New York Is Not What You Think
You've seen it in a thousand films. You think you know it. You don't. Nothing prepares you for the scale, the noise, the energy, and the way Manhattan makes you feel simultaneously tiny and invincible.
New York City has five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island — with a combined population of 8.3 million. Most first-time visitors spend their entire trip in Manhattan, and that's fine. But Brooklyn and Queens have become essential stops.
Where to Stay
Manhattan
Midtown (Times Square / Hell's Kitchen): Tourist central. Walking distance to Broadway, Central Park, and most major attractions. Hotels are expensive but plentiful. If it's your first time, this is the easiest base.
Lower Manhattan (SoHo / Tribeca / Financial District): More residential, better food, easier to find boutique hotels. Close to the Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial, and Staten Island Ferry.
Upper West Side: Near Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. Residential, quieter, proper neighbourhood feel. Good value for Manhattan.
Brooklyn
Williamsburg: Hipster heaven. Incredible food, craft cocktail bars, street art, vintage shops. Great views of Manhattan skyline. L train into the city in 15 minutes.
DUMBO: Under the Brooklyn Bridge. Spectacular views. Boutique hotels. Walkable to Brooklyn Heights promenade.
Budget Range (Per Night)
| Category | Price Range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Budget hostel | £40-80 | HI New York, Pod Hotels |
| Mid-range hotel | £120-250 | Moxy, citizenM, Arlo |
| Upscale | £250-500+ | The Standard, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge |
The Must-Do Experiences
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
Start at the Manhattan side (City Hall subway station). Walk across — it takes about 30 minutes. The views of the Manhattan skyline are extraordinary. End in DUMBO, Brooklyn, grab a coffee, and take the ferry back. Free.
Central Park
267 hectares of green space in the middle of Manhattan. Enter from the south (59th Street), walk through The Mall, find Bethesda Fountain, rent a rowing boat on The Lake, walk to Belvedere Castle. You could spend a full day here and not see everything. Free.
The High Line
An elevated park built on a disused railway line on Manhattan's West Side. 1.45 miles from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards. Art installations, architecture, views, food vendors. Perfect for a morning or late afternoon walk. Free.
Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)
Better than the Empire State Building. Shorter queues, open-air observation decks, and the view includes the Empire State Building in the skyline. Go at sunset. Book online in advance. £30-40.
Staten Island Ferry
Completely free. Runs every 30 minutes from Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. 25-minute ride across New York Harbour with the Statue of Liberty right there. The best free experience in the city. Grab a beer from the ferry bar. Free.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The twin reflecting pools sitting in the footprints of the original towers are profoundly moving. The museum below ground is one of the most powerful museum experiences anywhere. Allow 2-3 hours. Book timed tickets online. Pools: free. Museum: £20.
Coney Island
Take the Q train all the way to the end of the line. Classic American beach resort — funfair rides, the original Nathan's Famous hot dogs (get one), the boardwalk, the beach. A proper afternoon out. Transport only.
Food & Drink
What to Eat
- Dollar pizza slice — $1 slices from Joe's Pizza, Prince Street Pizza, or any corner spot. The quintessential NYC food experience. Stand on the pavement and fold it in half.
- Bagel with lox and cream cream cheese — Russ & Daughters or Ess-a-Bagel. This is not a British bagel. It's a different food entirely.
- Pastrami on rye — Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side. Cash only at the counter. The sandwich is enormous and perfect.
- Chopped cheese — Bodega sandwich. Ground beef, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato on a hero roll. A New York original.
- Shake Shack — Started in Madison Square Park. The ShackBurger is legitimately one of the best burgers you'll ever eat.
Where to Drink
- McSorley's Old Ale House — NYC's oldest bar (1854). They serve two things: light ale and dark ale. Cash only. Sawdust on the floor. Get there early.
- rooftop bars — 230 Fifth, The Press Lounge, Westlight (Brooklyn). Skyline views with cocktails.
- Brooklyn Brewery — Free tours on Saturday. Williamsburg.
Getting Around
The Subway
Buy an OMNY contactless fare. Tap your UK contactless bank card or phone — it works directly on NYC turnstiles. No need to buy a MetroCard. £2.20 per ride, capped at £26.50 per week. The subway runs 24/7.
Key lines for tourists:
- 1/2/3 — Upper West Side, Times Square, Greenwich Village
- 4/5/6 — Upper East Side, Grand Central, Brooklyn Bridge
- L — 14th Street to Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
- Q — Manhattan to Coney Island
Walking
Manhattan is a grid. Avenues run north-south. Streets run east-west. Numbers go up as you go north. If you can count, you can navigate Manhattan.
Uber/Lyft
Works exactly as in the UK. Expect surge pricing in Manhattan at peak hours.
Day Trips from NYC
| Destination | Distance | How | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 1.5 hrs | Amtrak train | Rocky Steps, cheesesteaks, Independence Hall |
| Washington DC | 3.5 hrs | Amtrak | Free Smithsonian museums, The Mall, Lincoln Memorial |
| Atlantic City | 2 hrs | Bus | Casinos, boardwalk, beach |
| Hudson Valley | 1.5 hrs | Metro-North | Autumn foliage, hiking, wineries |
| The Hamptons | 2.5 hrs | LIRR + bus | Beaches, celebrity spotting, seafood |
Budget Snapshot
| Item | Approximate Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Heathrow → JFK (return) | £350-700 |
| Mid-range hotel (per night) | £150-250 |
| Subway day pass | £8.20 (rides capped) |
| Dollar pizza slice | £0.80 |
| Broadway show (tkts booth) | £50-100 |
| Top of the Rock | £30-40 |
| 9/11 Museum | £20 |
| Pint of craft beer | £6-10 |
| Week total (budget) | £1,200-1,800 |
| Week total (comfortable) | £2,000-3,500 |
Insider Tips
- Don't eat in Times Square. Walk 3 blocks in any direction and the food quality doubles while the price halves.
- The Met Museum is "pay what you wish" for New York residents, but £20 for tourists. Still worth every penny — allow half a day minimum.
- Download the Citymapper app — it's the best transit app and it works perfectly in NYC.
- Tipping: 18-20% at restaurants. Not optional. Round up for taxis, $1-2 per drink at bars.
- Broadway TKTS booth in Times Square sells same-day discount tickets at 30-50% off. Queue at the one in Lincoln Center — shorter queue, same tickets.