Hotel Kong Arthur

A peaceful corner of central Copenhagen, with the Nansensgade neighbourhood and the city lakes close by, gives Hotel Kong Arthur a useful character for a city break with some breathing space. The building dates back to 1882, while the rooms and shared spaces take a more modern Nordic line.

You get the practical shape of a four-star city hotel without being pushed out to the edge of town: breakfast downstairs, a spa on site, food and drinks available in the building, and the centre of Copenhagen ready for an evening walk. The English version of the hotel's website is available alongside Danish, which makes planning the stay easier before you arrive.

The hotel stands in central Copenhagen at Nørre Søgade, beside the city lakes and within the Nansensgade neighbourhood. This is an urban base rather than a waterside resort: the nearest listed beaches are Svanemølle Beach, about 2.5 miles away, and Amager Strandpark, about 3.1 miles away.

Nørreport Station is roughly half a mile away on foot, with both train and metro connections. That puts Copenhagen's streets, museums and gardens within easy reach without making every outing a transport exercise. Tivoli Gardens and the main shopping street, Strøget, are both around a 15-minute walk away, while the Botanical Garden is about half a mile from the hotel.

The surrounding choices are properly convenient. La Rocca, Pintxos and Sticks'nSushi are each around 300 feet away, and the Workers Museum is about 350 feet from the door. Copenhagen Airport is about 5 miles away, with the airport journey also manageable by public transport via the city network.

The room choice is mainly about how much space you want around the bed rather than about changing the whole style of the stay. A Small Double Room suits a couple travelling light, while the Standard Double Room gives you more room to live around a large bed. For a longer stay or a little more elbow room, the Superior Double Room or Junior Suite makes more sense. The Duplex Suite is the practical choice for a larger group, with space for up to five guests and its own bathroom.

Families can use the Triple Room or the larger duplex arrangement, but cots and extra beds are not available. That is worth keeping in mind before booking with children, even though children of any age are welcome. The room cards below show the exact dimensions, sleeping arrangements and capacities; the useful distinction here is whether you want a compact base for two or somewhere where bags, coats and city clothes can spread out without starting a small domestic dispute.

Wooden or parquet floors, heating, a fan, a minibar and tea- and coffee-making facilities cover the useful basics. Rooms also have a private bathroom with a shower or bath, a hairdryer and toiletries, plus a flat-screen television and free WiFi. The interiors vary between rooms, so the room you receive may not match a particular photograph or decorative detail exactly.

Breakfast is a buffet built around local seasonal produce, with continental, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. It runs from 6.30 to 10.00 from Monday to Friday, and from 7.00 to 11.00 at weekends and on public holidays. That gives you an early start when the day has a timetable, and a slower one when Copenhagen can wait.

The in-house evening choice is more varied than the usual hotel restaurant doing one menu for everyone. La Rocca works in Italian cuisine, Pintxos serves Spanish tapas, and Sticks'nSushi brings Japanese-inspired dishes. Three different directions, all under the same roof, is useful when one person wants something comforting and another wants to keep the evening a little more adventurous.

The 24-hour bar covers the less ceremonial moments, with espressos, drinks and snacks. There is also a coffee house, a snack bar, a minibar in the rooms and room service. A happy hour adds a small reason to stay put, while breakfast can be taken in the room when an early departure makes the dining room feel unnecessarily ambitious.

Ni'mat Spa is the obvious place to go when the legs have had enough of Copenhagen's pavements. The facilities include a sauna, steam room, hot tub, hammam, foot bath and relaxation area, with massage and body treatments available. There are also beauty treatments, including facials, manicures, pedicures and body scrubs. The spa is for guests aged 16 and over.

The hotel also has a fitness centre and changing rooms, although the more convincing post-dive plan may be the relaxation area rather than a heroic session on the equipment. Sun loungers, a terrace, outdoor furniture and a garden give you somewhere to sit with a coffee or a book when the weather behaves.

For a more active city day, bicycles can be hired on site. Cultural excursions are part of the hotel's offer, and the nearby museums, gardens and historic buildings provide plenty to do without turning the stay into a checklist. Live music or performances may also be available, while board games offer a simpler option for an evening indoors.

Check-in starts at 15.00 and check-out runs until 11.00. A 24-hour reception, express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, lockers and a tour desk make the practical edges of the stay reasonably straightforward, particularly if your arrival and departure do not line up neatly with those times.

Copenhagen Airport is about 5 miles away. Nørreport Station, around half a mile from the hotel, gives you a useful public transport connection for the airport and the rest of the city. On-site public parking is available, with street parking also listed; spaces cannot be reserved. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

Pets are not allowed, and there is no minimum age for checking in. Children are welcome, but the property does not provide cots or extra beds. Ni'mat Spa is popular, so reserve your spa visit ahead if you want to use it during the stay. The hotel also offers daily housekeeping, laundry, ironing and dry-cleaning services.

Hotel Kong Arthur is certified with Green Key. The breakfast also follows a local angle, using seasonal produce rather than treating the first meal of the day as an anonymous buffet exercise.