Visit Us / Book

Shetland Museum & Archives is open. Drop in and visit us, no booking is necessary.

Free to visit - As always, entry to the Museum and Archives is free but now more than ever we need your support - please consider making a donation.

View our full opening times

Inside Visit Us / Book

Hay's Dock by the Dowry

Café/restaurant at Shetland Museum’s historic Hay’s Dock.

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Crofthouse Museum

The Shetland Crofthouse Museum will reopen in May 2024.

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Galleries

Visit our Museum Galleries

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Archives Searchroom

Visit the Archives searchroom

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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.

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Gift Shop

Our gift shop offers a range of products which are inspired by the Museum and Archive collections, and reflect and celebrate Shetland's unique culture and heritage.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Accessibility

We want to make sure we continue to offer an excellent experience for all visitors with additional needs .

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Visit Us / Book Blog Posts

Missing Crowds

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

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Up Helly Aa has a most interesting history

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

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

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

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Museum and Archives to remain closed

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

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

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

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New winter opening times at the Shetland Museum and Archives

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

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Fair Isle Chairs on display in Da Gadderie

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

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Tears of joy and appreciation for peerie hansels

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

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Appeal: A Peerie Hansel Fae Hame

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

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Shetland Museum and Archives - Reopening Plans

The Shetland Museum and Archives plans to reopen to the public on Thursday 16th July with a new booking system and measures in place ...

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Our commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity

The death of George Floyd has prompted a global outpouring of grief and anger that we, as an integral part of society, cannot ignore. ...

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Events Postponed

The Shetland Amenity Trust have announced that its key annual events will all be postponed until next year.  Due to the current ...

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Shetland Wool Week 2020 Patron & Hat Pattern Launched

The Shetland Wool Week patron for 2020 has been named today as Shetland knitwear designer, Wilma Malcolmson, who is internationally ...

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Shetland Amenity Trust closes key sites

The Shetland Museum and Archives and the Shetland Amenity Trust’s head offices at Garthspool, Lerwick have today closed to the ...

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BBC Radio 4's Any Questions Postponed

The BBC have taken the decision to postpone their ‘Any Questions’ event until later in the year.

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