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VisitShetland, Market Cross, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LU, UK
Welcome to Shetland
Lerwick
Lerwick - Shetland's Capital
Lerwick is a bustling, cosmopolitan seaport with services and amenities only found in much larger places on the British mainland. The extensive leisure and entertainment facilities provide warm hospitality to visitors. The old waterfront is thronged with pleasure boats, visiting yachts, historic craft and working fishing boats. There's a variety of lively bars and clubs, ranging from popular "theme" bars to more traditional hostelries.
Lerwick small boat harbourLerwick is Shetland's only town, with a population of about 7,500 - although about half of the islands' 22,000 people live within 10 miles of the burgh.
Founded as an unofficial marketplace to service 17th century Dutch herring fleets, Lerwick took a long time to grow. Because of its illegal status (and alleged immorality!) the straggling hamlet around the shore of Ler Wick ('muddy bay') was demolished by order of the Scalloway court in 1615 and 1625. The Dutch burnt the fort in 1673 and the French set fire to Lerwick in 1702.
Most of the sandstone buildings on the waterfront date from the 18th century, although a few, such as No 10 Commercial Street, are older. The narrow main street still follows the old shoreline but modern harbour works have been built out in front of shops and warehouses that once stood in the sea. Perched on a hillside overlooking the harbour, the town's lanes retain their charm - and their shelter from the prevailing south-westerly gales.
The Lodberrie on South Commercial Street
No-one designed the old town - it just grew - but, up over the Hillhead, Victorian architects laid out a "new town" of spacious villas and public parks, dominated by Lerwick Town Hall - a monument to the civic pride of the 1880s. Going west, or "oot ower", the suburban sprawl of the past half century is less picturesque, but housing standards are high.
Lerwick is the commercial and industrial centre of the islands and also the hub of a busy cultural and social life. Shetland Islands Council has its headquarters here and The Shetland Times and two local magazines are printed and published in the town. BBC Radio Shetland broadcasts news, views and an entertainment diary each evening, while a commercial radio station, SIBC, is on air around the clock with music, news bulletins and weather.
The town has an excellent leisure centre and swimming pool, a theatre, an art gallery and a surprisingly wide range of well-stocked shops. Lerwick also has a good museum, historical archive and library, including the Shetland Room with a large collection of local books and pamphlets.
Lerwick harbourMore information:
View our interpretive leaflet on Lerwick
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Feature
2009 Photo Competition
VisitShetland is pleased to announce the launch of their 5th annual photocompetition. This year's theme is 'Shetland's Wild Side'.
Advertising Feature
2009 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland
Shetland offers the best wildlife-watching in Scotland - FACT.
Over a million breeding seabirds, the highest density of Otters in Europe, regular sightings of Killer Whales and superb displays of rare sub-arctic flora. Our award-winning holidays offer everything from fully guided wildlife weeks and long weekends, dedicated birdwatching holidays plus photographic, walking and insight holidays.
Visit our extensive website www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk or call Shetland Wildlife on 01950 422483 for a choice of over 30 holidays!
Feature
Blue Sky Holidays
Don't miss the opportunity to join an art holiday experience with Blue Sky Studios this summer! There will be different locations for inspiration and the chance to use charcoal, inks, pencil and watercolour.Feature
Upcoming Event: Shetland Nature Festival
Shetland's 2nd Nature Festival is set to start this Friday until 12th July. Don't miss this opportunity to join a variety of specialised wildlife tours with local rangers, photography sessions and expert talks.
Feature
Geopark Shetland Celebrates Shetland Nature Festival
Building on the success of the launch of the Volcano Trail and Geopark Shetland website, Geopark Shetland is holding a number of exciting events to celebrate this years’ Shetland Nature Festival.
Feature
Shetland Museum and Archives seeks information on Emigrants for Hamefarin Exhibition
In 2010, Shetland will host a Hamefarin (homecoming), welcoming Shetlanders from all around the world back to their home islands. As part of the celebrations Shetland Museum and Archives is developing a special exhibition and are appealing for images and objects relating to Shetland emigrants. (Above photo: Laurence and Ester Ward on Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, August 1954)
Feature
Shetland in the Viking World: Exciting conference in Shetland this summer
Shetland Amenity Trust is to hold an exciting Viking conference, which will explore Shetland’s place in the Viking world, from the 16th - 19th July 2009.