Afterward exploring the library, step out into Bryant Park and enjoy a coffee at the open-air café
The New York City Public Library is second biggest library in the US, after the Library of Congress, and the fourth biggest in the world. Opened in 1911, it stands on Fifth Avenue at its intersection with 42nd street, and stretches for two full blocks. Though imposing, it is completely open to the public.
Grand Designs
The library is a beaux-arts style masterpiece, sculpted from more than 530,000 cubic feet of white Vermont marble. Its entrance is palatial: a wide staircase leads up to three arches, flanked by Corinthian columns that support a frieze adorned with six statues, representing philosophy, romance, religion, poetry, drama and history.
Two marble lions sit either side of the stairway leading in. In the 1930s they were named “Patience” and “Fortitude” by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, who thought these were the qualities the citizens of New York required to see themselves through the Great Depression. The names stuck.
Inside, there is the Astor Hall, with its tremendous, vaulted ceilings, and a short walk takes you to the Rose Man Reading Room — the jewel in the crown. The room has a 16m high, lavish, panelled ceiling, and is lit through colossal arched windows by day, and with grand chandeliers by night. Work, read, or just admire the room from its banks of weighty wooden tables, adorned with polished brass lamps, to the sound of pens scratching, pages rustling and the odd tired creak of a chair.
National Treasure
Among the treasures housed here you will find an original copy of the declaration of independence, a Gutenberg bible, and the largest collection of maps in the world: 431,000 maps, and 16,000 atlases and books on cartography, all dating from the 16th Century to the present day.
Beyond that, various oddities have stacked up over the years. They have Truman Capote’s cigarette case, the cane Virginia Woolf left on the riverbank the day she committed suicide and locks of hair from Charlotte Brontë and Walt Whitman. Probably the most bizarre item, though, is Charles Dickens’ favourite letter opener. The shaft is ivory, but the handle is the embalmed paw of Bob, his favourite cat, fur, nails and all.
Welcome to New York City, The Big Apple, The City that never sleeps! This fabulous private tour of the highlights of NYC in midtown Manhattan will ensure you see all the very best this vibrant city has to offer, from the famous department store Saks with its dazzling window displays on 5th Avenue, to the bright lights of Broadway and Times Square, and everything in between. Your expert private guide will ensure you see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and skyscrapers such as the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, as well as more historic places like St Patrick’s Cathedral.
On your private tour, you will:
Your tour begins on Lexington Avenue - known to locals as simply Lex - and you’ll walk towards some of the most iconic architectural masterpieces of New York City. Your first stop is the Chrysler Building, considered by many to be New York’s finest art deco skyscraper. It was the tallest building in the world for just one year from 1930-31. Its antenna spire reaches 319 m.
Next, you’ll walk through NYC’s transport hub - Grand Central Terminal - made famous in countless romantic movies, and emerge in front of the Empire State Building - which remains the top attraction in the USA today. From starring in movies like King Kong to its incredible design, the Empire State remains one of the city’s most beloved features. It is the 4th tallest skyscraper in NYC, the 6th tallest in the whole USA and the 43rd tallest in the world!
Not far away, you’ll meet the giant stone lions outside New York’s beautiful public library. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, you’ll be able to enjoy a moment of tranquillity as you walk through Bryant Park, a green oasis in the heart of Midtown, before entering the one and only Times Square. With its flashy billboards, you’ll see the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and a myriad of other flashing neon signs that have made this place so recognisable the world over.
Soaking up the bright lights, learn about the evolution of Broadway and how theatre transformed Times Square into one of the most famous destinations in the world. Hear many stories of famous shows and actors that have made their home on Broadway.
As your tour continues, you will see the impressive St Patrick's Cathedral a neo-gothic church built in 1878 and the seat of the Archdiocese of New York. Heading north toward Central Park, you will have the chance to experience the shopping mecca that is Fifth Avenue, abounding in old-world style and glamour.
You’ll see many of the historic buildings in the area dating back to 1900, as you head towards the recently restored art deco masterpiece— Radio City Music Hall.
And lastly, a short walk will lead you to the Rockefeller Center on Rockefeller Plaza, a magnificent complex of towering skyscrapers, where your guide will show you one of the great remaining art deco structures. Your guide will happily give you plenty of suggestions for how to spend the rest of your day to delve into Midtown or direct you to the nearest metro, so you can explore other parts of Manhattan.
