London VS New York: Which City Should I Visit?

By Seren Morris

Planning your next city vacation, but can’t decide whether to visit London or New York City? We’ve rounded up the best New York attractions and the best London attractions so you can decide which city is right for you. Which will it be? The Big Smoke or The Big Apple? Check out our list below of the top things to do in New York, including...

  • The Empire State Building
  • The Top of the Rock
  • Madison Square Garden
  • The Statue of Liberty
  • Radio City Stage Door Tour

Plus, the top things to do in London, including...

  • Coca-Cola London Eye
  • Churchill War Rooms
  • Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Wembley Stadium
  • Emirates Arsenal Stadium

And many more...

The attractions with the best views

The London Eye vs Top of the Rock and The Empire State Building

London

For some of the best views in London, head to the Coca-Cola London Eye. Take a 30-minute ride around one of London’s most recognizable landmarks and enjoy 360 views of the city. You will spot famous buildings and sights such as the Big Ben and St Paul’s Cathedral -- cameras at the ready! Be sure to check out our top tips for visiting the Coca-Cola London Eye. If you can’t get enough of the city, visit London’s tallest building, The Shard, for more 360 views. At 1,020 feet tall, The Shard is almost as tall as New York’s Empire State Building. Take the elevator up to the 72nd floor for amazing views of the city below.

New York City

In New York City, some would say the best view is from the Empire State Building. Did you know that the Empire State Building is 1,454 feet tall? With your New York Explorer Pass, head up to the 86th floor, 1,050 feet above the ground for breathtaking views of Manhattan. The only thing you won’t be able to see is the Empire State Building itself... So, if you want to take photos of New York’s cityscape including the Empire State Building, head over a few blocks to The Top of the Rock. Though not as tall as the Empire State Building, the observation deck of the Rockefeller center sits at 800 feet above street level -- so it has great views of the city (especially Central Park!). Check out our guide to the Empire State Building to learn more. Getting In: Entry to The Empire State Building and The Top of The Rock are included with your New York Explorer Pass. Entry to the Coca-Cola London Eye is included in your London Explorer Pass. Entry to The Shard is not included and tickets must be bought separately.

The best attractions for sports fans

Emirates Arsenal Stadium, Wembley Stadium and Chelsea FC Stadium vs Madison Square Garden

London

Sports fans won’t be short of things to do in London. Soccer fans can tour the home of Arsenal FC at the Emirates Arsenal Stadium, get up close with exclusive memorabilia, walk up the Players’ Tunnel and even sneak a peek inside the team’s changing rooms. Not an Arsenal fan? Visit the Chelsea FC Stadium for a guided tour and backstage access to the club’s Stamford Bridge stadium. Enjoy access to the changing rooms, tunnels and the Chelsea museum. If these aren’t enough to satisfy the soccer fan in your group, you have to visit Wembley Stadium. The original Wembley Stadium opened way back in 1923 but the current stadium opened in 2007. Did you know the current stadium was built on the grounds of the 1948 Olympics? It was also home to the 1966 World Cup Final which saw England take home the cup! [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BO3EGAJFlDb/[/embed]

New York City

Sports fans visiting New York City have to visit Madison Square Garden for an All Access Tour. Home to New York Teams, NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers, Madison Square Garden is a must-see. An expert guide will take you behind the scenes of the World’s Most Famous Arena, telling you all about its history and giving you a glimpse of exclusive memorabilia. While you’re in NYC, why not get tickets to see a famous New York team like the New York Yankees play? [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZrXmfFKD_/[/embed] Getting In: Emirates Stadium, Chelsea FC Stadium and Wembley Stadium are included in your London Explorer Pass. Madison Square Garden All Access Tour is included in your New York Explorer Pass.

