Dundee

March 23, 2019

Dundee City | City | ★★★

[Dundee Dragon Sculpture just off the High Street]

Dundee is Scotland's 4th largest city, spreading along the north side of the Firth of Tay with views (and a long bridge) across to rural Fife. Famously founded upon the 3 industries of jute, jam and journalism, declining industry has until recently given the city an unfashionable image. But things have changed. An ambitious 30-year development scheme is well underway to transform the previously ugly, messy waterfront with new public squares, gardens, railway station and a major art gallery. There's some way to go - the project ends in 2031 - but our 2019 visit confirmed that this is a place transformed in comparison to even half a decade ago. Another name for Dundee is the "City of Discovery". This is a merely reference to the settlement's roles in both scientific research and in building ships bound for faraway places such as Antarctica; nevertheless, it's fitting that the city is now such a rewarding place to explore on foot once again. There are two main clusters of sights - those by the esplanade and those in the city centre - but it's only a 10 minute walk between them.

[New and old: the Antarctic-bound RRS Discovery backed by the new V&A Dundee]

Location & info

📌 Dundee ★★★
The central City Square is at G.R.: NO 403302 ///lunch.proud.salt

🚶 The main attractions are within walking distance of each other; reaching the waterfront is much more pleasant following its redevelopment.
✈️🚆🚌 Dundee has good rail and coach links to the rest of Scotland. A good bus network operates within the city. The local airport has infrequent flights from London and Belfast.
🚗 City centre parking has a charge, but there are free spots further out.

See & do (<1 mi away)

>> Discovery Point ★★★★
>> Dundee Science Centre (not yet featured)
>> HMS Unicorn ★★★
>> St Paul's Cathedral (Dundee) ★★
>> The McManus ★★★
>> V&A Dundee ★★★

📌 Verdant Works ★★★★
💬 Interactive museum about Dundee's once great weaving and jute industry - highly recommended.
West Henderson's Wynd, 10-min walk west of City Square, G.R.: NO 395304 ///trim.mats.cloak
Open daily, April to October; Wednesday to Sunday, November to March (2019) | £11.50 adult / £6.40 child / joint ticket with Discovery Point available

Nearby (1-3 mi away)

>> Dundee Law ★★★ (1 mi ←)

📌 Mills Observatory ★★
💬 Britain's first purpose-built public observatory, with telescopes, information displays, and evening planetarium shows in winter.
On the summit of Balgay Hill, 2 mi west of City Square, G.R.: NO 377308 ///soaks.spaces.energy
Open daily, November to March; usually closed in summer | Free; small charge for planetarium shows

>> Dawson Park ★★ (3 mi →)