Dream Downtown

A specialist in 20th- and 21st-century American art, from Jackson Pollock to Keith Haring to Cindy Sherman. Every two years holds the Whitney Biennial which showcases a huge range of new contemporary art, often from little-known artists.

Uber-cool park built on an elevated, disused railway track that manages to combine terrific design, gritty urban architecture and river views.

The world’s second-best shopping destination (behind London) offers a plethora of shops and almost every type of shop and shopping experience imaginable.

A legacy of the waves of 19th century immigration of ethnic groups who then stuck together, New York’s today is a wacky jigsaw of contrasting ethnic neighbourhoods that offers architectural and cultural fascination.

Located where the High Line meets Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, this erstwhile warehouse is one of New York’s great foodie destinations. The rambling hall is crammed by casual restaurants, food kiosks, and speciality food shops.

A feast of hundreds of private art galleries, packed into one enclave on the west of Manhattan, showcasing an eclectic mix of contemporary and modern art.

This interesting art museum specialises in Himalayan art; the collection includes approximately 3,400 objects spanning more than 1,500 years to the present day. Works come from the Tibetan plateau, and surrounding regions including Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Mongolia.

This magical haven for muggle fans of the beloved wizarding world spans three floors and over 20,000 square feet, making it the biggest such store in the world. Every possible Harry Potter artefact you could shake a wand at can be found here. Who needs Diagon Alley?

The ‘city that never sleeps’ is a 24/7 thrill of soaring skyscrapers, jaw-dropping architecture, dynamic culture and world-class art, dining and performing arts scenes.