The best tours for theater fans

Shakespeare’s Globe vs Inside Broadway walking tour and Radio City Tour

New York City

You can’t visit New York City without visiting the world famous theater district: Broadway. But what better way to explore the heart of New York’s theater-world than with a guided walking tour? On the Inside Broadway Walking Tour you will be guided around Broadway and Times Square by an experienced actor or director on a tour lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s one of the best ways to discover all the Broadway secrets you’re itching to know... Another must-see for theater lovers is the Radio City Music Hall. On the Radio City Stage Door Tour you will be taken behind the scenes of the famous music venue on a guided tour lasting 75 minutes. You’ll get to explore the venue from the auditorium to the stage, and you’ll even get to meet a Radio City Rockette. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/ByVKqRwoFG1/[/embed]

London

Not to be out-done by New York, London is known for its Broadway equivalent, the West End. But London’s theater history dates back much further, to the days of William Shakespeare. On the Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition and Theatre Tour, explore the Globe theater and its exclusive costumes and sets exhibition before being shown around the theatre by an expert guide. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/ByN7Y6kgtHL/[/embed] Getting In: The Inside Broadway Walking Tour and Radio City Stage Door Tour are included in the New York Explorer Pass. Entry to The Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition and Theatre Tour is included on the London Explorer Pass.

The best attractions for history fans

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island vs Churchill War Rooms

New York City

A trip to New York City would be incomplete without a visit to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Take the Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Walking Tour and be guided around two of America’s most important landmarks, while learning about their history and context. Hear stories about the immigrants who arrived in America via Ellis Island and learn all about the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty.

London

There are plenty of historic landmarks in London to satisfy history fans, such as the Churchill War Rooms. You will explore Churchill’s underground wartime headquarters and discover the important part it played in the Second World War. You have to see the Transatlantic Telephone Room -- it was disguised as a toilet but it was secretly used to speak to the US President. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/ByIpSB5JjBz/[/embed] Getting In: The Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Walking Tour is included in the New York Explorer Pass. The Churchill War Rooms is included in the London Explorer Pass.

Remember to save on attraction admission

If you’re in New York or London, (whichever one you choose!) you can’t miss the chance to check out the city’s top tourist attractions and world-famous landmarks. Grab a New York City Explorer Pass® or a London Explorer Pass before your trip and make huge savings on combined admission prices compared to paying at the gate. The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, and the Statue of Liberty Tour are all included on the pass, along with the Coca-Cola London Eye, Wembley Stadium and Churchill War Rooms.

Share your adventure with us

We love to see your vacation snaps. Tag us when you upload photos from your trip to Instagram using @GoCity or #GoCityPass so we can feature your post on our page. Follow our Instagram and Facebook pages for competitions, special offers and plenty of travel inspiration.

Seren Morris
Go City Travel Expert

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Top Things To Do in London Over Easter

