I don’t know if I can think of any other city in the world that has starred in more films or television series than New York. Perhaps one of the most iconic and popular series filmed in the city follows four ladies, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, as they experience the highs and lows of life in the city. Yes, that’s right – I’m talking about Sex and The City!
The series was actually revolutionary in the way it captured New York in real time, with the girls visiting exhibitions, restaurants or cafes in Manhattan, that were actually happening at the time. Watchers were keen to scout out where the girls had been in the episode as soon as it aired, and started a popular movement to live life in the footsteps of Carrie and Co.
When I was in New York a couple of months ago, I was invited to join On Location’s Sex and The City tour, and it was an offer I just could not refuse.
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Sex and the City Hotspots Tour
Dragging my boyfriend Dom with me, we set off on a grey and drizzly New York morning to the starting point of the tour – the Pulitzer Fountain in front of the lavish Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue. It was there that we met up with our guide Lou and the rest of the tour group, most of whom were huddled beneath umbrellas and sheltering from the rain!
At 11am on the dot, our tour bus arrived and we all jumped aboard. Despite the pretty miserable weather outside we were all ready to see the glitz and the glamour of Sex and The City’s New York!
Safely aboard the bus and out of the rain we settled into our seats. Video screens played relevant clips from the show and films as we travelled through the city.
The Plaza had acted as a great starting point for our tour as, along with its easy access via Subway and proximity to Central, it is also where Big had his engagement party with Natasha. The hotel is also home to The Oak Room which is where Samantha met her senior millionaire. Nearby, we spotted the The Paris Theatre where Carrie shows her independence by going on a date with herself, and of course we were not far from Central Park.
Travelling down 5th we passed the one and only Tiffany’s where Charlotte picked her engagement ring and a little further down 5th was St Patrick’s Cathedral and the New York Public Library – which both played a role in the second film, the latter of which was the location for Carrie’s almost-wedding to Big.
Veering off 5th Avenue, we cut sideways through midtown, passing by the church of Friar F**k, as well as the spot where Miranda confesses to Carrie that she is pregnant and Madison Square Park where Charlotte’s dog gets caught up in some frisky activities!
Venturing closer towards West Village we passed ABC Carpet & Home, a homeware depot where Charlotte and Trey fought over a bed, and where Charlotte bumps into one of her two dates who she has inadvertently double booked. Close by was the Blue Water Grill another ‘Charlotte’ location, and the neighbourhood Coffee Shop also featured in the series as the sports bar where the ladies enjoyed free drinks.
Our first stop of the day was Pleasure Chest, a sex shop where the girls bought Charlotte “The Rabbit.” Whilst a small proportion of our tour group ventured inside, we took the opportunity to check out some of the picturesque side streets. It really is true when people say West Village is one of the most beautiful parts of Manhattan.
Back aboard the bus, the route took us past the New York Sports Club, the spot where Miranda spent many hours training for the marathon and met her single-dad boyfriend. We also learned from our guide that, Carrie’s book party in the finale was actually filmed in West Village rather than in Paris.
Lou pointed out the Texan restaurant Cowgirl (which supposedly does great brunch btw) as we drove along Hudson Street, where Carrie and Miranda, bump into Steve and Aidan – with their dogs and new girlfriends (awkward!) and not too far away, we saw the cute Bleecker Street Playground where Miranda spots Steve’s girlfriend Debbie as well as where Carrie has to face her ‘look’ girl with Heather Graham.
Our next stop was Buddakan an Asian fusion restaurant located in Chelsea, literally just up the street from the Chelsea Market. It was in this lavish restaurant that Carrie and Big’s engagement party took place and where Big gave Carrie her last “single girl kiss”.
