The DoHS has got better after all of the bad press a few years ago. Having said that if you travel at peak times and 3 jumbos land at the same time then you will be in a queue for ages
so try and travel out of peak days / hours & if possible us a minor airport

I had crazy queues in Houston, none in Dallas and Austin.
the questions are quite abrupt so be ready with a quick answer (where are you staying etc)

Indeed at Houston they funnel arriving passengers at terminals D and E through one immigration point. I queued for at least an hour both times I landed there.

I've been to the US about 10 times (US girlfriend at one point) They started stopping me at Philadelphia every time when they saw how many flights I was doing and I wasn't employed at the time and I was flying standby without a return ticket, I must have flagged up on every screen, I did my best Hugh Grant impression and they let me go. You got 6 months visa waiver, should be more than enough, just fill in the form on the plane and you'll certainly sail trhough if you haven't been recently and yuou have a return ticket booked.

Go to here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ The ESTA only costs $14 and lasts 2 years. We send people to the US quite regularly and it's easy peasey by comparison to say China, Russia or India. As long as you were never a member of the Hitler Youth it should be simple and quite cheap.

I looked at New York - was thinking of probably flying to Boston - Aer Lingus from Gatwick looks good. Hiring a car from Hertz to use for the week although never driven an automatic car. I've driven on right before in France/Belgium.

Does NY have a park n ride - I know they have a Metro.

Cousin also taked about going to Salem where the witch trials were.

Provisional dates 18th-25th Oct.

I wouldn't bother getting a car while you're in NY. I'm sure they do have park and ride but I never needed a car there. Maybe get the train down?Automatics are great and when you're on the freeway make sure you use the autopilot. It's also compulsory to listen to hip hop and have your arm resting on the open window

NY is like London in that they have good Public transport so don't take a car there

Been doing some more research tonight and getting the Amtrak from Boston to New York Penn Station looks a good idea.

Drawing up a list of what to go and see:-

Statue of Liberty
Empire State Building
Central Park
Guggenheim Museum
Carnegie Hall for a concert maybe? or Radio City ?
Perhaps Broadway Show although they look stupidly expensive.

Anyone else suggest a "must see" site in NY ?

The Apple Store?

There's a roller coaster in the Empire State. If you go on that you jump the queue to the top.
Take your passport everywhere. If you show it in the big stores like Macys you'll get a discount.
Take a boat trip around Manhattan and try and walk the length of Park Avenue.
Visit Grand Central station
When I went there was a bar on the 14th floor of the Hilton in Battery Park overlooking the Statue of Liberty. Great place to start a night out with cocktails and nibbles while watching the sun go down. Contact the hotel and see if it's still there.

I prefer the Rockefeller Center as you can then look at the Empire State Building (and I think its slightly higher)

Oh and if the weather is nice try one of these

Rooftop Bars

If you're doing all them then look at getting a CityPass when you're in NY. It gives you access to loads of tourist places and it saves a fortune.

Rockerfella gives a great view of central park & the empire state.

MOMA & Design Museum should be on the list.