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Dundee Visitor Guide
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Scotland's fourth largest city sits on two prominent hills, Balgay and the Law, overlooking the River Tay. Few cities in Britain can match Dundee's impressive setting, seen at its breathtaking best from across the Tay, in Fife. But, despite the common consensus that the views of the city are indeed spectacular, certain guide books have suggested that visitors keep their distance. Which just goes to show how out of touch they are, for Dundee has transformed itself into a vibrant, thriving city and an increasingly popular destination for tourists.
One of Dundee's big attractions is Captain Scott's ship, the Discovery, and such is the civic pride engendered by its return home that Dundee has become widely known through its slogan - City of Discovery. There are other, less publicized, attractions, such as the Law Hill, which commands fantastic views over the city and the Tay estuary, and the attractive seaside suburb of Broughty Ferry.
Dundee also has a thriving arts scene and plenty of good shops, bars and restaurants. But the city's best kept secret is its people. The accent may at first be somewhat impenetrable, but Dundonians have an endearing earthy humour and are the friendliest bunch of people you'll find anywhere on the east coast of Scotland.
One of Dundee's big attractions is Captain Scott's ship, the Discovery, and such is the civic pride engendered by its return home that Dundee has become widely known through its slogan - City of Discovery. There are other, less publicized, attractions, such as the Law Hill, which commands fantastic views over the city and the Tay estuary, and the attractive seaside suburb of Broughty Ferry.
Dundee also has a thriving arts scene and plenty of good shops, bars and restaurants. But the city's best kept secret is its people. The accent may at first be somewhat impenetrable, but Dundonians have an endearing earthy humour and are the friendliest bunch of people you'll find anywhere on the east coast of Scotland.
Getting There
By Air
Dundee's airport, Tel. 643224, is on Riverside Drive, about a 5-min drive west of the city centre. There are no buses to the centre. There are direct flights to Dundee from London City Airport, 4 times daily, with Scot Airways.
Bus
The bus station, Tel. 228345, is on Seagate, a few hundred yards east of the City Square. All regional and national buses arrive here. National Express runs 4 services daily to and from London (10 hrs direct). Scottish Citylink operates an hourly service to and from Edinburgh (2 hrs) and Glasgow (2� hrs). Most Edinburgh and Glasgow buses stop en route in Perth (35 mins). There are also hourly buses to Aberdeen (2 hrs). Some Aberdeen buses go via Forfar (25 mins) and others go via Arbroath (30 mins). Strathtay Scottish runs buses at least every 30 mins to Blairgowrie (1 hr), Forfar (30 mins), Brechin (via Forfar, 1 1/4 hrs) and Arbroath (1 hr); and hourly to Perth (1 hr), Kirriemuir (1 hr 10 mins) and Montrose (1� hrs). Their Rover ticket gives unlimited travel 1 day.
Trains
Trains into Dundee arrive at Taybridge Station, Tel. 228046, a few hundred yards south of the High St, across the dual carriageway at the foot of Union St. There are trains at least every hour, Mon-Sat, to and from Glasgow (1 1/2 hrs) and Edinburgh (1 1/2 hrs). Trains run less frequently on Sun. Trains run every 30 mins to and from Aberdeen(1 1/4 hrs), via Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven.
By Car
The best approach is from the south, across the Tay Road Bridge (80p toll; payable heading south only), which gives a spectacular introduction to the city. Alternatively, the city is reached via the A90, from Aberdeen to the north or Perth to the west. Coming from Perth, turn on to Riverside Drive at the Invergowrie roundabout for the city centre.
Getting Around
Dundee city centre is fairly compact and most of the sights are within walking distance of each other. For outlying sights, the city is served by an efficient bus service. Buses heading west along the Perth Rd pass along the High St, stopping at the city square. Heading northwards, buses leave from Albert Square, behind the McManus Galleries, and buses heading east towards Broughty Ferry leave from outside Littlewoods on the High St.
There are taxi ranks on Nethergate and High St.
Car And Cycle Hire
National, 45-53 Gellatly St. Arnold Clark, 14-22 Trades Lane. 18 Marketgait. Cycle hire - Just Bikes, 57 Gray St. Nicholson's, 2-4 Forfar Rd.
By Air
Dundee's airport, Tel. 643224, is on Riverside Drive, about a 5-min drive west of the city centre. There are no buses to the centre. There are direct flights to Dundee from London City Airport, 4 times daily, with Scot Airways.