Beginning with views of the Statue of Liberty, you will learn about the history of perhaps the most iconic city in the world as you absorb the truly vibrant atmosphere of the city that never sleeps, from Wall Street to the bustling streets of Downtown Manhattan, the sparkling brilliance of Times Square and end with tickets to see the glorious views from the Top of the Rock - the sky-high observatory at the Rockefeller Centre.
On your private full-day tour of New York City, you will:
Your tour begins in the heart of Wall Street, where you'll discover the most famous financial district in the world. Begin with an introduction to the history of New Amsterdam - that became New York in Battery Park - with glorious views out towards the Statue of Liberty, before exploring the highlights of Wall Street, including the statues of the Fearless Girl and Charging Bull, the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Bank - where you'll hear all about the history and formation of the modern financial institutions and systems invented by Alexander Hamilton.
Your tour continues to the National 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero— the original site of the World Trade Center. Here, your guide will share the history of the World Trade Center and discuss the tragic events of 9/11 when the two terrorist planes crashed into the Twin Towers, forever changing the modern world.
Next, it's time to take a New York metro ride - the most popular - and fastest - way of travelling around the city to Midtown Manhattan! First, you'll explore Grand Central Terminal, the most iconic transportation hub in the United States, with beautiful celestial ceiling murals and stunning Beaux-Arts architecture.
It is the setting of many movies and novels and is also famous for its shopping, bars, and restaurants - it is the second most visited landmark in New York after Times Square. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the area - your guide will be happy to make recommendations.
After lunch, explore the iconic area of Midtown Manhattan - famous for its skyscrapers, high-end shopping and of course Broadway theatre scene!
Enjoy a tranquil stroll through Bryant Park, a lovely green oasis in the heart of busy Midtown. See the New York Public Library - flanked by two giant lions, and admire the art deco skyscrapers the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, that made up New York's world-famous skyline.
Walk along the iconic 5th Avenue famous for its department stores - admire the stunning window displays at Saks, and the historical contrast of St Patrick's Cathedral, an impressive neo-gothic construction that was opened in 1879. Famous for its spires, stained glass windows, and titanic bronze doors - the cathedral has hosted many famous funerals including Babe Ruth and Bobby Kennedy.
Head to the amazing Times Square, known as the 'crossroads of the world to see the news ticker on the One Times Square Building, the NASDAQ board, and the myriad of flashing neon signs that lead you onto the bright lights of Broadway!
Finally, passing by the iconic Radio City Hall, your guide will give you your tickets to 'The Top of the Rock', the Rockefeller Observation deck at the top of the Rockefeller Centre.
Your guide will show you the entrance and leave you to enjoy a perfect end to a perfect day - with a breathtaking bird’s eye view of Manhattan and the rest of the Big Apple.
South of Central Park lies one of the world's most important cultural and business centres. With many of the city’s most famous sights, Midtown Manhattan is one of the best places to experience the spirit of New York. Soak up its unique ambience, breathe in its frenetic pace, and seek out its unforgettable highlights.
On your private tour, you will:
Conjure up images of New York City, and it will be Manhattan: the ritzy, glitzy heart of the Big Apple jam-packed with big-name attractions. If there is a per-place limit on iconic landmarks, Manhattan flouts the rules - squeezing Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Met and MoMA, Times Square’s 3,685-square-foot flashing LED screens and Broadway’s bright lights into 22.7 small square miles.
Well known by actors and stage junkies, New York’s dazzling Theatre District has been part of Manhattan since the late 19th century and its rich history provides a glorious mix of greasepaint, star-spotting and backstage gossip. While in the bustle of Times Square, learn how it earned its name when the New York Times opened an office there and erected an electronic news ticker - “The Zipper'' - in 1928.
Though the newspaper office has relocated, the area remains a media hotspot, serving as host and home to the likes of MTV and Condé Nast. Times Square is an icon, a Hollywood backdrop, and the heart of the Big Apple, and where there is proof - should you need it - that New York is the city that never sleeps.
After a long stroll past New York’s Public Library, depart from your guide in front of the Empire State Building, where you will enjoy tickets to the top of the Observation Deck on the 86th floor to retrace your steps and gaze out upon the city that never sleeps.
Please note: your tour guide will finish the tour at the base of the Empire State Building, and will guide you to the correct line with your tickets for the observation deck, where you are free to explore the views at your leisure.
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