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The Shetland Museum and Archives on Hay's Dock, its white gables and dark boat-hall tower reflected in the water.
Shetland Islands

Shetland Museum

The islands’ own story, on the restored dock at Hay’s.

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Welcome

The Shetland Museum and Archives stands on Hay's Dock in Lerwick, a restored harbour on the north side of the town, and it is where the story of the islands is told in full.

The building opened on 31 May 2007, when the Queen of Norway and the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay brought Shetland's museum and archive collections together under one roof for the first time.

Inside, the galleries take you through five thousand years of people living in these islands, and boats hang in the tall boat hall, among them the Muckle Roe. Exhibitions change through the year. The archives welcome anyone who drops in to trace a family or a place, and there is a café. Entry to the museum is free, with donations welcome; a small charity, the Shetland Amenity Trust, runs it. In summer the museum opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday and Monday from noon.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
Close byThe Lounge BarA pub on Mounthooly Street in Lerwick, well known for traditional Shetland music, open every day from 11am until 1am.2 min by roadSee itThe Lounge Bar
Before you go

Free; donations welcome.

Summer hours: Monday and Sunday 12 noon to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. The archives are open to drop-in visitors on weekdays, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. At Hay's Dock, Lerwick.

Getting there
Hay's Dock, Lerwick.
Museum
Tue to Sat 10:00 to 17:00; Sun and Mon 12:00 to 17:00.
Archives
Weekdays 10:00 to 13:00, 14:00 to 16:00.
Entry
Free.

Opening hours

Monday
noon–5pm
Tuesday
10am–5pm
Wednesday
10am–5pm
Thursday
10am–5pm
Friday
10am–5pm
Saturday
10am–5pm
Sunday
noon–5pm

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Where it is

Hay's Dock, Lerwick, ZE1 0WP.

Close byIn Lerwick.
  1. Modern gabled harbourside building with wooden boats moored beside the quayShetland Museum and ArchivesFive thousand years, in Hay’s DockUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. A cask top set with tasting glasses and three bottles of Lerwick Distillery whisky.Lerwick DistilleryA whisky distillery on Whisky Lane off Market Street in Lerwick, with tours and tastings Thursday to Saturday on its winter hours.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. MareelShetland Arts' cinema, music venue and café bar on the Hay's Dock quayside at Lerwick, open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am.Under a mile 2 min by road
  4. The cliffs of the Knab above the sea, thrift in flower, Bressay across the Sound.Knab coastal walkThe best way to start a day in Lerwick1 mile 4 min by road
  5. The path to Clickimin Broch and its enclosing wall.Clickimin BrochAn Iron Age broch on the shore of Clickimin Loch at the edge of Lerwick, with a thousand years of settlement around it.1 mile 4 min by road
Directions
BarsThe Lounge Bar0.4 miles
The yarn wall at Jamieson's of Shetland in Lerwick, balls of Shetland wool in every colour stacked in round clear tubes along the length of the shop.ShoppingJamieson's of Shetland0.4 miles
The stone frontage of the Peerie Shop Cafe in Lerwick, with a puffin sign and tables outside.CafePeerie Shop Café0.5 miles
The bar at The Dowry, with a wooden counter, shelves of bottles behind it and fairy lights overhead.CafeThe Dowry0.5 miles
Three glasses of dessert topped with orange peel on a stone table, No88.RestaurantsNo88 Kitchen and Bar0.5 miles
ActivityShetland Seabird Tours0.5 miles
ShoppingThe Shetland Bookshop0.7 miles
Rows of skeins of Real Shetland Wool in many colours, with Jamieson & Smith labels.ShoppingJamieson and Smith0.8 miles
Two people on Fjarå's deck in the evening sun, looking over Breiwick Bay to Bressay.CafeFjarå Café Bar1.4 miles

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What we have written about it and more in Shetland.

ArticleGreat places for children and families in ShetlandArticleVisiting Shetland on a budgetArticleA day in Lerwick
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