Flatiron Building

One of New York's enduring symbols, Daniel Burnhams triangular steel framed skyscraper really is a must for photographers and painters.

The Flatiron District and its surrounding areas have much to commend them. They are a cool breeze to the whirlwind of the more tourist-packed areas. Situated between the shabby-chic East Village and the corporate glamour of Midtown, this elegant area contains fewer visitors, several of the city's best restaurants and shops, and a selection of historically significant buildings.

The most prominent of these is the Flatiron Building. Cutting a dash of intricate white terracotta on a steel frame, the building rises from the southwest corner of Madison Square Park. Designed by Chicago's Daniel Burnham it has a very charming and unusual shape befitting its name: iron-like, tapering to a very slim end within which just about fits a skinny window on each floor. It was originally called the Fuller Building but renamed in honour of its form. The Flatiron is said to be New York's first skyscraper, its twenty floors built in 1902, then towering over its neighbouring buildings at 285 feet.

The green spaces and squares around this area are worthy of note. Across the road from the Flatiron lies Madison Square Park, a breath of fresh air amidst the traffic and a favourite amongst workers on lunch break. Here, the chain Shake Shack can be found with its tasty array of traditional American fare: milkshakes, hotdogs and burgers.

Following Broadway south will reveal Union Square, a more bustling open space that houses the lively Farmer's Market selling cider, fruit and veg, cheese, meats and more. This too is flanked by a small area of greenery and benches upon which to consume those market purchases, and listen to the wannabe auteurs and starry-eyed students from the New York Film Academy discussing the next big idea.

Between both parks, to the northeast of Union Square, is a park of a different ilk. Gramercy Park is a members-only area, previously graced by the rich and famous including the Kennedys and Mark Twain. The elegance of the Flatiron District is echoed here in its neat shrubbery and flowerbeds.

As New York 's last private park, it seems a shame that for most of the day it lies empty, although that's not to say there's no activity: a bevy of pigeons and squirrels make the most of the human absence. It is worth a stroll around the fence, particularly in the winter when the foliage is less dense.

Nearby on East 20th Street, south of the park, is The Players, a private club whose esteemed members have included Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill. Further west along the same road is the reconstructed birthplace of the only US president from New York City: Theodore Roosevelt. Therein lies a small gallery documenting his life.