The bus then took us on a brief loop through the trendy Meatpacking District, no longer a place for the butchers but instead an epicentre of fashion, pricey boutiques and trendy nightclubs. On the way Lou pointed out Aidan’s furniture shop, which is in reality an architects’ office, and Soho House where the girls enjoyed a dip in the pool after Samantha finds a membership card. We also got to see the location of Samantha’s birthday party in the movie (which is in real life the Vitra Store) as well as Bubby’s High Line rooftop where the girls had a wild night partying.
Our third stop was in the Village where we had some time to stroll around the neighbourhood exploring the boutiques of Bleecker Street. I’ve decided that, should I ever move to New York, this is where I’ll live .. or maybe Brooklyn (or a flat in each?). We also made the short pilgrimage to the brownstone on Perry Street, recognisable as Carrie’s flat, which is in reality a huge four thousand square metre private home with four floors, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, six fireplaces and a backyard. Bit greedy if you ask me..! I’m sure it’ll make you feel even better to hear that it was bought in 2012 for a whopping $9.85 million.
We also enjoyed a cupcake sort of treat, from Eleni’s in the Chelsea Market – I couldn’t resist the Oreo flavour – before heading off on our way past Sushisamba, Charlotte’s gallery, and the restaurant in which Samantha invited the girls to Abu Dhabi in the second film.
Our fourth and final stop of the day was Onieal’s bar, once a speakeasy which not only provided the obvious but also had a secret entrance for police officers. Onieal’s was home to Scout, the bar that Steve and Aidan opened together, and it was here that we stopped for a Cosmopolitan.
Although I was reluctant to leave the upmarket streets of SoHo, we climbed back aboard the bus one last time and headed uptown, crossing off yet more hotspots including the Starbucks on Union Square which is where Carrie met Louise in the movie, as well as the Barnes & Noble on Union Square, where Carrie spent some time browsing before her book was released. A little further along the route took us past the Hotel Giraffe, which served as Big’s apartment in the film. Our tour came to an end at Bryant Park, behind the New York Public Library – the perfect place to make for the shops, having been inspired by Carrie’s outfits and the fashion of SATC!
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Even though I am by no means the biggest SATC fan out there, I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the experience we had, seeing the city through the ladies’ eyes. It was a great way to explore new parts of town and see the West Village as more than just a neighbourhood ‘browser’. The tour also opened my eyes to how relevant the show is even today.
Our tour guide Lou was excellent and provided us with all those interesting, extra facts – like for example, how Carrie’s tutu in the opening sequence of the film actually cost $15 and that in Sarah Jessica Parker’s contract it stated that she got to keep every item of clothing she wore on the show, including the shoes – um, jealous?!
Whilst you could of course opt to scout out these locations yourself, this tour makes it so easy and enjoyable for visitors. Not only do they point out the sights, show you relevant clips and give you behind the scenes knowledge and fun filming facts, but they do so from the comfort of a tour bus!
If Sex and the City isn’t really your thing, On Location Tours also offers a varied selection of themed tours in both New York and Boston, including Gossip Girl and The Sopranos, as well as the NYC and Boston TV and Movie Sites Tours.
What you need to know:
When: Sunday – Thursday at 11am and Friday – Saturday at 11am & 3pm (availability may vary).
Cost: $47 + $2 ticket fee
Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours
http://onlocationtours.com/tour/sex-and-the-city/
Giveaway Time
The wonderful people at On Location Tours and I have teamed up to give you the chance to win two free tickets to a tour of your choice. Whether you happen to be passing through New York this summer or not, you can still enter and keep your winnings for your next trip to the Big Apple! All you need to do to enter is complete the giveaway form below!
Terms and conditions: – Competition will run from 30/06/16 at 12am and end 20/07/16 at 12am GMT – Competition is open worldwide – Prize is non-refundable and no cash alternative will be offered. – The winner is chosen at random using Rafflecopter. – The winner will be contacted via email and will be sent the tickets directly from On Location Tours.
Further information about On Location Tours can be found on their website.
Good luck!
*Note: I received a complimentary tour from On Location Tours. But, as always, all opinions are my own.
