Brits looking for how to do New York City on a budget including food, attractions and Broadway shows may want to take note as one writer took on the Big Apple
Top of the Rock seemed taller. When I last came to New York in 2009, I took the fast, ear-popping lift at the Rockefeller Center to enjoy those iconic Big Apple skyscraper views.
But in 2025 you can journey higher to both the 69th and 70th decks, where you’ll find The Beam and Skylift. Opened in February 2024, The Beam (£18) gives visitors the chance to recreate that famous 1932 image of ironworkers happily eating their lunch, sitting on a steel beam, 69 floors high.
As someone who’s scared of heights, I felt more than apprehensive as I buckled up on the beam, which then rises and turns 180 degrees, giving you the most spectacular/terrifyingly high (delete as applicable) views. Under clear blue skies, I felt exhilarated to see the city like this, then a tiny bit relieved as the beam lowered and I stepped off.
Next up was the 70th floor to experience the Skylift (£25). Opened last October, the circular Skylift elevates you to even higher heights and rotates to give you a 360-degree view. Again, the vista is amazing, 30ft above the 872ft building.
After seeing the city as usually only the birds do, I was happy to head back down to the Manhattan sidewalks. We were here to explore New York over three days on a budget.
Our base for the 72-hour trip was the RIU Plaza New York Times Square. My comfortable room on the 28th floor was light, spacious, clean and quiet. The location also meant we were in the thick of the city so it was easy to walk to many attractions.
Shall we start with food? New York is full of delicious options, served in generous portions. On our first evening we visited the Yard House. This friendly and relaxed place offered huge takes on American classics. My choice of Cilantro lime chicken with roasted corn, quinoa and tomatoes (£20) was tender and tasty, while my Moscow Mule cocktail (£9) laden with vodka and refreshing ginger beer hit the spot after a long day travelling.
Don’t feel the need to book a restaurant. Food on the hoof is a good way to multitask and continue exploring. We took the subway to the East Village to combine sightseeing with eating on The Man and His Sandwich Tour. Our guide, Ben, gave us a down-to-earth, fun and interactive tour that takes you to little-known, small outlets for three delicious bites to eat on your wander around the East Village (£50).
From Black Forest ham paninis to smash burgers, you’ll be well fed and well informed. In fact, you’ll be so well fed you might want to skip a meal and save some money. But one thing you don’t want to miss is breakfast at a diner.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway is a popular place to eat with one big difference – you are treated to songs from shows, as the waiting staff deliver belting performances on the stage in the middle of the diner.
So there we were, starting our second full day in The Big Apple at 8.50am listening to our waiter singing a duet before he came to take our order. I went for the cinnamon roll pancakes (£12) – and the sugar rush helped kick start our day of exploring The Bronx.
We took the short train journey to the Bronx from Grand Central Station with our tour guide Ellen (a Big Apple Greeter volunteer) who was keen to show us Arthur’s Avenue AKA Little Italy – a largely Italian haven of foodie outlets.
We stopped at Mike’s Deli in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market for lunch, where Ellen recommended the eggplant – I’m not usually a fan of aubergine, but went with her recommendation in a simple pasta dish (£8) and she was so right.
After lunch, we propped up the bar at the Bronx Beer Hall. Run by two brothers (who were fun, and full of stories about the Bronx) it specialises in craft beer. We sampled a few of their beers (from £3.50 a can) and thoroughly enjoyed our hour or so chatting and laughing with the siblings.
But we needed to make tracks as there was one more stop we wanted to make and that was at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. This free arts space was showing an exhibition by pioneering street artist Futura 2000. It was a great example of what this museum is all about.
After a wild day in the Bronx, we headed back to Manhattan to The Stand in Union Square (tickets from £18). Here saw performances from seven or eight comedians in quick succession. It was a fast-paced, showcase in this intimate, underground comedy club with Aaron Berg being the stand-out stand-up. If stand-up isn’t your thing, Broadway is right on the hotel’s doorstep. But if the price of show tickets makes your eyes water, try an Off-Broadway show instead.
Off-Broadway is the term for smaller venues (seating fewer than 500), but the calibre of these productions is still impressive and our tickets cost around £25. We went to the venue New World Stages, for Drag: The Musical. Funny and highly entertaining, we had the show’s numbers ringing in our ears long after it ended.
On my final day in New York, I walked the High Line public park, built on an old railway line, which I picked up in the West Village. This is another free offering, where you will also come across Little Island with its gorgeous views across the water to the Statue of Liberty. Other freebies were Central Park – a giant, beautifully calm space – and Chelsea Market, with its interesting independent traders – although you’ll be tempted to part with your cash there to bring something home.
And if you’re looking for a more cost-effective way of enjoying the New York skyline views, a visit to the Civilian Starchild Rooftop Bar might be the answer. Here, for the price of a £9 cocktail, we got great views of the skyline which we enjoyed at sunset on one of our evenings.
If you are planning a trip to New York, nyctourism.com has ideas to help you map out an itinerary that suits you. And as a money-saving tip, a City Pass from citypass.com/new-york can help you save around 40% off its most popular attractions. Let’s face it, your wallet is never going to sleep on a trip to New York. But keep your eyes open, and you can get the best of the city for less.