Triple Recognition for Orkney attractions in Tripadvisor Awards

Three of Orkney’s council-run cultural heritage attractions have been awarded a 2023 Traveller’s Choice Award by TripAdvisor.

The Orkney Museum, Scapa Flow Museum and St Magnus Cathedral have all been recognised in the awards, which celebrate attractions that have consistently received great reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months.

The awards place the three sites amongst the top 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.

The news follows recent recognition for Scapa Flow Museum which, earlier this year was selected as one of five finalists for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023, the world’s largest museum prize – eventually losing out to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow.

The Orkney Museum tells the story of Orkney from prehistory to the present day. It is an excellent overview and introduction to the history of Orkney and its treasures. There is a large collection of old photos and activities to amuse younger visitors. The Museum’s collection is of national importance, hosting a recognised nationally significant archaeology collection and it has a changing temporary exhibition programme.

Scapa Flow Museum’s role is to chart Orkney’s military involvement in the First and Second World Wars and provide a safe home for a major collection of wartime artefacts, many of national and international importance. The newly re-developed museum helps share this story through the display of over 250 interesting artefacts and is also brought to life through interactive exhibits throughout the building.

St Magnus Cathedral was founded in 1137, and is of international significance as the most complete medieval cathedral in Scotland.  It is dedicated to St Magnus, Earl of Orkney in the 12th century, at a time when Orkney was part of the Kingdom of Norway. He was killed on the orders of his cousin and rival Hakon, and many miracles were reported after this death. In 1137 Magnus’s nephew Rognvald began construction of the ‘fine minster’ in honour of his saintly uncle; Magnus’s relics remain interred in a pillar of the choir.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer is the Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee.  She said: “What an incredible achievement for our tiny corner of the global tourism market.  To have not just one, but three, of the Council-run visitor attractions recognised in this way is just fantastic and down not only to the investment and care by this Council into these attractions, but the daily hard work of our on-the-ground teams in making the visitor experience the best it can be.”

John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor, said: “Earning a Travellers’ Choice Award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labour shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt. Cheers to another successful year!”

Tripadvisor, is the world's largest travel guidance platform, and helps hundreds of millions of people each month become better travellers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travellers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before.