New York

New York City packs Broadway, world-class museums and a skyline kids already recognise from films into one dense, walkable, English-speaking trip. Five days is enough to cover the highlights without rushing — the subway is part of the fun, not just transport. Expect prices for hotels, meals and tickets noticeably higher than most of Europe, and book major sights ahead. Spring and autumn bring mild weather and shorter queues than summer’s heat and crowds.

For families, New York condenses a lifetime of “someday” trips into one subway-connected island: dinosaur skeletons at the American Museum of Natural History, a carousel and rowboats in Central Park, and a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty before lunch. English signage, pizza-by-the-slice on every corner and stroller-friendly (if crowded) sidewalks make it one of the easier big cities to navigate with young children. The honest trade-off is cost and pace: a family of four can spend more on one Broadway show and dinner than a full day in most European capitals, and popular sights reward early starts — the queue for the Statue of Liberty ferry or the 9/11 Memorial can double by midday. Look for museum “pay what you wish” hours to soften the bill, and plan fewer, deeper stops rather than a packed checklist.