New York City versus London: Who Wins for Tourists?

Airports: Tie- They're all awful!

Well-traveled chef and New Yorker, Anthony Bourdain says it best: “there are three major airports in the New York City area, and they all pretty much suck!” [Television series episode] (The Layover- New York City, 2012, Discovery)

Landing at LaGuardia International felt to me more like landing of a small town bus depot than one of the most visited tourist cities in the world. Concourses are narrow, stores and restaurants are very limited and the whole place feels a bit drab. While LaGuardia is closer to the tourist area of NYC, your only way to get there is a cab in most cases. JFK and Newark are farther away, and I have heard they aren’t much better in terms of facilities.

London’s Heathrow is the third busiest airport on earth, and it's a behemoth! While it features decent shops and services it is a nightmare to get around because it’s so freaking huge! I hope you like walking! I also have heard way too many horror stories from friends of losing their luggage at Heathrow. Gatwick airport does not get as many flights and it also is farther away from the tourist center of London.

The nicest part about landing at LaGuardia is this sign. Otherwise, ugh!

Sports: New York City

New York City wins if you’re sports fan, hands-down! NYC has a long tradition of great sports teams, with the Rangers and Knicks occupying Madison Square Garden, the Islanders NHL team on Long Island, the Jets and Giants NFL football teams, and of course the Yankees and Mets! The New York Red Bulls are also a good MLS soccer team! I haven’t even mentioned the variety of teams in New Jersey just across the Hudson River, or the large amount of college teams in the New York area! NYC is a pure sports Mecca and the fans are incredibly passionate.

London is pure soccer heaven and if you’re into sports like rugby and cricket you’ll also enjoy it more than NYC. In fact there even is a nice hockey team called the Flames in the London area! (The Guildford Flames) New York City has such great variety though, with historic stadiums like Madison Square Garden and beautiful new stadiums such as MetLife Stadium, where the Giants play that any sports fan is sure to enjoy a trip there.

The Rangers and Devils warm up in historic Madison Square Garden.

Public Transit: London

London’s “Tube” is the oldest subway system in the world, while the subway in NYC is the oldest in North America. The Tube is much better maintained. London subway features an eclectic mix of well-lit stations with an architectural variety that often pays homage to the transit system’s history. The Oyster Card system makes payment for transit easy. One can hop on and off the Tube and the legendary double-decker buses quickly and easily. Thank goodness, because the taxes in London are incredibly expensive. A ride from Heathrow to central London can cost the equivalent of $100 CAD!

While New York’s subway system helps get people from point A to point B well enough, most of the stations are downright rundown. The subway system in New York City also seems to be much harder to navigate, with a complicated system of tracks. The magnetic card system of payment is older technology than the Oyster Card, and more of a hassle. It still is worth while riding the subway in New York City, but a taxi might be a better choice in some situations.

Munching on a cornish pasty in London's Waterloo Station.

Food: New York City

If you think this category would be won by New York City, you’d be correct. It doesn't win by as much of a margin as you might expect, though!

If you can eat it, you probably can find in New York City! Undoubtedly, NYC is one of the greatest food cities on earth! Period.

When I was in New York City, my hotel was near Hell’s Kitchen. That district is named for the intensity of working in the restaurant industry, and I enjoyed a number of great meals there at restaurants of nearly every ethnicity imaginable! That being said, all of the boroughs feature wonderful food. NYC also is a street food heaven, where handing over a few dollar bills can get you a great meal right on the sidewalk!

That being said, if you think food in London is bad, your impression of the cuisine is probably stuck back in the 1980s. I had one of the best meals of my life in London at St. John Hotel in Leicester Square, owned by the legendary Fergus Henderson. Like New York, London is a city of immigrants with a great variety of food. Great Britain is also embracing their agricultural heritage with a wonderful variety of fresh produce, meats and dairy products being used.

Enjoying almond brioche french toast from Amy's Bread in NYC!

Culture: London

When I was in New York City, I always felt a little bit rushed. The frenetic pace of Times Square and other New York sites was simultaneously wonderful and overwhelming.

As much as I enjoyed NYC, I always felt more relaxed in London. I frankly felt more safe in London. So when I contemplate the general culture of both cities, meaning the general “feeling,” London wins in my mind.

London also wins if your definition of culture is more sophisticated. Part of this is because Great Britain has much more history than New York City. The museums have older works of art, for instance. Both cities feature an incredible variety of arts, though.

Exploring Shakespeare's Globe, a 1997 reconstruction.

The Final Verdict: A Tie!

Both cities had notable pros and cons for tourists. In the end, I really can't pick just one! I love both cities for different reasons, and I hope to go back to both of them someday!

Both awesome!