New York travel guide

Immortalised by Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra in the song New York, New York from Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film of the same name, New York is somewhere Brits continue to want to be a ‘part of’ and for good reason. This is one of the world’s most vibrant cities, with cutting-edge art and design, the sparkle of Broadway and some of the world’s best restaurants and hotels. Its grid network of streets provides half the fun of getting around and it’s a shopper’s paradise from the Lower East Side over to Soho and right up to Park Avenue and Central Park. In summer you can also find great beaches and beautiful nature on Long Island and up the Hudson River.

As seen on screen

We’ve seen them in films, we’ve read about them in books and indeed many people really do come to New York simply for the famous landmarks that make up the Manhattan skyline and its taxi-strewn streets. These include the Empire State Building (watch for the changing coloured lights), the Statue of Liberty (best seen from a boat trip), Grand Central Station (eat, drink and travel on from here), the Rockefeller Centre (see 360-degree views from 70 floors up), Central Park (with its huge rocks and myriad statues) and Brooklyn Bridge (with its Gothic towers and link to Brooklyn). With these, and the help of a ‘famous’ yellow taxi, you can easily fill a long weekend.

Cool culture

This is a city that buzzes with creativity, as arty types flock here from all over the world. Get your fill of culture during the day at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim. You can also take a train ride upstate and see post-sixties painting and sculpture in the impressive Dia Beacon arts centre, plus there are hordes of galleries all over town from Chelsea and Uptown to Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Dumbo (‘Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass’). At night, put on your glad rags and take in the glitz of Broadway, Manhattan’s theatre district where there are more than 39 professional theatres in which to see a show.

Dining out

Like New York itself, the dining scene is truly multicultural, with more than 14,000 eating establishments offering food from all over the world. Go all-out American and try hot dogs, pretzels, doughnuts and a supersized juice. The breakfasts are also worth writing home about, with eggs cooked in ways you didn’t even dream possible. Or eat dim sum in Chinatown, spaghetti in Little Italy and noodles in Koreatown. The city also claims a trio of three-star Michelin restaurants (The Michelin Guide New York City 2008): Jean Georges, Le Bernardin and Per Se.

Long weekend?

Here’s just an idea of what you could do if you’re on a 3-day flying visit…

Day 1
Sort your shopping fix out early by heading out on foot or taking advantage of the subway (an experience in itself) or taxis: for designer clothing head uptown to Park, Madison and Fifth Avenues plus Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s department stores; for vintage, head to the Lower East Side for door-to-door consignment stores on Orchard Street. It’s also a great area to find a cool or intimate bar to toast your finds.

Day 2
If you want a break from the city centre, then take the train from Grand Central Terminal to Beacon and spend the day in Dia’s riverside Riggio Galleries. Works include Andy Warhol’s Shadows, installations by Joseph Beuys and Dan Flavin and tranquil gardens in which to picnic. Head back into town for a fifties-style burger at Stand in the West Village then on to a show on Broadway – Guys and Dolls and In the Heights are all about New York.

Day 3
Take a pre-flight boat cruise around Manhattan to say your farewell to the New York skyline. Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises run three-hour full-island rides taking in three rivers, seven major bridges, five boroughs and over 25 famous landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty. Go from pier 83 on 42nd Street. If you’re pushed for time but must see the torch-bearing maiden before you leave, you can do a 75-minute Liberty Cruise

Getting there

Flying is the only real transport option to New York from the UK. New York has two major airports – JFK and Newark – where you can fly to from many UK cities, but the frequencies are much higher in London. Airlines include BA, American Airlines, Continental Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. The great news is you can now get flights for around £200, so it’s easier to take a weekend break. For more details visit www.flightmapping.com/USA/New-York/.

Find out more

Get more information and holiday ideas from www.nycvisit.com and www.iloveny.com. Guidebooks like The Rough Guide to New York City, Lonely Planet’s New York City Guide, Time Out New York and New York Wallpaper* City Guide can also help you find your way around while there.

Insurance matters

New York has lost its ‘mean streets’ reputation but crime and health risks are still present as they are in all major cities. Manhattan should be pretty safe but be extra aware of personal possessions stolen in areas such as markets, monuments and museums, which draw lots of tourists. Direct Line can help you cover these with a single trip or annual travel insurance policy.

With Direct Line it’s quick and easy to sort out travel insurance. Our single-trip policy is perfect for weekend breaks as well as longer holidays to the US and New York. Simply apply for a quote online today.

Related information

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