Spending Easter in London this year? There’s loads to keep you busy. Check out our list of top things to do in London over the Easter holidays. And many popular attractions take advantage of the long weekend by offering special events for everyone to enjoy. A few of our favorite activities and attractions include... St. Paul’s Cathedral Easter Egg Hunts in Spring Gardens Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours Thames River Cruise Easter Chocolate Hunts 1) St. Paul’s Cathedral While a visit to this historic cathedral is special any time of year, it’s particularly meaningful to visit during the Easter season. As one of the most significant architectural landmarks in the entire city, St. Paul’s Cathedral is also an ideal place to visit for people who love art, architecture, and history. Wander around with the help of multimedia tablets, or join in a guided tour. There are many facets of this cathedral to explore, from tombs to galleries and beyond. If you’d like, you can also attend services during the week. 2) Kensington Palace Chocolate Bunny Hunt Roam the rooms and gardens of the historic Kensington Palace during the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt. You’ll follow clues on a map as you wind throughout the home and grounds in search of gold bunny statues that have been strategically hidden throughout. Along the way, visitors will learn about historic figures from Kensington’s past and enjoy the opportunity to tour this inspiring attraction. You can enjoy this event throughout April culminating on Easter Monday. 3) Thames River Cruise Enjoy some lovely British spring weather (such as it is) with a leisurely cruise along the Thames. Your ticket is good for 24 hours, and you can hop on and off at your pleasure. You can choose from four stops, with cruises operating roughly every 40 minutes. Some of the highlights of your Thames River Cruise include Westminster and the Houses of Parliament, the Coca-Cola London Eye, the Tower Bridge, and Greenwich. Enjoy expert narration while on board, and explore to your heart’s content when you disembark. 4) Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour Relax and kick back as this informative hop-on hop-off bus tour escorts you throughout the city, past all the hotspots and top landmarks. It’s great for photo opportunities without any stress. You also have the option to disembark at places that interest you, so it’s the maximum in customizable explorations. Plus, you can choose from two different tour operators to completely personalize your trip. All in all -- a great introduction to London. Even if you’re from the city, it can be fun to spend some time getting to know your home a little bit better! 5) Explore Springtime Blooms This is right about the time of year when everything starts to blossom, covering gardens and green spaces with an explosion of vibrant color. While you may think that urban London doesn’t have much in the way of spring blooms, however, you’re totally wrong. Visit one of the city’s many gardens to see these magnificent blooms this Easter weekend. From the humble, indigenous flowers to exotic flora, there’s much to see at venues like Kensington Gardens, Kew Gardens, and the Chelsea Physic Garden. Insider Tip: Kew Gardens hosts a chocolate hunt on Easter Sunday for the kids! 6) WWT London Wetland Centre: Easter Duck Hunt Kids will relish the opportunity to participate in some good old-fashioned Easter fun away from home. Pay a visit to the delightful London Wetland Centre for a chance to see the blooms of springtime, meet baby animals everywhere, and get acquainted with nature. From April, guests have the opportunity to help the Centre find some missing ducklings. Follow the Easter GIANT Duck Trail around the nature reserve to discover the missing duckies. Then, enjoy an arts & crafts session to make your own springtime creations. Don't forget to pick up a London Pass to save on the most popular family attractions in London.
Katie Sagal
St Paul's Cathedral looking resplendent from Fleet Street
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Why you should visit London in July

