Visit Us / Book

The Shetland Museum will reopen on Tuesday 2 March, booking is required.

The Shetland Museum is open by pre booking only on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10am – 4pm and Sunday from 12.00pm – 4.30pm.
Pre-book to get exclusive use of our museum facilities – as always, entry to the Museum and Archives will be free with donations welcome. Click here to view our full opening times.

We also have new social distancing and safety measures in place. Find out more at the links below.

Free to visit

Your booking and visit is FREE but now more than ever we need your support - please consider making a donation.

Inside Visit Us / Book

Visit Us / Book

Book

We have a booking system in place to allow visitors exclusive use of the Museum and Archives and we are providing longer slots to give people time to browse at their leisure.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

NEW - What to expect when you visit

We've been working hard to make sure that your visit will still be safe and enjoyable. Find out more about our social distancing and hygiene measures.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Galleries

Visit our Museum Galleries - booking essential.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Archives Searchroom

Visit the Archives searchroom - booking essential.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Picnic Area

Our cafe is currently closed but you are welcome to bring a picnic.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Tours

Make the most of your visit with us and join us on a tour to ensure you see the highlights of our museum and our Recognised Collections.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Gift Shop

You can visit our wonderful gift shop when you com and visit us in the Museum and Archives - you must wear a face covering.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Activities

Whatever your reason for visiting us at Shetland Museum and Archives, there are a range of activities on offer to ensure you can make the most of your time with us.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Hay's Dock

Shetland Museum and Archives sits on Hay’s Dock; the last remaining area of original dock on the Lerwick waterfront, which is now category B listed. This is a perfect setting to highlight the strong heritage connection with the sea, and display just some of the traditional Shetland boats in the collection.

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Boat Shed

The Boat Shed, located at the left of the building dates from around 1900, although this particular site has been a place for boatbuilding and repair since the 1820s, with the first shed built in 1844 by Hay & Company. Today, the Boat Shed provi...

Read more
Visit Us / Book

Public Art

Shetland Amenity Trust commissioned over 60 individual artworks as part of its Shetland Museum and Archives Public Art Project. These are on show throughout the building and dock, some even appearing alongside the artefacts and documents in the galleries and Archives.

Read more

Visit Us / Book Blog Posts

Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives News

Shetland Amenity Trust reopens Shetland Museum and Archives

March 1st 2021

The Shetland Amenity Trust will reopen its doors to the public at the Shetland Museum and Archives this week following careful ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsArchivesHistory

Get Your Skates On!

February 24th 2021

The weather has changed, the temperature risen, wind and rain are back, the frosty winter fun gone. In 1909 though, one organisation ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsCuratorExhibitionsHistory

Why hunt whales?

February 15th 2021

Pilot whales were important to islanders’ survival, providing many useful products. Subsistence whaling was unpredictable, because ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
HistoryMuseum and Archives NewsArchives

St Sunniva's Tableware

February 11th 2021

The pandemic meant no cruise liners came to Lerwick, but not many Shetlanders realise that an important one lies on the seabed at ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsArchivesHistory

Winter Sports

February 11th 2021

We’ve had a fine spell of weather of late, snowy, frosty, crispy. Out for a walk one day I was told someone had been spotted skiing, ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
HistoryExhibitionsMuseum and Archives News

Why hunt fowl?

January 26th 2021

As part of the Between Islands project, Shetland’s new online exhibition, ‘Fair Game’ examines three customs that are now ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives News

Missing Crowds

January 25th 2021

Today is the last Tuesday in January and would traditionally be Up Helly Aa day 2021. This is a much anticipated date for many ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
ArchivesHistoryMuseum and Archives News

Up Helly Aa has a most interesting history

January 19th 2021

With the cancellation of Up Helly Aa there will be no torchlit procession, galley burning or all night partying this year. These ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsHistory

'Fair Game’ a major new online exhibition launched as part of the Between Islands project

January 5th 2021

The project highlights the historical cultural links between the islands of Shetland, Orkney, and the Outer Hebrides, while exploring ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives News

Museum and Archives to remain closed

December 29th 2020

Shetland Museum and Archives will remain closed to the public after the festive period due to the latest advice from NHS Shetland on ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
ExhibitionsMuseum and Archives NewsHistory

New Baltic ware collection on display for the first time at Shetland Museum

December 15th 2020

A collection of colourful Skovi Kapps which highlight Shetland’s trading and maritime links with Russia during the 19th century is ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives News

New winter opening times at the Shetland Museum and Archives

November 24th 2020

The Shetland Museum and Archives have announced new opening times that will come into effect on Saturday 28th November. The aim is to ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsExhibitionsHistory

Fair Isle Chairs on display in Da Gadderie

November 17th 2020

An exciting new exhibition of Fair Isle Chairs by local carpenter Eve Eunson is on display in Da Gadderie in Lerwick. In collaboration ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives NewsTextiles

Tears of joy and appreciation for peerie hansels

November 17th 2020

Shetland students on the mainland will be receiving a ‘Peerie Hansel fae Hame’ this week as part of the Shetland Amenity Trust’s ...

Read more
Visit Us / Book
Museum and Archives News

Appeal: A Peerie Hansel Fae Hame

October 5th 2020

The Shetland Community would like to express its support by sending a peerie hansel (gift) from home to the estimated 400 students ...

Read more
Opening Times / Admission