#8 Asking About Flight Delays｜English for Travel
Izumi English Morning
#27 Visiting Museums｜Useful English Phrases for Sightseeing
Izumi
Visiting museums while traveling is a wonderful way to experience the culture and history of a place.
In overseas museums, it is common to communicate in English regarding admission procedures or information about exhibitions.
In this article, I explain useful English phrases for visiting museums and expressions that help your conversations go smoothly, organized by situation.
Contents
Dialogue
Hello, I’d like two tickets for the museum, please.
Sure. Would you like the general admission or the special exhibition as well?
What’s included in the general admission?
It covers all the permanent collections. The special exhibition has an extra fee.
Then we’ll take both, please. Also, do you have an audio guide in English?
Yes, we do. It’s included with the special exhibition ticket.
Great! And what time does the exhibition close today?
It closes at 6 p.m. Enjoy your visit!
1. Basic Phrases for Purchasing Tickets
“I’d like to book ～” is a polite expression meaning “I would like to reserve ～.”
- I’d like to book two tickets for the guided tour.
“I’d like to ～” is the shortened form of “I would like to ～,” and provides a polite and soft tone. This phrase is widely used in many travel situations.
The verb book means “to reserve” and can be used for restaurants, tours, and transportation.
- I’d like to book a table for dinner.
- I’d like to book a taxi.
It is a polite and practical expression that is helpful to remember.
2. Asking About Options
“Would you prefer ～?” is used when offering choices and politely asking which option the other person prefers.
- Would you prefer the audio guide or the guided tour?
The structure is “Would you prefer A or B?”, presenting two options.
- Would you prefer a morning or afternoon tour?
Using such expressions helps conversations proceed smoothly.
3. Confirming Start Times and Duration
When joining a tour or special event at a museum, you may want to confirm the start time and how long it lasts. These phrases are useful:
- What time does it start?
- It lasts about an hour.
The verb start means “to begin,” and last means “to continue.” The structure “lasts + time” means “to continue for (a length of time).”
These expressions are helpful when planning your schedule while traveling.
Summary
- I’d like to book ～
→ A polite and useful expression for making reservations. - Would you prefer ～?
→ A polite way to ask for preferences and offer options. - What time does it start? / It lasts ～
→ Useful expressions for confirming start times and duration.
