NEW YORK: Waldorf tours

March 16, 2008

Weekly guided tours are being held at Manhattan's famed Waldorf- Astoria Hotel, one of the world's finest examples of Art Deco architecture and a designated landmark since 1933.

Visits begin at the two-ton clock in the main lobby, and continue to the Park Avenue lobby, the four-story grand ballroom, the Basildon Room and the Starlight Roof, which once operated as a nightclub with a retractable roof. In addition to other features, visitors also see the posh Waldorf Towers, favored by heads of state, royalty, celebrities and the just plain rich.

The tours, held every Thursday starting at 11:30 a.m., cost $45 a person, plus tax and gratuity and include lunch at Oscar's restaurant. Reservations are required. 212-872-1275; waldorf.com