New York v London: which city is the best destination?Credit: iStock
New York and London, arguably the two greatest cities in the world, draw tens of millions of tourists from around the globe. But is the Big Apple’s star starting to wane? According to new data, nearly five million more people attended shows in the West End last year than New York’s Broadway. And with many travellers intending to boycott the US following the election of Donald Trump, is London now the undisputed number-one metropolis?
The two cities are not so different in terms of size and population. London is home to about 9,841,000 residents across its 1500 square kilometres, and New York has almost 8,500,000 within its 1220. They can both boast world-class cultural institutions, an incredibly diverse dining scene, and some of the world’s great hotels. But which is better?
After nearly five years living in each city, I’ve spent countless hours debating this exact question. I’ve walked Manhattan top to bottom and cycled the length of the Thames Path. I’ve developed dependencies on both easily accessible bagels and regular pub outings. So, to solve this quandary, I pitted the cities against each other to determine an ultimate winner, based on a foolproof combination of numbers and vibes, analysing everything from parks and food to nightlife, public transport and culture.
Green space
Greenwich Park – one of London’s bevy of green spaces.Credit: Visitlondon.com/Jon Reid
When I first moved to London, the greenery was overwhelming. The city is truly filled with trees, with more than 20 per cent of it classified as public green space, and more than 3000 parks contained within its boundaries. Londoners are spoilt for choice between the lovely garden squares and neighbourhood greens dotted throughout the city, as well as its eight Royal Parks. Visits to Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Regent’s Park and Richmond Park alone could easily fill a visitor’s holiday itinerary. I don’t know if there is a better picnic spot on earth than the hillside in Greenwich Park, overlooking the full panorama of London’s skyline.
Central Park in New York.Credit: iStock
About 14 per cent of New York is classed as public green space, and while it can certainly live up to its concrete jungle reputation, there are still plenty of leafy corners to be found. Central Park is the city’s crowning glory, but hardly the only gem. Don’t miss Washington Square Park, Prospect Park and the High Line, created on a former New York Central Railroad spur. My personal favourite? Queens’s underrated Gantry Plaza State Park, home to some of the best views in the five boroughs.
Verdict
London: 5/5
New York: 4/5
The winner: London, for sheer scope
Attractions
The Tower of London is centuries older than any building in New York.Credit: iStock
London is home to four Unesco World Heritage Sites: the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Westminster Palace, Maritime Greenwich and the Tower of London, which was built in the 1070s, making it older, by several centuries, than any intact structure in New York. A riverside walk from its location on the Thames to the London Eye, built for the new millennium, spans nearly 1,000 years of history, but that doesn’t even encompass the city’s Roman ruins. The average London itinerary is a whirlwind through human history.
The Statue of Liberty with One World Trade Centre behind.Credit: iStock
It might not have the same long history, and its sole World Heritage Site is the Statue of Liberty, but New York’s attractions can easily rival London’s. Its skyscrapers are the world’s most iconic, with both One World Trade Center (541 metres) and the Empire State Building (443 metres) putting the Shard (310 metres) in the shade. TripAdvisor lists 983 museums in New York (compared with 830 in London). And like any good New Yorker, I will maintain my hatred for Times Square in the same breath as arguing that Piccadilly Circus can’t hold a candle to its neon glory. It’s a mess, but an undoubted must-see.
Verdict
London: 5/5
New York: 5/5
The winner: A tie – there’s a spot for both Tower Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge on your bucket list
Culture
While both cities are world-class centres of culture, London’s galleries, museums and theatres are simply more accessible and affordable.Credit: iStock
You could arrange entire holidays around the art held in both cities, both in the grand halls of the National Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as at smaller venues such as the South London Gallery and MoMA PS1. Neither city lacks much when it comes to music either – visitors can follow in Bob Dylan’s footsteps in New York and the tracks of the Kinks through London, and longstanding festivals such as the Governors Ball and BST Hyde Park sometimes even share headline acts.
Both Broadway and the West End each have around 40 theatres but, where previously Broadway was more renowned for grand musicals and the West End for dramatic plays and Shakespeare productions, their current seasons share a significant number of the same titles. Whether the quality remains the same with transatlantic transfers is another debate, but you can easily secure three West End seats for the price of one Broadway show – with even worse mark-ups for concerts and festivals. Furthermore, many of London’s great cultural attractions (including the British Museum and the Tate Modern) are free to enter – this certainly isn’t the case in New York.
Verdict
London: 5/5
New York: 4/5
The winner: London; price matters
Food
The famous Katz’s Delicatessen in New York.Credit: iStock
London boasts an impressive 85 Michelin stars – from traditional British St John to West African Chishuru – and 43 Bib Gourmand awards, recognising venues that offer both quality and value. I have become a firm believer in the London weekend market crawl, picking the best bits of street food along the canal walk from Broadway Market to Victoria Park, or perusing Maltby Street Market and the Bermondsey Beer Mile (get the duck frites and a local pint).
New York has 72 Michelin stars, with restaurants such as Italian-American Torrisi and Mexican Oxomoco, and an enormous 82 entries on its Bib Gourmand list. The city goes hard for delis, diners and cheap eats, often eaten right at the counter, such as sandwiches from Katz’s or Russ and Daughters. A personal power ranking of New York slices is earned by way of many late night eats in the city; my current top three are Joe’s Pizza, Lucali and Scarr’s (don’t skip the hot honey).
