Visit the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of America's most iconic monuments and no holiday to New York would be complete without a visit. In this article we give you a few tips and some advice on how to get the most out of this most famous of New York landmarks.

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island in the New York harbour. Admission to Liberty Island, the museum and the statue pedestal are free although you have to pay for the ferry to get there. Ferry prices are currently US$12 for adults, US$10 for senior citizens, US$5 for children aged 4 to 12 years and free for children aged 3 or under. Ferries to the island depart from Battery Park, Manhattan at 8:30am to 4:30pm. Liberty Island closes at 6:00pm and the last ferry returns to Battery Park for 6:30pm. You can also get the ferry to and from Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

If you want to climb the Statue of Liberty to the observation area within the crown then you will almost certainly need to book your place in advance of your New York citybreak. Only 240 people are admitted daily into the statue so demand is extremely high, especially during peak New York holiday periods. Entrance to the statue costs US$3 per person and you can pre-order your tickets up to 1 year in advance by clicking here. Please note that there are certain restrictions on entry to the statue so please read the guidelines before purchasing your tickets to avoid disappointment. All children must be a minimum of 4ft tall to be allowed in to the statue and no items other than your camera and medication are allowed inside. All other personal items including wallets, key and bags must be secured in a locker at the entrance.

There are ranger tours of Liberty Island which are free and you do not need to reserve your place or book in advance. These are a great way to learn a little more about the history of the island and the Statue of Liberty whilst on your New York holidays. You should also make sure you visit the museum which is housed within the Statue of Liberty's pedestal. Exhibits include the original torch from 1886 plus full-scale replicas of the face and foot of the statue amongst other interesting artefacts, historical photos and documents.

Nearly all tourists want to visit the Statue of Liberty during their New York holidays and as a consequence it is not uncommon for long queues to develop for the ferry during peak periods and at weekends. Please allow plenty of time if visiting during these times and you should also allow for 2-3 hours on Liberty Island to see all you want to see. Snacks and beverages are available to purchase on Liberty Island. The ferry that takes you to and from Liberty Island also stops at nearby Ellis Island allowing visitors to stop off here too. Ellis Island was the former immigration centre for millions of people who wanted to resettle in America until its closure in 1954. There is now an Immigration Museum housed in a magnificent building on Ellis Island which is well worth a visit.

Statue of Liberty facts:

1) The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, given to America as a symbol of international friendship forged during the American Revolution.

2) It was made in France and shipped to America in 350 separate pieces, where it took 4 months to reassemble.

3) The Statue of Liberty was unveiled to the public on October 28th 1886, ten years late (due to financial problems on both sides of the Atlantic) for the centennial anniversary of the American Revolution in 1776 for which it was commissioned.

4) The internal structure of the Statue of Liberty is made of steel and weighs 125 tons. The exterior is made of 2.4mm thick copper plating and the overall weight of the copper is 31 tons.

5) The Statue of Liberty measures 46m (151ft) in height from the base of the foot to the top of the torch. The head is 5.25m (17.3ft) high by 3.1m (10ft) in width from ear to ear.

6) The pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands is 47m (154ft) high from the ground to its top. The overall height from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93mm (305ft).

7) Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) provided the internal structure.

8) The United States declared the Statue of Liberty a National Monument in 1924 and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.