Dundee

It is half an hour by car from your holiday home to Dundee, Scotland’s City of Discovery, with its significant industrial and seafaring heritage, its superb shopping facilities, and its world-class cultural venues, galleries and museums. The city centre is pedestrianized, and you can wander from cafes, to modern shopping centres, to excellent restaurants, to the harbour front, conscious of the splendour of the Victorian architecture and the significant marine history. A day would not be complete without a visit to Discovery Point to see the famous ship, built in Dundee, which took Scott to the Antartic.

HERITAGE

Dundee is known for jute, jam, journalism and shipbuilding. Its industrial legacy, made it a significant city and port, though it was originally established in the 12th century, and its turbulent history has meant it has be rebuilt three times in the last 350years.

Discovery Point, Discovery Quay, close to the city centre celebrates the life of a ship, built in Dundee, which spent three years locked in the ice of Antartica, carrying the famous Dundee explorer Robert Scott. The Discovery returned to Dundee in 1986 and the museum is a 5* visitor attraction. www.rrsdiscovery.com (Tel 01382 201245)

The Verdant Works, West Henderson Wynd, Dundee is a careful re-creation of a jute mill, built originally in 1833, when Dundee was the jute capital of the world. You can see the process from batching and softening jute, through weaving and finishing. Opened in 1996, this museum was industrial museum of the year. (Tel 01382 309060)
Restored by Dundee Heritage Trust see www.dhet.org.uk

H M Frigate Unicorn can be visited at Victoria Dock, Dundee. It is one of only 6 remaining ships built before 1850, and is 95% original. It returned to Dundee in 1873.
Tel 01382 200900 and www.frigateunicorn.org

CULTURE

Your holiday property is only half an hour from Scotland’s most exciting theatre company (Dundee Rep Theatre), from Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, the Caird Concert Hall and the McManus Galleries and Museum. A feast of experience in dance, theatre, music, exhibitions and cinema is within easy reach.

Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee is the home of a resident company of actors and Scottish Dance Theatre. Tel: 01383 223530 www.dundeerep.co.uk
Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, 152 Nethergate, Dundee has exhibitions, cinema, shop and excellent café/restaurant. Tel 01382 909900 www.dca.org.uk
Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee is a magnificent venue with events that include Opera, Ballet, Classical/Pop/Childrens concerts. Tel 01383 434030
Dundee City Box office Tel: 01382 434940 www.cairdhall.co.uk
McManus Galleries and Museum, Albert Square, Dundee, set in a Gothic Revival building, is currently undergoing a £10.5 million refurbishment. If you want to climb The Old Steeple which gives stunning views over Dundee, Tel 01382 432350, or visit www.mcmanus.co.uk for details of the tours

SHOPPING AND EATING OUT

You can have a fabulous day out shopping in Dundee as its myriad of shops are concentrated in the centre of town, on the Victorian Streets, in the modern Wellgate Centre (50 retailers) and the contemporary Overgate Centre (over 70 retailers), with its 2 storey glass front which curves around City Churches at the heart of Dundee. Dundee, Scotland’s fourth largest city, has M&S, Next, Debenhams, River Island, Ottakars, Waterstones and Boots to name a few. For full listing see www.overgate.co.uk and www.wellgatedundee.co.uk

For those wanting to visit factory outlets, such as TKMaxx, a few minutes walk takes you to the City Quay and Harbour where they are found. www.cityquay.co.uk

The compact city centre offers a wealth of places to eat out. Visit the eateries on characterful streets in Dundee’s Cultural Quarter; the cafes at The Dundee Arts Centre or The Dundee Rep do excellent food. There is international cuisine on offer in a range of Italian, French, Chinese, Scottish Restaurants.
Bon Appetit, 22-26 Exchange Street, Dundee, is a critically acclaimed French restaurant Tel 01382 www.bonappetit-dundee.com
The Italian, 36 Commercial St, Dundee was awarded Best Eating Place Dundee 2006 and 2007. Renowned for its Aberdeen Angus Steaks Tel 01382 206444 www.theitalian.co.uk

A full list of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops can be found at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/eatdrink/shopping.htm

SCIENCE AND NATURE

Dundee Science Centre, Greenmarket, Dundee, houses Sensation Dundee, which is the only UK Science Centre based on the five senses. It has 80 hands-on exhibits. Tel 01382 228800 www.sensation.org.uk

University of Dundee Botanic Gardens, Riverside Drive, Dundee, is a wonderful garden with a wide range of plants, shrubs, glasshouses, a herb garden and café.
Tel 01382 381190 www.dundeebotanicgardens.co.uk

The Mills Observatory, built in 1935, is open to the public. For all astronomy lovers more information is available at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/mills/

Camperdown Wildlife Centre, Coupar Angus Road, Dundee is a Country Park with 50 species of wildlife including wolf, lynx and bears. It has a boating pond, adventure playground, 18 hole golf course, and pitch and putt. Tel 01382 431811 www.camperdownpark.com

Dundee Links

Dundee