If there’s a month to see London at its best, it has to be July. This is the month when Londoners let their hair down and bask in mid-summer temperatures that stay pleasantly warm until dusk settles at around 10PM. The promise of great weather sees everyone who’s anyone relax in London’s multitude of outdoor spaces, be that a Royal Park or a rooftop bar for a glass of rosé. There’s also a myriad of festivals throughout London in July, as well as once-a-year opportunities including the summer opening of Buckingham Palace. Discover royal London It’s in July that Buckingham Palace – the monarch’s official London residence – opens its doors to the public. Entering via the building’s ceremonial entrance and grand gilt staircase, visits take in 19 state rooms. Used for official functions, such as investitures and the welcoming of foreign heads of government, they include the Throne Room, White Drawing Room and Ballroom. If that isn’t enough, each year a different exhibition is staged using artefacts from the royal collection – providing further insight into the many roles played by British royals. The objects on display at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival are no less impressive for their shorter lifespans. The largest horticultural event in the capital’s calendar, attractions range from a festival of roses to celebrity workshops, all amid the Tudor palace’s spectacular grounds. Dating back hundreds of years, Swan Upping takes place on the Thames over several days in July. Starting at Eton Bridge beside Windsor Castle, Swan Uppers in traditional Thames skiffs count the year’s cygnets to ensure the river’s swan population remains healthy. Make the most of the long July evenings The royal connections continue at Kensington Palace, which is the location of one of the open-air pop-up giant cinema screens that appear throughout London from July. Other locations include Clapham Common, Somerset House and Trafalgar Square, with screenings varying between Hollywood classics, family favorites and the latest blockbusters. For a very different kind of performance head to the Royal Albert Hall, where eight weeks of classical music concerts, together known as the Proms, kick off in July. A firm fixture since 1895, the series culminates in the Last Night of the Proms – one of the more patriotic nights in London life. Life in all its forms can be enjoyed with adults-only Twilight Tickets to ZSL London Zoo. Besides seeing the zoo’s wild animals at one of the calmer times of day, these special nights also host a chill out zone and street food vans should you get hungry. Go sports mad in London in July The world’s oldest tennis competition, the Wimbledon Championships, take place on the verdant green lawns of southwest London in an annual parade of the very best sporting talent, some two million strawberries and 54,000 tennis balls. Even if you can’t nab a much sought after ticket for the show courts, ground passes are a great way to soak up the atmosphere. And whilst 2012 may be long gone, the spirit of the London Olympics lives on in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Occupying a swath of the capital’s east, free trails connect up some of the park’s most important structures. Tour the London Stadium, grab a selfie with the Olympic rings or get the adrenaline flowing with a ride down the world’s longest slide from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. Revel in summer festivals Just one demonstration of London’s diversity is the array of festivals which take place in London in July. Open to LGBT+ allies from all walks of life, Pride is the only event in the year to close Oxford Street to traffic. In place of the black taxis and red double-decker buses, you’ll see eclectic floats making their way to the main stage on Trafalgar Square. Take in the riverside between London Bridge and Tower Bridge and you’re sure to be sucked into the festival-like atmosphere created from outdoor eating and an event’s list covering everything from karaoke to open-air fitness classes. Then there’s the capital’s music festivals. British Summer Time brings some of the world’s biggest stars to Hyde Park, having welcomed Celine Dion, Bruno Mars and Green Day to previous editions. Elsewhere, fans of urban music won’t want to miss Wireless, whose acts have included the home-grown talents of Stormzy among its A-list setlists. Stroll in the city’s parks and gardens A hop, skip and a jump away from where Stormzy grew up in south London is Dulwich Park. Edged by Dulwich Picture Gallery – England’s oldest purpose-built art space – and close to Brockwell Lido, the park has recently been returned to the glory of its late-Victorian heyday. Kensington’s Holland Park spreads out around the remains of the Jacobean era Holland House. Sub-divided into several sections, its northern extent is dominated by woodland, whilst its inner core contains a formal garden and the Kyoto Japanese garden. St Dunstan-in-the-East also makes use of London’s historic architecture, in this case an 11th-Century parish church. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it was unfortunately damaged beyond repair during the Blitz in the Second World War. Today, it forms a hidden oasis among the hustle and bustle of the ancient city. London weather in July Neither too hot nor too cold, London in July has some of the best weather of the year. Daily temperatures hover around 19°C, hardly ever dropping below 14°C or rising above 23°C. Rain is light, and rarely affects anyone’s plans. Sunshine is abundant, and daylight stretches for a staggering 16 hours per day, making T-shirts and vest-tops the best items to pack. It’s unlikely you’ll need anything thicker than a light sweater, although you’ll probably still want an umbrella just in case. Save on July London attraction admission Keen to experience all London has to offer in July? Admission to a whole host of London’s top attractions can be had with Go City, providing flexibility and great savings. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest hints and tips.
Ian Packham
A woman returns here rental bike after enjoying a ride around London
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Cheap things to do in London

