St Magnus Cathedral Church

Address: Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland

Hours: Visiting hours vary (check locally)

Admission: Donations requested; some tours/tower access may have fees

St Magnus Cathedral is the medieval cathedral in Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands, Scotland, with construction begun in the 12th century. It is the town’s principal historic church and a major local landmark.

Romanesque and Gothic architectural features, medieval masonry and historic memorials are principal attractions, together with the cathedral’s compact city-centre setting. The building interior includes stone carving and historic tombs.

Founded in the 12th century and associated with the Norse earldom of Orkney, the cathedral was erected as a collegiate church and developed over subsequent medieval centuries. It has served continuously as Kirkwall’s main church since the medieval period.

The cathedral stands in the centre of Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, north of mainland Scotland, and is a focal point of the town.

• Founding date: Foundation work on the cathedral began in 1137 and it reflects Norman and later medieval architectural phases. It remains the principal church in Kirkwall, Orkney.

St Magnus Cathedral sits in the centre of Kirkwall on Cathedral Street. From Kirkwall Bus Station and the harbour it’s a short walk of about 3-5 minutes (roughly 200-500 m); the town centre is compact and walkable. If driving into Kirkwall follow the main approach roads into the town centre and use nearby public car parks, then continue on foot to the cathedral.

• Arrive in Kirkwall early in the morning to see the cathedral before cruise-ship and day-tour crowds arrive; the central location means you can pair it with a short walk to the harbor afterwards.
• Visit the adjacent Bishop's Palace and nearby Orkney Museum on the same ticket/time slot where possible - they sit next to the cathedral and give fuller context to the site without extra travel.
• If you prefer a quieter experience, attend a service such as evensong (when offered) rather than a daytime sightseeing visit; that lets you hear the space in use and avoids busier visiting hours.