THE FIVE BOROUGHS
Geographically speaking, New York City is made up of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. Each of these boroughs has its own distinct personality, rich history, and plenty of reasons to visit — you just have to work out how to fit them all in
The Bronx
Home to the New York Yankees baseball team, and the birthplace of hip- hop — as well as pop goddess Jennifer Lopez. Culturally diverse, around 1.5 million people call the Bronx home, and key sights include the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden and the ‘ real Little Italy’ in the Belmont neighbourhood.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is New York’s most populous borough ( and famously where a certain Beckham was conceived) and is the city’s home of hip, with plenty of culture, creativity and cuisine to keep you entertained. The neighbourhood of Williamsburg has earned the nickname Little Berlin thanks to its contemporary arts scene, hipster credentials and busy nightlife — including plenty of LGBT+ venues.
Manhattan
This is the big one — but not in terms of population or area. More than 1.6 million people are squeezed into just 23 square miles, almost half the total area of the Bronx, New York’s second smallest borough. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for elsewhere, and the chances are that if you’ve been to New York you’ll have spent most of your time in Manhattan. Museums, skyscrapers, Central Park, Times Square and the birth of the LGBT+ rights movement at the Stonewall Inn — Manhattan has it all, including a cocktail named after it ( see p44).
Queens
The most eastern borough — and traditionally one of the most suburban — Queens is home to two of the city’s three airports, LaGuardia and JFK, and has a reputation for daring art, world cuisine, beautiful green spaces and major sporting events. The New York Mets play baseball at Citi Field, and nearby Flushing Meadows hosts the US Open tennis tournament every August.
Staten Island
Reached by a free ride aboard the iconic Staten Island Ferry, this last borough is sometimes called ‘ the forgotten borough’ by inhabitants who feel the city government focuses its attention elsewhere. But don’t let that put you off — reasons to visit include cultural attractions, architectural marvels, epicurean delights and bagging a deal at the Empire Outlets, which opens in April.