Central Park New York: The Complete Visitor Guide

Central Park — 843 acres of sculpted landscape in the exact centre of Manhattan — is one of the world's great urban spaces: 42 million visitors per year, 58 miles of footpaths, nine bodies of water, and a design (by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, 1858) that has been called the finest piece of large-scale urban design in American history.

Must-See Spots

• Bethesda Fountain & Terrace — the park's formal heart. The Angel of the Waters statue and the lake view beneath. Every film set in New York has been here.
• The Ramble — 36 acres of designed "wild" woodland. Exceptional birding (May migration) and the most peaceful spot in the park.
• Strawberry Fields — the John Lennon memorial, opposite the Dakota building where he was shot. The mosaic "Imagine" is a pilgrimage site.
• The Reservoir (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir) — a 1.58-mile running loop with skyline reflections used by New Yorkers since the 19th century.

Free Attractions in the Park

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (pay what you wish for NY State residents; $30 for non-residents), Delacorte Theater (free Shakespeare in the Park, June-August — queue early for same-day tickets), SummerStage concerts (many free).