What it is actually like
The lit blocks run roughly from 42nd to 50th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues. It never goes dark and never fully empties, which some visitors find thrilling and others find exhausting by day three. The restaurants immediately on the square are mostly chains aimed at tourists; walk two blocks west into Hell's Kitchen and the food improves sharply for less money.
Choosing your block carefully
There is a real difference between a hotel on Seventh Avenue and one on West 44th or 48th Street. Side streets east of Sixth Avenue, towards Bryant Park, are noticeably calmer while still being a five-minute walk from the theatres. If you are booking Times Square mainly for Broadway, almost any hotel in the 40s works, so buy the quieter street.
Noise is the thing to check
Ask for a high floor and read recent reviews specifically about street noise. Rubbish collection, delivery lorries and traffic run through the night here in a way they do not in most of Manhattan. Hotels that mention soundproofing usually do so because they had to.
Who it suits
Is Times Square right for your trip?
Book here if
- First New York trips
- Broadway and theatre-led breaks
- Short stays of three or four nights
- Travellers who want everything within walking distance
Look elsewhere if
- You are a light sleeper
- You want a neighbourhood feel or good local restaurants
- You are staying a week or more
- You are travelling with young children who need early nights
Getting around
Times Square-42 St is one of the largest interchanges in the system, with the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W and S lines. The 42nd Street Shuttle reaches Grand Central in two minutes. Port Authority, one block west, runs the Newark airport buses.
Hotels in this area
19 hotels reviewed in Times Square
M Social Hotel Times Square New York
A central Times Square option often considered by families and couples who want skyline views near theatres.
- Best for
- Broadway, terrace views, short festive trips
- Subway
- 50 St / 57 St-7 Av area
The Knickerbocker
A restored Beaux-Arts landmark on the corner of Times Square for travellers who want a genuinely central address with real history behind it.
- Best for
- Central luxury, Broadway trips, architecture and history
- Subway
- Times Square-42 St and 42 St-Bryant Park, both a few minutes on foot
Hotel Edison Times Square
A large Art Deco hotel in the middle of the Theater District, chosen for location and price rather than for polish.
- Best for
- Theatre trips, value in a central location, film-history interest
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
Paramount Hotel Times Square
A landmark 1928 Theater District hotel with compact rooms, best judged on location and price rather than space.
- Best for
- Theatre trips, short central stays, design history
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
Hard Rock Hotel New York
A modern, music-led hotel just north of Times Square for travellers who want a rooftop bar and Broadway on the doorstep.
- Best for
- Music fans, Broadway trips, rooftop bars, groups of friends
- Subway
- 49 St and 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center
Hyatt Regency Times Square
A large, recently relaunched Broadway tower for travellers who want a straightforward central base and plenty of rooms to choose from.
- Best for
- First trips, Broadway, large hotels with predictable standards
- Subway
- 49 St and 50 St
InterContinental New York Times Square
A large modern hotel on the western edge of the Theater District, useful when you want scale and reliable standards near the theatres.
- Best for
- Broadway, business trips, reliable large-hotel standards
- Subway
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal and Times Square-42 St
LUMA Hotel Times Square
A small modern hotel between Times Square and Bryant Park, suited to travellers who want central access and a calmer building.
- Best for
- Couples, quieter central stays, smaller hotels
- Subway
- Times Square-42 St and 42 St-Bryant Park
Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel
A Times Square hotel bought for the view, with soundproofing and a few terrace rooms to make the location bearable.
- Best for
- Times Square views, Broadway, New Year and event trips
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
Margaritaville Resort Times Square
A themed hotel just south of Times Square, worth shortlisting mainly if a pool and a lively atmosphere matter to your group.
- Best for
- Families, groups, travellers who want a pool
- Subway
- Times Square-42 St and 34 St-Penn Station
Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection
A small themed boutique hotel by Times Square where included breakfast and an evening reception make the real daily cost more competitive than the headline rate suggests.
- Best for
- Couples, first trips, travellers who value included extras
- Subway
- Times Square-42 St and 42 St-Bryant Park
The Westin New York at Times Square
A large, practical Times Square hotel with reliable standards, useful when you want scale and a predictable room near the theatres.
- Best for
- First trips, Broadway, families needing multiple rooms
- Subway
- Times Square-42 St and 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal
citizenM New York Times Square
A compact, design-led hotel just north of Times Square, strong value if you do not need space and like predictable rooms.
- Best for
- Couples, solo travellers, short theatre trips
- Subway
- 50 St and 49 St
W New York - Times Square
A design-led Broadway hotel for travellers who want to be in the middle of Times Square and enjoy a lively bar scene.
- Best for
- Nightlife, design, Broadway, couples
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
A large, modern hotel in a new tower directly on Times Square, for travellers who want current rooms and maximum convenience.
- Best for
- Broadway, first trips, modern rooms, in-room fitness
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
The Muse New York
A well-sized boutique on a Theater District side street, a sensible compromise between location and calm.
- Best for
- Broadway trips, couples, travellers who want a smaller hotel
- Subway
- 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center and Times Square-42 St
The Pearl Hotel
A small, well-placed Theater District boutique for travellers who want a Broadway base without a 700-room hotel.
- Best for
- Couples, Broadway, smaller hotels, quieter central stays
- Subway
- 50 St and 49 St
Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square
A recent, compact-room hotel just north of Times Square, useful when location matters more than space.
- Best for
- Short breaks, couples, Broadway on a budget
- Subway
- 49 St and 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center
TownePlace Suites New York Manhattan/Times Square
A practical, self-catering base minutes from Broadway, and one of the better-value family options in the Theater District.
- Best for
- Families, longer stays, self-catering, Broadway trips
- Subway
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, and Times Square-42 St
Fast answers
Questions UK travellers ask about Times Square.
Is Times Square safe at night?
It is one of the busiest and most heavily policed parts of the city, and busy streets are generally the easier ones to walk at night. The usual advice about crowds and pickpockets applies, as it would in any major tourist area.
Should I pay more for a Times Square view?
Only if seeing the lights from your room is genuinely part of the trip. A view room facing the square costs a clear premium and brings the most noise, and you can see the same thing by walking outside.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.