New York is everything you ever read about it – loud, energetic, sassy, glamorous – the planet’s urban epicentre, if that’s not too big a claim.

The Big Apple has also shown its courageous side – fighting back from the horrors of 9/11. Its mesmerising appeal comes in different forms from other world-class cities: the lights that hold back the night, the zany and cosmopolitan characters on the street, the tall, tall buildings and the exhilarating pace of life. It’s cinematic – the backdrop for more than 200 movies a year.

It’s musical - getting name-checked in more songs than any other place on earth. There’s top-notch art, architecture, food, shopping and entertainment. There are landmarks that could tell a thousand stories: Times Square, 42nd Street, the Empire State Building … New York is a city of sights, sounds, smells and tastes and it won’t take you long to feel the vibe.