I really recommend hiring bicycles to get the most out of an hour in Central Park. Hire from the Loeb Boathouse is $9 for an hour on a "cruiser" which is a bike without gears (or actually brakes, but don't let that put you off!). You will also need to leave something like a passport or a driver's licence as a deposit. There's a good path around the outside of the Park, which is about 8 miles (apparently). There is one awful hill at around 103rd street, but once you're over that (I pushed my bike up), you're away. It's a great way to see all the sights of the park, without taking up an entire day - the full circuit took us about an hour. Finish off with a frozen lemonade from one of the stands by the Bethesda Fountain -you'll deserve it!

Loeb Boathouse, Central Park (roughly in the middle of the Park, at about 72nd Street)

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

This is a great little cafe right at the top of North Laine. It's got classic tunes on the stereo - motown, soul and rock and roll - and the cash till was in Quadrophenia. In keeping with the retro theme everything is served on vintage crockery, think 50s Pyrex plates and coffee cups. They have a good range of sandwiches and cake as well as coffee and a lovely coke float. In the summer you can sit outside on the street, or on a patio at the back. It makes the walk up the hill totally worth it, and it's the perfect way to round off a shopping trip.

37 Sydney St, Brighton, BN1 4EP;
01273 604206

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends