Flights To New York Guide

Major airports such as Manchester Airport (MAN), London Gatwick (LGW), and London Heathrow (LHR) are the departure points for flights from the UK to New York City. There are possibilities for daytime and overnight departures, both , at different times. While overnight flights land early in the morning, daytime flights arrive in the afternoon or evening.

You’ll likely land at one of the following three main airports while flying to New York City:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): The primary international airport operating in New York City is JFK International Airport, situated in Queens. Many domestic and international flights are available.
• Airport LaGuardia (LGA): Located in Queens as well, LaGuardia mainly facilitates domestic travel, however it does offer several international flights.
• New Jersey, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Situated in the neighbouring city of Newark, EWR International Airport is an essential hub for flights to New York City, facilitating both domestic and international services.

Book your transfer through Woking Travel for trouble-free transportation from the airport to your hotel. Check out Transfers – Woking Travel for more information on booking a ride to your hotel. Choose Woking Travel to ensure a seamless travel experience!

Woking Travel guarantees an untroubled experience with our accommodation packages at Woking Travel-Holidays. You could also explore hotels at Woking Travel-Hotels.

With our carefully picked collection of the 10 best hotels in New York City, you can experience the pinnacle of luxury and comfort on every sort of budget. 

1. Park Hyatt New York: This 5-star luxurious hotel features refined dining and spa facilities, making it ideal for a pampered stay in the city centre. With a highly-priced rate, this hotel ensures a premium experience for its guests.
   
   
2. The Benjamin Royal Sonesta Hotel: This 4-star upscale hotel offers high-end accommodation, a pleasing dining experience, and a fully equipped gym for guests. 
   
   
3. Soho Grand Hotel: This 4-star hotel provides stylish accommodations and is in an active area known for its trendy atmosphere.
   
   
4. The Roxy Hotel New York: This 4-star establishment bustles with live music performances in the atrium, offers deluxe suites with all comforts, and has a hip ambience.
   
   
5. The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York: Positioned overlooking Central Park AND just off Fifth Avenue, this 5-star deluxe hotel has unrivalled luxury and perfect service delivery to clients.
   
   
6. Conrad New York Downtown: This modern hotel in Lower Manhattan offers luxurious rooms from which guests can watch the beautiful city landscape.
   
   
7. LUMA Hotel Times Square: Located in the heart of Times Square, this moderately priced, 4-star hotel has contemporary facilities and is close to Broadway theatres and other landmarks.
   
   
8. Pod 39 Hotel: The Pod 39 Hotel, which is centrally located in Manhattan, provides travellers on a tight budget with chic, compact rooms that are equipped with contemporary conveniences. This hotel has been rated 3 stars.
   
   
9. Hilton Club The Central at 5th New York: Spacious suites and quality amenities make this mid-range spot great for families or couples who need comfort during their trip. Rated 4-stars, this hotel ensures the guests leave with great memories of their stay here.
   
   
10. The William Vale: Sited in Brooklyn, this 5-star luxurious hotel provides modernity through its attractive designs inside rooms while offering upscale restaurants and even an astounding view of the Manhattan skyline outside rooms.

In our guide on how to get around, we have included everything from taxis to buses that will help you enjoy your stay. You can commute freely around each part of the town without any trouble at a reasonable fare.

1. Subway System: New York City is the backbone of transportation in the city, providing 24-hour service and connecting all five boroughs with a vast web of routes.
2. Buses: Another essential form of transport in NYC is buses that link areas not covered by the subway to different neighbourhoods and attractions.
3. Taxis: Yellow cabs are a common sight on New York City streets, offering on-call services within the city. Walking down Manhattan Street without seeing someone attempting to hail a taxi is challenging.
4. Ferries: Ferries offer scenic rides linking Manhattan with other boroughs, as well as unique skyline views and views of the waterfront around the city.
5. Uber/Lyft/Traditional Car Services: Alternatives to taxis include Uber, Lyft, and regular car services, where passengers request rides via mobile apps.
6. Riding Bikes:  New York City has witnessed a boost in cycling popularity due to bike lanes and Citi Bike sharing programs, which have made biking a feasible mode of transportation for many residents and visitors alike
7. Walking:  With its pedestrian-friendly streets and compact neighbourhoods, walking is often the best way to explore New York City, especially in Midtown Manhattan and Downtown areas.
8. Shared Ride Apps: Via provides cheaper modes of transport by allowing riders to share lifts with others going in the exact directions
9. Shuttles & Private Transfers: Several shuttle companies offer airport transfers within New York City hotels plus shuttles with destinations surrounding the city, thus affording travellers convenience in transfer comfort.