Bus
The bus station, Tel. 228345, is on Seagate, a few hundred yards east of the City Square. All regional and national buses arrive here. National Express runs 4 services daily to and from London (10 hrs direct). Scottish Citylink operates an hourly service to and from Edinburgh (2 hrs) and Glasgow (2� hrs). Most Edinburgh and Glasgow buses stop en route in Perth (35 mins). There are also hourly buses to Aberdeen (2 hrs). Some Aberdeen buses go via Forfar (25 mins) and others go via Arbroath (30 mins). Strathtay Scottish runs buses at least every 30 mins to Blairgowrie (1 hr), Forfar (30 mins), Brechin (via Forfar, 1 1/4 hrs) and Arbroath (1 hr); and hourly to Perth (1 hr), Kirriemuir (1 hr 10 mins) and Montrose (1� hrs). Their Rover ticket gives unlimited travel 1 day.
Trains
Trains into Dundee arrive at Taybridge Station, Tel. 228046, a few hundred yards south of the High St, across the dual carriageway at the foot of Union St. There are trains at least every hour, Mon-Sat, to and from Glasgow (1 1/2 hrs) and Edinburgh (1 1/2 hrs). Trains run less frequently on Sun. Trains run every 30 mins to and from Aberdeen(1 1/4 hrs), via Arbroath, Montrose and Stonehaven.
By Car
The best approach is from the south, across the Tay Road Bridge (80p toll; payable heading south only), which gives a spectacular introduction to the city. Alternatively, the city is reached via the A90, from Aberdeen to the north or Perth to the west. Coming from Perth, turn on to Riverside Drive at the Invergowrie roundabout for the city centre.
Getting Around
Dundee city centre is fairly compact and most of the sights are within walking distance of each other. For outlying sights, the city is served by an efficient bus service. Buses heading west along the Perth Rd pass along the High St, stopping at the city square. Heading northwards, buses leave from Albert Square, behind the McManus Galleries, and buses heading east towards Broughty Ferry leave from outside Littlewoods on the High St.
There are taxi ranks on Nethergate and High St.
Car And Cycle Hire
National, 45-53 Gellatly St. Arnold Clark, 14-22 Trades Lane. 18 Marketgait. Cycle hire - Just Bikes, 57 Gray St. Nicholson's, 2-4 Forfar Rd.
Dundee's History
The name Dundee is derived from the Gaelic words 'dun' meaning hill or fort and 'daig', who was thought to be an early local chieftain. Dundee has been settled since prehistoric times, and Pictish earthworks and chambers can still be seen at Tealing, Ardestie and Carlungie, just beyond the city's boundaries. The city was an important trading port as long ago as the 12th century, and it was here that Robert the Bruce was proclaimed King of Scots in 1309.
Its importance, however, made it a prime target for a succession of English invaders. It was captured by Edward I, besieged by Henry VIII, destroyed by Royalists and Cromwell's army during the Civil War, and then again by Viscount Dundee prior to the Battle of Killiecrankie. The young William Wallace, the fiery Scottish patriot, was educated in Dundee, and during its occupation by Edward's forces Wallace stabbed the son of an English overlord for daring to insult him, and had to flee south. A plaque on the High Street marks the spot where the incident took place.
Dundee is famous within Scotland as the city of the three J's; Jute, Jam and Journalism. These three industries were part of the city's commercial success, and the jute mills in particular, from the early 19th century, were the foundation of the city's wealth. Along with Edinburgh, Dundee became a centre for investment trusts which sunk cash into ventures all over the world, particularly the USA. In 1873 Dundee jute man Robert Fleming set up the Scottish Investment Trust to channel money into US cattle ranches, mining companies and railways.
The biggest cattle ranch in the USA was run from Dundee until 1951 and the Texas oil industry was largely financed by Dundee jute wealth. The jam-making came about almost by accident, when a ship carrying a cargo of oranges was forced to put into Dundee harbour during a storm. A local grocer bought the oranges, which his wife then made into marmalade, and an industry was born.
Journalism is the only 'J' still in operation in the city. DC Thomson are now the city's largest employers outside the health and leisure industries, and continue to produce many newspapers and magazines. Perhaps their most famous creations are the children's comics The Dandy and The Beano, begun in 1937 and 1938 respectively and still going strong. Generations of British children have been brought up on the antics of Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, The Bash Street Kids et al, and the popularity of these cartoon characters is reflected in the choice of the comic-inspired lettering for Dundee's promotional logo.
