How to plan the ultimate family trip to New York

Simple things make big impressions on kids in New York City. Steaming manholes in the roads; hot dog stands with giant pretzels on their grills; the neon eclipse of Times Square; skyscrapers so high their roofs get lost in fog. Throw in some of the world’s greatest family museums and arguably the largest amount of raw energy on the planet, and there’s nowhere else like it. And while utterly unique, New York is also as familiar as apple pie to most kids thanks to its starring role in films such as The Secret Life of Pets, Spider-Man and Home Alone 2.

For most families, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime splurge trip — one best appreciated by kids over seven, who can manage the thousands of steps a day you’ll rack up walking all over Manhattan with your necks craned. Will it break the bank? Probably. Will it be worth it? Absolutely. 

 What’s fun and free or cheap?

Though a notoriously pricey city, some of New York’s best sights for kids are free. Base yourself in Midtown and every step beyond the hotel is like being transported into a movie set. Amid honking yellow taxis and steaming manholes, Fifth Avenue’s elaborate shop windows will stop kids in their tracks. Close by, there’s the southern entrance to Central Park. Kids can run wild in this car-free green lung of Manhattan, climbing giant boulders for giddy skyline snaps or taking to its ice rink in winter. Times Square is walkable from here, too. It’s touristy, but still guaranteed to make kids gasp, particularly at night when the glow can be seen from blocks away.

A short bus ride west gets families to Hudson Yards, a neighbourhood regeneration project built around an active rail yard. There’s interactive public art here, along with The Vessel, an incredible new beehive-shaped architectural icon that’s climbable. Inside the yard’s shiny shopping mall, don’t miss Dylan’s Candy Bar, a next-level sweet shop selling creations such as gummies in the shape of burgers, hot dogs and sushi boxes.

More public art awaits along the High Line, a 1.45-mile-long elevated park that runs south from Hudson Yards to the Meatpacking District along a disused rail route. Its USP is its height, which allows curious kids to peer into heritage buildings and gives a new perspective on Manhattan’s broad avenues. Get off just before its end to browse the warren-like Chelsea Market. Little Island park, held up by sculptural root-like stilts, isn’t far from here, on the banks of the Hudson River. Even further south, the Brooklyn Bridge walk is another highlight: get the subway to Dumbo, grab a slice of Brooklyn pizza from Fornino inside the buzzy Time Out Market, and walk over the bridge back to Manhattan for the best ‘wow’ views. 

Which museums are worth it?

Two that stand out are the American Museum of Natural History — which the Night at the Museum film franchise was based on — and Intrepid Museum. At the former, kids can go in search of the giant Moai ‘dumb dumb’ statue and chase stars in the high-tech planetarium. The latter is a maritime and military museum inhabiting the USS Intrepid, a Second World War aircraft carrier on the Hudson River. Top Gun-worthy fighter jets sit on the upper deck, while aircraft hangars house VR experiences and space shuttles.

Which viewing deck should we try?

Rockefeller Center has revamped its Top of the Rock experience, making it arguably the best observation deck in Manhattan. The rotating Skylift elevates you above the main rooftop for 360-degree views, while The Beam recreates the famous 1930s construction workers’ image and feels like a theme park ride: great fun for kids (height minimum 107cm).

The art deco Empire State, meanwhile, is perhaps best appreciated from the outside. Try Moxy Hotel’s Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge for up-close views. Kids are welcome for its weekend brunches: order the family-sized Super Stack Pancakes with cotton candy.

Should we book a Broadway show?

Tickets for a family of four could cost as much as $1,000 (£750), but Ellen’s Stardust Diner on the edge of the theatre district is a brilliant budget alternative — and worth the queue. Its waiting staff are all starlets-in-training and will belt out pro-level renditions of Broadway hit songs in between whisking Reubens and indulgent super-shakes to diners at retro booths.

The diner’s in Midtown, which is entertainment itself: honking yellow taxis, steaming manholes, neck-craning glimpses of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, and the glow of Times Square all make this area exciting and even magical for kids.

What's the best way to see the Statue of Liberty?

Skip an island landing in favour of a Circle Line boat tour. The Liberty Midtown Cruise option is a winner. It departs centrally from Pier 83, has fun guide commentary and gets close enough to the Statue of Liberty for selfies — all as part of a one-hour trip that will hold kids’ interest. Circle Line tours and several other big attractions are included in the NYC City Pass, which allows easy ticket booking through an app.

What's worth the splurge?

The Mercer Labs digital art museum near the 9/11 Memorial is brilliant, with robots that play music, ball pits beneath screens and a giant hall where digital art dances to music. Adults $58 (£43)/kids $53 (£39).

The Museum of Ice Cream in Soho is another family crowd-pleaser — think unlimited scoops and a kitsch ‘swimming pool’ filled with hundreds of thousands instead of water.

How about the practicalities?

Midtown, amid the skyscrapers, is most inspiring for kids but it’s also chaotic and choked with traffic. Further south in the Meatpacking District, the Gansevoort has Hudson views and a rooftop pool. From $470 (£350) a night. Aer Lingus flies direct to New York from Manchester and via Dublin from London.