New York Holidays

Whilst on a New York holiday in 2018 / 2019, it's hard to miss the neon-lit craziness of Times Square, one of the most visited places on earth, which sits right in the heart of New York's Midtown. The famous illuminations are just part of the show in Midtown: this is where you'll find all kinds of street entertainers, the Times Square Studios (where TV shows like Good Morning America are filmed), flagship stores, and famous theme bars and restaurants.

The ferry ride out to the Statue of Liberty will give you the chance to soak up amazing views of Manhattan's cinematic Midtown skyline. Remember that access to the viewing platforms on Lady Liberty's pedestal and crown are only available by reserving well in advance.

For unbeatable panoramic views, head to the Empire State Building with its iconic rooftop viewing terrace or the observatory on the 102nd floor of One World. Other unmissable buildings (although you'll have to make do with admiring them from the outside) include the Chrysler, with its dainty Art Deco cap, and the Flatiron building.

Top museums include the Metropolitan (one of the biggest art museums in the world), the Whitney Museum of American Art and the contemporary art museum MoMa, although the city boasts hundreds of others, dedicated to everything from gangsters to troll dolls.

For a break from the frenetic pace of New York life, head to Central Park. This is a gorgeous, green expanse in the heart of Manhattan, where you can ramble through woods, row on the boating lake, explore a castle or simply relax with a picnic.

You'll be spoilt for choice on New York City breaks when it comes to theatre and the performing arts in bustling Manhattan: take in a musical at one of the fabulous theatres on Broadway, or visit the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which is home to several prestigious cultural organisations. Some of the biggest concerts are held in the impressive surroundings of Madison Square Gardens.

You could also head up to Harlem to visit the legendary Apollo Theater, which is where stars like Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye had their first success. Or perhaps take in a show at the Radio City Music Hall. If sports are more your thing, join the New Yorkers cheering for the Yankees or the Mets (baseball), the Giants or the Jets (American football), the Nicks or the Nets (basketball). 

New York, as befits one of the world’s most successful cultural melting pots, is a fabulous destination for a foodie. For city breaks, what city can complete with New York?

You can pretty much eat your way around the world in New York, whether you want cheap Colombian street food or Chinese dim sum, with roughly 160 local cuisines represented. If you want to splash out, New York’s finest kitchens, with a whole roster of celebrity chefs at the helm, turn out fantastic, award-winning and highly inventive cuisine. But, if you like the traditional diners, delis and bagel shops for which New York city is justly famous, you’ll also find plenty of simple, no-fuss options that provide delicious and great value meals.

While you are in downtown, Midtown or checking out Brooklyn, why not try some of the dishes that were invented in New York? The Waldorf Salad, for example, was first whipped up in the eponymous hotel (established in 1893 and still one of the glitziest addresses in town). The origins of the delicious Manhattan cocktail, a mixture of whiskey, vermouth, bitters and a cherry, are murkier, but it’s been around since some time in the 19^th century.

Both the hamburger and the hot dog are said to have been popularised (although not invented) in New York, and the city also takes the credit for the typically thin-crusted New York pizza (called a ‘pie’, as in 'pizza pie' in New York). Phew! City breaks to New York are all about your belly, so get ready!

New York, for all its urban edge and frenetic pace, is a fantastic destination for family holidays, and which other city breaks beat it? For younger kids, it's Gotham in the flesh, a playground for superheroes. And older kids and teenagers will love New York simply because it is probably the coolest city on earth. Eating out can be entertainment in itself: kids will love the New York ‘pies’ (pizzas), the classic diners, and the dazzling variety of world cuisines on offer.

Perennial family favourites in New York city include Times Square, where the flashing lights, eye-popping street theatre, megastores and theme cafés and restaurants will keep tweens and teens enthralled. The Statue of Liberty, standing guard on an island in New York’s harbour, is almost as much fun to get to as it is to visit. The ferry ride out to the island offers stunning views of the famous Midtown Manhattan skyline. If you want to visit the viewing platforms inside, a pre-booked ticket is essential. The Empire State Building, which was the world’s tallest building from 1931 to 1970, still soars above the surrounding skyscrapers. Kids love the King Kong connection, and the rooftop views are phenomenal.

Central Park is another favourite with families: there’s the famous Central Park Zoo, plus a boating lake, scores of amazing street performers doing everything from puppet shows to tango dancing, and acres of relative wilderness for kids to run around and let off steam. Depending on their ages and interests, your kids might enjoy a concert at Madison Square Gardens.

You could sign your kids up for classes in everything from cooking to circus skills, or check out one of the skateparks, bowling alleys, or laser-tag arenas. The wonderfully old-fashioned Luna Park funfair at Coney Island is a delight – and the kids can also try a hot dog from Nathan’s (a NY classic) and stroll along the boardwalk.

World-class art collections, iconic architecture, and some of the best-known performing arts companies anywhere – New York oozes culture. It’s not all Old Masters and opera in the Big Apple either, because the city has a dynamic and incredibly creative alternative arts scene that means you can also experience fantastically original writing, music, theatre and performances during your stay.

When it comes to architecture, don’t miss the Empire State, the Chrysler and the Flatiron buildings, some of the city’s earliest skyscrapers and now enduring symbols. Grand Central Station is breathtaking, as is the spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright building that contains the Guggenheim Museum. The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, is the most beautiful of all the bridges that connect Manhattan to the rest of New York’s boroughs.

