Cheers for more great tips overnight, much appreciated, We will not be touching an Oyster as we both despise shell fish!! there is stuff on the menu that we liked so probably give it a shot, a colleague says Ellens Stardust Diner is a must and is literally on our doorstep so this will probably be one nights entertainment. Will defo do the Highline probably after a visit to the Intrepid looking ata the map and Slaten Ferry. Do I seriously need my passport at 50 yrs old to drink!!
Why did you not start this thread tenfoot and save me a job, please add a detailed account on your return, enjoy 🙂

Appreciate that tenfoot, hope the rest has been good.Cheers

Not wanting to restart the thread but wanted to personally thank all the contributors.
Trip done and dusted, 4 beautiful days one drizzly morning. JFK immigration was about 45-60 minutes so not too bad. Couldn’t be bothered with carting cases on public transport so joined the yellow cab queue , $65 inc tips tolls to Novotel hotel in Times Square. $75 for the return yellow cab arranged by concierge, maybe extra for Thanksgiving day? Only took one taxi in the 4 days that was after a meal in the Oyster bar in Grand Central and we had done 30000 steps. Averaged 21000 steps a day over the 4.5 days.
After arriving in NY late afternoon we collected the New York pass from the Big bus shop in Times square , headed to MOMA but it was 4.45 and shut at 5 so we wandered around just taking it all in and having a few beers here and there, ended up in Rosie Ogradys.
Day 2 was up early in Dunhills for breakfast then a stroll and onto the Intrepid museum (excellent) , lovely walk along the Highline to the end and into Greenwich village and Blind Tiger for drinks and lunch. wandered up to Flat Iron and this was my favourite building in New York. Went up the Empire State for sunset, beautiful views but bloody freezing up top. Then went to 230 5th rooftop bar in the igloos for amazing views of Empire States. Meal in Olunneys times square, sports type bar with ok food.
Day 3 was up early again and our one and only tube (where a kind tube worker showed us how to use the ticket machine and then finished with here is your change but I will keep $3 for my trouble and was gone before I knew what had happened) trip down to South Ferry for our Helicopter flight, that was an amazing 15 minute $240 not cheap but that was my main present loved every minute of it as it was a bluebird day so views to die for and got 2 front seats next to pilot. Next was $2.75 ferry to Dumbo where we ate the nicest burger ever in Sugar Cane(sister restaurant to Duck and Waffle in Heron Tower London, never eaten there but drank in Sushi Samba) a new establishment in this up and coming lovely area. Walked back over Brooklyn Bridge and visited 9 11 , didn’t have time for the museum as there was a big queue and I wanted to surprise the good lady with an afternoon of LFC in Carraghers bar, it was rammed with a great atmosphere and we both had a good time. Bryant park was next before heading up the Top of the Rock for drinks and onto Grand Central Station and the Oyster bar for food.
We had wanted to go to Ellens Stardust diner for a meal but every night there was 50 plus in the queue so kept avoiding it.
Day 4 we walked out in the rain round the corner at 8 am only 5 in the queue so joined it and were in Ellens five minutes later in to an already bouncing atmosphere, cracking Breakfast of sirloin steak eggs and hash browns and superb entertainment from very talented singing staff looking for a Broadway break. Next was an open top bus tour up to Natural History Museum, what a collection buy way too much to see, a nice wander through Central Park to the Solomon Guggenheim Museum, amazing building but the contents were not for us, the highlight being a Lavazza coffee and a carrot cake. Walked down 5th Avenue , museum mile past the Central Park zoo and past Trump Tower and the posh shops and finally to Jimmy`s corner a bar owned by a trainer who Ali and the other champs used to look up when in New York for a bit of training. Great traditional bar with everyone sat at the bar and best value in The city $7 for a pint and a bottle of Corona, we abused the cheap beer for a few hrs before heading back. It was Thanksgiving Eve and rammed so we settled for a little pizza restaurant nothing special but $107 for 2 pizza and 4 bottle $10 each drink WTF, felt ripped off .
Cheapest round Jimmy`s $7 dearest Top of the rock $22 (always two beers without the tip.)Rudest bar Playwright Celtic pub where barman talked to another punter from asking what we would like and then threw 4 one dollar bills back at me which landed all over, needless to say he got none of them and we decked the drinks and left. Most meals about $60 average with 4 beers on it. Always had time to go back get changed maybe have a kip each evening for an hour or so. Times Square is manic and everyone wants your dollar but no one over pushy.
Last morning was a stroll away from the Macys parade down empty streets to a cruise round Lady Liberty on another bluebird day on a near empty boat, this was amazing and the perfect end, had an excellent lunch at The Beer authority by the magnificent Penn Station opposite the New York Times/ Madison Square Gardens then wandered up 42nd street seeing the remnants of the parade and back to the hotel and the taxi. Thank you so much for all the tips it defo helped us have an amazing time and left us chomping at the bit to return in the not too distant future.