Top things to do in New York
Attractions, tours and activities in New York
Recommended museums in New York
Where to discover culture and the arts in New York
New York: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in New York
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Lower Manhattan
3.4 miles from city centre
Lower Manhattan – also known as ‘Downtown’ – has a complex fabric of energetic neighbourhoods. Visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located at the World Trade Center at Ground Zero. Nearby, you’ll find the legendary New York Stock Exchange. As night falls, the bars and restaurants of Soho, Tribeca and the Lower East Side are electric.
Places to stay from £33 per night
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Tribeca
3.8 miles from city centre
From farming community to gritty artist enclave in the 1960’s, today’s Tribeca is one of the city’s most exclusive addresses – and home to many celebrities. Hudson River Park and Washington Market Park provide Tribeca’s lungs, while the areas gastronomic delights provide the heart. Tribeca hosts the annual Tribeca Film Festival in Spring.
Places to stay from £65 per night
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SoHo
3.2 miles from city centre
The bohemian origins of this neighbourhood ‘South of Houston Street’ have given way to gentrification – the charming cobbled streets are now lined with boutiques, trendy cafes, restaurants and a range of eclectic art galleries. Celebrity and supermodel sightings can’t be avoided, so it’s a great place to mingle with the famous and fabulous.
Places to stay from £60 per night
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Chelsea
1.9 miles from city centre
Chelsea retains many of its 19th century landmarks. You’ll find eclectic art galleries hidden amongst the rows of townhouses. The High Line Park – which runs along a defunct elevated railway line – is popular with locals. Chelsea Piers is a massive sports and entertainment complex, while Chelsea Market is loaded with gourmet food shops.
Places to stay from £46 per night
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Midtown
1 miles from city centre
A midtown hotel is the perfect launch pad to New York City’s ‘Big 5’ – the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, Times Square, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the New York Public Library. Cultural connoisseurs should head to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), take in a show at Carnegie Hall or find inspiration at the American Folk Art Museum.
Places to stay from £20 per night
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Upper West Side
1.3 miles from city centre
This is the city’s epicentre of arts, culture and academia. You’ll find the impressive Cathedral Church of Saint John in Morningside Heights and the American Museum of Natural History – plus 60 blocks of theatres and restaurants. On weekends, walk the 4-mile strip of Riverside Park, or dine at one of the trendy cafés with outdoor seating.
Places to stay from £32 per night
About New York
Including tips for the best time to visit New York
New York City is somewhere that feels familiar before you even visit. Countless films and TV shows are shot here, so when we see the trademark yellow taxi cabs, the hot dog vendors or the dazzling lights of Manhattan, there's a strange sense of déjà vu. It's also home to what is arguably the world's most famous skyline, dominated by the Art Deco marvel of the Empire State Building. Constantly reinventing and setting new trends in fashion, food and art, the city is also a major hub for finance and trade, with the famous Wall Street at its core.
The city is split into the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island, and each has its own unique character. Manhattan Island is home to the trendy neighbourhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo, while Brooklyn features a Botanic Garden, the New York Aquarium and the famous Coney Island. A ferry from Battery Park to Ellis Island offers a great opportunity for some incredible views of the city, before reaching the fascinating Immigration Museum. You'll also sail past the iconic Statue of Liberty, with plenty of time to snap photos from all angles.
The city's Broadway shows are second to none, with a variety of major musicals proving the pick of the bunch. The giant green oasis of Central Park offers a perfect spot for a peaceful stroll, as well as featuring lakes, theatres and ice-skating rinks.
New York is served by three major airports: JFK, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia, with public transport options available at each one.