New York City is renowned for its awe-striking landmarks and attractions that captivate visitors from around the globe. Here are the top 10 tourist destinations in the city that spell out its unique character:

1. Statue Of Liberty: A symbol of freedom and democracy, the Statue of Liberty stands tall in New York Harbor, where visitors can take a ferry boat ride across Liberty Island, get close to this iconic structure, and understand its historical background through a museum.
   
   
2. Times Square: The “Crossroads of the World,” as it is known, Times Square offers entertainment, shopping, and dining all in one place. Look at the lights, billboards, and vibrant atmosphere; you will see why people flock to this popular spot from every corner.
   
   
3. Central Park: Central Park is an 843-acre oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Whether you want to walk along winding paths, enjoy rowing on the lake, visit animals at the zoo, or sit amongst green foliage, you can enjoy any of these activities in this park.
   
   
4. Empire State Building: One of the world’s most recognised skyscrapers, the Empire State Building has observation decks on floors 86th and 102nd that give visitors panoramic views across the city. Stop by for awe-inspiring vistas of Manhattan Island and beyond.
   
   
5. The High Line: Rebuilt from a defunct railway line, the High Line is a unique urban garden that meanders through the Chelsea neighbourhood. Along this aerial greenway, one encounters various things, such as public artworks offering beautiful views over NYC gardens, among other features not seen elsewhere in America’s leading metropolis.
   
   
6. Broadway: Immerse yourself in the pulsating energy of the performing arts on Broadway, one of New York City’s most iconic live theatre centres, by catching a show at one of its legendary theatres dotted all over the Theatre District. Mainly feature a world-class musical or play.
   
   
7. Brooklyn Bridge: Truly an architectural marvel, this bridge joins Manhattan and Brooklyn through the East River and is quite famous for walking and biking. After crossing this iconic suspension bridge, you can thus have fantastic views of the skyline and the waterfront.
   
   
8. Grand Central Terminal: Grand Central Terminal is not just a transportation hub; it is also celebrated for its splendid Beaux-Arts architecture and mural ceiling inspired by celestial bodies. Explore its posh concourse, which houses shops and restaurants you would find nowhere else but in New York.
   
   
9. The Metropolitan Museum Of Art: The Met is among the biggest and most reputable museums worldwide, representing thousands of years of art from different cultures.
   
   
10. American Museum of Natural History: This museum is known for its magnanimous dinosaur exhibits and the Hayden Planetarium.

    These are the top ten restaurants in New York City, each with a stellar reputation for food and top-tier service:

     

    1. Le Bernardin: Particularly serving French seafood, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant is cherished for its tasteful setting and seafood delicacies. This place is located in Midtown, Manhattan.
    2. Eleven Madison Park: Located in Madison District, this restaurant is renowned for its unique tasting menus and excellent customer service provided in an opulent atmosphere.
    3. Per Se: This French-American restaurant in Midtown offers picturesque views of Central Park and a meticulously devised tasting menu.
    4. Daniel: Located on the Upper East Side, Daniel provides delicious French cuisine in a beautiful setting with excellent service.
    5. Gramercy Tavern: Acclaimed for its inventive cuisine, cosy ambiance, and the incorporation of seasonal ingredients, this new American restaurant is located at Gramercy.
    6. Peter Luger Steakhouse: A legendary steakhouse in Brooklyn, widely known for its porterhouse steaks cooked to perfection.
    7. Jean-Georges: Located in Midtown, this elegant restaurant with a Michelin star blends French cooking methods with Asian cuisine.
    8. Katz’s Delicatessen: Famous for its enormous pastrami sandwiches and authentic New York deli feel, this restaurant is exquisitely unique. It is located on the Lower East Side.
    9. Momofuku Ko: Located in the East Village, this Asian Fusion restaurant provides a creative and constantly changing tasting menu in a small, minimalist setting.