While the three 'J's' were undoubtedly important to Dundee, other industries also played a substantial role in the city's history. Dundee was a major centre for shipbuilding and ships were built for both the whaling industry and for the import and export of jute and other cargoes. Dundee has a proud maritime heritage and for many years was the capital of the British whaling industry. In these more enlightened times we may shudder at the decimation of the whale stocks that led to the demise of the industry, but whale oil was a very valuable commodity, and the men who sailed the freezing Arctic seas to catch whales suffered terrible privations and hardships.
On one famous occasion the whalers did not have to travel very far in search of their quarry. In December 1883 a humpback whale swam into the Tay estuary and foundered on the sandbanks. Large crowds gathered to watch the doomed animal's attempts to return to the sea, and it was harpooned on 7 December before finally being landed, completely exhausted, on 8 January the following year. It was put on public display before being sold, and the skeleton of the 'Tay whale' now resides in the city's McManus Galleries.
The name Dundee is derived from the Gaelic words 'dun' meaning hill or fort and 'daig', who was thought to be an early local chieftain. Dundee has been settled since prehistoric times, and Pictish earthworks and chambers can still be seen at Tealing, Ardestie and Carlungie, just beyond the city's boundaries. The city was an important trading port as long ago as the 12th century, and it was here that Robert the Bruce was proclaimed King of Scots in 1309.
Its importance, however, made it a prime target for a succession of English invaders. It was captured by Edward I, besieged by Henry VIII, destroyed by Royalists and Cromwell's army during the Civil War, and then again by Viscount Dundee prior to the Battle of Killiecrankie. The young William Wallace, the fiery Scottish patriot, was educated in Dundee, and during its occupation by Edward's forces Wallace stabbed the son of an English overlord for daring to insult him, and had to flee south. A plaque on the High Street marks the spot where the incident took place.
Dundee is famous within Scotland as the city of the three J's; Jute, Jam and Journalism. These three industries were part of the city's commercial success, and the jute mills in particular, from the early 19th century, were the foundation of the city's wealth. Along with Edinburgh, Dundee became a centre for investment trusts which sunk cash into ventures all over the world, particularly the USA. In 1873 Dundee jute man Robert Fleming set up the Scottish Investment Trust to channel money into US cattle ranches, mining companies and railways.
The biggest cattle ranch in the USA was run from Dundee until 1951 and the Texas oil industry was largely financed by Dundee jute wealth. The jam-making came about almost by accident, when a ship carrying a cargo of oranges was forced to put into Dundee harbour during a storm. A local grocer bought the oranges, which his wife then made into marmalade, and an industry was born.
Journalism is the only 'J' still in operation in the city. DC Thomson are now the city's largest employers outside the health and leisure industries, and continue to produce many newspapers and magazines. Perhaps their most famous creations are the children's comics The Dandy and The Beano, begun in 1937 and 1938 respectively and still going strong. Generations of British children have been brought up on the antics of Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, The Bash Street Kids et al, and the popularity of these cartoon characters is reflected in the choice of the comic-inspired lettering for Dundee's promotional logo.
While the three 'J's' were undoubtedly important to Dundee, other industries also played a substantial role in the city's history. Dundee was a major centre for shipbuilding and ships were built for both the whaling industry and for the import and export of jute and other cargoes. Dundee has a proud maritime heritage and for many years was the capital of the British whaling industry. In these more enlightened times we may shudder at the decimation of the whale stocks that led to the demise of the industry, but whale oil was a very valuable commodity, and the men who sailed the freezing Arctic seas to catch whales suffered terrible privations and hardships.
On one famous occasion the whalers did not have to travel very far in search of their quarry. In December 1883 a humpback whale swam into the Tay estuary and foundered on the sandbanks. Large crowds gathered to watch the doomed animal's attempts to return to the sea, and it was harpooned on 7 December before finally being landed, completely exhausted, on 8 January the following year. It was put on public display before being sold, and the skeleton of the 'Tay whale' now resides in the city's McManus Galleries.
