Does anyone know of a company that does walking tours on the upper West side? I did find one but the cost was a bit more than I wanted to pay ($250 for 2-3 hours). I haven't had much luck finding anyone else.

Otherwise any suggestions on what I should see if I just wander around by myself?

Also can you get onto walk into Columbia university if you are not a student or staff?

Have you heard of Apple Greeters?

It's free!

www.bigapplegreeter.org

We stayed in the UWS and loved it! We used self-guided walking tours from the NY Times. Here's one for the UWS:

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/travel/TOUR-WS.html

Enjoy!

It's actually Big Apple Greeters and if you want to request one you need to apply fairly far in advance. They're volunteers and there are never enough to fill all the requests.

They will give you a 2 or 3 hours tour of the area you request, a Metro Card and info on how to get around the city on your own. There is no pay, but if you stop for a drink or snack you should naturally pay for theirs.

The Municipal Arts Society has great walking tours, check the schedule to see if there is one for the Upper West Side (or call them directly) http://mas.org/tours/#walking-tours

Thank you all. I had forgotten about the Big Apple greeters. Have sent off a request so I'll see what happens.
I had looked at MAS but there isn't an upper west side tour.
Thanks for the link Austin traveler I've printed it off. Very handy.

The Upper West Side is more residential that touist sites, therea are of course a few stops that you might want to see and my best suggestions would be:

NY Historical Society
Museum of Natural History
The Cloisters
St. John the Divine
Columbia University
and
LOTS of good shopping on Broadway from 72nd to 90thish Sts.

big onion walking tours. theyre not private but they come highly personally recommended.

Michelle Nevius is very well regarded and offers one for $80
http://www.walknyc.com/uws.htm

as is Alfred Pommer
http://www.nycwalk.com/upwe.html

Columbia Univ is open to the public.

Thanks everyone - very helpful.
mclaurie - I'll contact them. Sounds like exactly what I want to do.
Have also heard back from Big Apple greeters and am on the list for someone.
Thanks again.

Did you try NYC Discovery?

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/11351196/

I've gone on a public weekend tour but this says they do private tours too. Call to find out what they have!!

St John the Divine has had a lot of major work done and is a great spot to visit up by Columbia.