Escorted Rail Tours to New York

The iconic city of New York is home to more than eight million people, making it the USA's most populous city, and the nation's economic powerhouse. 'The city that never sleeps' is an adrenaline-charged metropolis that holds an immense appeals for almost any visitor; with its global impact on media, art, research, education, entertainment and fashion, it truly offers something for everyone.

New York was first established in 1624 by Dutch colonists, who famously bought the land from the native people for a handful of trinkets, and named it New Amsterdam. The governor in charge was deemed so tyrannical that when the English laid claim to the town forty years later, the Dutch handed over control without putting up any resistance. The town was renamed New York and from then on the area prospered and the population grew.

By the late 19th century, many of the city's most famous landmarks had emerged, casting New York as an acclaimed 'city of the future'. Nowadays there is so much to take in that you will only ever scratch the surface, but there are some places you really shouldn't leave without seeing.

In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island was the first stop for more than 12 million prospective immigrants between 1892 and 1954. The Ellis Island Immigration Centre now tells the moving story of the "Peopling of America".

Opened in 1857, Central Park is 'New York's Garden', a massive green space filled with a number of different amusements. Here you can visit the Central Park Zoo or perhaps hire a rowboat for an outing on the lake.

Home to a range of shops and buildings, but none better known than the Empire State Building. Completed in 1931, the famous 102-storey symbol of New York is now its tallest building, and the views from the platform at the top are tremendous.

Sometimes referred to as the "Crossroads of the World", here huge advertisements for world-famous brands and popular theatre shows are all vying for attention amongst the neon lights and enormous towers of the square - which also marks the edge of the theatre district.

Actually a road running the entire length of Manhattan, the name 'Broadway' most commonly refers to the section in the heart of the theatre district. Many of the world's most famous plays, including Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar and Wicked, originated here.