The most central, walkable patch of the city. Walking distance to the Empire State, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central and Times Square — and at noticeably better value than Times Square itself.
Quick verdict: Midtown is the right answer for most UK travellers who aren't 100% sold on Times Square. You're close enough to walk there in 10 minutes, but staying in proper Midtown means quieter nights, larger rooms, better restaurants nearby, and prices typically £30–£60 lower per night for an equivalent hotel. Our top recommendation across the board.
Confusingly named — it's actually a few blocks west of Times Square at 8th Avenue and 43rd, which means quieter rooms and a properly large hotel feel. Westin's signature beds are excellent for jetlag, the gym is one of the better hotel gyms in the city, and the location works for everything: 5 minutes to Times Square, 7 minutes to Bryant Park, easy subway access. £240–£360 typically.
Check Prices on Hotels.com →The proper grand-dame of NYC hotels — the building's been there since 1907, the marble lobby is a sight in itself, and the location at 5th Avenue and Central Park South is unbeatable. It's pricey (£600+ in season) and rooms vary in size and refresh status, but for a milestone trip — honeymoon, anniversary, "we made it" splurge — there are very few experiences like waking up at the Plaza. Eloise lived here. So did Home Alone 2.
Check Prices on Hotels.com →Dutch-designed, tech-forward, much-loved by UK frequent flyers. Tiny but cleverly designed rooms (think wall-to-wall king bed, mood lighting, iPad controls), great public spaces with co-working areas and a 24/7 self-service bar, and prices that are genuinely fair (£170–£240). Perfect for couples or solo travellers; not great for families needing space. Located on 50th and 8th — Hell's Kitchen edge of Midtown.
Check Prices on Hotels.com →Above Grand Central Terminal — yes, literally above the trains, and it's quieter than you'd expect because the building's well insulated. Recently rebuilt and reopened, this is the Midtown East business hotel of choice. Walk straight from your room to a Metro-North train to Connecticut, or one stop on the subway to anywhere. £280–£420.
Check Prices on Hotels.com →The Times Square brand carries a premium of around £40–£80 per night above equivalent rooms a few blocks away. The actual experience walking around Midtown vs Times Square — past Bryant Park, along 5th Avenue, near Rockefeller Center — is more pleasant, less aggressive, and better for repeat-visit travellers. Restaurants are better. Locals actually live and work here. And every Times Square sight is still 5–10 minutes' walk away. We can't think of many reasons to pay the Times Square premium for a stay over four nights.
Quietest, most residential-feeling. Great for business travellers near Grand Central or the UN. Slightly less interesting at night — restaurants close earlier and the area's energy thins after the office workers leave.
Hell's Kitchen and the Garment District. Best for value-conscious travellers; tons of restaurants, surprisingly local feel, easy subway access. Our most-recommended sub-area for first-time visitors who don't want Times Square chaos.
The premium strip — Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Plaza. Most expensive hotels, best for luxury and shopping-focused trips. Becomes congested with tourists during Christmas season but otherwise pleasant.
33rd–42nd Street, east of 5th Avenue. Quieter, more residential, popular with younger Brits doing extended stays. Cheaper hotels (Pod 39, the Library Hotel). 10-minute walk to Bryant Park or Times Square.
Compare prices and reviews on Hotels.com — GBP, free cancellation on most.
Search Midtown Hotels →Yes. Manhattan crime is at historic lows, and Midtown specifically is one of the most heavily policed and surveilled areas of the city. You can walk back to your hotel from a Broadway show at 11pm without concern. Common-sense urban awareness applies — avoid empty side streets late at night, keep valuables out of sight in restaurants — but no different to London.
Probably less than you think. From a central Midtown base you can walk to most major sights. The subway is essential for Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the museums on the Upper East/West Side. Buy an OMNY-compatible contactless card-tap fare (your UK contactless debit card works directly) — $2.90 per ride, capped at $34 weekly.
Yes, mostly flat with wide pavements. NYC blocks are deceptive — north-south "blocks" are short (about 80m) but east-west blocks are long (250m+). Plan accordingly. Most Midtown hotels are within 5 short blocks of multiple subway entrances, so you're never far from an escape if you're tired.
Most have a restaurant offering American breakfast (eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes — typically $25-$35). Few include breakfast in the room rate. The Brits' tip: walk one block to a deli or diner and get a proper New York bagel for £6 instead. Ess-A-Bagel on 51st is a Midtown institution.