Big Onion Walking Tours

Big Onion has been leading walking tours of New York since 1991, and its approach is firmly rooted in history. Its guides are educators and graduate students in history, licensed by the city, and the company makes a point of hiring and paying historians rather than relying on tips. The result is a style of tour that digs into the stories of immigrant communities, politics, architecture and everyday life, rather than simply ticking off famous buildings.

The programme is broad, with more than 30 tours across about 20 neighbourhoods. Downtown routes cover historic Lower Manhattan, Revolutionary New York and the South Street Seaport. The Lower East Side tours include Immigrant New York, the Jewish Lower East Side, Gangs of New York and the Original Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour, which samples food from several of the area's communities. Around the Villages and Midtown, themes range from art and rock and roll to labour history, social justice and Prohibition. Uptown, there are tours of Central Park, historic Harlem and the Upper East Side, and in Brooklyn the routes take in the Brooklyn Bridge and Heights, DUMBO and Vinegar Hill, and Fort Greene. There is even a trip to the historic Hudson Valley.

Tours last about two hours and start on time, so arrive a few minutes early at the meeting point given when you book. Advance booking is required for all tours. Seasonal favourites include a Christmas stroll in Greenwich Village and the annual multi-ethnic eating tour after Thanksgiving. Prices are modest, with lower rates for students and seniors, and gift certificates are available.

Big Onion suits curious travellers, history lovers and families with older children who enjoy stories. Private tours can be arranged for families, events, team-building and corporate clients, and school field trips can be tailored to a curriculum; contact the company by email or phone to arrange them. Walks cover a fair distance at a steady pace, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather, as tours go ahead in most conditions.

The company's tour hotline and office line are both listed on its website, along with a general enquiries email address. Because tours start in different neighbourhoods, check your meeting point carefully and allow time to get there by subway.