New York Skyline from High Line

New York City Breaks 2024/2025








Best New York City Breaks




Iconic "Must-Sees" In New York For First-Timers

Central Park NYC

Central Park

A true icon of NYC, Central Park adds that little touch of magic to every trip, whether it's festive ice skating on a cold winter afternoon at Christmas, or enjoying a jog around the park on a warm summer's day like the locals do.

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

This is definitely one if it's you're first time in NYC and you want the iconic photos for your Instagram feed. Head across the bridge to Brooklyn to capture images from both on the bridge and around the riverside park.

High Line NYC

High Line

Stretching all the way from Midtown down to the Meatpacking District, the New York High Line is a wonderful way to get some exercise and see the city from a different angle, as you wander along the old railway tracks.

Times Square

Times Square

Times Square is something everyone has to do at least once, just for the bragging rights. It is usually full of tourists, but if you want that shot for your social media feed, then it's definitely got to be on your list.




Getting to, from and around New York

The London to New York flight route is one of the most competitive in the world which means each airline is clawing at the chance for your to book with them.

Regional departures are now very frequent with the likes of United Airlines and Jet2 offering cheap flights to New York from cities such as Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh, as well as Aer Lingus from Dublin, into both John F Kennedy (JFK) and Newark (EWR) airports. La Guardia (LGA) is generally more of a domestic airport so if you're doing a twin centre with Boston or Las Vegas, or you're flying indirect, LGA may also be an option for you..

Getting around New York is easily done by subway. Understanding the subway system can take a little while, but once you have the hang of it, it's actually very easy to use.

Things to do in New York

When you are on a short break in New York, but you're also on a budget, making your dollars go as far as possible is key. Take full advantage of the free activities and attractions across the city.

Central Park

Central Park is one of New York's iconic places and is a must see for any visitor to NYC. In the summer, the park hosts various events and performances, whilst in winter, the Wollman Rink is a great opportunity to ice skate with a spectacular skyline. Check our Bethesda Terrace to see first hand where scenes from the film, Home Alone 2, were shot.

Brooklyn Brewery Tour

At some point on your holiday in New York, you'll want to venture over to Brooklyn, one of New York's historic boroughs and well known for it's multicultural population. Amongst the tree lined streets, you'll come across the Brooklyn Brewery, one of the borough's favourite buildings. Tours of the brewery are free on Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 4pm.

Where to stay in New York

If you are able to, staying in Manhattan, especially for first time visitors is ideal. This is probably why you've come to visit, to be in the real heart of things, so choosing the best area to stay in NYC is very important. Here'a quick guide:

Midtown & Times Square

Midtown is a great central area and perfect for accessing the city's attractions. This is where it all happens, and is the best location for Times Square and the Theatre District. Take a look at hotels like the Yotel Times Square for a cheap hotel in the city.

Chelsea

Over the years Chelsea has become one of the city's trendy neighbourhoods, and is an ideal location for stays on your second or third visit to the city.

Financial District

If you're staying over a weekend, the Financial District is worth a look. It's well connected and with many hotels focusing on business people during the week, weekend rates can be much cheaper.

Brands & Deals

Especially in light of recent events like the Covid 19 pandemic, you want to make sure that you book with a reputable travel company, one that offers financial protection through the ABTA or ATOL scheme. This is something we always recommend, not only to protect your money, but also because there are some great deals out there when you book your flight and hotel together.

Virgin Holidays

Flying into JFK and Newark, package holidays with Virgin Holidays to New York allow you to combine your favourite airline with your favourite city. If you're flying from outside of London, like Manchester, you may find that flights are seasonal so check to see what's available.

Jet2holidays

Extending their low cost network to the US, Jet2holidays offers financially protected package holidays to NYC from regional airports like Manchester, Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford, meaning no long drives to the airport, and no stopovers so you can be exploring Manhattan super quick.

British Airways

BA flies direct from London or indirect from a number of UK cities to New York's Newark and JFK airports. You can package up a flight and hotel with BA Holidays which is ATOL protected, and if you're an avid collector of Avios points, you can spend them on your trip too.




Frequently Asked Questions About NYC

If it's your first time to New York City, Midtown is the best place to stay as there is plenty of affordable accommodation and it's centrally located so you can easily get to all the major attractions from there.

Areas like the Bronx and Queens are probably best avoided but like all big cities, you should keep your wits about you wherever you go.

4 days in New York is okay for a short break and to fit in the main sights and attractions, however, you should consider staying longer to explore more of the city and to also venture out to explore areas of New York State like Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

There is no "best time" to visit New York but a magical time to visit the city is in winter, particularly December in the run up to the Christmas break. Alternatively, NYC in the summer months of June to August is a completely different experience. It can get quite hot but the city is alive with people out and about enjoying the sunshine, and Central Park is also a great stopoff in the summer too.







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