Things To Do And Places To See
Discovery Point
The obvious place to begin your tour of the city is Discovery Point, the impressive riverside location of Dundee's main attraction, the Royal Research Ship Discovery. This excellent facility, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, is across the road from the train station, next to the Leisure Centre and Hilton Hotel. When Dundee was an important shipbuilding centre its speciality was wooden ships, and it was the Royal Geographical Society who commissioned the Discovery, which was launched on the Tay on 21 March 1901.
She was the first specially designed scientific research ship and spent two winters in the Antarctic, where her wooden hull was able to withstand the enormous pressures of the pack ice. Famous as Captain Scott's ship, the Discovery and Scott parted company after his expedition in 1904. Another Dundee-built vessel, the Terra Nova, carried Scott to the South Pole in 1911 - the fateful expedition from which he never returned.
After being purchased by the Maritime Trust, the Discovery was returned to Dundee in 1986 and moored at its present specially built quay with an excellent visitor centre at her side. The state-of-the-art centre presents an entertaining introduction, with audio-visual displays and an exhibition. On board the vessel you can see the cabins used by Scott and his crew, and hear some interesting anecdotes from the enthusiastic guides.
Daily Apr-Oct 1000-1700 (Sun 1100-1700), Nov-Mar till 1600. Tel. 201245, www.rsdiscovery.com
HM Unicorn
A short distance west of Discovery, in Victoria Dock on the other side of the road bridge, is Dundee's other major floating attraction, the HM Frigate Unicorn. Built in 1824, this is the oldest British warship still afloat, probably because it never fired a shot in anger. It was used variously as a gunpowder store and a training vessel, until it was rescued from the scrapyard in 1968 by a preservation society. A tour of the ship gives some idea of the cramped conditions in which the 300 men had to live and work, and the unused cannons are still on display.
Mar-Oct daily 1000-1700; Nov-Feb Mon-Fri 1000-1600. Tel. 200900.
Around The Centre
The focal point of the city centre is City Square, which is surrounded by shops and cafés, the imposing Caird Hall, the city's main concert hall, and the City Chambers, scene of much shady dealing in the 1960s and 70s, which led to the demolition of the city's medieval core. The resulting shopping mall, the infamous Overgate, has itself been replaced by a brand new retail complex. In front is the Old Steeple, the highest surviving medieval tower in the country.
Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1600; Oct-Mar 1100-1600.
The pedestrianized Reform Street leads north from City Square to Albert Square, site of the McManus Galleries, housed in Gilbert Scott's impressive Victorian Gothic edifice. Inside are some very fine exhibits detailing the city's history from the Iron Age to the Tay Bridge Disaster. The latter event was chronicled by the inimitable William McGonagall, the 'World's Worst Poet', and here you can read his excruciatingly awful verse, along with an equally painful account of the famous 'Tay Whale', the skeleton of which is also on display. Upstairs is the superb Albert Hall, which contains various antique collections, and the Victoria Gallery, whose 19th- and 20th-century collections include some notable Scottish painters such as McTaggart.
Mon 1100-1700, Tue-Sat 1000-1700. Tel. 432020. Free.
Also in Albert Square are the huge red sandstone offices of local publishing giant, DC Thomson, who have entertained generations of British kids with their Beano and Dandy comics. A five-minute walk west, along Meadowside and Ward Road, across the dual carriageway and up Guthrie Street, is the excellent Verdant Works heritage centre, in West Henderson's Wynd. This former jute mill gives a rare insight into what life was like for mill workers, and details the history of the jute industry.
Same opening hours and prices as Discovery (see above). Tel. 225282, www.verdantworks.com
Behind the DCA, on Greenmarket, is Sensation, one of those hands-on, interactive kind of places, so loved by kids.
Open from 1000. Tel. 228800.
Law Hill and Balgay Hill
The most prominent feature of the city is the Law Hill, a 571ft-high ancient volcanic plug. The views from the summit, over the entire city and south to Fife across the River Tay and its two bridges, are fantastic. It's a steep climb to the foot of the Law from the city centre, up the Hilltown, so it's best to take a bus (Nos 3 or 4) from Albert Square. The 1 1/2-mile-long Tay Road Bridge was opened in 1966, while the Tay Rail Bridge is over two miles long and the longest railway bridge in Europe. It was built in 1878 but the following year the final section collapsed during a terrible storm. No one could alert the driver of the approaching train and it plunged into the cold, dark waters of the Tay, killing the crew and 75 passengers. A replacement section was built in 1887 and still stands today.
