Quick answer: Four nights in New York costs roughly £1,100–£1,800 per person with flights and a midtown hotel. April to June and September to November are the months to go.
Cite this page: Atravel.uk, “New York from the UK”, updated 12 November 2026. https://atravel.uk/destinations/new-york/
New York is the one long-haul city that works as a four-night break: no car, no tour, just a grid you can walk and a subway that runs all night. The cost is the flight and the hotel, and everything else is up to you.
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When to go
- Best months: April to June, September to early November
- Cheapest months: January and February, if you can take the cold
- Avoid: Thanksgiving week and the run-up to Christmas, when hotels peak
What it costs
| Return flights from the UK | £380–£750 |
|---|---|
| Midtown hotel, per night | £180–£320 |
| Subway ride | About £2.20 |
| ESTA | About £30 |
Typical ranges from our partner searches, 2026-11-12. Both the season and the booking window shift these figures.
Getting there
Direct flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh to JFK or Newark in 7h 30m to 8h. From JFK, the AirTrain and subway take about an hour to midtown for £9; a taxi is a flat £55–£70 plus tolls.
Flights to New York from the UK
4 UK airports have non-stop flights to New York, landing at JFK and Newark (EWR). The full month-by-month fare bands are on the cheapest month page, and a two-night budget is on what a weekend costs.
| From | Flight time | Cheapest month | Returns from |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | 7h 45m | January | £325 |
| London Heathrow | 7h 45m | January | £325 |
| Edinburgh | 8h 00m | January | £340 |
| Manchester | 8h 00m | January | £340 |
Indicative return bands from our partner searches, city airport to arrival. The full month-by-month table is on each route page.
All 149 UK flight routes we cover
What to see
- Central Park on foot from the Reservoir to Bethesda Terrace
- The Met or MoMA, one of them, properly
- The High Line and Chelsea Market in the same morning
- Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise, then breakfast in Dumbo
Where to stay
Midtown for convenience and noise, the Lower East Side for food, Brooklyn Heights for space and a view back at the skyline.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in New York?
Four full days is the sweet spot. Three feels rushed, five lets you slow down and see Brooklyn properly.
Do I need an ESTA?
Yes, and apply on the official US site only. It costs about £30 and is usually approved within an hour.
Is tipping still 20%?
Yes, in restaurants and bars. Tax is added at the till, so the menu price is not what you pay.
Also worth a look
- Orlando: The theme-park trip, planned properly.
- Dublin: The shortest city break from Britain, and the friendliest.
- London: The most museums you can see for free anywhere in Europe.