Scalloway Museum

About the museum

Scalloway's first museum was opened in 1985 by the Scalloway History Group and ran for about twenty years. One of its main themes was the Shetland Bus, the secret wartime link between Shetland and occupied Norway. The Shetland Bus Friendship Society was formed in 2001 and unveiled a memorial to the 44 men who died on these missions in 2003.

By then the original museum had outgrown its old premises on Main Street, so the Society spent six years raising funds for a larger building next to the castle. The new museum opened in 2012, officially launched by the Prime Minister of Norway. It is owned by the community, run by the Society as a charity and staffed by volunteers.

The displays follow Scalloway and its people from the earliest settlers to the present day, covering ancient history, the old capital of Shetland, fishing and boat building, wartime life and the village today. The museum holds more than 5,000 objects. The jewel of the exhibition is the section on the Shetland Bus, which the museum describes as the most extensive collection of artefacts and information on these operations outside Norway. A reference room holds an archive of books, newspapers and Shetland Bus material that visitors and researchers can use.

Highlights

• Largest collection on the Shetland Bus outside Norway
• Shetland Bus memorial to the 44 men who died
• Story of Scalloway from the earliest settlers to today
• Fishing and boat-building heritage
• Views of Scalloway Castle and the harbour
• Local knitwear in the museum shop

Permanent exhibitions

• The Scalloway story – Galleries follow the village and its people from the earliest settlers through fishing, boat building and wartime to the present day.
• The Shetland Bus – The story of the fishing boats that carried agents and supplies between Shetland and occupied Norway during the Second World War.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Shetland Bus Friendship Society (Scalloway Museum)

Admission & discounts

All tickets are season tickets and can be used as often as you like within the same calendar year. Prices are taken from the museum website (2025 season).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is all on one level with wide walkways. There is a disabled parking bay beside the entrance, a very gentle slope from the car park and no steps to the entrance. A wheelchair is available for visitors to use in the museum, and there is an accessible toilet.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

A children's area called Scallywag's Haad is part of the museum. Parents or guardians must supervise children at all times. There are baby changing facilities.

Getting there & parking

From Lerwick follow the signs to Scalloway, take the left fork at the first roundabout and continue along Castle Street towards the harbour. The museum is on the left just before the castle. There is a taxi drop-off area.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free wifi is available. Hot and cold drinks are served from a self-service area with seating inside the museum, and there is a picnic table and seating on the patio facing the castle. The shop sells souvenirs and knitwear made locally for the museum, mostly from pure Shetland wool. The museum also serves as a tourist information point.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit