IELTS vocabulary
IELTS cities vocabulary
Words for urban life, housing, transport and planning, common in Task 1 maps and Task 2 essays.
Each entry has the typical band it's useful for, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the words it most often goes with. Learn the collocations along with the word: that's what makes vocabulary sound natural.
Band 6 words
accommodation noun
A place where someone can live or stay temporarily.
Affordable accommodation near the city centre is essential for students and low-paid workers.
Collocations: affordable accommodation · temporary accommodation · find accommodation
amenities plural noun
Useful or enjoyable facilities and services available in a place.
The neighbourhood is popular with families because it offers excellent amenities, including parks and shops.
Collocations: local amenities · modern amenities · access to amenities
backpacker noun
A traveller who carries their belongings in a backpack and usually travels on a budget.
A growing number of backpackers choose hostels because they are affordable and encourage social interaction.
Collocations: backpacker accommodation · backpacker route · backpacker travel
bustling adjective
Busy and full of people or activity.
The bustling city centre offers a striking contrast to the quiet residential neighbourhoods nearby.
Collocations: bustling city · bustling market · bustling streets
city centre noun phrase
The central part of a city, where many shops and businesses are located.
Improving cycle lanes in the city centre could make short journeys safer and reduce traffic.
Collocations: in the city centre · city centre traffic · city centre shops
commuter noun
A person who regularly travels between home and work or study.
Each commuter would benefit from more reliable trains and safer cycling routes.
Collocations: daily commuter · commuter rail · commuter traffic
congestion noun · academic
A situation in which a place or road is overcrowded, causing delays or difficulty.
Congestion could be reduced by improving bus services and encouraging flexible working hours.
Collocations: traffic congestion · ease congestion · congestion on major roads
cycle lane noun
A marked part of a road reserved for people riding bicycles.
A protected cycle lane can encourage more residents to commute by bicycle.
Collocations: build a cycle lane · a protected cycle lane · cycle lane network
facility noun
A place, service or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.
The new sports facility gives residents more opportunities to exercise close to home.
Collocations: sports facility · public facility · a facility for
green space noun phrase
An area of grass, trees or other plants in a town or city.
Protecting green space can improve residents’ wellbeing and make densely populated areas more attractive.
Collocations: public green space · protect green space · a lack of green space
high-rise noun
A tall building with many floors, usually containing flats or offices.
Living in a high-rise can be convenient, although residents may have little access to private outdoor space.
Collocations: a high-rise building · a high-rise apartment block · live in a high-rise
landlord noun
A person who owns a property and allows someone else to live there in exchange for rent.
A responsible landlord should maintain the property and respond promptly to tenants’ concerns.
Collocations: private landlord · contact the landlord · landlord and tenant
leisure centre noun phrase
A public building with facilities for sport, exercise and other free-time activities.
A well-equipped leisure centre can encourage people of all ages to lead more active lives.
Collocations: local leisure centre · visit a leisure centre · leisure centre facilities
outskirts noun
The areas at the edge of a town or city.
Housing on the outskirts is often more affordable, but residents may have longer commutes.
Collocations: on the outskirts · the outskirts of a city · suburban outskirts
overcrowded adjective
Containing more people than is comfortable or safe.
Public transport becomes overcrowded during rush hour, making daily journeys stressful for commuters.
Collocations: overcrowded buses · overcrowded city · overcrowded public spaces
pedestrian noun
A person who is walking, especially along a road or in a public area.
City centres should be designed to protect pedestrians from fast-moving traffic.
Collocations: pedestrian crossing · pedestrian safety · pedestrian zone
public transport noun · academic
Buses, trains and other shared forms of travel available to the public.
Affordable public transport gives people more freedom to travel without owning a car.
Collocations: improve public transport · use public transport · public transport network
rent noun
Money paid regularly to use a home or other property.
In many cities, high rent leaves residents with little money for other essential expenses.
Collocations: pay rent · monthly rent · rent prices
residential adjective · academic
Designed or used for people to live in rather than for business or industry.
