Our Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Shetland's capital town of Lerwick. Begin your journey through the history of our beautiful islands here, with an enjoyable and interactive visitor experience discovering our world renowned collections. Free admission.
A must-see! We spent 90 minutes just on the first floor! Take your time to enjoy and learn from this tremendous collection of Shetland history. Well stocked gift shop too! Easy parking. Toilets. Helpful staff. ENJOY!
The museum offers an engaging, multi-sensory experience that explores Lerwick's unique ecology, history and culture from the prehistoric era to the present. There is even a full-size longboat on display in their nautical history section. We spent 2 hours and skipped lunch because there was so much to explore. The museum is free but donations are appreciated. We found some great momentos for friends and family in their gift shop.
Outstanding museum, with dedicated knowledgeable staff and engaging exhibits. However the building is beginning to show its age! Perhaps an external tidy-up and wash for it's 21st birthday in 2025? Weeds in the gravel and block paving, and dirty exterior walls were not a good look.
This is an amazing museum, with something for everyone, and it's free, although donations are very welcome. There is so much to see that we visited twice covering one floor on each visit. Plenty of seating around to sit and ponder. With a lovely cafe upstairs serving lunches, cakes and snacks, it's a great place to spend a few hours.
I was away with work and had a couple of hours to kill and glad I killed them by going on a visit to this museum followed by lunch at Mareel next door. The museum has a path which leads you through the history of Shetland from its formation as a geological formation right through to the modern day. Each section covering a time period has loads of items and information which gives you an understanding of life for Shetlanders throughout the ages. In short, I went in knowing very little about Shetland and left with a basic knowledge of its history and why it is how it is culturally, politically, and geographically. Also it was free and had good parking which was an added bonus!
Great place and very educational. Could do with better visitor signage to follow the historical sequence for viewing exhibits - I found myself at a number of points during the visit jumping backwards and forwards a few centuries in the Shetland Island's history.
On-site services
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Restaurant
Toilets
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Family friendly
Good for kids
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A must-see! We spent 90 minutes just on the first floor! Take your time to enjoy and learn from this tremendous collection of Shetland history. Well stocked gift shop too! Easy parking. Toilets. Helpful staff. ENJOY!
The museum offers an engaging, multi-sensory experience that explores Lerwick's unique ecology, history and culture from the prehistoric era to the present. There is even a full-size longboat on display in their nautical history section. We spent 2 hours and skipped lunch because there was so much to explore. The museum is free but donations are appreciated. We found some great momentos for friends and family in their gift shop.
Outstanding museum, with dedicated knowledgeable staff and engaging exhibits. However the building is beginning to show its age! Perhaps an external tidy-up and wash for it's 21st birthday in 2025? Weeds in the gravel and block paving, and dirty exterior walls were not a good look.
This is an amazing museum, with something for everyone, and it's free, although donations are very welcome. There is so much to see that we visited twice covering one floor on each visit. Plenty of seating around to sit and ponder. With a lovely cafe upstairs serving lunches, cakes and snacks, it's a great place to spend a few hours.
I was away with work and had a couple of hours to kill and glad I killed them by going on a visit to this museum followed by lunch at Mareel next door. The museum has a path which leads you through the history of Shetland from its formation as a geological formation right through to the modern day. Each section covering a time period has loads of items and information which gives you an understanding of life for Shetlanders throughout the ages. In short, I went in knowing very little about Shetland and left with a basic knowledge of its history and why it is how it is culturally, politically, and geographically. Also it was free and had good parking which was an added bonus!
Great place and very educational. Could do with better visitor signage to follow the historical sequence for viewing exhibits - I found myself at a number of points during the visit jumping backwards and forwards a few centuries in the Shetland Island's history.