About a mile west of the Law, is Balgay Hill, site of the Mills Observatory, a free public facility which houses a planetarium as well as displays on astronomy and space exploration.
Apr-Sep Mon-Fri 1100-1700, Sat 1400-1700; Oct-Mar Mon-Fri 1600-2200, Sat 1400-1700. Free. Take bus Nos 2, 36 or 37 to Balgay Road, at the entrance to Balgay Park. Tel. 435846.
Broughty Ferry
Four miles east of Dundee, is the attractive seaside resort of Broughty Ferry. 'The Ferry' was once a separate settlement, with fishermen's cottages lining the shore and the large villas of wealthy jute barons climbing the hills behind, but it has since been swallowed up by the city's eastern suburbs. There's a long sandy beach and several good pubs and places to eat. The 15th-century Broughty Castle stands on the seafront, guarding the mouth of the Tay, and now houses an interesting museum of local history which includes a detailed description of the whaling industry.
Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1230-1600; Oct-Mar closed Mon. Free. Tel. 436916.
Discovery Point
The obvious place to begin your tour of the city is Discovery Point, the impressive riverside location of Dundee's main attraction, the Royal Research Ship Discovery. This excellent facility, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, is across the road from the train station, next to the Leisure Centre and Hilton Hotel. When Dundee was an important shipbuilding centre its speciality was wooden ships, and it was the Royal Geographical Society who commissioned the Discovery, which was launched on the Tay on 21 March 1901.
She was the first specially designed scientific research ship and spent two winters in the Antarctic, where her wooden hull was able to withstand the enormous pressures of the pack ice. Famous as Captain Scott's ship, the Discovery and Scott parted company after his expedition in 1904. Another Dundee-built vessel, the Terra Nova, carried Scott to the South Pole in 1911 - the fateful expedition from which he never returned.
After being purchased by the Maritime Trust, the Discovery was returned to Dundee in 1986 and moored at its present specially built quay with an excellent visitor centre at her side. The state-of-the-art centre presents an entertaining introduction, with audio-visual displays and an exhibition. On board the vessel you can see the cabins used by Scott and his crew, and hear some interesting anecdotes from the enthusiastic guides.
Daily Apr-Oct 1000-1700 (Sun 1100-1700), Nov-Mar till 1600. Tel. 201245, www.rsdiscovery.com
HM Unicorn
A short distance west of Discovery, in Victoria Dock on the other side of the road bridge, is Dundee's other major floating attraction, the HM Frigate Unicorn. Built in 1824, this is the oldest British warship still afloat, probably because it never fired a shot in anger. It was used variously as a gunpowder store and a training vessel, until it was rescued from the scrapyard in 1968 by a preservation society. A tour of the ship gives some idea of the cramped conditions in which the 300 men had to live and work, and the unused cannons are still on display.
Mar-Oct daily 1000-1700; Nov-Feb Mon-Fri 1000-1600. Tel. 200900.
Around The Centre
The focal point of the city centre is City Square, which is surrounded by shops and cafés, the imposing Caird Hall, the city's main concert hall, and the City Chambers, scene of much shady dealing in the 1960s and 70s, which led to the demolition of the city's medieval core. The resulting shopping mall, the infamous Overgate, has itself been replaced by a brand new retail complex. In front is the Old Steeple, the highest surviving medieval tower in the country.
Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1600; Oct-Mar 1100-1600.
The pedestrianized Reform Street leads north from City Square to Albert Square, site of the McManus Galleries, housed in Gilbert Scott's impressive Victorian Gothic edifice. Inside are some very fine exhibits detailing the city's history from the Iron Age to the Tay Bridge Disaster. The latter event was chronicled by the inimitable William McGonagall, the 'World's Worst Poet', and here you can read his excruciatingly awful verse, along with an equally painful account of the famous 'Tay Whale', the skeleton of which is also on display. Upstairs is the superb Albert Hall, which contains various antique collections, and the Victoria Gallery, whose 19th- and 20th-century collections include some notable Scottish painters such as McTaggart.
Mon 1100-1700, Tue-Sat 1000-1700. Tel. 432020. Free.
Also in Albert Square are the huge red sandstone offices of local publishing giant, DC Thomson, who have entertained generations of British kids with their Beano and Dandy comics. A five-minute walk west, along Meadowside and Ward Road, across the dual carriageway and up Guthrie Street, is the excellent Verdant Works heritage centre, in West Henderson's Wynd. This former jute mill gives a rare insight into what life was like for mill workers, and details the history of the jute industry.