    The Modern: This contemporary American restaurant, located in Midtown, is a modern place with two Michelin stars that overlooks the sculpture park at MoMA.

These are the top ten restaurants in New York City, each with a stellar reputation for food and top-tier service:

1. Le Bernardin: Particularly serving French seafood, this three-Michelin-starred restaurant is cherished for its tasteful setting and seafood delicacies. This place is located in Midtown, Manhattan.
   
   
2. Eleven Madison Park: Located in Madison District, this restaurant is renowned for its unique tasting menus and excellent customer service provided in an opulent atmosphere.
   
   
3. Per Se: This French-American restaurant in Midtown offers picturesque views of Central Park and a meticulously devised tasting menu.
   
   
4. Daniel: Located on the Upper East Side, Daniel provides delicious French cuisine in a beautiful setting with excellent service.
   
   
5. Gramercy Tavern: Acclaimed for its inventive cuisine, cosy ambiance, and the incorporation of seasonal ingredients, this new American restaurant is located at Gramercy.
   
   
6. Peter Luger Steakhouse: A legendary steakhouse in Brooklyn, widely known for its porterhouse steaks cooked to perfection.
   
   
7. Jean-Georges: Located in Midtown, this elegant restaurant with a Michelin star blends French cooking methods with Asian cuisine.
   
   
8. Katz’s Delicatessen: Famous for its enormous pastrami sandwiches and authentic New York deli feel, this restaurant is exquisitely unique. It is located on the Lower East Side.
   
   
9. Momofuku Ko: Located in the East Village, this Asian Fusion restaurant provides a creative and constantly changing tasting menu in a small, minimalist setting.
   
   
10. The Modern: This contemporary American restaurant, located in Midtown, is a modern place with two Michelin stars that overlooks the sculpture park at MoMA.

New York, a bustling metropolis full of prominent landmarks and hidden treasures, offers unlimited adventures for every tourist. From attending a Broadway show to going around Central Park, we have compiled all the experiences you should have on this trip to make it a memorable one.

1. Explore Central Park: Slowly stroll on foot, rent a rowboat or munch on something during lunchtime while perching on a blanket at Central Park’s large oasis.
   
   
2. Taste the food culture of New York: Eat traditional pizzas from New York City, unravel cultural neighbourhoods such as Chinatown Little Italy, or even dine at renowned eateries based within the city limits.
   
   
3. Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Take your time and get lost inside one of the largest art museums worldwide. Its collections represent various cultures and date back thousands of years.
   
   
4. View the city’s skyline: Enjoy watching things from above as you reach places like the Empire State Building’s viewing deck, Top of The Rock, and One World Observatory.
   
   
5. Explore Different Neighbourhoods: Greenwich Village contrasts with SoHo’s hip stores and art galleries with its bohemian ambience and jazz clubs. While Harlem houses historic sites like the Apollo Theatre and a thriving African-American population, Chinatown is a swarming hub of markets and varied food. Also, Brooklyn’s Williamsburg is well known for its unique cuisine choices and cultural diversity.
   
   
6. Seasonal Events: Partake in events such as the Central Park summer concerts, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree lighting.
   
   
7. Coney Island: NYC’s vibrant playground combines popular boardwalk eats with exciting rides and beachside bliss. Savour the sun, sand, and a hint of old-school Americana.
   
   
8. Lincoln Centre: It’s the primary cultural centre of New York City, home to the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and New York City Ballet. Enjoy top-notch performances in a breathtaking metropolitan atmosphere.
   
   
9. Time Square: the bustling centre of New York City, dazzling with Broadway productions and neon lights. A thriving spot for shopping, entertainment, and unique experiences.
   
   
10. NYC Special Deep Dish Pizza: Enjoy the famous New York City slices at places like Joe’s Pizza and Di Fara Pizza. Enjoy a firsthand glance at the city’s renowned pizza culture.

