Last month, myself and my partner Samantha headed to New York City on a trip of a lifetime for five nights.
The city was everything we expected and more as we both managed to see and do everything we had hoped to do which went from walking over the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise, eating pizza in the West Village and strolling through Central Park.
One place which we just had to visit was the Empire State Building which is arguably one of the most recognisable buildings in not just the USA but the world.
Before we headed to the building which was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and built in the early 1930s, a lot of people we knew that had already visited the city had said that it wasn’t their favourite skyscraper compared to Top of the Rock or Summit One Vanderbilt. One of the reasons why many people say this is because they want their skyline pictures to feature the iconic building but we weren’t fussed about that, and wanted to check out the view ourselves.
As soon as you enter the Empire State Building you are met with a real sense of history and tradition that stretches back over 90 years. We had been walking about the city, and we were never too far away from spotting the towering building that King Kong once clung on to before being shot down by planes.
If you are planning a visit to New York in the future or even visiting the city as part of the 2026 World Cup, you simply have to visit the Empire State Building.

13. Empire State Building
Due to the weather, the views were limited from the 102nd floor but it was still well worth going up to. On a clear day you get panoramic views of the city from here. | Declan McConville

14. Empire State Building
Looking down on Manhattan from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building. | Declan McConville

15. Empire State Building
If you are a fan of the film Elf, make sure to channel your inner Will Ferrell on your way out the building. | Declan McConville


