocations
- noisy at weekends
- parking is difficult
- public transport stops early
- gets crowded
- not much to do
You can also say…
- It’s not perfect – there are some small problems
- It can be a bit annoying – sometimes frustrating
- I wish it was quieter – I want less noise
- There’s not much going on – not many activities
How about you?
- One thing I don’t love is…
- It can be a bit…
- Sometimes it’s too…
- I wish there was more…
- The worst thing is…
- It’s not great when…
Bring it together – My neighbourhood
Here’s an example of how you can talk about your own neighbourhood in a longer turn.
This natural English monologue covers typical things that people might mention.
I live in a quiet neighbourhood just outside the city centre. I’ve lived here for about five years now, and honestly, I really like it. It’s a small area, but it’s got everything I need — a supermarket, a nice park, a few cafés, and even a small library.
There’s also a bus stop two minutes from my house, so getting around is pretty easy.
During the week, I usually go for a walk in the evenings, and sometimes I meet friends at a local coffee shop — it’s kind of our regular spot.
I moved here when I started my new job because it’s close to my office and, to be honest, because it feels so safe.
What I like most about my neighbourhood is the community. People are friendly and helpful, and there are often events like markets or little street festivals.
To be honest, sometimes it can get a bit noisy at weekends, especially if there’s something going on in the park, but it doesn’t really bother me that much.
I think a good neighbourhood should be clean, safe, and have green spaces where people can relax. I’m lucky, because mine’s got all of that — and more, really.
Neighbourhood: Key topic vocabulary
Synonyms
Different ways to say the same idea, so you don’t repeat words like “neighbourhood” or “friendly.”
- neighbourhood – area, district, suburb, community, local area
- quiet – peaceful, calm, relaxing, not busy, low-traffic
- safe – secure, low-crime, well-lit, family-friendly
- friendly – welcoming, nice, sociable, warm
- busy – lively, active, crowded, full of life
Action collocations
Common verb + noun phrases people often use when talking about neighbourhood life.
- go for a walk – take a walk around the neighbourhood
- meet friends – get together with people
- do the shopping – buy food or things at local shops
- take the bus – use public transport nearby
- move into a new place – start living somewhere new
- attend local events – go to street markets or activities
- relax at home – stay in and enjoy your space
- talk to neighbours – chat with people who live near you
- go to the park – spend time outdoors
- live near – be close to something important
Descriptive collocations
Adjective + noun combinations that help describe your neighbourhood more clearly.
- quiet neighbourhood – peaceful and not noisy
- friendly community – people are kind and helpful
- safe area – no crime or danger
- small shops – local and easy to access
- green spaces – parks or areas with grass and trees
- local café – a small place to meet and eat
- public transport – buses or trains nearby
- noisy on weekends – louder when people are out
- clean streets – no rubbish or mess
- family-friendly area – good for people with children
Grammar & vocab patterns for talking about your neighbourhood
This section helps you build natural and fluent sentences using useful vocabulary and grammar.
Common phrases and collocations
Useful phrases to describe your area, daily life, and opinions.
- live in a quiet neighbourhood – I live in a quiet neighbourhood near the park.
- go for a walk in the park – I usually go for a walk in the park after dinner.
- meet friends at a café – I often meet friends at a café on the weekend.
- close to my job – My neighbourhood is close to my job.
- moved here five years ago – I moved here five years ago.
- feel safe in the area – I feel safe in the area, even at night.
- has green spaces – It’s got green spaces where people relax.
- attend local events – I sometimes attend local events in the square.
- use public transport – I use public transport to get to work.
- relax at home – I usually relax at home in the evenings.
- friendly neighbours – I’ve got friendly neighbours who always say hello.
- lots of things to do – There are lots of things to do in my neighbourhood.
- noisy at weekends – It can be a bit noisy at weekends.
- difficult to park – It’s sometimes difficult to park in the evenings.
- a good place to live – I think it’s a good place to live.
- live near the park – I live near the park, so it’s easy to go for a walk.
- walk to the shops – I usually walk to the shops instead of driving.
- quiet but central – It’s quiet but still close to the city centre.
- get around easily – It’s easy to get around because of the good transport.
- like the atmosphere – I really like the atmosphere here.
Useful patterns
here are some common, high-value structures you can use when speaking naturally about your neighbourhood.
- I’ve been living here for… – I’ve been living here for about five years. (I started living here in the past and I still live here now)
- I tend to… – I tend to relax at home on the weekends. (I usually..)
- I used to live… – I used to live in a much busier area. (I lived there before, but not any more)
- I’d like to… – I’d like to stay here for a long time. (I want to..)
- There’s usually… – There’s usually something going on at the park. (Something usually happens..)
- It’s got… – It’s got everything I need: shops, cafés, and green space. (It has..)
- Sometimes it’s a bit… – Sometimes it’s a bit noisy, but I don’t mind.
- That’s why I like it… – It’s peaceful and clean, so that’s why I like it.
- It’s the kind of place where… – It’s the kind of place where people know each other. (In this place, people know each other)
- What I like most is… – What I like most is the friendly community. (I like the friendly atmosphere most of all)
My neighbourhood: practice activities
Here are some quick exercises that will help you learn and recall collocating phrases and other vocabulary on the topic of neighbourhood:
Exercise 1 – match the phrase
Match each phrase in Column A with its meaning in Column B. The meanings are in random order.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. quiet neighbourhood | A. loud during Saturday/Sunday |
| 2. go for a stroll | B. parks or nature areas |
| 3. attend local events | C. take a short walk nearby |
| 4. close to my job | D. not loud or busy |
| 5. feel safe | E. near your workplace |
| 6. friendly community | F. people are kind and welcoming |
| 7. noisy on weekends | G. no danger or crime |
| 8. green spaces | H. join things like markets |
Exercise 2 – complete the sentence
Use the word bank to complete each sentence meaningfully.
Word bank: neighbourhood, events, shopping, safe, friendly, noisy, park, transport
- I live in a very quiet and clean __________.
- There are lots of fun local __________ at the weekend.
- I do most of my weekly __________ on Friday evenings.
- I feel completely __________ walking around at night.
- There’s a lovely __________ five minutes from my house.
- The people on my street are really nice and __________.
- We’ve got good public __________ in this area.
- Sometimes it gets a bit __________ late at night.
Exercise 3 – choose the best option
Choose the most natural phrase to complete each sentence.
- I’ve lived in this area ___.
a) since four years
b) for four years
c) four years ago - There’s a nice café ___ my house.
a) close to
b) near from
c) next my - I often ___ in the local park.
a) go for a stroll
b) go to walk
c) do a stroll - My neighbourhood is ___.
a) quiet and friendly
b) quiet and nicely
c) friendly area - Sometimes it’s a bit noisy, ___
a) but I don’t mind
b) but I’m used
c) but it fine - I ___ stay here for a long time.
a) like to
b) would like
c) would like to - I’ve been living here ___ 2020.
a) for
b) since
c) from - The best thing is the ___.
a) feeling community
b) community feel
c) community feeling
Answer key
Exercise 1
- D
- C
- H
- E
- G
- F
- A
- B
Exercise 2
- neighbourhood
- events
- shopping
- safe
- park
- friendly
- transport
- noisy
Exercise 3
- b
- a
- a
- a
- a
- c
- b
- c
