Want to improve your English and have fun? Why not read an English magazine?
Are you ready to discover the 25 best magazines that will help you improve your English?
Great โ letโs begin then!
You can jump straight to the English magazine that interests you most using the table of contents below.
Otherwise, keep scrolling to discover 25 incredible magazines in English.
Table of Contents
1. The Economist

Can you guess what The Economist is about? Yes, economics! But not only that.
This magazine also focuses on global events, politics, science, technology, and culture.
It sounds like Iโm talking about a newspaper, doesnโt it?
Well, technically, The Economist is a British weekly newspaper printed in magazine format.
Important and well-known business people around the globe read The Economist (I wouldnโt be surprised if Elon Musk has a subscription to it) and this is why the language youโll find in it is high-quality journalistic writing.
Once I had a student who worked as the CFO of a bank in Italy. He told me he always read The Economist because it helped him expand his advanced English vocabulary which he would then use in his financial reports and presentations.
So this is not the English magazine to read if youโd like to improve your conversational, informal, urban English.
However, if you want to learn specialised vocabulary related to economics, politics, and science, then yes, get a copy and have fun learning.
You can read The Economist online here.
2. National Geographic

This was once called The National Geographic Magazine.
Can you guess when the first issue was published?
Iโll give you three options (donโt read on until you havenโt answered this question):
- 1958
- 1888
- 1928
The answer is b. Yes, itโs over 100 years old! Thereโs a reason why this English magazine has stood the test of time: National Geographic is great!
You just need to flick through it for a few seconds to notice how beautiful and educational everything is.
The photos are taken by the most skilled photographers in the world. And the articles, too, are written by the best writers.
But whatโs National Geographic about? Wildlife, archaeology, environmental issues, and cultural studies. Given that these are the main topics, the language you'll find is rich and descriptive.
So if youโd like to expand your descriptive vocabulary and youโre also into nature, exploration, and world culture, then National Geographic is a must.
You can read some National Geographic articles online here.

3. Speak Up

This magazine is produced for learners of English based in Italy and Spain. I read and translated the About page of the Speak Up Italian website.
This is what it says:
โForget about grammatical rules and long lists to memorize. With Speak Up youโll immerse yourself in the English spoken in the media by reading and listening to articles and interviews with famous people. Youโll improve your reading comprehension, listening, and pronunciation. Youโll expand your vocabulary with current terms, neologisms, trending concepts, idioms, and colloquial expressions.โ
Speak Up
This is a special English magazine because it's designed with English learners in mind so the articles are classified and tagged according to the level of difficulty.
This is how theyโre categorised:
- Pre-intermediate: Articles with common phrases in English and simple expressions.
- Lower-intermediate: Standard language articles on a wide variety of topics.
- Upper-intermediate: Complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics.
- Advanced: Long texts with a higher level of complexity that includes colloquial expressions and English idioms.
- Proficiency: Long articles with a complex structure featuring diverse descriptions and topics, and a rich and creative vocabulary.
But thereโs more: most of the articles in Speak Up are available in audio format so you can listen to them while reading the text. This will help you improve both your listening skills and English pronunciation.
Get a subscription to Speak Up here
4. Babel

โLove language? Love Babel.โ
This is what you read on page 1 of Babel, a popular language magazine written by experts in languages and linguistics whose mission is to bring you the latest linguistics research.
But you donโt have to be a language expert to appreciate this magazine. Everything is explained in an accessible and colourful format.
Babel is published every four months and each issue contains regular features. Some of these are:
- The linguistic lexicon: a section that explores linguistic terms such as โconnotationโ or โcatenative verbsโ.
- Languages of the world: this introduces you to languages spoken around the globe.
- Ask a linguist: a section where a linguist answers your questions on anything and everything about languages and linguistics.
The team behind Babel is so generous that they give access to their โBest Ofโ issue for free, which includes the best features taken from across their first 32 issues.
You can read it here and then decide if this is a magazine for you.

