Times Square

Known as the place that never sleeps and iconified as “The Crossroad of the World” and “The Great White Way”, Times Square is a huge, brightly illuminated space in midtown Manhattan and the hub of the Broadway theater district. The world’s busiest pedestrian intersection, the square is busy 24 hours a day, with nearly 40 million visitors a year.

Until 1904, it was called Longacre Square but was renamed after the New York Times moved to the new Times Building, now the site of the annual ball drop on New Year’s Eve. The first electrified advertisement appeared at the corner of 46th Street and Broadway soon after.

With the onset of the Great Depression, Times Square was considered to be a very dangerous area thanks to its many seedy establishments. But during the commercial building boom of the 1980s, a long term development plan was undertaken and in the 1990s, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani led an effort to clean up the area.

Times Square is now famous for the diversity of activities on offer and its plethora of animated neon and LED signs—named “spectaculars”; the largest being called “jumbotrons”—that rival Las Vegas in density.

The Square has a huge tourist, entertainment, and corporate presence. You can visit museums, bars, restaurants, and world brand shops. The adjacent Broadway has 40 professional theaters offering plays, operas, musicals, and concerts. If visiting for New Year, you simply must join the crowds for the New Year's Eve ball drop; a brightly illuminated ball is lowered 75 ft (23 m) down a flagpole to signal the start of the new year. There are always special guests helping the Mayor lower the ball.

When visiting Times Square, remember that it is a smoke-free area and if caught with a lit cigarette, you can be fined $50! The place tends to be crowded so watch your bag and personal belongings. Do not leave your children alone; dress them in bright colors so you don’t lose them. In such a large pedestrian zone you can walk safely.

Times Square is at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and spans from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. Because it is also a transportation hub, there are many subway stations around, including 49th Street, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Bryant Park. Two railway stations, Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station, are within walking distance.

• Official website

• Wikipedia