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City and council area in Scotland
Photo: Hynek Moravec, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Dundee is an industrial city and port, historically part of Angus county in northeast Scotland. It stands on the north bank of the River Tay, which here broadens out into the North Sea, and in 2022 had a population of 148,000. Dundee's prime visitor attractions are the polar sailing ship RRS Discovery, the Verdant Works jute mill, and the V&A design museum. It's also a good base for nearby major golf tournaments, and for exploring Deeside and the eastern Highlands.
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Discovery, launched in 1901, is an Royal Research Ship (RRS) specifically built for Antarctic exploration. She's a 3-masted wooden sailing ship with only auxiliary steam power, built in Dundee because its shipwrights still had expertise in polar sail-powered vessels that was being lost elsewhere. Discovery was commanded by Robert Falcon Scott, and also aboard was Ernest Shackleton. They reached Antarctica in early 1902 (austral summer), intending to spend one winter, but the ship became icebound for the next two years. They were just about to abandon ship in Feb 1904 when the ice broke and they escaped homeward to public acclaim. Both men were to return: Shackleton in 1907-09 didn't quite reach the South Pole, but survived. Scott in 1910-12 did reach it, but behind Amundsen, and all his party perished on the trek back to the coast. The museum has an extensive display of the 1902-04 expedition, then you go aboard the dry-docked ship, which had a later career as a polar merchant vessel.
The Dundee branch of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, with a focus on design in Scotland. Its waterfront building is a striking modern design with an interior of ship's planking, as if Discovery next door had arrived as an Ikea flat-pack.
Interactive science museum, booking essential.
Anglican cathedral in Decorated Gothic style by George Gilbert Scott, completed in 1855.
A 46-gun frigate launched in 1824 at Chatham Docks in Kent but immediately mothballed, so she was never fitted with masts, rigging or guns. Her hull was roofed over and her only sea voyage was in 1873 when she was towed north to Dundee to act as a training hulk. This means her original Georgian timbers are in unusually good condition. Her sister ship HMS Trincomalee can be visited in Hartlepool.
In the 19th century you just had to have jute. Curtains and carpets and blankets, hard-wearing clothing. Satchels and roof felt, ropes of all kinds, sails for ships, tents for soldiers and seasonal farm workers. The raw material is a coarse flax that grows in Bengal: it was processed here because Dundee had fast ships to import it, whale oil to make it soft and workable, flax-weaving technology, and then again the fast ships to export finished goods globally. The city's mill owners grew very rich; the mill workers didn't, nor did the Bengalis. Verdant Works, built in 1833, was one of many jute factories here. Many of them still stand, converted into offices and apartments, while Verdant was turned into a museum in 1996. Volunteers demonstrate the clanking machinery.
Trad natural history museum within the university.
RC cathedral with a Victorian Gothic facade opened in 1836.
McManus is in three sections: a museum tracing Dundee's story, natural history museum, and art gallery; plus exhibitions. The building, a Gothic construction by George Gilbert Scott, opened in 1867 as a memorial to Prince Albert.
This cemetery was part of Greyfriars Monastery until Mary Queen of Scots gave it to the city in 1564. The well-preserved gravestones are mostly 19th-century, including that of James Chalmers (d 1853), inventor of the adhesive postage stamp. The last burial here in 1878 was of George Duncan, businessman and MP. Today the Howff is a secluded, peaceful place.
9-hectare garden with tropical glasshouses.
A public astronomical observatory. It's not open in summer as the nights are too short for sky viewing.
Menagerie with birds and (mostly small) beasts.
Small but interesting collection of mainly Scottish marques.
Often hosts concerts, bands and so on: the auditorium has a capacity of 2300. It's home to a grand 1923 Organ.
Staging theatre, dance and music.
Modern art exhibitions, events and films.
Mostly light fare: musicals, tribute acts, light opera and comedy.
Public skating and lessons most days. It's the home rink of three ice hockey teams, playing Sep-March: Dundee Stars are in the Elite Ice Hockey League, the UK top tier. Dundee Comets and Dundee Tigers play in the Scottish National League, the second tier.
Public leisure pool with waves, flumes and diving pool.
"The Dee" play at Dens Park (capacity 11,000) aka "Kilmac Stadium". They play in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier.
Dundee United also play in the Premiership. They play at Tannadice Park (capacity 14,000) barely 200 yards from their rivals.
Golf has been played here since the 16th century and the club was constituted in 1842. It has three 18-hole courses, the Championship, the Burnside and Buddon Links, plus (just for a lark) the five-hole Nestie. The Championship regularly hosts the British Open, the last being in 2018; the Women's AIG Open was here in 2021. By train use Golf Street Station, half a mile east of Carnoustie Station. However check directions for major events: they may require spectators to enter via specific routes.
Lively entertainment venue, serving burgers, salads, pizzas from noon. Student clientele. Good for lunch or early dinner, gets noisy once the music starts.
Popular café near Uni, small place so it gets busy. Menu changes daily, lots of vegetarian options.
Belhaven pub with extensive menu including vegetarian.
Friendly Indian restaurant.
Good pub grub at reasonable prices.
Mexican classics, hefty portions.
Highly recommended for food & drink.
Belhaven pub with reliable food.
JD Wetherspoon's efficient chain.
Friendly Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant.
Long-established budget Indian restaurant.
Sound Italian restaurant.
Cosy coffee shop near the train station, that is also a hub for the local running and cycling clubs.
Speciality coffee shop
Very central, well sound-proofed against street and train noise.
Slick riverside budget inn with 150 rooms. Make sure to pay for parking (£7 / night) immediately on arrival.
Good chain choice, central.
Central mid-range hotel, dog-friendly.
Stylish contemporary hotel in the City Quay, with views of the river and ship Unicorn.
Central 3-star hotel. Rooms are small but not cramped.
Clean central hostel.
Central budget hotel, basic but value for money. See below for the other Travelodge on Strathmore Ave.
Comfy hotel, a short walk to sights.
Conveniently located above Dundee station, with a restaurant and bar.
Pleasant hotel in a Victorian Gothic mansion near the airport.
Chain hotel in a quiet area.
formerly DoubleTree by Hilton
Mixed reviews for this 19th-century mansion with extensive gardens.
Budget hotel, handy for motorists.
Efficient budget hotel.
Another chain hotel on ring road.
Budget chain hotel, convenient for motorists.
Luxurious cottage on farm. Adults only, dogs welcome. Two nights minimum.
The most central shopping mall, with the usual brands.
Similar retail selection to Overgate.
Selling scented candles, reed diffusers and gift sets.
By train
Scotrail trains run hourly or better from the other major Scottish cities, all taking 80 min: from Edinburgh via Kirkcaldy and Leuchars (for St Andrews), from Glasgow Queen Street via Stirling and…
By road
City centre and the area within the A991 Inner Ring Road is a Low Emission Zone, with penalties for entering in a non-compliant vehicle.
By bus
Citylink buses run hourly from Glasgow Buchanan station (1 hr 40 min) and Aberdeen Union Square (1 hr 20 min) as the M90 route, and every two hours from Edinburgh St Andrews Square (90 min) as the…
William McGonagall (1825-1902) was a Dundee hand-loom weaver inspired to take up poetry, which he recited publicly.g.
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