I went to the Empire State Building at about 8 at night. It was one of the most amazing things I have seen. You could see all the lights of New York. The wind was a little breezy, but otherwise it was beautiful.

We arrived just before it was due to open and already the queue snaked its way through most of the basement. We queued and we queued. We're English, so we’re quite good at it, but it was stuffy and the woman in front of us was wearing a garish pair of trousers that wasn't making the time go any faster.

After what felt like an eternity, we reached the elevator to go partway up, and then we queued some more. Eventually we reached the top to be greeted by a man in a dinner jacket playing a small Hammond organ. He was playing "Here comes the Bride." It was St Valentine's Day, and several couples were getting married at the top of this landmark, but at the same time, there was a throng of tourists who had paid money to go up there, which one bride wasn't too happy about, so she started shouting at the queue that they were ruining her wedding. Outside on the viewing deck, we were still tussling for space with wedding-reception guests clutching their champagne glasses, but we managed to take in the views.

The views were impressive, and it is a great way to see the whole city, but it’s not the sort of thing you need to do again, and I certainly won't be booking my wedding up there.

First seen as you walk along 34th Street, the Empire State Building can be a little underwhelming. It is not until about Macy's that you start to see the scale of it, the huge tower rising in an elegant taper from the stacked blocks of its base. To be honest,though, what the Empire State offers as something to look at pales into insignificance beside its qualities as something to look from. This has got to be one of the best views ever.

Even on a cloudy day, it was possible to see for miles all around. After days of looking up at skyscrapers, it was at once humbling and empowering to look down on them.

The Silver Hub Caps of the Chrysler Building, the golden pyramids of the insurance buildings, letting your eyes run down the length of 5th Avenue all the way to the Washington Square arch. The green and brown blocks to the north mark out Central Park. This is New York from an entirely new perspective.

The viewing platfrom is 86 floors up and includes an inside and an outside platform. Though I normally suffer from vertigo, I had no problem on the outside platform. It's a testament to the apparent solidity of the railings and barriers. It can get cold that high up, so make sure you are well-covered.

The cost was $13 per adult and free for children under 6. Allowing for queuing for tickets and queuing for lifts, it took about 45 minutes, from getting in the front doors to stepping out onto the viewing platform. I imagine it would take longer on a clearer day.

The day we went, it was raining and foggy. Adding the fact that the wait was long, we decided to move onto our next spot.

The funny thing about it was that I never realized I was right on top of the Empire State Building until our friends pointed it out.

The mural in the front lobby was very neat.

*It's expensive, but with the City Pass (pay about $50 for an adult to get in to six attractions/activities around the city), it's not bad.

*The cost is worth it because it's an incredible view. Central Park is right there, and all of lower Manhattan is clearly visible. For those of us only visiting after 9/11, it's very strange to think what the towers looked like from there.

*If you've got the time, do the cheesy Skyride. It's fun.

*Be prepared to stand in line!!