Hamilton Parish is located in northwest Bermuda, and is divided by Harrington Sound. Smith’s Parish is to the south and St. George’s Parish is to the northeast. The parish was named after James Hamilton, the 2nd Marquis of the parish. The capital city of Bermuda, Hamilton, is not part of this parish but rather sits in Pembroke Parish. The population of Hamilton Parish is just under 6,000.
Bailey’s Bay is a small beach with tan sand located in Hamilton Parish. It is rarely crowded and the bay serves as a harbor for small boats. It has clear, calm water which is great for swimming. No public restrooms are available at this beach nor are their lifeguards stationed.

Shelly Bay Beach has white sand and calm, shallow water for hundreds of yards out into the bay, making it the most family-friendly beach on the island. The Shelly Bay Nature Reserve is located here and features Bermuda cedar trees, a red mangrove forest, and a saltwater pond. Shelly Bay Beach has public restrooms, a children’s playground, and a concession stand that rents lounge chairs, beach chairs, and snorkeling equipment.

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo is located in Hamilton Parish and is home to over 200 species of invertebrates and fish. Exotic reptiles, native fish, flamingos, and more can be seen here. The most impressive exhibit is the North Rock Exhibit, a 140,000 gallon tank with sharks, barracuda, and a collection of coral.

There are three caves worth exploring in Hamilton Parish: Crystal Caves, Fantasy Caves, and Leamington Caves. Crystal Caves is one of the largest caves in Bermuda and is located about 120 feet under the ground. Leamington Caves has interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations. The Bermuda Railway Museum is also located in Hamilton Parish and visitors can view memorabilia of the trains that ran in Bermuda from 1931 to 1948.

There are many restaurants available in Hamilton Parish, some of them at hotel properties. Popular restaurants include Bailey’s Ice Cream, Indigo, Jamaican Grill, Landfall Restaurant, Palm Court, Rustico, Swizzle Inn Bermuda, The Point, Tom Moore’s Tavern Bermuda, Yardie Kitchen, Pizza House Restaurant, BeanZ Café, and Four Star. Four Star is the only pizza delivery chain in Bermuda. Swizzle Inn Bermuda is Bermuda’s oldest dive bar which opened in 1932 in a 17th century roadhouse. It is the original home of the famous Bermuda Rum Swizzle.

There are two moderately-priced accommodation options in Hamilton Parish and two large luxury resorts. If on a budget, Brightside Guest Apartments and Clear View Suites are excellent options. The Grotto Bay Beach Resort is a fairly large resort with 201 guestrooms. The resort features private beaches, four tennis courts, a pool, a children’s playground, a spa, a game room, live entertainment nightly, and two bars. Rosewood Tucker’s Point is a mid-sized luxury resort with 88 guestrooms. The resort features a golf course, tennis courts, a jogging track, exercise gym, and a fine dining restaurant called The Point Restaurant. Rosewood Tucker’s Point was completed in 2009 and is the most lavish resort in Bermuda.