Editorial take
Who should book Hotel Edison Times Square?
If this is your first New York trip, shortlist Hotel Edison Times Square for a practical reason: Theatre trips, value in a central location, film-history interest. The name, star rating and lobby photos matter, but the real test is whether the location helps your days feel easier.
It is less compelling if you want modern luxury finishes, generous room sizes or a quiet night. Before booking from the UK, compare the final price after taxes and property fees, check the exact room setup and make sure your airport arrival route is not needlessly awkward.
Location and map
Where is Hotel Edison Times Square?
Hotel Edison sits on West 47th Street in the middle of the Theater District, which makes it one of the shortest walks to a Broadway curtain you can book.
Nearby
Broadway theatres, Times Square, Restaurant Row, Rockefeller Center and Central Park South.
Closest subway
49 St and Times Square-42 St
Hotel facts
What to know before booking.
First-timer context
Why Hotel Edison Times Square might feel special.
What it is known for
- Thomas Edison himself switched on the lights when the hotel opened in 1931.
- It was designed by Herbert J. Krapp, the architect behind a large share of the Broadway theatres around it, and rises 26 floors.
- Neil Simon set his 2001 play 45 Seconds from Broadway in the hotel's cafe.
New York moments
- The hotel's identity is bound up with Broadway itself, through both its architect and its position in the middle of the Theater District.
- In the early 1950s Gloria Parker and her orchestra broadcast an evening programme on WOR from the hotel.
On screen
- The Godfather (1972) filmed the hallway sequence leading up to Luca Brasi's murder here.
- Woody Allen's Bullets over Broadway (1994) used the hotel as the penthouse.
- In Birdman (2014), Michael Keaton drinks at the hotel's bar, the Rum House.
Review questions
What travellers keep asking.
Was Hotel Edison really in The Godfather?
Yes. The hallway sequence immediately before Luca Brasi's murder was filmed at the hotel, and it has since appeared in Bullets over Broadway and Birdman.
Is Hotel Edison good value for a Broadway trip?
It is one of the better-known value options inside the Theater District, but standards vary by room. Compare the total after taxes and fees against nearby Hell's Kitchen hotels before deciding.
Booking checklist
Check these before you reserve.
Total price
Look beyond the nightly rate. Check taxes, destination fees, breakfast and cancellation.
Room layout
For New York, room size, bathroom privacy, bed type and storage can matter more than star rating.
Arrival route
Match the hotel to your airport, luggage and arrival time, especially after an overnight UK flight.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.