The Metropolitan Museum is one of the world’s top art museums, with an enormous collection spanning two millennia. It’s set on the edge of Central Park, on a section of Fifth Avenue known as the ‘Museum Mile’ for its concentration of cultural monuments. These include the Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian Design Museum. Across the park is the fabulous Natural History Museum (made famous by the Night at the Museum films), with its wonderful dioramas. Other unmissable museums include MoMa, the museum of modern art, which has a superb sculpture garden, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Frick Collection, set in a handsome mansion.

You’ll be equally dazzled by choice when it comes to the performing arts. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic, among other prestigious cultural organisations. Broadway is possibly the most famous theatre district on earth, and the streets around it are full of smaller theatres where you can see ‘off-Broadway’ and ‘off-off-Broadway’ shows. Traditionally the East Village was the home of alternative culture, and, despite the massive gentrification of recent years, it’s still a fantastic place to discover original performers.   

New York city breaks don't immediately conjure up images of sun, sea and sand, so it may be a surprise to learn that you can find some truly stunning beaches within a couple of hours of downtown NYC. The classic New Yorker seaside experience is Coney Island, where you can follow up a couple of hours’ sunbathing and swimming with a rollercoaster ride at the Luna Park funfair, and a stroll along the boardwalk. And it’s only an hour away on the metro from Midtown Manhattan.

Just as easy to get to is Long Beach: the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Penn Station will get you right to the beachfront in about an hour. The Hamptons are at the other end of the spectrum of the NY beach experiences: a chi chi enclave of luxury homes and gorgeous beaches out at the eastern tip of Long Island. Get there by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or (the slightly fancier option) the Jitney bus – journey times are between 2 and 4 hours depending on your destination and the traffic.

The Rockaway Park and Boardwalk, on the Rockaway peninsula, is a hugely popular destination in summer, with plenty of facilities and the city’s only surfing beach. This peninsula has lots of beautiful beaches, such as the Jacob Riis Park Beach, which has a charming Art Deco bathing house and is the scene of a summer-long beach party. Fort Tilden, a pristine stretch of wild coast, remains unspoilt despite its increasing popularity. Who said your New York city break had to be without a beach?

They say that New York is the city that never sleeps – and they’re right. Pulsing with energy 24/7, New York is almost as frenetic by night as it is by day. The choice of places to party in the Big Apple is endless, from glitzy cocktails bars and basement dives to jazz bars, tiki lounges, burlesque shows, and some of the biggest and best nightclubs on earth.

Then there are microbreweries, live music venues in every shape and size, open mic nights, comedy clubs and a whole range of exciting events in museums and galleries. In summer, the party moves outdoors, with barbecues, boat parties and festivals on the riverfront and beaches.

A 2018 / 2019 New York holiday offers endless fun, and with cheap deals on city breaks, you'll have plenty of money left over to enjoy some Manhattan cocktails in Midtown Manhattan.

New York is a deeply romantic city, and New York holidays are all about once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Lovers could head to the observation deck on the Empire State Building to recreate the love scene from When Harry Met Sally or visit Central Park in winter to relive the ice-skating scene from Serendipity.

Or perhaps even drool over the window displays in Tiffany’s, like Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. You could stroll hand-in-hand through botanic gardens, visit the Butterfly Conservatory, or go star-gazing. There are scores of rooftop bars where you can sip cocktails and soak up the famous views, as well as dimly lit jazz bars and speakeasies where you can cosy up in style.

Dining out is a dream if you want to up the romance a notch or two: consider visiting one of the fashionable oyster bars, or take a picnic to the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn to enjoy views of the famous skyline. A harbour cruise at sunset, a stroll along the lovely flower-filled High Line urban garden, a visit to one of the city’s amazing farmer’s markets or gourmet markets, are all great options for romantic couples.

World-class art collections, iconic architecture, and some of the best-known performing arts companies anywhere – New York city is stuffed to the brim with culture. It’s not all Old Masters and opera in the Big Apple either, because the city has a dynamic and incredibly creative alternative arts scene that means you can also experience fantastically original writing, music, theatre and performances during your stay.

When it comes to architecture, don’t miss the Empire State, the Chrysler and the Flatiron buildings, some of the city’s earliest skyscrapers and now enduring symbols. Grand Central Station is breathtaking, as is the spectacular Frank Lloyd Wright building that contains the Guggenheim Museum. The Brooklyn Bridge, completed in 1883, is the most beautiful of all the bridges that connect Manhattan to the rest of New York’s boroughs.

The Metropolitan Museum is one of the world’s top art museums, with an enormous collection spanning two millennia. It’s set on the edge of Central Park, on a section of Fifth Avenue known as the ‘Museum Mile’ for its concentration of cultural monuments. These include the Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian Design Museum. Across the park is the fabulous Natural History Museum (made famous by the Night at the Museum films), with its wonderful dioramas. Other unmissable museums include MoMa, the museum of modern art, which has a superb sculpture garden, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Frick Collection, set in a handsome mansion.

You’ll be equally dazzled by choice when it comes to the performing arts in New York. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic, among other prestigious cultural organisations. Broadway is possibly the most famous theatre district on earth, and the streets around it are full of smaller theatres where you can see ‘off-Broadway’ and ‘off-off-Broadway’ shows. Traditionally the East Village was the home of alternative culture, and, despite the massive gentrification of recent years, it’s still a fantastic place to discover original performers.