A someone who has had a life long love of travel and who has seen his fair share of what the world has to offer, I would consider myself (and I don’t mean to blow my own trumpet) among one of the best tourist on the face of the earth. Having seen a vast array of cities in my travelling career, I pretty much think I have the knack of sightseeing down to a fine art. The technique that works for me is simple but effective – have a hit list and make sure you stick to it. So here is (or should I say was) the NYC the hit list.

One – A ride in a Yellow Cab. I’ll be brutally honest about this. I had arrived rested and relaxed on the QM2 (by ship is the only way to arrive) and the tranquillity of the crossing was abruptly shattered as I was met with chaos outside the cruise terminal and an hour wait for my cab. The driver was then not entirely sure where I wanted to go, a good job I already had my hotel marked on my pre-purchased map. The moral of this story is quite simply pre-book your transfer. So the first one on the list fell short and was nothing in comparison to a black cab, but then what is.

Two – A visit to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. Both these were truly remarkable and one of the best features of visiting both of these landmarks is the fantastic view of Downtown New York as you leave Battery Park and sail away from Manhattan. Friends have said to me that the lady was smaller than they thought she would be, however, I feel that this is particularly critical. She is truly spectacular and simply viewing her from Manhattan Island just won’t suffice. The ferry takes you to Liberty Island and then onto Ellis Island, the gateway to America for over twelve million immigrants between 1892 and 1954. As a country whose modern day values have been founded on those pioneers who flooded through Ellis Island in their droves this is quite possibly the most culturally significant place in the whole of the United States. I feel that this experience is hugely enhanced by the audio tour which gives first hand accounts of peoples memories of their arrival in America.

Three – The Empire State Building. Arguably the most famous building in the world and when not being scaled by a 50 ft ape offers some spectacular views of New York and its surrounding areas. On a clear day, which I was lucky enough to enjoy, you can see for miles. I would recommend an early visit so you can get your bearings for future exploration. Worthy of its place on the list.

Four – Shopping, and lots of it. New York’s thousands of shops cater for every taste and due to the current relative strength of the pound against the dollar it really does seem like the more you spend, the more you save, although my bank manager may have something to say about this.

However, my “list” philosophy only got me so far before I was “distracted”. What struck me very early on was the bizarre feeling of déjà vu at every turn. Bizarre, because I had never been within a thousand miles of the place. I quickly came to the conclusion that New York is so etched into the psyche through the countless films and television programmes that have used its wonderfully vibrant city streets as a backdrop, that you can’t help but feel that you have been their before. Aimlessly walking the streets for this reason alone is incredibly rewarding, whether it be bringing back memories of The Godfather, Friends, Ghostbusters (not a classic but definitely based in New York), Wall Street or (and who can forget) King Kong. And it was this which gave me the exploration bug. This in turn led me to discover some truly amazing places which don’t instantly spring to mind when thinking about New York, but quite simply should be integral to any visitors “list”.

Greenwich Village is the heart and soul of student life in New York. Its tree lined streets and small restaurants and cafés are a very pleasant departure from the bustling human traffic all too evident in Time Square and Fifth Avenue. It has a unique charm and highlights include Washington Square and the legendary club Café Wha? which has played host to such greats as Dylan and Hendrix. In a similar vein is Soho, so called because of its geographical position (SOouth of HOuston St). It has had many guises over the years and is currently a mecca for designer boutiques as well as retaining some of the galleries, many of which relocated to the Chelsea district.

Little Italy, located just to the south of Soho is indeed little, but it is perfectly formed. With the green, white and red buildings, and vast selection of Italian restaurants it is both equally charming and vibrant. The food is excellent, if a little rustic and the relaxed Italian American attitude is most definitely a huge part of the dining experience.

For the culture vultures there are a vast number of museums and galleries to capture the interest of all comers. The Guggenheim Museum, located on Fifth Avenue along a section known as the Museum Mile. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is one of the most intriguing buildings on Manhattan. Boasting the works of Picasso, and Van Gogh amongst others, there is a significant number of works on display. I would set aside a good half day to view the art and explore the building. When it comes to theatre, New York is second to none. Broadway is the home for classic musicals and plays such as ‘RENT’ and the ‘Odd Couple’ and “Off Broadway” is the testing ground for new and up and coming actors and playwrights. Some of the legends we know and love today, such as Al Pacino and Robert Dinero started their careers here so it is well worth booking those shows which have been recommended. It is worth looking at the New York Time Theatre (or should I say Theater) section for all the latest news and reviews and the Arts section will detail all museum exhibitions throughout the City.

In addition of these I have failed to mention Central Park, the beautiful Chrysler, Flatiron and Woolworth Buildings, Grand Central Station, Wall Street, Time Square and China Town

To see all of these areas and landmarks I would recommend one of the many organised tours to give a comprehensive view of the city. These are relatively inexpensive and many operate in a hop on hop off fashion, which means if there is a place of particular interest then you have ample time to explore. Tickets for shows can be easily purchased in Time Square if you don’t want to pre-book them before you travel.

New York is not only my new favourite place, but it has also made me reassess how I will go about being a tourist in the future. My regimented “list” approach is now a thing of the past as had I kept strictly to this I would have missed out on some real gems.