Kirkwall Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace
Overview
2024 Update - Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace are open but the upper levels of the palace are closed at the time of writing (7 Feb 2024)
The Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace are not places that we would consider to be an essential part of a holiday in Orkney, but they will keep you occupied if you have ~30-45 minutes to kill in Kirkwall.
The best feature of a visit to these buildings is the view from the tower of the Bishop's Palace. This involves a climb up a narrow spiral staircase and is not advisable for anyone that suffers from vertigo. At the top of the tower, you step out onto a platform with a surprisingly low barrier as the only safety measure between you and a nasty plunge to street level. If you are OK with heights, you are rewarded with a great view of St Magnus' Cathedral, which is directly opposite.
In summary, enjoyable for the views from Bishop's Palace over the cathedral, but we'd only suggest you do it if you have already bought a Historic Scotland Explorer pass.
Save money on visiting this attraction by buying an Explorer Pass
Read our Travel Blog for more information on the best things to do in Orkney.
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Address: |
Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1PD |
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Operated by: |
Historic Environment Scotland |
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Opening Hours: |
1 Apr to 30 Sep, Daily 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (last entry 60 mins before closing) and closes for lunch from 12:30 - 13:30 |
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Admission: |
Adult £ 7.50, Senior £ 6, Child £ 4.50, Family (2 + 2) £ 21.50 |
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Parking: |
Yes |
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Languages: |
Information boards in English |
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Accessibility: |
Visitors with limited mobility could access the ground floor of the Earl's Palace, but that is all. |
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Toilets: |
No |
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Shop: |
Yes |
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Cafe/Restaurant: |
No, located close to Kirkwall town centre so plenty of cafes nearby. |
Kirkwall Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace Features In
