If you are thinking of getting around by yourself while you are here, you are going to need a good map. Most of the cities in the UK were never designed, but sort of grew up as the population increased, leading frequently to very complex steet layouts.
But don’t panic, because to counter this minor national problem, we have some fantastic map-makers that will sell you a detailed map of whichever county, town or city that you are planning to visit.
Some companies specialise in maps for London and the surrounding area. They are very important to the residents of London, with many of us still using them after more than 10years of living and working in this vast city!
You can buy a copy of this map in all newsagents and petrol-stations – it comes in various sizes and ranges in price from under £5 up to over £12, depending on the size. It is highly recommended that you do use such a map, if you are planning to spend time here without an experienced guide.
Driving
Driving around the UK is also going to be pretty hard without a good map to guide you. If you are going to get one, try looking out for ones made by one of the motoring organisations – they are best placed to provide up-to-date and accurate information.
You will also find an excellent selection of maps in many of the guide books listed on this web-site. Many give you very comprehensive maps of certain areas, but be aware that they may not cover every single place that you intend to visit.
GPS (Global Positioning Systems) have become very popular with many drivers in the UK. These often take the stress out of driving as they allow you to programme your route into the machine which will then guide you step-by-step all the way to your destination. If you are planning on getting one when you arrive expect to spend between £60 to £250 for a good one.
Internet
The internet is another good resource for maps, there are many sites that you can visit to download maps before you arrive. If you are going to do this though try and stick to reputable web-sites, as you have no way of knowing if a map is any good or not until it is too late!
By John Hillman
USEFUL WORDS
A large area of water surrounded by land = lake
A small area with trees = wood
A large mass of salt water between continents = ocean
A length of sand and small stones at the end of the sea = beach
A particular part of the land that is higher = hill
A narrow route through the countryside for animals and people on foot = path / lane
A large area of ocean where the coast is curved = gulf
A wide stretch of land covered with trees = forest
A small area of water, for example in a garden = pond
A large area with homes, shops and streets = town
A low plant with many branches = bush
The edge of the water where it joins the sea = coast
A part of the land that is much higher than the land around it = mountain
An area of salt water near land = sea
A prepared route through the countryside or towns for vehicles = road
An area of the sea inside a curved part of the coast = bay
A place with many streets, offices, factories, shops and homes = city
an area of land that is almost surrounded by water but is joined to a larger piece of land = peninsula
A piece of land that is completely surrounded by water = island
The wide part of a river where it flows into the sea = estuary
An area of low land between hills and mountains = valley
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Asking for Directions
‘Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to / the way to…please?’
‘Sorry, do you happen to know where…is?’
‘How far is it to…?’
‘How do I get there / to the station?’
‘Excuse me, where’s the nearest post office?’
Giving Directions
‘Oh it’s quite easy to find’
‘It takes about 15 minutes’
‘Yes, it’s nearby / some distance / about 10 minutes’ walk’
‘Go down this road…’
‘Go straight on…’
‘Take the first/second/third turning on the right/left’
‘Go / walk along Oxford Street…’
‘Turn right there / turn left’
‘Then carry along Sloane Street…’
‘When you turn into the square, you’ll see the clock tower’
‘No I’m sorry I’m a stranger here / I don’t know the area’
Geography 
