Kernighan, a neighborhood in Hamilton, is home to Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG. Whitehern Historic House & Garden National Historic Site and Hamilton Cemetery are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Chedoke Falls and Buttermilk Falls. Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum and Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum are also worth visiting. Visit our Hamilton travel guide
1276 Upper James St, Hamilton, ON, L9C 3B3
What's nearby
McMaster University
9 min drive - 12.6 km
TD Coliseum
14 min drive - 16.2 km
Square One Shopping Centre
38 min drive - 67.8 km
Lazermania
4 min drive - 1.8 km
Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum
6 min drive - 2.9 km
Getting around
Hamilton GO Centre
13 min drive
John C. Munro Hamilton Intl. Airport (YHM)
11 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's
19 min walk
Tim Hortons
4 min walk
Tim Hortons
18 min walk
East Side Mario's
6 min walk
Mandarin Buffet
11 min walk
About this property
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG
Hotel located in Kernighan
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG provides a free breakfast buffet and more. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
Free self parking
A 24-hour front desk, smoke-free premises, and an elevator
Room features
All 105 rooms have comforts such as air conditioning, in addition to thoughtful touches like free WiFi and safes.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
Tubs or showers, hair dryers, and shampoo
Coffee/tea makers, heating, and daily housekeeping
Free buffet breakfast available 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM on weekdays and 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM on weekends
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Guest services
Change of towels on request
Housekeeping (daily)
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
2 accessible parking spaces
Elevator (43 inch wide door)
Front entrance ramp
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible business center
Wheelchair-accessible parking
More
6 floors
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Entertainment
55-inch flat-screen TV
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Heating (climate-controlled)
Iron/ironing board
Safe
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Guests booked in breakfast included rate plans receive breakfast for up to 2 adults who are sharing a guestroom. Breakfast fees apply for additional guests.
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of CAD 25 per accommodation, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total (up to 75 lbs per pet)
Specific rooms only; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: CAD 25 per accommodation, per day
Service animals are exempt from fees
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Property is also known as
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG Hamilton
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG Hotel Hamilton
Frequently asked questions
Is Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 75 lbs per pet. There's a fee of CAD 25 per accommodation, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees.
How much does it cost to stay at Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG?
As of Mar 22, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG on Apr 6, 2026 start from ₩176,428, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG?
Check-out is at noon.
Where is Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG located?
Located in Kernighan, this hotel is within 3 mi (5 km) of Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum, Mohawk College, and Chedoke Falls. St. Paul's Presbyterian Church and Central Presbyterian Church are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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Reviews
Holiday Inn Express Hamilton Upper James by IHG Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
From friendly professional staff to clean well kept accommodation & convenient parking they score a STRONG TEN!!!
I’d highly recommend this hotel to persons looking for accommodation in Hamilton
Kudos
Our room was one of the cleanest rooms we'd ever stayed in. A nice selection of soft pillows. Great room darkening blinds. And a very nice breakfast buffet
It was in a great location. Lots of parking. Easy check in. Great hotel. We had a very eatly morning flight so didnt have a chance to check out the complimentsry breakfast so can comment on that. We only stayed 1 night for a concert but if i ever stay in Hamilton again I would definetly stay here.
This is a very nice hotel with lots of restaurants close by. The room was very nice and clean. However, small things like dirty elevator floors, loud traffic noise at night and very low pressure shower were things that took a star off for us. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was Very good.
The temperature of the room was good. We were able to adjust it to our comfort level. The room was super clean, modern and the beds were really comfortable. Excellent value for our money. The buffet breakfast was excellent! Would highly recommend this hotel
Sherri
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Kim
Jan 25, 2026
Everything is very clean and staff friendly and helpful
We had a wonderful 2-night stay with our family at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hamilton – Upper James. The location is very convenient, with everything you need nearby—gas stations, grocery stores, fast food, and restaurants. It’s also very close to Limeridge Mall and only a short drive to downtown Hamilton.
The hotel itself was clean and well maintained. The staff were courteous and welcoming, which made our stay even more pleasant. We also appreciated the quality of the linens and toiletries—small details that really added to our comfort.
Overall, it was a great experience for our family. We will definitely stay here again the next time we visit Hamilton.
Friendly staff. We had an early morning flight so they packed us a ToGo breakfast. Room was clean and comfortable . Underground parking was nice on a cold day
Randy
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Brian
Jan 18, 2026
Liked: Amenities
My room was spotless and well appointed. Ample parking with an option to park underground. Staff I dealt with were courteous and friendly. I’ll definitely stay here again.
Staff was great, we encountered noisy teenagers, running up and down the hallway, we reported to the front desk and was handled right away by security and hotel staff
Hotel was new and clean. Our room was very humid for some reason something I did refer to management. Otherwise everything was fine and we would stay there again.