5. Forbes

This is another well-known magazine thatโs been around for over a century.
Before I tell you what you can expect to find in it, letโs see if you can guess the answer to this trivia question: Where does Forbes take its name from?
Three options:
- The person who founded it
- A car
- A Greek word
Have you made your guess?
Okay, Forbes was founded in 1917 by Bertie Charles Forbes, a Scottish-American financial journalist who then remained the magazine's editor-in-chief until 1954.
But letโs come back to the present. Today, Forbes is published eight times a year and is one of the most popular business magazines in the world.
The articles youโll find in it are about a wide variety of topics such as finance, investing, marketing, technology, communications, science, politics, and law.
Whatโs true for The Economist is also true for Forbes: this isnโt a magazine you would read to improve your conversational skills but one that can help you with academic vocabulary, academic reading and writing.
An interesting thing about Forbes is that itโs known for its lists and rankings such as:
- The richest Americans (the Forbes 400)
- The 30 most notable young people under the age of 30 (Forbes 30 under 30)
- America's Wealthiest Celebrities
- The world's top companies (the Forbes Global 2000)
- The World's Most Powerful People
- The World's Billionaires
If youโre especially interested in American culture and business, well, you should also be interested in getting your eyes on Forbes.
6. English NOW

Le plaisir d'apprendre l'anglais tout en se divertissant.
Thatโs French for โThe pleasure of learning English while having funโ and itโs what English NOW, a bimonthly 48-page magazine specially written for learners of English based in France, will help you to do.
English NOW offers a variety of articles and topics but youโll also find vocabulary, grammar, and tests. Remember SpeakUp (no. 3 on this list)?
English NOW is similar to that because each article is categorised according to its level of difficulty as well as which English-speaking country it focuses on (United Kingdom, United States, Australia, etc.).
If you subscribe, you can get your magazine articles read by native speakers with different accents. Youโll also get interactive exercises that focus on all four language skills, multimedia content, and teacher bonuses (if youโre a teacher).
Oui mon ami, c'est un super magazine si tu veux amรฉliorer ton anglais!
Find out more about English NOW here.
7. Time

You may already know about this American magazine as itโs one of the most influential and authoritative sources of news.
But letโs see if you can guess which of these statements about it is false:
- Time was published weekly for nearly a century.
- There are European, Asian, and South Pacific editions of Time.
- There are editions of Time written in easy English specifically for learners like you.
Which one is false?
Iโm afraid to say that the answer is C: at the moment, there are no versions of Time written for learners of English. But donโt worry. If you already have strong English reading skills, Time can help you expand your vocabulary in the context of current events and global issues.
Most of what youโll read in Time revolves around current political, social, economic, and cultural events around the globe.
You may also like the TIME 100 list, an annual list that presents the 100 most influential people in the world such as leaders, creators, and innovators.
TIME 100 is actually one of my favourite things to read!

8. VOA Learning English

Voice of America (VOA) is the largest American international broadcaster.
Their content is targeted at proficient-level English speakers but they also have a website, VOA Learning English, for learners of English like you.
Okay, technically, VOA Learning English isnโt a magazine in the sense that it doesnโt have regular issues that are published every week or every month.
But you can consider it as an online magazine for learners because its website features many news articles about a variety of topics.
This is what the VOA Learning Englishโs About page says:
Learning English is VOAโs multimedia source of news and information for millions of English learners worldwide.
VOA Learning English
Their articles are categorised into three levels: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced. The cool thing about them is that you can also listen to the articles through the audio player thatโs on every webpage.
Check out their โintermediate levelโ page to see how it works.
9. Wired

Are you a technophobe (=aโ person who is afraid of, dislikes or avoids new technology) or a techie (=a person who is expert in or enthusiastic about technology)?
In either case, Wired is worth checking out.
Why? Because Wired is a monthly American magazine that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics.
So, if youโre a technophobe, youโll find plenty of articles that will show you why you shouldnโt be afraid of technology.
And if youโre a techie, you may find articles that will make you reconsider your enthusiasm for new technologies!
Reading Wired is also a great way to expand your vocabulary around the topic of technology and culture. You can start today by reading their online articles on their website.
10. Language Magazine

Language Magazine is a monthly publication that provides cutting-edge information for language learners, educators, and professionals around the world. Through promoting multicultural learning, global citizenship, and language education, Language Magazine provides well-researched insight on the literacy and language sphere of education.
Language Magazine
This is what the About page of Language Magazine says. So you may like this magazine if youโre a teacher or a learner whoโs into language research and language learning.
The editorial team also publish the full issues in an app for tablets along with a digital edition that you can view or download if you subscribe.
Check out Language Magazine here.
11. The Relatable Voice Magazine

The creative director of The Relatable Voice Magazine is Lucia Matuonto, a multilingual lady from Brazil.
I talked about her in my blog about English podcasts too, as Lucia is also a podcast host and a big fan of real, personal, human stories (like me!)
In her magazine, youโll find interesting interviews with a variety of people, from authors, film writers, and actors, to scriptwriters, songwriters, and content writers.
The magazine is free to read online and itโs perfect for you if youโre into media, culture, writing, books and, of course, real human stories!
Check out Relatable Voice here.
12. Health

