New York
The city that sets the standard for everything
Why Visit New York?
New York City is the most written-about, filmed, sung-about, and debated city in the world — and it still manages to exceed expectations on every visit. The energy of Manhattan is genuinely unlike anywhere else: the density of talent, ambition, culture, and cuisine in a 13-mile island is staggering. For luxury travellers, New York offers some of the world's finest hotels, a restaurant scene that rivals Paris for ambition, Broadway at the height of its powers, and a retail landscape that invented the concept of luxury department stores.
Best Time to Visit
Recommended
September to November and April to June
Autumn brings crisp air, the leaves turning in Central Park, and the cultural season in full swing (Met Gala, theatre season, art fairs). Spring sees the city bloom and hotel rates are lower than summer peak. The Christmas season (December) is magical if expensive.
Worth Noting
July and August when heat and humidity can be oppressive and many New Yorkers leave the city.
Top Experiences
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's great museums — 5,000 years of art across two million square feet. The Costume Institute exhibitions in May coincide with the Met Gala. Pre-book a private guided tour for a focused two-hour experience of the highlights.
Broadway & Lincoln Center
New York's performing arts scene is unmatched globally. Broadway's 41 theatres run simultaneously — book premium orchestra seats through the box office or a concierge. Lincoln Center (home to the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and New York City Ballet) represents the apex of classical arts.
Restaurant Row: Per Se to Eleven Madison
New York's Michelin-starred restaurants include some of the world's most coveted reservations. Per Se (Thomas Keller's $375-per-person tasting menu overlooking Central Park), Eleven Madison Park (world's best restaurant in 2017), and Le Bernardin (Eric Ripert's temple to seafood) are the apex of the city's dining pyramid.
Fifth Avenue & Madison Avenue
Fifth Avenue from 49th to 59th Street is the world's most valuable retail corridor — Tiffany's iconic flagship (now Tiffany Blue Box Café is on the top floor), Bergdorf Goodman, and the GM Building luxury brands. Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side carries the couture houses.
Central Park
843 acres of landscaped parkland in the centre of Manhattan remains one of urban planning's greatest achievements. Rent a private rowboat on the Lake, take a hansom cab carriage ride around the perimeter, or book a private walking tour of the Ramble and the hidden waterfalls.
Where to Stay
Midtown Manhattan
Central, iconic, business hub
Ideal for: First-time visitors, business travel, theatre
Upper East Side
Museum mile, classic luxury, residential
Ideal for: Classic hotels, fine dining, museum visits
Tribeca & SoHo
Cool, gallery-dense, celebrity residents
Ideal for: Art, boutique shopping, creative dining
West Village
Charming, cobblestone, boutique
Ideal for: Romantic weekends, boutique inns, neighbourhood dining
Getting There
7h 30m · Business Class
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American Airlines
from £2,450
7h 45m · Business Class
Air France, Delta
from £3,200
13h 45m · First Class
Emirates
from £6,800
Local Tips
- Get a MetroCard or use contactless payment on the subway — it runs 24 hours and is the fastest way across Manhattan
- Restaurant reservations at the top tier should be made 4–8 weeks in advance via Resy, OpenTable, or directly
- Tipping is non-negotiable in the US — 20% at restaurants, $2–5 per bag for hotel porters, $1–2 per drink at a bar
- The Theater District shows offer rush tickets and lottery seats at significantly reduced prices on the day
- Download the Citibike app — the bike-share system is the fastest way to move short distances in good weather
- Jaywalking is normal and everyone does it — but watch for bike lanes between the kerb and the first car lane
Ready to go?
Plan your New York trip
Compare business class flights, explore luxury hotels, and get expert guidance from our concierge team.