Palace · Ruin

Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Directions Tickets, save 12% online
  • Closed for the season
  • £8.50 adult · £4 child
  • Dogs in the grounds
  • No car park on site
  • Historic Environment Scotland
Earl's Palace, Kirkwall: Earl's Palace, Kirkwall is a U-plan tower house in Kirkwall on Orkney, Scotland, Great Britain
Photo: Chmee2 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Quick answer

Checked 14 Oct 2026

Earl's Palace, Kirkwall is currently closed for the season. Earl's Palace, Kirkwall is a ruined palace near Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Adult tickets cost £8.50, and Historic Environment Scotland members go free. Dogs are welcome in the grounds but not inside. There is no car park on site.

Earl's Palace, Kirkwall opening times

Last checked 14 Oct 2026
  1. Mon 12 Not listed
  2. Tue 13 Not listed
  3. Wed 14 Not listed
  4. Thu 15 Not listed
  5. Fri 16 Not listed
  6. Today Sat 17 Not listed
  7. Sun 18 Not listed
Opening times by season
Season Dates Days Hours Last entry
Summer 1 Apr to 30 Sep
Daily
10:00 to 12:30, 13:00 to 16:30
 NaN:NaN

Daily 10:00-16:30 1 Apr-30 Sep. Page also states 'Lunch: 12.30pm to 1pm' and 'Last entry: 30 minutes before closing'. Closed 1 Oct-31 Mar.

Opening times change with the season and can change at short notice. Check the official site before you travel.

Earl's Palace, Kirkwall tickets and prices

2026 prices · checked 17 Oct 2026
Ticket prices
Ticket Online On the day
Adult £7.50 £8.50
Concession £6 £6.80
Child £3.50 £4
Historic Environment Scotland members Free Free
Book on the Historic Environment Scotland site

Getting to Earl's Palace, Kirkwall and parking

Plan your route

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Directions to Earl's Palace, Kirkwall View on a map
Address
KW15 1PD
Parking
No car park on site. On-street parking nearby (Thomas Street, about 350m); free car park on Great Western Road.
By train
Thurso is 33.8 miles away.
Public transport
Short walk from Kirkwall Travel Centre; direct buses from across Orkney.

Dogs, accessibility and facilities

Dogs

Partly
  • Welcome: in the grounds.
  • Not allowed: inside the buildings.
  • Dogs welcome in outdoor areas; assistance dogs permitted within roofed areas.

Accessibility

Not step-free
  • Step-free: no step-free access.
  • Paths and surfaces: Both routes to the Earl's Palace involve steps; upper floors by stone stairs.
  • Accessible toilet: no.
Full access statement

Food and facilities

  • Shop Yes
  • Visitor centre Yes

What to see at Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

  • 01

    Great hall

    The main hall, used for feasts and ceremony.

History of Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

  1. 1263 Haakon IV of Norway dies in the Bishop's Palace
  2. c.1606 Earl's Palace built by Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney
  3. 1615 Earl Patrick executed in Edinburgh

Photos

Castles near Earl's Palace, Kirkwall

All 64 castles in Scotland

Sources

Every fact on this page last verified 14 Oct 2026
Suggest a correction
  1. Page on api.postcodes.io · checked 17 Oct 2026
  2. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 17 Oct 2026
  3. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 17 Oct 2026
  4. Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot · checked 17 Oct 2026
  5. Wikidata · checked 17 Oct 2026
  6. Page on historicenvironment.scot · checked 14 Oct 2026

We are independent and not affiliated with Historic Environment Scotland. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data