Tonight
From £140 per night
This weekend
From £393 per night
Next weekend
From £530 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | US$10 = £8.04 |
| Language | |
| Average weekend price | £154 per night |
| Average weekday price | £164 per night |
| Typical stay | 3 nights |
Points of interest in New York
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in New York
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Times Square
0.7 miles from city centre
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Empire State Building
1.4 miles from city centre
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Madison Square Garden
1.4 miles from city centre
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
1.2 miles from city centre
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Brooklyn Bridge
4.4 miles from city centre
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Rockefeller Center
0.7 miles from city centre
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Statue of Liberty
6.3 miles from city centre
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Solomon R Guggenheim Museum
1.6 miles from city centre
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Yankee Stadium
5.2 miles from city centre
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Herald Square
1.2 miles from city centre
New York reviews
What other travellers say about New York
I loved the hustle of new York city.
19 April 2024
I loved the hustle of new York city. You can find food from around the world. I highly recommend smash burger shacks. So good. Go see the play hells kitchen was fabulous. Take the night bus tour so worth it
It is the perfect city to visit should you want to “get out...
18 April 2024
It is the perfect city to visit should you want to “get out of your head” and discover something different. Each sit block brings a variety of eateries; deli’s, restaurants and places of interest only a cab ride away. I took 2 art classes, participated in a “Painting in the Park” event, went to the Met and took an on-line writing class. I found a great coffe shop in the area that I went to every day that provided grounding for myself. This was a very happy trip!!😆😊
Always the same.
18 April 2024
Always the same. Everyone trying to scam you (from the hotel trying to charge resort fees up to the guy selling pretzels at the street), several homeless asking for money and trying to intimidate you, the city stinks with marijuana smell and all drugstores, now, have most of the items locked in (due to thieves) making shopping an unpleasant experience. Food is bad, in general and avoid touristic places at all costs. My son wanted to go to tavern on the green. It was a good experience and the staff was welcoming, but the food was not only overpriced but simply said: not good enough. Just go somewhere else: North Carolina for instance. Ashville is amazing.
We associate so many sounds and sights with NYC from a...
18 April 2024
We associate so many sounds and sights with NYC from a variety of media that actually setting foot there boggles the mind. Over a (busy) week I’ve walked a lot in pretty much all the main boroughs of Manhattan (Greenwich Village, Harlem, Chinatown, East Village, Midtown, etc.) and I definitely would recommend everyone to alternate visiting iconic landmarks/museums such as the Empire State Building or the MoMA with a little walk in more residential neighbourhoods without any clear purpose, just to get a feel of how people live. My tips would be to avoid eating at restaurants (incredibly overpriced) and try quality takeout food from stores such as Whole Foods, and also take the free ferry to Staten Island instead of the expensive boat to the Statue of Liberty. You still get to see it and can keep your money for other endeavours. The MetroCard on the other hand is an excellent investment (all buses and subway lines for 33 dollars over a week). If I had had a few more days I would have loved to spend some time in Brooklyn but Manhattan is such a fascinating place with so much to do, I couldn’t make it. Next time!
We revisited places as we used to live nearby.
17 April 2024
We revisited places as we used to live nearby. It's got everything - theatres, buildings, parks, museums (fabulous)- easy to get around with buses and subway which are good value but almost everything else is very expensive. The people are incredibly helpful and pleasant - a great change over the past decades - it feels pretty safe now (but still be careful especially your wallet etc). We would go back anytime.
The staff were very friendly and hellpful.
17 April 2024
The staff were very friendly and hellpful. Our room was very small, but it was ok for us. The hotel had a rooftop and a piano bar but those were closed for private functions so the regular residents could not participate and that was disappointing especially if you didn't want to go anywhere and wanted to stay in your hotel.
Popular places to stay in New York
Stay in some of the best accommodation New York has to offer
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1600ft TriBeCa Townhouse - Luxury & Spacious Manhattan, New York
From £977 per night
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Studio in Union Square Manhattan, New York
From £240 per night
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Crosby Street Hotel Manhattan, New York
From £985 per night
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Pendry Manhattan West Manhattan, New York
From £595 per night
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The Hotel Chelsea Manhattan, New York
From £399 per night
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