New York

It’s often said that you can tell the difference between a tourist and a local in New York because the tourists are always gazing upwards. And with so many breathtaking new additions to the skyline in recent years, it’s easy to see why.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, until recently the tallest building in Midtown Manhattan, offers awe-inspiring views from its transparent, glass-enclosed sky decks. It’s a similar story in New York’s newest neighbourhood, Hudson Yards, home to Edge, the highest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere. Not to be outdone, the Empire State Building has undertaken a four-year renovation project and offers a totally revitalised visitor experience, with observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors, a wide range of restaurants, plus exhibits on everything from the building’s construction to its place in the films, TV shows, adverts and comics of popular culture. Closer to the ground but also new is Little Island at Pier 55 on the Hudson River, a three-acre oasis that floats above the water on 132 tulip-shaped stilts. Of course, it’s not all new. All the wonderful old reasons to visit New York are still there too: the bright lights of Broadway, the billboards of Times Square, horse and carriage rides through scenic Central Park, and shopping until your feet hurt at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s. A visit to the moving 9/11 Memorial & Museum is an absolute must, as is taking a cruise past the Statue of Liberty, taking in museums like MoMA and the Met, and taking a stroll along the elevated High Line, an abandoned railway line that’s been cleverly transformed into one of the city’s best green spaces.

With so much on offer – not to mention some of the best hotels and restaurants in America – it doesn’t matter when you visit either. Come in summer for picnics in the park. Come in winter for festive traditions like the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center. But above all, come, for you haven’t seen America until you’ve experienced New York.

Important Information

Best time to visit April to May and September to October are the most pleasant times of the year, as the city experiences distinct seasons; summers can be hot and humid while winters are cold with frequent snow. December is popular for Christmas shopping and is festively chilly.

Average temp 22°C (spring & autumn)

How to get there American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow to JFK • British Airways from Heathrow to JFK and Newark and from Gatwick to JFK • United from Heathrow and Edinburgh to Newark • Virgin Atlantic and Aer Lingus from Manchester to JFK • Delta from Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh to JFK • JetBlue from Heathrow and Gatwick to JFK

Average flying time 8 hours

GMT -5 hours

Tourist office www.nycgo.com

Ideal for Culture, History, Art, Cuisine, Shopping and Nightlife

Times Square The Knickerbocker

Located right by Times Square, The Knickerbocker offers easy access to the best of Broadway, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall and the many shops of Midtown. Behind its original 1905 facade lies a chic and contemporary interior, with impressively sound-proofed rooms and suites, decorated in taupe and silver and equipped with comfy beds, bespoke furnishings and generous rain showers. Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer heads the hotel’s culinary programme, from his elegant namesake restaurant to the artisanal coffee shop adjacent to the lobby and the hand-crafted cocktails on offer at St. Cloud, the rooftop bar that’s built a well-earned reputation as one of the best places in the city to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop.

Midtown Manhattan

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

With an enviable location overlooking Central Park and close to the famed shops of Fifth Avenue, this landmark hotel offers newly imagined rooms and suites with townhouse-inspired spaces, Central Park views and bespoke furnishings. Rooms feature telescopes pointed at the park while suites showcase works from local artists. The new Club Lounge provides an exclusive setting where guests can enjoy food from a range of local talent. La Prairie Spa offers facials, scrubs and indulgent treatments like a Caviar Massage, while the redesigned fitness centre and movement studio make it easy to stay healthy. Dining options range from picnics in the park to the gastro lounge Contour, which offers small plates and cocktails from morning until night.

Upper East Side The Mark

Set in the exclusive Upper East Side on the corner of 77th Street and Madison Avenue, the super-stylish Mark is just a well-dressed stroll from a convoy of highend boutiques, including Vera Wang, Missoni and Christian Louboutin. While the glamorous lobby makes a bold statement with its striped marble flooring and abstract artwork, the rooms and suites are more calming and understated, ranging in size from comfortable doubles to a five-bedroom penthouse. The restaurant by acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten holds its own against any in the city, while experiences range from cycling to Central Park with a picnic prepared by Jean-Georges himself to private pedicab tours of Manhattan’s top shops, museums and galleries.