It's one of the world's most exciting cities, famed for its skyscrapers, culture and friendly locals. Thanks to its being a relatively short hop across the pond, the Big Apple has become accessible to millions of city breakers in the UK and Europe. So, once you've booked your flights, it's time to explore the impressive range of New York City hotels.

The US's most populous city certainly isn't short of landmarks - you might catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty from your aeroplane window, while the Manhattan skyline is unmistakable. Many visitors want to be close to all of this action, which could explain why Times Square hotels are so popular.

Times Square is regarded as New York's nerve centre. As Manhattan's most popular landmark, it has become a symbol for everything the Big Apple stands for and is adorned with huge billboards, neon lighting and countless yellow taxi cabs ferrying tourists and businessmen from A to B.

Surrounding Times Square is New York's Theatre District, an area that contains a plethora of theatres, cinemas, restaurants and hotels. Among the most sought after is the Best Western President Hotel at Times Square, which is located just a short walk from the Rockerfeller Center - the world's largest and most famous theatre. Also close by is Madison Square Garden, which hosts around 320 events a year - almost one every day. What's more, the Empire State Building, once the tallest building in the world, is just a few minutes' walk away.

New York City accommodation is remarkably easy to find, and you can be sure of discovering a city centre hotel that meets your requirements and matches your budget. All you need to do is decide what time of year you wish to visit. Those in the know like to visit in spring, when temperatures are mild and the city's tree-lined streets are decorated with blossom.

If you're considering hotels in New York City during the summer, you'll certainly enjoy some long, hot sunny days. What's more, during the summer months there are some spectacular thunderstorms in the Big Apple - so the keen photographers among you may be able to capture some stunning images of lightning above the Manhattan skyline.

Perhaps you'd rather steer clear of the balmy temperatures and instead visit the city during the winter? New York is arguably at its most magical in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas, and with the relatively favourable exchange rate, shoppers from across the pond can look forward to grabbing themselves a bargain before December 25th arrives. Just remember to wrap up warm - it can get pretty chilly.

Cheap New York City hotels offer access to one of the world's most famous monuments - the Statue of Liberty. The huge sculpture, which is reached by a boat sailing to Liberty Island, was a gift to the city from the people of France in 1886. Now an iconic symbol of freedom, some 240 people each day climb to the crown for superb views across the water to Manhattan.

While all visitors have to pay a few dollars to access the statue via the ferry, the structure itself is free to visit. If you want to make the journey to Liberty Island, head to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan where you'll find the boats ready and waiting for you.

Hotels in New York Midtown are arguably the best cheap accommodation option for Big Apple city breakers. Times Square, Broadway and the Rockefeller Center are all located here - as are the iconic Empire State and Chrysler buildings. The latter is an architectural marvel and is regarded as a classic Art Deco structure. Standing at 1,047 ft tall, it was also the world's tallest building for 11 months before being surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. To preserve its stature as one of the city's highest structures, however, the 2007-opened New York Times Building was built to match its height exactly.

The Hilton Hotel New York is one of the most popular accommodation choices in Midtown. Close by are all the aforementioned attractions as well as the Museum of Modern Art - an absolute must for art lovers visiting the city. Regarded as the world's most influential modern art museum, it includes some 150,000 individual pieces, 22,000 films and around four million film stills. Highlights include Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night, Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory.

The Hilton is also located close to Grand Central Station, Times Square and the surrounding entertainment district - so if you choose to stay here, you'll never be far away from the action.

After a night on the tiles or a hard morning's sightseeing, a sensible option is to head to Central Park. Despite being visited by approximately 25 million people per year, the park is so large - 770 acres, in fact - that it shouldn't be difficult to find your own secluded spot. Having been designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963, Central Park is the most visited attraction of its kind in the US. Not only is it popular with those taking a little time out, the park is also the temporary home of swathes of inline skaters, joggers and cyclists - particularly after 19:00 when all traffic inside its boundaries is banned.

Located just east of Central Park is The Guggenheim or, to give it its proper title, the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. While it too houses an impressive collection of early modern and contemporary art, it also accommodates a world-renowned selection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. You don't have to venture inside to be impressed, however - the museum is rather striking from the outside and is rightly regarded as one of the last century's most important landmarks.

So, if you're thinking of treating yourself to a city break in New York, consider staying close to the action in Midtown Manhattan. All the top attractions are close by; it will just be left to you to see how much you can cram in to your stay.