Lady Hamilton Hotel

A listed 15th-century building next to the Royal Palace

Collector's Lady Hamilton Hotel is located at Storkyrkobrinken 5 in Gamla Stan, directly next to the Royal Palace. The building is listed as culturally and historically protected and dates from the 15th century. The hotel is part of the family-owned chain The Collector's Hotels, whose other two boutique hotels – Victory Hotel and Lord Nelson Hotel – are also located in Gamla Stan. That all three hotels are gathered within the same district is an intentional concept: the chain has positioned itself on historical buildings with antiques collections rather than on modern standardisation.

The location means that guests find themselves in the heart of one of Europe's best-preserved medieval city centres. Gamla Stan underground station is approximately 400 metres from the hotel, and Stockholm Central Station is reached with one underground change. The Nobel Museum, Storkyrkan and the Parliament Building are all within walking distance, making the hotel a natural choice for those who want cultural attractions close at hand without having to rely on public transport for every excursion.

For those planning a stay by car, it should be noted that Gamla Stan's street network is narrow and parking in the area is limited – conditions should be checked directly with the hotel when booking. The hotel does not accept pets. Reception is staffed 24 hours a day and staff can provide tips on shops, cafés and attractions in the vicinity. Storkyrkan and the Nobel Museum are both within a short walk from the entrance on Storkyrkobrinken.

Dala paintings and antique folk cupboards in every room

All rooms at Lady Hamilton are individually decorated and characterised by the hotel's antiques collection. In each room there is a traditional Dala painting on the wall and an antique wall cupboard with a bottle of aquavit – a recurring signature of the Bengtsson family collection. In addition, old oil paintings, crystal chandeliers and antique furniture feature in most rooms. All rooms have cable TV, private bathroom with environmentally friendly toiletries and free wifi. The individual decoration means that two rooms in the same category can differ significantly in feel and design.

Room categories vary in size and character. The single room is the smallest option at 9–10 square metres with a single bed. The Compact Twin room is 15–17 square metres with two single beds and accommodates two guests travelling together. The Small Double room is 12–14 square metres with a 140 cm wide bed. The Standard Double room is 15–23 square metres with a 200 cm wide double bed; some have views over Gamla Stan's rooftops, others are situated under the roof beams with visible timbers. The Deluxe room is 29 square metres with original roof beams and a seating area.

Corner Room is 23 square metres with a king-size bed and windows in two directions; the bathroom has a bathtub, underfloor heating and a towel rail. Courtyard Room is 27–31 square metres and overlooks the hotel's courtyard with a bathtub or shower. Courtyard Family Room is 21 square metres with a view of the courtyard. All bathrooms are equipped with a shower or bathtub, underfloor heating, towel rail and hairdryer. Because the rooms are individually decorated, it may be worthwhile to indicate when booking whether you prefer roof beams, courtyard location or street side.

Sauna in the medieval cellar and Bistro Emma's afternoon tea

One of the hotel's most distinctive features is the basement level, where a well from the 12th century has been preserved and converted into a cooling pool. Adjacent to this is a sauna that can be booked for private use. The sauna and relaxation area are booked separately and are not automatically included in the room rate. The cellar's medieval character with vaulted stone ceilings makes the space different from a conventional hotel spa, and the combination of historic setting and sauna is a feature that the hotel highlights as one of its signatures. It is wise to book sauna time in advance, especially during peak season.

Bistro Emma, the hotel's dining room, serves breakfast and operates afternoon tea on weekends during the autumn and winter months – September to March. It is a limited-time offering that is not available during the summer season, which is worth bearing in mind when planning. The hotel also has a lobby bar. Whether additional food and beverage services are included with a service charge is not clear from available official sources and should be checked directly with the hotel.

The hotel has a conference room and can accommodate smaller meetings, making it a possible option for smaller corporate events in a historic setting. Other services include luggage storage, laundry and dry cleaning services, safety deposit boxes and taxi booking. The hotel has a lift to the upper floors, which facilitates access for guests with mobility difficulties or heavy luggage. The hotel is non-smoking throughout.

Gamla Stan's street network and what it means for your stay

Gamla Stan is an island with an irregular medieval street network of cobblestones. It gives a strong historical character but also entails practical limitations: suitcases with hard wheels are impractical on cobblestones, and walking distances to underground and bus stops are short but require you to be prepared for uneven ground. Gamla Stan underground station is approximately 400 metres from the hotel. Those who have difficulty walking on uneven ground should take this into account when choosing a hotel and pack accordingly.

The hotel shares the district with a dense range of restaurants, cafés and shops. The National Museum and the Vasa Museum are both within walking distance from Gamla Stan. For those planning to visit the Djurgården islands, Slussen is a natural interchange point and is reached on a short walk to the south. The fact that the hotel is centrally located in Gamla Stan means that most of Stockholm's central attractions are accessible without having to take the underground for every excursion.

Gamla Stan is a popular tourist destination and the streets can be crowded during peak season, especially in summer and around Christmas. Storkyrkan is in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, and church bells can be heard from rooms facing the street. Those who prioritise peace and quiet should ask about room location when booking, as rooms facing the courtyard generally offer a quieter location. The hotel is part of The Collector's Hotels and can be booked via the chain's website thecollectorshotels.se or via external booking channels.