# go down to

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/go-down-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to travel to a place, especially one that is further south or in a smaller town.

For teachers: to travel to a specific destination, typically one perceived as being at a lower latitude, a lower altitude, or of lesser importance/size than the point of origin.

## Examples

- We are going down to the beach for the day.
- Every summer, they go down to Cornwall to visit their grandparents in the countryside.
- The family decided to go down to the coastal cottage to escape the oppressive heat of the city during the peak of August.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I go down to London from Scotland." but "I go down to London from Manchester." — usually 'go down' implies moving south; from Scotland to London, one would typically 'go down', but from a southern point to a northern one, 'go up' is used.

## Usage notes

- often used when the destination is south of the speaker's current location.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'go up to' (used for northern or larger city destinations); explain that 'down' often implies a move from a major city to a smaller town or the coast.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.