New York

The city that never sleeps is on every travellers’ wish list, with iconic sights to be seen around every corner. New York City is thriving in summer, and there’s truly no better time to visit.

Things to see and do

While New York is often seen as a Christmas destination, summertime in the city is really hard to beat. Starting off in the bright lights of midtown Manhattan, Times Square is something we have seen so many times in movies, so to witness it for yourself is as surreal as it gets. It’s always busy, and can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s definitely worth a walk through just to experience it. Not far from Times Square is Bryant Park, which is a nice area to sit and soak in the city in the sun, enjoying the street musicians and people watching. You can also enjoy a great view of the Empire State Building from here too. The New York Public Library backs on to this park, which is the famous location used in the filming of Ghostbusters and the iconic spot where Carrie was stood up by Big in Sex and the City. It’s a great place to have a wander around for both movie buffs and book lovers, or sit on the steps at the front to people watch on Fifth Avenue.

Fifth Avenue is an adventure in itself. The shopping lovers dream, with designer stores lining the entire avenue, with everything from Saks and Chanel, to the famous Tiffany’s jewellery store. Inside Tiffany’s is The Blue Box Café, where you can literally have ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, but book in advance because, as you would imagine, it is a very popular spot!

Of course no trip to New York would be complete without visiting Central Park, another location where many movies have been shot, including Home Alone. Here you can take a walk around and experience the city’s sense of calm, or simply enjoy a picnic on the grass. Towards the middle of Central Park is the lake, where you will also find the bakehouse from where you can hire a rowing boat.

Read more in the August issue…