The City Hall Memorial Walk, Close Up
The 9/11 Memorial Tour with Optional Museum and One World Access is the longest route of the six. It starts at Warren Street and Broadway beside City Hall Park, passes St. Paul’s Chapel, Trinity Church and the FDNY Ten House on the way to the pools, and offers the museum, the observatory or both. By option it runs from 1.5 to 5 hours. It is wheelchair accessible, with reserve-now-pay-later available.
What happens, stop by stop
The route takes in more of Lower Manhattan than the other walks before it reaches the memorial, and it approaches the site from the north and the east.
- Meet at Warren Street and Broadway, beside City Hall Park. The spot may vary by option; the confirmation gives it.
- St. Paul’s Chapel on Broadway, where a sycamore in the churchyard took the debris on 11 September 2001 and the building survived unscathed.
- Trinity Church at Broadway and Wall Street.
- The FDNY Ten House on Liberty Street, directly across from the site, with the 56-foot bronze FDNY Memorial Wall to the 343 firefighters killed.
- The Oculus.
- One World Trade Center, seen from the plaza.
- The memorial pools and the Survivor Tree.
- The museum, about 1.5 hours, on the museum and Full Access options, through a separate entrance.
- One World Observatory, about 1.5 hours, on the observatory and Full Access options.
The listing describes skip-the-line access through a separate entrance for the ticketed parts. Security still applies at both the museum and the observatory. The nearby page covers each stop on its own.
Where it starts
Warren Street and Broadway is by City Hall Park, north of the World Trade Center site. The 2 and 3 stop at Park Place and the A, C, 1, 2 and 3 at Chambers Street, both a short way off. This is the one walk that does not start within sight of the memorial, which suits visitors coming from the Brooklyn Bridge or the civic centre. The getting there page lists every line.
The options
Memorial Tour Only is the walk from City Hall to the pools. Memorial Tour with museum adds a museum ticket and about 1.5 hours underground. Full Access adds both the museum and the observatory, and takes up to 5 hours in all. Memorial Tour with observatory adds the view without the museum. Reserve now and pay later is offered on the listing. The observatory page compares its observatory options with the two walks from L’Arte del Gelato.
Included
- An expert local guide, live, in English
- The Ground Zero and memorial walk from City Hall Park
- Museum entry when the museum or Full Access option is chosen
- One World Observatory entry when the observatory or Full Access option is chosen
- Skip-the-line access through a separate entrance
Not included
- Gratuities
- The museum audio guide
- Food and drink
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits a visitor who wants the neighbourhood as well as the site: two churches, the firehouse and the streets between them before the pools. It suits a stay near City Hall or the Brooklyn Bridge, and it is wheelchair accessible. With Full Access it fills a half day, which the one-day itinerary plans around.
It does not suit a visitor with 1.5 hours and no more, unless the walk-only option is chosen. The two walks from L’Arte del Gelato start closer to the memorial: the Ground Zero walk for the museum, the walk with museum and observatory for all three layers. The small-group walk also passes the Ten House but is not wheelchair accessible.
What reviewers mention
Tom from the UK found it informative and respectful. Heidi from the US says the guide was passionate about his own experience of the day. Nicholas from the UK mentions in-depth knowledge and a relaxed pace. Martin, also from the UK, calls the guide very knowledgeable.
Kimberly from the US thanked the guide. Arun from Australia found the walk funny, informative and personalised.
In its favour
- Trinity Church and the FDNY Ten House on the route
- Museum, observatory or both as options
- Reserve now and pay later on the listing
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- Up to 5 hours with Full Access
- The meeting point may vary by option
- Gratuities are not included
- Starts north of the site, further from the memorial than the other walks
The Ten House wall on Liberty Street can be seen at any hour without a ticket, and the plaza is open 8 am to 8 pm as published. A visitor who books the walk-only option can return to the pools after dark; the memorial at night page explains what is lit.
Two alternatives
Walk, museum, views9/11 Memorial Tour with Museum and One World Entry Options
Guided walkNYC: Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour w/ Museum Option
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly does the City Hall walk meet?
At Warren Street and Broadway, beside City Hall Park. The listing says the spot may vary by option, and the confirmation gives it. The 2 and 3 at Park Place and the A, C, 1, 2 and 3 at Chambers Street are the nearest subway stops.
How long is the Full Access option?
Up to 5 hours: the walk, about 1.5 hours in the museum and about 1.5 hours at the observatory. How long it takes compares it with the other five.
Is Trinity Church on the other walks?
No. This is the only one of the six that lists Trinity Church at Broadway and Wall Street as a stop. The small-group walk shares the Ten House and St. Paul’s Chapel but is not wheelchair accessible.
Can the tour be reserved without paying?
The listing offers reserve now and pay later. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Do you need to book explains how the walks and the museum ticket differ on booking.