Any NYC dwellers who could give me some pointers?

[MajorBOO]

DH, DC1 & DC2 (4 & 2yrs) and I are possibly going to spend 6 months living in Manhattan next year.
I am hugely excited about this, but also concerned about how to fill my days as whilst DH works long hours, the DCs and I will be in a relatively small 2 bed flat, with no garden so we'll need to get out and about a LOT to avoid cabin fever.
With the exception of central park, and a few tourists sights I have no idea what to do to fill our time.
Are there some good nurserys/playgroups that you would recommend? And/or gyms with creches, mums groups etc?

I am completely willing to throw myself into NYC life, but want to make it fun for my kids too, so all info will be gratefully received!

I'm very jealous! Can't really help much with your specific query re the kids but DH and I spent 2 years there pre-DC and loved it! My tip would be to aim to live in one of the more "family-oriented" areas - my pick would probably be the Upper West Side or the West Village... I think!

Thanks for that, have only been sightseeing before, so really don't know where to start!

#1 Where and what hours will your DH be working as you may need to consider areas such as Brooklyn, Queens and Hoboken, NJ in addition to Manhattan.

#2 What is your budget? Can you afford to drop $3-5k a month on activities including prek/daycare as well as $5k in rent.

I lived on manhattan pre DC, now live in the NJ suburbs - so I haven't experienced it with kids but lots of families live there and love it. There are a million meetup groups, whihc might be a place to start.

... sorry DS is ill and keeps waking up. Erm, yes, a majillion meetup groups including NYC British Expats, who I imagine would be friendly and lovely to a new person asking questions. What kind of child activities or indeed YOU activities you get into will probably be geographic, as NYC is like London, lots of little villages on top of each other, and once you're in a neighbourhood you will probably do most of your living there. I lived on the Upper West Side (lovely, lots of families) and for many weeks would do everything in the same 3 square miles, just because that's how life works- gym, work, pub, cinema, etc...
There really is pretty much everything you can imagine doing, and there are LOTS of things to do with kids. You might want to have a look at Time Out NY (kids edition/online areas) for some ideas.
In the deep winter or high summer it can get far too hot/cold for sustained playing outside, and people join places like appleseeds or go to lots of kids classes and groups. BUt you can be as high-powered or low effort as you want, there are hippy attachment parenting mums and nannies to CEO mums all rubbing shoulders here.

also, everyone else is experiencing the same cramped living conditions, so everyone makes good use of parks, libraries, play classes etc.

I live in Manhattan, loads to do if you have the money to spend on it! Children's activities and classes are very expensive. There is a website called mommy poppins that will give you lots of idea.

I have joined a community centre that has lots of classes and activities.
There are fabulous museums, museum of natural history is wonderful for children, the intrepid air and space museum, Children's museum etc. They have membership packages that tend to be very good value. Lots of hands on exhibits for kids, space to run around etc

If you are going to be renting an apartment see if you can find one with a playroom. Not essential but certainly a bonus.

I love living here, there is a lot going on for kids and for such a short time it will be a wonderful adventure. Go for it!

oh yes, a building with a playroom/common room is a wonderful thing - and if you don't have one, make friends with a mum whose building does!