# Directions and transport in English: asking the way

To ask the way, “Excuse me, where is…?” is enough, and a few words like left, right, and straight on help you follow the answer. With transport words and phrases for buying tickets.

Author: Aslıgül Aşkın · Published: 2026-10-01
Page address: https://grammardots.com/en/blog/asking-for-directions-in-english

To ask the way in English, “Excuse me, where is…?” is enough, and a few words like left, right, and straight on help you follow the answer. Add the names of transport and phrases for buying tickets, and you can get around a city with ease.

## Asking for directions

- “Excuse me, where is the station?”
- “How do I get to the museum?”
- “Is it far from here?”
- “Can I walk there?”

## Understanding directions

Turn left / turn right, go straight on, take the second street on the left, it's next to the bank, it's opposite the park, at the traffic lights.

## Transport

bus, train, underground / metro, taxi, tram, ferry. Travelling by vehicle uses “by”: “I go to work by bus.” Walking uses “on foot”: “I go to school on foot.”

## Buying tickets

- “A single to London, please.”
- “A return ticket, please.”
- “What time is the next train?”
- “Which platform is it?”
- “Does this bus go to the city centre?”

If you didn't follow the directions, “Sorry, could you show me on the map?” always helps.

To keep going, see [English at the shop and the café: ready-made dialogues](https://grammardots.com/en/blog/english-dialogues-at-the-shop-and-cafe) and [English at the airport: from check-in to the gate](https://grammardots.com/en/blog/english-at-the-airport).

## Frequently asked questions

### What can I say if I don't follow the directions?

“Sorry, could you show me on the map?” or “Could you say that again, please?” always helps.

### “By bus” or “on the bus”?

Use “by bus” for the way you travel and “on the bus” when you are inside it: “I go by bus.”, “I'm on the bus.”