Towns and Cities Vocabulary

boarded up shops: shops that are no longer doing business

chain stores: well-known brands with shops in multiple cities

to close down: to stop doing business

fashionable boutiques: fashionable clothes shops

to get around: to travel around

high-rise flats: multi-story apartments

inner-city: the central part of a city where people live and where conditions are often poor

in the suburbs: the outer area of large towns and cities where people live

lively bars/restaurants: bars or restaurants with a good atmosphere

local facilities: local buildings or services serving the public

multi-story car parks: car parks on several floors

office block: a large building that contains offices

out of town shopping centre/retail park: large shopping centres outside of the town or city

pavement cafe: cafes with tables outside on the pavement

places of interest: buildings that have a particular interest for visitors

poor housing: housing that is not in good condition

public spaces: areas in a town or city that are open to the public

public transport system:  public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at regular times on fixed routes

residential area: an area where people live

run down: old and of a poor standard

shopping centre: an area consisting of multiple shops

shopping malls: large indoor shopping centres

sprawling city: a city that has grown over time and which covers a wide area

tourist attraction: a place of interest to tourists

traffic congestion: heavy traffic making it difficult to move around a town or city

upmarket shops: expensive fashionable shops