Health is an e-magazine aboutโฆerm, well, health!
It was founded in 1981 and covers health and wellness information for everyone. Fancy another pub quiz type of question?
How many people does Health reach every year?
- Over 120 million people
- Less than 100 million people
- 1 million people
The answer is the first one. I think one of the reasons why it reaches so many readers is because the articles are reviewed by certified health experts such as, among others, doctors, nutritionists, and physicians.
The information they provide is accurate, research-based, and easy to digest for non-health experts.
This is also a great magazine if youโd like to expand your vocabulary around wellness, health conditions, nutrients, sleep, and everything that revolves around the topic of health.
13. British Council Magazine

The British Council is a British cultural institution that supports peace and prosperity by building connections between people in the UK and over 100 countries worldwide.
You may be excited to hear that the British Council has an online magazine written specifically for intermediate (B1) and upper-intermediate (B2) learners of English.
You can use this English magazine to practise your reading and learn about global issues, special days, festivals, and a wide variety of other topics.
But hereโs the really cool thing about the British Council Magazine: each article has interactive exercises, worksheets, and guided reading activities to help you understand and use the language โ a real gem for learners!
You can read British Council Magazine for free here.
14. Cosmopolitan

This is a cool American magazine directed by and targeted to women. Itโs one of the best-selling magazines in America!
Remember what I said about The Economist, Forbes and all the other โformal languageโ magazines in this list?
That doesnโt apply to Cosmopolitan because the articles are written in an informal, conversational tone.
So this is a great one to expand your informal vocabulary and even learn new English slang words and expressions.
The articles focus on beauty, celebrity news, sex, relationships, politics, shopping, lifestyle, and many other interesting topics that, generally, appeal to a female audience.
The editorial team makes a promise on their โAboutโ page:
Our content isnโt just funโit is really, really fun thoughโitโs also thoroughly edited and fact-checked for accuracy, clarity, and fairness.
Cosmopolitan
15. Modern English Teacher

This is an amazing magazine for teachers of English who want to improve their English skills while developing professionally.
Iโve read Modern English Teacher many times and always found interesting articles about:
- classroom activities
- book reviews
- research on second language acquisition
- trends
- teaching approaches
- teachersโ stories
- news
- and other subjects related to the English language teaching industry.
This is a great read for professional teachers.
You can subscribe or read some of the articles online for free.
16. Mental Floss

This is an online magazine that has reached more than 1 billion (billion!) readers since 2001.
Youโll find smart, quirky articles about lifeโs big questions, fascinating facts, and such interesting stories that you canโt help but share them with your friends.
The tone of Mental Floss is informal, so this is another great resource if youโd like to expand your conversational vocabulary.
Thereโs a section of the magazine thatโs entirely dedicated to language. Iโve had a quick look and found these quirky articles:
- Why Do We Say โSweat Like a Pigโ?
- 16 Funny Slang Terms for Children
- Whatโs the Correct Pronunciation of โFebruaryโ?
Or how about their Amazing Facts Generator? I could spend all day clicking on the MORE FACTS PLEASE button! For learners like you, this will give some quick reading practice and lots of fun.
I think youโll love Mental Floss!
17. The Travel Magazine

The Travel Magazine is a travel portal with highly informative, upbeat and inspirational articles for people who love to travel. We are storytellers.
The Travel Magazine
This is what the editorial team says about their e-magazine.
You can find a variety of articles about travel stories, travel advice, and plenty of reviews. Not just reviews of places but also theatre, product, app, cruise, and accommodation reviews.
Often the writers speak in first person and the style of the articles is informal and conversational. So The Travel Magazine may be the best choice for you if youโre a traveller whoโs into reading travel stories written by the people who lived them.
You can also pitch the editorial team and write a story for them!
Check out The Travel Magazine here.
18. Aperture

You love learning English, you love reading, and you love photography. Am I right?
So thereโs no better magazine for you than Aperture, a magazine that connects global audiences and supports both established and emerging artists.
The editorial staffโs core values are stated clearly on their website: care, curiosity, diversity, inclusion, and opportunity.
Let me tell you: the stories and the photos youโll find in Aperture will make you dream with your eyes open.
If youโre a photography lover, donโt miss Aperture!
19. BBC Gardeners' World

What are some of the best ways to grow your own vegetables? How do you prune your hedge? What should you plant in February? What about March?
Green thumbs, BBC Gardenersโ World is here for you to help you answer all your gardening questions!
BBC Gardenersโ World is the UKโs best-selling gardening magazine that will help you expand your vocabulary around gardening while also helping you improve your planting, pruning, and watering skills (and other skills that good gardeners need to have).
The magazine also includes beautiful visuals of stunning gardens that will get you off your couch so you can take care of your plants.
Read or subscribe to BBC Gardeners' World it here.
20. Gourmet Traveller