New shops should be carefully planned so that they do not disturb nearby residential areas.
Collocations: residential area · residential buildings · residential neighbourhood
road safety noun · academic
The prevention of accidents and injuries on roads.
Improving road safety requires better driver education as well as safer street design.
Collocations: improve road safety · road safety measures · road safety campaign
rush hour noun phrase
The busiest times of day when many people travel to and from work.
Improving public transport could reduce congestion during rush hour in the city centre.
Collocations: during rush hour · rush hour traffic · rush hour congestion
scenic adjective
Having attractive natural scenery.
A scenic cycle route could encourage more people to explore the surrounding countryside.
Collocations: scenic route · scenic views · scenic landscape
sightseeing noun
The activity of visiting interesting places and looking at well-known sights.
Visitors can explore the city on foot, which makes sightseeing both affordable and enjoyable.
Collocations: go sightseeing · sightseeing tour · sightseeing opportunities
skyscraper noun
A very tall building with many floors.
A new skyscraper can provide much-needed office space, but it may also change the character of a neighbourhood.
Collocations: build a skyscraper · a glass skyscraper · a skyscraper dominates
souvenir noun
An object bought or kept to remind someone of a place or experience.
Visitors often buy a souvenir from local markets, which can provide income for small businesses.
Collocations: buy a souvenir · a souvenir from a trip · souvenir shop
tenant noun
A person who pays to live in or use a property owned by someone else.
Tenants should have access to safe, well-maintained homes at a reasonable cost.
Collocations: private tenant · tenant rights · landlord and tenant
tourism noun
The business and activity of people travelling to places for pleasure.
Tourism can bring valuable income to a city, but it may also increase pressure on public spaces.
Collocations: boost tourism · tourism industry · sustainable tourism
tourist attraction noun phrase
A place or event that draws visitors because it is interesting or enjoyable.
The historic station has become a major tourist attraction, bringing additional customers to nearby shops.
Collocations: popular tourist attraction · major tourist attraction · tourist attraction nearby
tourist destination noun phrase
A place that attracts people who are travelling for pleasure.
The city has become a popular tourist destination because of its architecture and cultural events.
Collocations: popular tourist destination · major tourist destination · establish a tourist destination
traffic jam noun
A long line of vehicles moving slowly or not moving at all.
A single traffic jam can delay hundreds of commuters and increase air pollution.
Collocations: be stuck in a traffic jam · cause a traffic jam · a long traffic jam
vibrant adjective
Full of energy, activity and variety.
The city has a vibrant arts scene that attracts both residents and visitors throughout the year.
Collocations: vibrant city · vibrant nightlife · vibrant cultural scene
Band 7 words
car-free adjective
Designed or managed so that cars are not allowed.
A car-free city centre would make walking safer and could improve air quality for local residents.
Collocations: car-free zone · car-free city centre · car-free streets
commercial district noun
An area of a town or city where businesses and offices are concentrated.
The commercial district becomes much quieter at weekends, when most offices are closed.
Collocations: a busy commercial district · the commercial district is · develop a commercial district
cosmopolitan adjective · formal
Including people, customs and ideas from many different parts of the world.
A cosmopolitan city can offer residents a wide range of cuisines, languages and cultural events.
Collocations: cosmopolitan city · cosmopolitan atmosphere · cosmopolitan population
cultural attraction noun phrase · formal
A place or event that interests people because of its cultural importance.
A well-maintained museum can serve as a cultural attraction and help residents understand the city's history.
Collocations: major cultural attraction · cultural attraction for visitors · cultural attraction nearby
densely populated adjective phrase · academic
Having many people living in a small area.
Densely populated districts need reliable public transport to reduce dependence on private cars.
Collocations: densely populated area · densely populated neighbourhood · densely populated city
hospitality noun · formal
The business of providing services such as accommodation, food and drink to visitors.
The hospitality sector creates many jobs, particularly in areas that attract large numbers of visitors.
Collocations: hospitality industry · hospitality sector · hospitality business
housing shortage noun phrase · formal
A situation in which there are not enough homes for the people who need them.