Same opening hours and prices as Discovery (see above). Tel. 225282, www.verdantworks.com
Behind the DCA, on Greenmarket, is Sensation, one of those hands-on, interactive kind of places, so loved by kids.
Open from 1000. Tel. 228800.
Law Hill and Balgay Hill
The most prominent feature of the city is the Law Hill, a 571ft-high ancient volcanic plug. The views from the summit, over the entire city and south to Fife across the River Tay and its two bridges, are fantastic. It's a steep climb to the foot of the Law from the city centre, up the Hilltown, so it's best to take a bus (Nos 3 or 4) from Albert Square. The 1 1/2-mile-long Tay Road Bridge was opened in 1966, while the Tay Rail Bridge is over two miles long and the longest railway bridge in Europe. It was built in 1878 but the following year the final section collapsed during a terrible storm. No one could alert the driver of the approaching train and it plunged into the cold, dark waters of the Tay, killing the crew and 75 passengers. A replacement section was built in 1887 and still stands today.
About a mile west of the Law, is Balgay Hill, site of the Mills Observatory, a free public facility which houses a planetarium as well as displays on astronomy and space exploration.
Apr-Sep Mon-Fri 1100-1700, Sat 1400-1700; Oct-Mar Mon-Fri 1600-2200, Sat 1400-1700. Free. Take bus Nos 2, 36 or 37 to Balgay Road, at the entrance to Balgay Park. Tel. 435846.
Broughty Ferry
Four miles east of Dundee, is the attractive seaside resort of Broughty Ferry. 'The Ferry' was once a separate settlement, with fishermen's cottages lining the shore and the large villas of wealthy jute barons climbing the hills behind, but it has since been swallowed up by the city's eastern suburbs. There's a long sandy beach and several good pubs and places to eat. The 15th-century Broughty Castle stands on the seafront, guarding the mouth of the Tay, and now houses an interesting museum of local history which includes a detailed description of the whaling industry.
Apr-Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1230-1600; Oct-Mar closed Mon. Free. Tel. 436916.
Eating Out In Dundee
There's no shortage of places to eat in Dundee, from the ubiquitous burger bars, pizza parlours, fish and chip shops and takeaways to upmarket continental cuisine. Many of the city's pubs provide excellent value meals. Most of the better restaurants, bars and pubs are to be found in the West End, around the University and Perth Rd, and there's also a wide selection of places to eat in Broughty Ferry.
Expensive
Raffles restaurant, 18 Perth Rd, Tel. 226344. There was a time when this was the place to eat but some say its new trendy image is the victory of style over content. Good (and reasonably priced) for Sun brunch, though. Open Tue-Sun.
Best of the lot is South Kingennie House, Tel. 350562, near Kellas, off the B978 which runs north from Broughty Ferry. It's a bit of a schlep from town but well worth it for the superb traditional Scottish cooking. Open daily except Sun evening and Mon, lunch cheap to mid-range; dinner expensive.
Mid-range
Another excellent out-of-town place is 11 Park Avenue in Carnoustie Tel/ax. F01241-853336. Open Tue-Sat.
Agacan Kebab House, 113 Perth Rd, Tel. 644227. Brightly decorated and cosy Turkish restaurant, nice ambience and tasty grills, open Tue-Sun.
Café Buongiorno, 11 Bank St, Tel. 221179. Small, intimate Italian, popular as a café by day and restaurant by night.
Cul de Sac, 10 South Tay St, next to the Rep, Tel. 202070. Café-bar/restaurant with a cool, laid back atmosphere. Open daily 1200-2230. They also run The Het, the Rep Theatre's foyer café-bar.
Jute Café-bar, 152 Nethergate, in Dundee Contemporary Arts. So stylish you could be in Glasgow, and a great vibe. Small but interesting menu. Open daily 1030-2400 (Sun till 2300).
Mandarin Garden, 40-44 South Tay St, Tel. 227733. Excellent Chinese cuisine, served by friendly, efficient staff. Try the house banquet. Open daily except Sun for lunch and 1700-2300.
Pizza Express, 31a Albert Square, Tel. 226677. Part of the acclaimed pizza chain. Great pizza, elegant surroundings.
