Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center is an emblem of Manhattan, effortlessly combining the classic and the contemporary, while also being at the heart of the wintertime fun and celebrations every year.The centre was a hugely important symbol of possibility and development when it was built during the depression-ridden years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. During construction, the wonderful photograph “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” was taken of workers taking their midday break sitting on a girder many hundreds of metres in the sky.Enjoy the Art Deco architecture of the complex, and take in some of the many informative and entertaining options available. See the celebrated Rockettes, or head to a gig at the hip Radio City Music Hall. The Christmas season is revelled in here, with an enormous 30-metre Christmas tree erected every year. You can admire it as you whizz around the skating rink, which is open from October until April.Covering a total of 19 different buildings and known as “a city within a city”, this streamlined, modern centre has been home to a range of famous companies down the years.Visit the soaring Top of the Rock viewing platform for an all-round panorama over New York. Before hitting the heights, make sure to check out the excellent collection of images and relics on the mezzanine floor. Then, jump aboard the Sky Shuttle elevator and zoom up 70 floors for fantastic vistas over the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty to the south, while Central Park is laid out below you to the north.30 Rockefeller Plaza is the centre’s hub. Take a tour of the NBC studios and get to see where the magic happens for hugely popular programmes such as Saturday Night Live. Continue your tour at the General Electric building to learn about the history and design of the centre.When your legs need a break, there are plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from on the Main Concourse, or on nearby Fifth Avenue.The Rockefeller Center is in Midtown, and can be accessed via numerous bus routes and nearby subway stations.