This lesson focuses on common expressions and idioms to describe locations and environments. You'll learn phrases to talk about proximity, position, atmosphere, and how to sound natural in professional and everyday contexts.
Common idiomatic phrases used to describe places
How to use these expressions in business and travel contexts
Which prepositions and collocations go with each expression
These expressions help you describe places clearly and naturally in English.
Table
Common expressions to describe places
Expression
Meaning
Example
in the heart of
in the central part of an area
The office is in the heart of the financial district.
on the outskirts of
at the edge of a town or city
The new warehouse is on the outskirts of the city.
within walking distance
close enough to walk to
The hotel is within walking distance of the convention center.
overlooking
having a view of (usually from higher up)
Our conference room overlooks the river.
a stone's throw from
very close to
The café is a stone's throw from the main station.
off the beaten path
in a place not frequently visited; secluded
The retreat is off the beaten path, ideal for quiet work retreats.
bustling
busy and full of energy or activity
We chose a restaurant in a bustling neighborhood for networking.
Tip
Key idea: choose the right preposition and register
When describing places, pay attention to prepositions and the level of formality:
Use 'in' for central areas (in the heart of, in downtown) and 'on' for edges (on the outskirts of).
'Within walking distance' and 'a stone's throw from' are idiomatic — use them to express proximity naturally.
'Overlooking' is followed by the place being viewed: 'overlooking the sea/river/park.'
Match the expression to the context: formal reports vs casual conversations.
Example
Examples in context
The office is in the heart of the financial district.
Our new hotel overlooks the harbor and offers meeting rooms with a view.
The distribution center is on the outskirts of the city for easier truck access.
The training venue is within walking distance of several hotels and restaurants.
Tip
Common mistakes to avoid
Be aware of these universal errors when using place-describing expressions:
Using the wrong preposition (e.g., 'in the outskirts' instead of 'on the outskirts').
Mixing formal and informal expressions in the same sentence (e.g., 'The office is in the heart of the city — it's a bit remote').
Incorrect word order or missing articles (e.g., 'in heart of the city' instead of 'in the heart of the city').
Overusing vague adjectives like 'nice' or 'good' instead of specific descriptors (bustling, secluded, central).
Check prepositions and article use; choose expressions that match the formality of your context.
Quiz
Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'within walking distance':
Hint: Focus on correct preposition and word order for proximity expressions.
Correct!
'Within walking distance of' is the correct structure to indicate something is close enough to walk to.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: The hotel is within walking distance of the conference center.
'Within walking distance of' is the correct structure to indicate something is close enough to walk to.
Quiz
Complete: The factory is _____ the outskirts of town.
Hint: Think about the preposition commonly used with 'outskirts'.
Correct!
'On the outskirts of' is the standard phrase to describe a location at the edge of a town or city.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: on the outskirts of
'On the outskirts of' is the standard phrase to describe a location at the edge of a town or city.
Quiz
Which expression best means 'very close'?
Hint: Think about idioms that express short distance.
Correct!
'A stone's throw from' is an idiomatic way to say something is very close by.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: a stone's throw from
'A stone's throw from' is an idiomatic way to say something is very close by.
Key Points
Expression
in the heart of
expressionCEFR B1//ɪn ðə hɑːrt əv//
located in the central part of an area
The office is in the heart of the financial district.
Expression
on the outskirts of
expressionCEFR B1//ɒn ði ˈaʊtskɜːrts əv//
located at the edge of a town or city
The distribution center is on the outskirts of the city.
Expression
within walking distance
expressionCEFR B1//wɪˈðɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˌdɪstəns//
close enough to walk to from a given point
The venue is within walking distance of the main hotels.
GrammarPoint
overlooking
verb / prepositional verbCEFR B2//ˌoʊvərˈlʊkɪŋ//
to have a view of a place from above
The meeting room overlooks the river.
Expression
a stone's throw from
expressionCEFR B2//ə ˈstoʊnz θroʊ frəm//
very close to; a short distance away
The café is a stone's throw from the main station.
Expression
off the beaten path
expressionCEFR B2//ɒf ðə ˈbiːtən pæθ//
in a place not frequently visited; secluded
The retreat is off the beaten path, perfect for focused workshops.
Vocabulary
bustling
adjectiveCEFR B1//ˈbʌslɪŋ//
full of energy and activity; busy
We met at a restaurant in a bustling neighborhood to network after the conference.
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