Royal Oak, 167 Brook St, Tel. 229440. In an unlikely setting, near Verdant Works and the Hawkhill, great pub food with an Indian emphasis, large portions.
There are lots of restaurants in Broughty Ferry, but don't miss a trip to Visocchi's, 40 Gray St, Tel. 779297. A genuine Italian café serving the best capuccino in town and the best ice cream for miles. Nearby, at 43a, is Nawab, Tel. 731800, an excellent Indian Balti house that's a cut above the rest.
There's no shortage of places to eat in Dundee, from the ubiquitous burger bars, pizza parlours, fish and chip shops and takeaways to upmarket continental cuisine. Many of the city's pubs provide excellent value meals. Most of the better restaurants, bars and pubs are to be found in the West End, around the University and Perth Rd, and there's also a wide selection of places to eat in Broughty Ferry.
Expensive
Raffles restaurant, 18 Perth Rd, Tel. 226344. There was a time when this was the place to eat but some say its new trendy image is the victory of style over content. Good (and reasonably priced) for Sun brunch, though. Open Tue-Sun.
Best of the lot is South Kingennie House, Tel. 350562, near Kellas, off the B978 which runs north from Broughty Ferry. It's a bit of a schlep from town but well worth it for the superb traditional Scottish cooking. Open daily except Sun evening and Mon, lunch cheap to mid-range; dinner expensive.
Mid-range
Another excellent out-of-town place is 11 Park Avenue in Carnoustie Tel/ax. F01241-853336. Open Tue-Sat.
Agacan Kebab House, 113 Perth Rd, Tel. 644227. Brightly decorated and cosy Turkish restaurant, nice ambience and tasty grills, open Tue-Sun.
Café Buongiorno, 11 Bank St, Tel. 221179. Small, intimate Italian, popular as a café by day and restaurant by night.
Cul de Sac, 10 South Tay St, next to the Rep, Tel. 202070. Café-bar/restaurant with a cool, laid back atmosphere. Open daily 1200-2230. They also run The Het, the Rep Theatre's foyer café-bar.
Jute Café-bar, 152 Nethergate, in Dundee Contemporary Arts. So stylish you could be in Glasgow, and a great vibe. Small but interesting menu. Open daily 1030-2400 (Sun till 2300).
Mandarin Garden, 40-44 South Tay St, Tel. 227733. Excellent Chinese cuisine, served by friendly, efficient staff. Try the house banquet. Open daily except Sun for lunch and 1700-2300.
Pizza Express, 31a Albert Square, Tel. 226677. Part of the acclaimed pizza chain. Great pizza, elegant surroundings.
Royal Oak, 167 Brook St, Tel. 229440. In an unlikely setting, near Verdant Works and the Hawkhill, great pub food with an Indian emphasis, large portions.
There are lots of restaurants in Broughty Ferry, but don't miss a trip to Visocchi's, 40 Gray St, Tel. 779297. A genuine Italian café serving the best capuccino in town and the best ice cream for miles. Nearby, at 43a, is Nawab, Tel. 731800, an excellent Indian Balti house that's a cut above the rest.
Entertainment
Bars
Cul de Sac and the Jute Café-bar are both civilized places to chill, but for something a bit livelier, try any of the busy bars along the Nethergate, especially the Phoenix and Parliamentary Bar, on opposite sides of the street by the junction with West Marketgait. At the top of South Tay Street is the West Port, where you'll find a clutch of student bars, including Tally Ho's and The Globe.
On the other side of the Hawkhill are the West Port Bar and, nearby in Brown St, the Freelance & Firkin, which has live music at weekends. Further up the Perth Rd, opposite Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Roseangle branches left, and here you'll find Laing's, which is hugely popular with the 20-30s and boasts a beer garden with views across the Tay. It also serves pretty decent grub.
In the city centre is O'Neill's Irish Bar, 80 North Lindsay St, a cheap and cheerful pub with a wide range of good-value pub food and live folk music. On Union St is Hogshead, which serves 6 ales and decent bar grub. At the top of Union St is the sumptuous Trades House, a converted bank which has received some favourable accounts.
Broughty Ferry is a good place for a drink on a summer's evening, especially the Ship Inn, a cosy old pub right on the seafront with a reputation for fine food. Also recommended is the Fisherman's Tavern, 12 Fort St. It's popular with nautical types and is rightly famed for its superb real ales and good pub food.
