New York tours

Start your New York holiday where many immigrants started their American life, with a trip to Ellis Island. Your tour departs from Battery Park, where a ferry cruise takes you to Liberty Island. During the ferry ride, your guide will tell you all about the history of the Statue of Liberty and its importance to immigrants. Once you reach Liberty Island, you’ll tour the grounds; check out the New York skyline! The tour continues into the Statue, where the museum details the monument’s construction and the stories of those who helped build it. Afterwards, you board the ferry again across to Ellis Island, where your guide will tell you all about the millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island to begin their American Dream.

One of the most standout buildings in the New York skyline, even just the exterior of the Empire State Building never fails to impress. Venture inside for a self-guided tour and you’ll see a whole new side (or two) to this 443-high building. There’s the Art Deco Fifth Avenue-style lobby and grand staircase to check out; on the second floor is an interactive museum which pieces together the story of the building, from its construction to opening day to its King Kong fame. Take the lift and whizz up to the 80th floor to check out the impressive display of artistic exhibits, before reaching the climax at the 86th floor which houses the 360-degree open-air observation deck.

Built in 1931, the Rockefeller Centre is another major landmark in New York. Joining a tour of this Art Deco complex will see you take in over 100 works of art, sculptures and mosaics, as well as various buildings and gardens. An expert guide will take you on a journey of the Centre’s history, from its construction during the Great Depression through to popular modern-day attractions, such as its annual ice-skating rink in the Central Plaza, which doubles up as an outdoor cafe in the summer.

If the thought of working your way through 5000 years of history seems a little daunting, don’t fret. The Metropolitan Museum of Art makes for one of the most insightful New York tours, with an art historian as your guide for the few hours it takes to work your way through the museum. Spanning five continents, you’ll take in centuries of art, from Ancient Egypt temples to Pompeiian monuments and a variety of artworks by Van Gogh, Picasso and Raphael.

Make the most of one New York’s cultural hub with a walking tour around Broadway and Times Square. Your passionate guide will take you past some of the most famous theaters in Broadway, including the likes of Majestic Theatre to Broadhurst Theatre. Then your tour moves onto 45th Street, where there’s a whole streak of theatres: Booth, Minskoff, Jacobs, Music Theatres… the list goes on. As you approach Duffy Square (aka Times Square), your guide will explain why the square has become as popular as it is.

There’s so many different ways to tour Central Park – horse-drawn carriage, running, pedicab – but one of the most pleasant has to be a bike tour. As you pedal your way through this sprawling green space, keep an eye out for key attractions, like Belvedere Castle, Shakespeare Garden and the Loeb Boathouse. As well as gaining an insight into the history and construction of the park, you’ll also see iconic movie and television scenes, such as Friends and Sex and the City.