The housing shortage has made it increasingly difficult for young adults to find affordable homes.
Collocations: tackle the housing shortage · a severe housing shortage · worsen the housing shortage
inner city noun phrase · formal
The older, central part of a city, often with high population density.
Investment in the inner city can improve housing and create better opportunities for local residents.
Collocations: inner city areas · inner city housing · inner city communities
itinerary noun · formal
A plan showing the places someone will visit and the activities they will do on a trip.
A flexible itinerary allows tourists to explore the city without feeling rushed.
Collocations: plan an itinerary · travel itinerary · detailed itinerary
landmark noun
A well-known building or feature that is easy to recognise and helps define a place.
The historic railway station has become a landmark that attracts visitors to the area.
Collocations: historic landmark · local landmark · iconic landmark
local economy noun phrase · academic
The businesses, jobs and spending within a particular area.
Tourism can strengthen the local economy when visitors spend money at independently owned businesses.
Collocations: support the local economy · boost the local economy · local economy growth
low-cost airline noun phrase
An airline that offers cheaper fares, usually with fewer included services.
A low-cost airline can make weekend trips more accessible, although extra charges may increase the final price.
Collocations: a low-cost airline · low-cost airline fares · low-cost airline services
mass tourism noun phrase · academic
Travel by large numbers of people to the same places, often in organised groups.
Mass tourism can create jobs, but it may also put pressure on local housing and public services.
Collocations: the effects of mass tourism · mass tourism industry · mass tourism destination
metropolitan adjective · formal
Relating to a large city and the surrounding area.
Metropolitan areas often offer better access to public transport and employment.
Collocations: metropolitan area · metropolitan transport · metropolitan population
off the beaten track idiom
In a place that is not often visited by tourists.
Travellers who go off the beaten track can discover quieter neighbourhoods and support less prominent local businesses.
Collocations: travel off the beaten track · places off the beaten track · go off the beaten track
picturesque adjective · formal
Attractive in a way that is suitable for a picture.
The picturesque old quarter is popular with visitors, although its narrow streets can become congested.
Collocations: picturesque village · picturesque streets · picturesque setting
property development noun phrase · formal
The process of building new properties or improving existing ones for sale or use.
Property development can create new homes, although it may put pressure on local services.
Collocations: property development project · property development company · property development market
quaint adjective
Attractively old-fashioned, especially in a way that gives a place character.
The town's quaint streets attract visitors who prefer a slower pace of life.
Collocations: quaint village · quaint streets · quaint old town
renovation noun
The process of repairing or improving a building.
The renovation of older homes can make them more energy-efficient without replacing them entirely.
Collocations: home renovation · major renovation · renovation work
ring road noun phrase
A road that goes around a city, allowing traffic to avoid its centre.
A ring road may reduce traffic in central streets, although it can encourage longer car journeys.
Collocations: build a ring road · ring road traffic · city ring road
urban sprawl noun · academic
The uncontrolled spread of a city into nearby rural areas.
Urban sprawl can increase car dependence and make it harder to provide efficient public transport.
Collocations: tackle urban sprawl · urban sprawl leads to · the effects of urban sprawl
Band 8+ words
eco-tourism noun · academic
Tourism that aims to protect the environment and benefit local communities.
Eco-tourism can support conservation while providing income for people who live in remote areas.
Collocations: responsible eco-tourism · eco-tourism industry · promote eco-tourism
urban planning noun phrase · academic
The process of designing and organising towns and cities.
Effective urban planning can ensure that new housing is close to jobs, schools and public transport.
Collocations: urban planning policy · urban planning decisions · urban planning strategies
urban regeneration noun phrase · academic
The improvement of an urban area through investment, redevelopment and new services.
Urban regeneration can revitalise neglected districts, provided that existing residents are not forced out.
Collocations: urban regeneration project · urban regeneration scheme · urban regeneration programme
Learn these words for good
Add words to your list in the app and review them with flashcards, quizzes and spaced repetition: ten new IELTS words a day, five minutes.