A lush oasis in the heart of the world’s most recognised urban jungle, Central Park revitalises locals and tourists alike with its 843 acres of greenery. As one of the most recognised public spaces on the planet, it mesmerises visitors with a line-up of sites and attractions that take days on end to explore. From majestic elm-lined walkways and beautifully manicured European-inspired gardens to duck-dotted lakes and rolling grass meadows, Central Park is an inner city wonderland.
Year round, the public park is brimming with fun. In summer, visitors flock to catch free outdoor concerts on the Great Lawn, row boats on The Lake, picnic on Sheep Meadow, bird watch in the Ramble and meander around Central Park Zoo. In winter, snowstorms bring a flurry of cross-country skiing, outdoor ice-skating rinks and romantic horse-drawn carriage rides. Diehard fans of The Beatles won’t want to miss a visit to the John Lennon memorial, while Lewis Carroll admirers are always enchanted by the famous Alice in Wonderland statue.
Central Park can be accessed via a handful of New York City Subway stops. A quartet of roadways surrounds it, with several drives and transverses crisscrossing their way through the park. Most prefer to wander around the park on foot, though cycling, jogging, roller-skating and horse-drawn carriages are also popular ways to get around.
Designed in the 1860s by American landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park was originally envisioned as a class leveller. Today, the public leisure space continues to serve its purpose, with the “people’s park” serving as an urban oasis to all New Yorkers.