city center

Meaning

The central part or main business and commercial area of a town or city. In American English, this is often referred to as 'downtown'.

Examples

• Our hotel is located right in the city center, close to all the main attractions.

  Our hotel is located right in the city center, close to all the main attractions.

• It's much easier to walk or take the metro when you are in the city center.

  It's much easier to walk or take the metro when you are in the city center.

• The city center is always bustling with street performers and tourists.

  The city center is always bustling with street performers and tourists.

• We walked around the historic city center for hours.

  We walked around the historic city center for hours.

• Is there a direct bus from the airport to the city center?

  Is there a direct bus from the airport to the city center?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I live in the center city.

  ✓ I live in the city center.

  In standard English, the collocation is 'city center' (noun + noun modifier) or 'downtown'.

• ✗ The hotel is in center of the city.

  ✓ The hotel is in the city center. / The hotel is in the center of the city.

  Do not omit the article 'the' when using the prepositional phrase 'in the center of the city'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Most of the historic museums are located in the ___.

  💡 The main central area of the town.

  Show answer

  city center

• It's hard to find free parking in the ___.

  💡 The commercial heart of the city.

  Show answer

  city center