Orkney Museum

The Orkney Museum is housed in Tankerness House, a beautifully preserved 16th-century merchant laird's townhouse on Broad Street in the heart of Kirkwall, directly opposite St Magnus Cathedral. The building itself is one of the finest surviving examples of a vernacular Scottish townhouse of its period, arranged around a sheltered courtyard garden that is open to visitors and provides a quiet retreat from the busy street outside.

The collection tells the story of life in Orkney from the Neolithic period through to the 20th century. Galleries cover the islands' remarkable prehistoric heritage, with finds from Skara Brae, the Ness of Brodgar and other sites, alongside displays on the Picts, the Norse earldom, and the rich folk traditions of farming, fishing and crofting communities. Highlights include carved Pictish symbol stones, Viking-age artefacts and a fine collection of domestic furnishings showing how a wealthy Orcadian family lived in the 1700s.

Entry is free, and the museum forms part of a compact cluster of heritage sites at the centre of Kirkwall, with St Magnus Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and the Earl's Palace all within a few minutes' walk. It is an excellent starting point for any visit to the islands.