Is Financial District a good place to stay in New York?

The Financial District is a good base if you want lower Manhattan's big sights and fast subways in every direction. The memorial at the World Trade Center, Wall Street, Battery Park and the Brooklyn Bridge are all within walking distance, and Fulton Center and the World Trade Center stations put you on lines to Midtown, Brooklyn and the airport. It suits first-time visitors, business travellers and anyone who finds a good deal here.

The area mixes old and new New York. Narrow streets laid out by the Dutch run between glass towers and grand stone banks, from the Stock Exchange and Federal Hall to the Oculus at the World Trade Center. Stone Street is a cobbled lane of pubs with outdoor tables, Fraunces Tavern serves food in a historic building, and the South Street Seaport has old ships and views of the East River.

The downside is that the district empties out after office hours. Evenings and weekends can feel very quiet, and much of the food on weekdays is aimed at office workers grabbing lunch. You're also a subway ride from Times Square, Central Park and the Broadway theatres, so Midtown evenings mean travelling back downtown.

What makes the Financial District worth considering is how much history and harbour you get around your hotel. You can walk to the memorial pools, catch an early ferry to the Statue of Liberty and stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. With so many subway lines close by and rooms that are often cheaper than in Midtown, it's a practical and interesting base.