You might scoff at the idea of there being cheap things to do in six-pounds-a-pint London. However, for those in the know it doesn’t take too much effort to find attractions that will eke out your savings. In fact, there’s very little you can’t do in London on a budget. Much of the city’s history, as well as its modern culture, thriving food scene and even many events can be enjoyed for very little money if you know where to head! Cheap museums and galleries in London The permanent exhibitions at the likes of the British Museum, Natural History Museum and Tate Modern are free to enter year-round, making for a very cheap day out in London. Many smaller museums and galleries can’t quite match this price point, but nonetheless include amazing objects within their collections. The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s modest admission allows visitors to get up close and personal with a giant of scientific discovery. Visitors are able to stand on the original prime meridian line denoting the eastern and western hemispheres, before going on to learn how the site changed the way we see the world with regard to both time and space. Within a fine example of Georgian architecture is the Benjamin Franklin House museum. The only remaining residence of the American Founding Father, its collection helps to detail Franklin’s life in London over 15 years through a mix of period furnishings and audiovisual displays. London’s budget eats If there’s one thing about traveling on a budget in London which worries visitors it’s staying well fed and watered. Whilst headlines about Salt Bae’s $1000 steaks and bar menus quoting $14 for a lager are common enough, there’s never been a better time to eat well for less. Just behind Euston train station, north west London’s Drummond Street rivals Brick Lane when it comes to cheap eats from the Indian subcontinent. Further north still, there’s plenty of options amidst the fashion stalls of Camden Market, with traditional fish and chips competing for attention against hotdogs and burritos. The converted shipping containers of Boxpark are another great option. Providing shared seating and a plethora of independent places to eat, there are three sites to look out for, in Wembley, Shoreditch and up-and-coming Croydon. London’s best value views For a bird’s eye view of the capital without the sky-high costs there are a number of potential attractions to consider. The best known is the covered Sky Garden topping out 20 Fenchurch Street – the Walkie Talkie building. Promising 360° views from London’s highest public garden, it’s free to visit, although you’ll need to pre-book a time slot. Less well known is the external balcony that sits beneath the bronze horse-drawn chariot carrying the goddess Victory on Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Its views extend across several Royal Parks. Tucked behind more recent buildings at the northern end of London Bridge lies The Monument. Built by Sir Christopher Wren of St Paul’s Cathedral fame to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666, its vertigo-inducing viewing platform puts you roughly 60 meters above ground level. The height marks its distance from the fire’s starting point on Pudding Lane. Low-cost nights out in the capital If your budget doesn’t stretch to a show in the West End, fear not, you don’t need to remove seeing a show from your list of cheap things to do in London just yet. The brutalist architecture of the Southbank Centre has long been the haunt of skaters and street artists, who together create a heady mix of spontaneity and art for passersby. The highest form of art has to go to the plays of The Bard. To experience the playwright’s greatest works as they were intended to be seen, head for the standing-only Groundling Yard of Shakespeare’s Globe. For the cost of a pint, you get closer to the stage than you probably thought possible. Also be sure to check out the listings sections of the weekend papers for details of London’s public events. June’s Trooping the Colour, August’s Notting Hill Carnival, and December’s Christmas markets lead a long list of events. Switch underground for overground The London Underground has been getting Londoners where they need to be for over 150 years. Ride the right double-decker buses instead, and you’ll get a tour of some of London’s top attractions thrown in for free. Jump aboard the number 24 from Victoria Station to whiz past Westminster Abbey, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, or flag down the number 11 to travel along Piccadilly to the Royal Albert Hall. Another alternative to the tube is London’s Santander Cycles, known to almost everyone as Boris Bikes after the former mayor Boris Johnson, who brought them to the capital’s streets and kick-started a cycling revolution in the process. Ride as far as you want (a few have made it all the way to Paris and back) for a set price that can see you recreating The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover and free-wheeling across Tower Bridge. Take a walk in the park Whichever part of London you find yourself in, it’s very likely there’s a public park nearby. The Westminster area boasts the triple alliance of Hyde Park, St James’s and Green Park, with Regent’s Park to the north and Battersea Park lining the Thames’ south bank. Elsewhere, Highgate Cemetery is a historic burial place with grand tombs and the unofficial status of a nature reserve. One of London’s ‘magnificent seven’ graveyards, it has around 170,000 interments. Amongst them are famous faces including poet Christina Rossetti, singer George Michael, novelist George Eliot, socialist thinker Karl Marx, and if legend is to be believed, the Highgate Vampire too. The cheap things to do in London don’t end there Of course, there is another way to explore London in a budget-friendly way without having to miss out on the big-ticket attractions that brought you to the British capital in the first place. Go City lets you visit the London attractions you want to, when you want to, whilst giving you incredible savings on attraction admission. That trip to London doesn’t look so expensive after all, does it?
Ian Packham

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