Hamburg is a German city that has been linked to Britain, and specifically London, since a 1266 trading contract. This contract was related to the Hanseatic League, a medieval coalition of commerce and defense in central and northern Europe. There is a strong British community in Hamburg even today and many famous Britons have spent time there, including William and Dorothy Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In Romance of a Shop, the Devonshires leave to go to Hamburg for a trip and invite the Lorimer sisters. Gertrude declines the invitation for all of the sisters except Phyllis, who ultimately joins the Devonshires on their trip. In the late 19th century, around the time the novel was published, this area of Germany saw rapid growth in its shipping industry, as it became the 2nd-largest in Europe due to its Atlantic trading. The British connections and economic development can provide context for why the Devonshires would choose Hamburg for a vacation location.
“‘We shall go to Eastborne on Friday; and afterwards to Homburg. Mama is going to write and invite you in due form.’” (Chapter 16)