Is Chelsea a good place to stay in New York?

Chelsea is a good base if you want somewhere central with more character than Midtown. The High Line, Chelsea Market, the galleries and the West Village are all within walking distance, and the subways on Eighth Avenue and Seventh Avenue take you straight up to Times Square. It suits couples, art lovers and first-time visitors who want a real neighbourhood around them.

The area mixes leafy brownstone streets with converted warehouses and new towers. The High Line runs along its western edge, past dozens of galleries on the side streets near Tenth Avenue, and Chelsea Market has food stalls and shops in an old biscuit factory. Eighth Avenue is lined with restaurants and bars, and the Hotel Chelsea still stands on West Twenty-Third Street.

The downside is the price. Hotels are fewer and more expensive than in Midtown, and the best boutique options cost a lot for rooms that are often small. Chelsea Market and the High Line get crowded at weekends, and the far west of the neighbourhood is a long walk from the subway.

What makes Chelsea special is how easy it is to enjoy. You can walk the High Line, browse galleries for free, eat your way through Chelsea Market and stroll down to the Village for dinner. It feels like a place where New Yorkers actually live, yet Midtown is only a few stops away.