Sometimes taking a stroll through Central Park feels like being in a timeless romantic film. Perhaps it’s the horse-drawn carriages and the tree-lined pathways. Or perhaps it’s the fact that, well, hundreds of movies have been shot in Central Park.
The unique New York City walking tour through world-famous Central Park highlights more than 30 film and television locations that have been used in TV shows and movies shot in the most filmed location in the world, Central Park. This two-hour walking tour is a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon strolling through what was the first public park built in America.
There are 40 locations in all, which means that you’ll have ample opportunity to pose for the camera a la Holly Golightly.
Led by actors and actresses, the New York tour of Central Park Movie Sites also showcases locations from Taxi Driver, Wall Street, Crocodile Dundee, The Producers, Godspell, Prisoner of Second Avenue, Independence Day, King of New York, Barefoot in the Park, The Way We Were, New York Stories, The Out of Towners, Little Manhattan, I’m Not Rappaport and many others.
Visit other landmarks in the park such as The Carousel, Bow Bridge, Wollman Rink, Gapstow Bridge, The Dairy, Sheep’s Meadow, Cherry Hill, and the skyline of the Upper West Side.
As you are traveling through Central Park on our guided sightseeing tour, you will see the stone Gapstow Bridge which is featured in Home Alone 2. From the bridge you will be able to see the famous 19-story Plaza Hotel, which has been featured in several films including The Way We Were, Barefoot in the Park, Brewster’s Millions, It Could Happen To You, Big Business, Crocodile Dundee, Almost Famous, King of New York and many more. Next you will be traveling to the Wollman Skating Rink, one of the two ice skating rinks located in the park. This rink was featured in Serendipity, Home Alone 2, Stepmom, The January Man and Love Story.
After visiting the ice skating rink you will be heading to the most known attraction in Central Park, the Carousel. For just $2 you can enjoy the carousel ride where films such as The Producers, The Spanish Prisoner, Up the Sandbox and I’m not Rappaport were filmed. Next you will see a beautiful Victorian gothic building known as the Dairy, which is featured in Independence Day.
The Mall, also known as the Promenade, is the next thing you will be walking through on this guided sightseeing tour. You will definitely be able to tell why this area is so popular for socializing and relaxing. Movies such as Serendipity, Vanilla Sky, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Big Daddy and Kramer vs. Kramer all had scenes that were featured in the Promenade.
After a stroll through the Promenade, you will spot the Bethesda Terrace, with the famous Bethesda Fountain located in the middle. As you are making your way through the crowd of people relaxing here you will be in the location where films such as Ransom, Godspell, Home Alone 2, Green Card, It Could Happen to You, Deconstructing Harry, Out of Towners, Prisoner of Second Avenue and Stuart Little II were filmed. The Bethesda Terra is also finale location for the big musical number, “That’s How You Know,” from Enchanted. Giselle (Amy Adams) questions Robert (Patrick Dempsey) on how he displays his affection for Nancy (Idina Menzel) and spontaneously starts the musical production number, with everyone in the park performing with her.
Take a look at the huge twenty-two acre lake which is Central Park’s largest body of water, not including the Reservoir. On a warm day people will be participating in all kinds of water activities such as row boating. The Manchurian Candidate was featured at this famous lake. Although you won’t have enough time to eat at the Boathouse Restaurant on the walking tour you can surely stop and grab something to eat afterwards. This is the restaurant featured in films such as When Harry Met Sally, Sex and the City and Little Manhattan.
At this point of the walking tour you will be situated mid-park at 74th street and making your way to the Bow Bridge. This cast iron bridge was featured in films such as Autumn in New York, Keeping the Faith, Little Manhattan, The Way We Were and Woody Allen's Manhattan. The bridge stretches over the lake and leads you right to Cherry Hill. Here you will notice beautiful cherry trees in the springtime and feel as if you were part of the scene where films such as The Mirror has Two Faces, Big Daddy, Cruel Intentions and Little Manhattan.
Once you have toured Cherry Hill, the tour guides will take you to the cultural landmark, the Bandshell, featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I’m Not Rappaport, Mighty Aphrodite and Hair. You can stand where Martin Luther King and plenty of musicians stood to make speeches or conduct performances at this location.
Next the tour will take you through Strawberry Fields. This area was dedicated to John Lennon in 1985 after his death in 1980. John Lennon’s death affected thousands of people and this small area in Central Park located on the West side between 71st and 74th street serves as a tribute to his life and music. This location was also featured in Little Manhattan.
Next stop on the Central Park TV & Movie Sites Tour is the Sheep’s Meadow, a location used in Wall Street, It Could Happen to You, The Fisher King, Antz, and Little Manhattan. Although there are no longer any sheep hereyou will be passing my hundreds of people who relax, sunbathe, and play frisbee in this wonderful park. From this location you will be able to see The Dakota, which made its debut in Rosemary’s Baby and Vanilla Sky (and is also the site of John Lennon’s shooting). As you are approaching the end of the guided tour you will reach Tavern on the Green. This famous restaurant appeared in Ghostbusters, New York Stories, Wall Street, Made and The Out of Towners. The tour will end at Columbus Circle, where Taxi Driver, Keeping the Faith, Ghostbusters, Borat, Enchanted and Crocodile Dundee were shot.
On Location Tours makes sure to highlight all of the famous locations in Central Park that are featured in their favorite films. The New York Tours are a fan-favorite with movie buffs and tourists alike.
