St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall: Visitor Guide & Things to See
Blair Martel
Aug 9, 2026
Standing in the heart of Kirkwall, St Magnus Cathedral is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Orkney and an essential stop for anyone spending time in the island’s main town.
Known as the “Light in the North”, St Magnus Cathedral has occupied this spot since construction began in 1137. Today, it remains a working church as well as one of Kirkwall’s most popular visitor attractions.
For travellers, it has another advantage: it is extremely easy to include in your plans. The cathedral sits right in the centre of Kirkwall, close to the Orkney Museum, Bishop’s Palace, Earl’s Palace, shops and cafés. You can spend less than an hour here or make it the starting point for an entire afternoon exploring historic Kirkwall.
If you are planning a wider island itinerary, explore Orkney to discover more historic sites, attractions and places to visit across the islands.
This guide focuses on everything you need to know when planning your visit, from St Magnus Cathedral opening times and tours to accessibility, photography and nearby attractions.
St Magnus Cathedral Visitor Information
Here are the essentials before you visit:
- Location: Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NX
- Entry: Free, with donations encouraged
- October to March: Monday–Saturday, 9am–1pm and 2pm–5pm
- April to September: Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm
- Sunday visitor opening, April to September: 1pm–5pm
- Sunday service: Usually 11.15am
- Typical visit: Around 45 minutes to one hour
- Best for: Architecture, photography, local history, culture and rainy-day sightseeing
- Tours: Upper-level and other specialist tours are available
- Accessibility: Wheelchair access and accessible toilet facilities are available
- Nearby attractions: Bishop’s Palace, Earl’s Palace and the Orkney Museum
- Booking: General admission does not normally require advance booking
Because St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall is still an active place of worship, it may occasionally close during normal visitor hours for weddings, funerals or other services. If your itinerary is tight, check the cathedral’s current information before travelling.
Why Visit St Magnus Cathedral?
Orkney is perhaps best known for prehistoric landmarks such as Skara Brae and the Ring of Brodgar, but St Magnus Cathedral introduces visitors to a completely different period in the islands’ story.
This is the Orkney of Norse earls, medieval bishops, sea routes, saints and later Scottish influence.
For many travellers, that contrast is precisely what makes a visit worthwhile. After days spent exploring stone circles, chambered tombs and windswept archaeological landscapes, Kirkwall Cathedral brings you into a much more recognisable medieval world.
It is also one of the easiest major attractions in Orkney to visit. There is no countryside drive or long walk involved. Once you reach central Kirkwall, most of the historic quarter can be explored on foot.
The cathedral therefore works equally well as:
- A main attraction during a day in Kirkwall
- A stop on a rainy afternoon
- Part of a walking tour of central Kirkwall
- A cultural break between outdoor attractions
- A starting point for exploring Orkney's Norse heritage
The building remains part of everyday island life too. St Magnus Cathedral is still used for worship, concerts, community events and remembrance, rather than existing purely as a museum. The cathedral describes itself as Britain's most northerly cathedral and continues to welcome visitors as well as worshippers.
Why Is St Magnus Cathedral Called the “Light in the North”?
You do not need to know the complete story of St Magnus before visiting, but a little context makes the building far more meaningful.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1137, when Earl Rognvald commissioned a great church in honour of his uncle, Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney.
The building was created using local red and yellow sandstone and developed over several centuries. Much of what visitors see today is Romanesque in character, with rounded arches, substantial pillars and a wonderful sense of solidity.
St Magnus Cathedral is considered the most complete medieval cathedral in Scotland. The building also has an unusual relationship with the town: unlike most British cathedrals, it belongs to the people of Orkney through Orkney Islands Council.
If you want the fuller story of St Magnus himself, the cathedral’s construction, Norse Orkney and the building's architecture, read our separate guide to the history of St Magnus Cathedral. Keeping that history separate allows you to explore the cathedral in much more depth without turning a practical visitor guide into a history lesson.
What to See Inside St Magnus Cathedral
It is tempting to walk straight down the nave when you enter, but St Magnus Cathedral rewards a slower visit.
Allow yourself time to look upwards, then return your attention to details closer to ground level.
The Red and Yellow Sandstone
The distinctive stone is one of the first things you will notice.
Local red and yellow sandstone creates alternating colours throughout parts of the building. Depending on the weather and time of day, the interior can appear warm and glowing or much darker and more atmospheric.
It is one reason the name “Light in the North” feels so appropriate.
Rather than viewing the walls as a single surface, look at the individual columns, arches and changes in stone colour. Centuries of weathering and alteration have added texture that is easy to overlook during a quick visit.
The Nave
The nave provides one of the cathedral’s most impressive views.
Stand towards the western end and look along the length of the building. The repetition of arches and pillars leads your eye towards the choir and gives a clear sense of the cathedral's scale.
This is also an excellent place to pause rather than simply passing through. The interior feels remarkably calm compared with the activity outside on Broad Street.
The Arches and Stonework
Much of the visual character of St Magnus Cathedral Orkney comes from its Romanesque architecture.
Rounded arches, strong columns and thick stonework give the interior a weight and rhythm that feel very different from later, more delicate Gothic churches.
Look closely at doorways, column capitals and junctions between different sections of the building. The cathedral took centuries to complete, so changes in style and workmanship appear as you move through it.
Stained Glass
The windows introduce colour into what might otherwise be an overwhelmingly stone interior.
Take time to look at them individually rather than treating them simply as background decoration. Their appearance can change considerably according to the weather outside, making a bright summer visit feel very different from one on a dark winter afternoon.
Memorials and Gravestones
The walls and floors contain memorials connected with generations of Orcadians.
Some are grand; others are modest. Together they remind you that St Magnus Cathedral has served a living community for centuries rather than simply surviving as a medieval monument.
Look for carvings and symbols associated with death, remembrance and the passing of time. These smaller details can be some of the most memorable parts of the visit.
The HMS Royal Oak Memorial
Visitors interested in Orkney’s Second World War history should look for the cathedral's connection with HMS Royal Oak, sunk in Scapa Flow in October 1939.
The memorial adds another historical layer to the cathedral and provides a natural connection with other wartime attractions around Orkney, including Scapa Flow, the Churchill Barriers and the Italian Chapel.
It is a good example of why the cathedral is more than a medieval attraction: different generations of Orcadians have continued to use it as a place of collective memory.