New York City’s weather transitions significantly throughout the year, considerably influencing the kind of activities you can engage in. Being informed about the seasonal weather variations can help you get the most out of your trip. Here is a guide on what to expect when visiting New York in certain seasons:

• Spring (March to May): New York City encounters moderate springtime temperatures, with 45°F to 65°F (7°C to 18°C) being the normal range. The city comes alive with rich foliage and blooming flowers, which makes it the ideal season for strolling through botanical gardens, visiting outdoor cafés, and walking tours.
• Summer (June to August): The summer season, spanning from June to August, New York City has warm to hot temperatures, with averages between 70°F and 85°F (21°C and 29°C). Due to the moderate rainfall, it’s perfect for outdoor pursuits like exploring rooftop bars, touring Central Park, or spending a day at one of the beaches.

• Fall (September to November): Fall is characterised by relatively lower temperatures, with averages between 55°F and 75°F (13°C and 24°C). Vivid fall foliage adorns the city’s parks and streets, providing a beautiful backdrop for walks and pictures. Fall is a great season to visit the farmers’ markets and outdoor festivals.

• Winter (December to February): New York City experiences a chilly winter with average high temperatures of 27°F to 39°F (-3°C to 4°C). Snowfall is quite frequent, which lays out a charming environment for winter activities like wandering in parks blanketed by snow, ice skating at the Rockefeller Centre, and enjoying the merry holiday season. Winter is the perfect time to visit on a tight budget because it offers the cheapest flights to New York City, especially in January and February.

To stay updated with any weather variations while planning your visit, check out Weather Forecast and Conditions for NY  to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

• GMT: New York is 5 hours behind the UK in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
• BST: When the UK is observing BST (British Summer Time), New York is 4 hours behind. 

Currency:

• The local currency used in New York City is the United States Dollar (USD). The city operates majorly on a cashless basis, with almost all businesses and services accepting credit/debit cards for all sorts of transactions. However, it is still a good idea to carry some cash on hand for smaller payments, local vendors, and tipping.
  
  

Language:

• The main language spoken in New York City is English. Due to its widely diversified populace, you will also hear many other languages, like Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and more. English is extensively understood and used in all kinds of establishments, making it convenient for English-speaking tourists to navigate and converse.

Local Customs:

New York City is a cultural assemblage, and this diversity is reflected in its customs. The following are some critical cultural considerations that need to be taken in when visiting:

1. Tipping: In New York City, tipping is generally expected. Tipping waiters, drivers, and other facilitators often entails giving them between 15% and 20% of the total bill.
2. Dining Etiquette: In packed cafes and eateries, sharing tables is customary. It’s not surprising to be seated next to strangers during peak hours.
3. Personal Space: New Yorkers value their privacy, particularly in public. Avoid any sort of needless physical touch.
4. Timetabling: Time is valuable. It’s important to arrive on time for scheduled reservations and appointments.

Local Laws:

The local laws that you need to abide by, when visiting New York City, include a 21-year-old legal drinking age and prohibited smoking in indoor public areas. Moreover, adults 21 or above may legally use recreational cannabis, albeit it can only be consumed in certain secluded areas. It is also against the law to jaywalk, and there may be stern consequences.

To find out more about the local laws in NYC in detail, check these sites:

• UK Government travel advice for the USA: USA travel advice – GOV.UK
• NYC tourism website: NYC Tourism

With its unparalleled enthusiasm and diversity, New York City always has something to offer everyone. Every corner of the city has a distinct story to tell, from Times Square’s busy streets to the iconic Statue of Liberty. You’ll come across a lively mix of cultures, food, and experiences that are uniquely New York when you explore its various regions. 

New York City presents an abundance of one-of-a-kind experiences, from Broadway productions and top-notch museums to undiscovered attractions in each borough. Whether you’re a seasonal tourist or a first-time visitor, the city never fails to serve something fresh and exciting. 

Moreover, making the most of your trip to New York City requires planning ahead of time. You may ensure your stay goes hassle-free and enjoyably by acknowledging the local laws, customs, and seasonal weather. When organising your vacation to New York City, don’t forget to set some time aside to savour the small things that make this city different. The best parts of the trip can often be found in unexpected places like a quaint little café in a busy neighbourhood, a tranquil stroll through Central Park, or an unplanned street performance. 

The city of New York entices you to return to it. Regardless of how many visits, there is always more to explore, experience, and engross in. Every journey unravels new facets of this remarkable city, which keeps captivating visitors.

Book your New York escapade with Woking Travel today!