Verdict
London: 5/5
New York: 5/5
The winner: Another tie; these global melting pots of cuisine are well matched
Nightlife
Let’s focus on what London does well rather than bemoaning the sad state of its late-night offering. And it does pubs so well (3535 of them at the last count). These are the city’s extended living rooms, ranging from cosy to riotous depending on the locale and evening’s lineup. London also has four entries on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, from Mayfair’s art deco Connaught Bar to the cool East London aesthetic at Satan’s Whiskers.
When it comes to keeping the party going, New York truly lives up to its nickname as ‘The city that never sleeps’.Credit: iStock
New York has an equal showing on the World’s Best Bars list (including Overstory, with its panoramic skyline views), but the city’s top nightlife features are the neighbourhood venues that fill the sweet spot between pub and club. In the West Village, pick your poison, from the Employees Only speakeasy to the Marie’s Crisis piano bar, where Broadway divas sing shoulder to shoulder with tone-deaf fans until the early hours.
Verdict
London: 3/5
New York: 5/5
The winner: New York. London nightlife – and its early calls for last orders – just can’t compete with The City That Never Sleeps
Hotels
London’s history of elegance, excellence and afternoon tea wins out in the hotels category.
In London, there are 43 hotels holding Michelin “keys” and 19 Forbes Travel Guide five-star rated hotels. London’s hotels exude a timeless elegance, whether you stay at the Ritz or just indulge in its afternoon tea.
New York has 27 Michelin-key hotels and nine with a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. The view from Manhattan’s modern rooftops is breathtaking, but in recent months hotel prices surged to all-time highs in New York ($417/£325 per night) and stayed high, making accommodation a clear barrier for visitors.
Verdict
London: 5/5
New York: 3/5
The winner: London, it’s got luxury and budget covered
Cleanliness and safety
Both cities have their issues – but there is an edge to New York that is more apparent to the average tourist.Credit: iStock
Any city that needs to appoint a rat czar (officially the director of rodent mitigation) – as the New York mayor did in 2023 – has some obvious sanitation issues. After a few summers in the city, you do, mostly, get used to the wafting fumes of hot bin bags baking on the curbs, but it’s never what you want to encounter on a city break. London, thankfully, has its rubbish more or less under control.
Violent crime is more frequent in New York than London, but pettier crimes are overall more likely to affect the average visitor. I’ve been burnt in both cities: my phone snatched both during a dash to the subway in Times Square, and when boarding a bus on Tottenham Court Road.
Verdict
London: 3/5
New York: 2/5
The winner: London, phone snatchers aside
Getting around
London is a dream to navigate.Credit: iStock
By Tube, bus or train, London, with its omnipresent signage pointing the way to its top sights, is a traveller’s dream to navigate, and the city’s cycle lanes make it not only possible but enjoyable to explore by two wheels (the plague of tourists on Lime bikes notwithstanding).
It’s difficult to get lost on New York’s grid-like streets, but less so underground. Earlier this month, the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority debuted a new subway map, now using – like London – the more tourist-friendly Beck’s design method, which was met with predictable outrage from residents who preferred the old-school, block-by-block geographic accuracy. Will it decrease the number of confused visitors staring blankly at signs at Grand Central? To be determined.
Verdict
London: 4/5
New York: 3/5
The winner: London – it could win solely for the lack of rats regularly encountered on a daily commute
Value for money
London, although hardly a budget destination, takes the prize. The major museums are free to enter and there are affordable nosebleed or standing-room seats at Shakespeare’s Globe and many West End performances.
You’ll pay more for dinner in New York – and don’t forget to factor in a tip – for both mid-range and fine dining. The city ranked seventh in the 2024 Cost of Living Index (London is listed at 27, while Sydney is at 43 and Melbourne at 72), so you can bet you’ll pay more for pretty much everything, from Broadway tickets to cab fares.
Verdict
London: 3/5
New York: 2/5
The winner: London, though your wallet still might not thank you
General vibes
New York gets more sunny days than London.Credit: iStock
New York basks in 2544 hours of sunshine each year, while London receives just 1460, and waking up to blue skies rather than grey will always improve your mood. The former is a true four-season city: though swampy in the summer, there’s snow in the winter.
For me, although London might be the more liveable, if you like fast-paced chaos, New York has that unique rhythm – and something special in the air (besides pollution, as New York ranks at 53 to London’s only-slightly-less-grim 59 on the World Air Quality Index).
Verdict
London: 4/5
New York: 5/5
The winner: New York – whether it’s the sunshine or skyscrapers, it’s got an extra magic to it
Winner: London, truly the city has it all
London wins for the unrivalled breadth of its offering.Credit: iStock
Global cuisine, beautiful green spaces, exciting theatre – while New York holds its own, London claims victory for historic breadth, better public infrastructure and affordable access to cultural attractions. And where it lacks, the city has found a way to fill the gap. Take the middling nightlife scene: I love the funky hi-fi neighbourhood bars popping up, and you just can’t go wrong with a laid-back night at a longstanding local pub.
The Telegraph, London