Australians are real foodies. No wonder many people consider MasterChef Australia as the best cooking TV show in the world. I even included in my list of best TV shows to learn English.
Australians also love travelling. So here you have Gourmet Traveller, Australiaโs top food and travel magazine.
This magazine is for you if youโd like to discover innovative recipes from the best Australian chefs, reviews, and food news.
Itโs also for you if you want to explore exotic destinations, luxurious properties, and unique travel experiences around the world.
The articles are written by professional journalists, so youโll be exposed to some really high-quality writing.
Check out Gourmet Traveller here.

21. Bookmarks

โIf you are a lover of books, this magazine is heaven on earth,โ says a reader of Bookmarks on the magazineโs website.
Another reader says, โYou guys make loving to read easy!โ
You get the point: Bookmarks is a magazine for book lovers.
The staff at Bookmarks read over 500 book reviews a month and then summarise them in each issue of the magazine.
There are reviews of a variety of literary genres: new fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, fantasy and children's books.
Bookmark makes a promise:
By the time you're done with each issue, youโll know what to start reading today. And you can save your precious reading time โฆ for reading.
Bookmarks
So this is definitely an English magazine for you if you love reading (Iโm sure you do) and want to make the best reading choices.
You can subscribe to Bookmarks here
22. PC World

It doesnโt matter if youโre a computer expert or not, PC World helps you, in its editors' own words, โget more from the hardware and software thatโs central to a PC-centric universe.โ
This is a global computer magazine thatโs been published digitally every month since 2013.
Youโll find tech reviews, how-to guides, shopping guidelines, computer deals, and everything else that revolves around the world of computers.
So PC World might be the best English magazine for you if you want to:
- get the latest tech news
- find the best computer accessories or programs
- get help to buy a new laptop
- or simply expand your vocabulary around the topics of IT (information technology) and computers.
23. Poets & Writers

This is a US magazine for creative writers published twice a month. Each issue is read by more than 100,000 writers!
Iโve read a couple of issues too and found essays on the literary life, profiles of contemporary authors, lists of literary awards, reviews and many other things related to the world of writing.
They also publish creative writing prompts that can help you get started with writing. At StoryLearning we love not reading stories but also writing them, so I encourage you to get a pen (or a keyboard) and start writing a short story yourself.
Iโm sure that reading Poets&Writers will give you some inspiration.
You can find Poets &Writers here.
24. The World Of Interiors

The World of Interiors is an interior design magazine founded in London in 1981.
Itโs published monthly in print and daily on its website and digital platforms.
Youโll read about design, decorating, arts, architecture, gardens and culture.
The articles use plenty of descriptive language so this is a great magazine for you if youโd like to build and refine your vocabulary to describe places, furniture and homes.
The World of Interiors website has also a section called โFilmโ where you can watch short clips about all things interior design.
This, too, is useful for you as a learner of English because you can first read an article and then watch a video to help you absorb the information and the language as well.
Check out The World of Interiors here.
25. Rolling Stone

Last but not least, Rolling Stone! You may have heard of this magazine as itโs a really popular one.
It also has several international editions so you may have read it in your first language.
In case you donโt know, Rolling Stone is an American monthly magazine about music, politics, and popular culture that was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967.
Shall we do the last pub quiz question? Great, here it is:
The first issue of Rolling Stone was released on November 9, 1967. At the time, Rolling Stone was published in newspaper format. Who was on the front page in the very first issue?
- John Lennon
- Aretha Franklin
- Mick Jagger
No, sorry, the answer isnโt Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stonesโ frontman. The correct answer is John Lennon!
Want to read Rolling Stone? Well, then reading the story of the first issue here may be a great start.
Finding The Best English Magazine For You
This was a long list, wasnโt it? Itโs great that you made it to the end! But let me tell you that I could have gone on talking about other magazines in English because there are so many out there.
I hope you found an English magazine for you. If you havenโt, I encourage you to explore the web and look for one that youโd love to read.
Look for an English magazine thatโs about a topic or a hobby youโre interested in. For example, if youโre interested in boats, find a magazine about boats. That way youโll expose your brain to a lot of English while reading about a topic you love.
Itโs one of the best ways to learn a language!
Soโฆgo and have fun!

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Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearningยฎ Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearningยฎ method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preachesโhe speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.