Clubs
There's no shortage of post-pub venues, though the best places are to be found around the West Port area. Fat Sam's, at 31 South Ward Rd, attracts a slightly older crowd (ie out of short trousers), and has a large chill-out area. Next door is Mardi Gras, a vast club open every night except Tue. It's popular with teenagers. Just around the corner, in Ward Rd, is The Circus, Dundee's newest and biggest club.
Cinema and Theatre
The UGC multiplex, at Kingsway West near the entrance to Camperdown Park, Tel. 0870-9020407, shows mainstream movies. Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Tel. 432000, is Dundee's cultural hub, housed in a superb modern building, with two cinema screens showing current arthouse releases, also exhibition spaces, print studio, visual research centre and the Jute Café-bar.
Dundee's excellent Rep Theatre is on Tay Square, off South Tay St, Tel. 223530. It stages locally produced contemporary theatre and hosts various national touring companies. It is also a jazz venue and has a good café-restaurant in the foyer.
Shopping
The new Overgate Centre is on Nethergate and has all the usual High Street shops, including Debenhams and H&M. The main bookshops are James Thin, 7 High St, and Waterstone's, 34 Commercial St.
Football
Dundee has two Premier League football clubs, the cosmopolitan Dundee FC, who strut their stuff at Dens Park, T826104, and their bitter rivals Dundee United (aka the 'Arabs'), who reside at Tannadice, T833166, which is just across the street.
Golf
There are two public courses, at Caird Park, Mains Loan, T434706, and Camperdown, in Camperdown Park, T432688. Downfield Golf Club, on Turnberry Av, T825595, is a fine private course which allows visitors. Dundee is also within 30 mins' drive of Carnoustie and St Andrews, both of which have famous championship courses.
Leisure Centres
Olympia Leisure Centre, Earl Grey Place (next to the RRS Discovery), T43888. Pool with water slides and wave machines, also gym, sauna and climbing wall. Open Mon-Fri 0900-2100, Sat-Sun 0900-1700. Stack Leisure Park, Harefield Rd. Multiplex cinema and 10-pin bowling.
Bars
Cul de Sac and the Jute Café-bar are both civilized places to chill, but for something a bit livelier, try any of the busy bars along the Nethergate, especially the Phoenix and Parliamentary Bar, on opposite sides of the street by the junction with West Marketgait. At the top of South Tay Street is the West Port, where you'll find a clutch of student bars, including Tally Ho's and The Globe.
On the other side of the Hawkhill are the West Port Bar and, nearby in Brown St, the Freelance & Firkin, which has live music at weekends. Further up the Perth Rd, opposite Duncan of Jordanstone Art College, Roseangle branches left, and here you'll find Laing's, which is hugely popular with the 20-30s and boasts a beer garden with views across the Tay. It also serves pretty decent grub.
In the city centre is O'Neill's Irish Bar, 80 North Lindsay St, a cheap and cheerful pub with a wide range of good-value pub food and live folk music. On Union St is Hogshead, which serves 6 ales and decent bar grub. At the top of Union St is the sumptuous Trades House, a converted bank which has received some favourable accounts.
Broughty Ferry is a good place for a drink on a summer's evening, especially the Ship Inn, a cosy old pub right on the seafront with a reputation for fine food. Also recommended is the Fisherman's Tavern, 12 Fort St. It's popular with nautical types and is rightly famed for its superb real ales and good pub food.
Clubs
There's no shortage of post-pub venues, though the best places are to be found around the West Port area. Fat Sam's, at 31 South Ward Rd, attracts a slightly older crowd (ie out of short trousers), and has a large chill-out area. Next door is Mardi Gras, a vast club open every night except Tue. It's popular with teenagers. Just around the corner, in Ward Rd, is The Circus, Dundee's newest and biggest club.
Cinema and Theatre
The UGC multiplex, at Kingsway West near the entrance to Camperdown Park, Tel. 0870-9020407, shows mainstream movies. Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Tel. 432000, is Dundee's cultural hub, housed in a superb modern building, with two cinema screens showing current arthouse releases, also exhibition spaces, print studio, visual research centre and the Jute Café-bar.
Dundee's excellent Rep Theatre is on Tay Square, off South Tay St, Tel. 223530. It stages locally produced contemporary theatre and hosts various national touring companies. It is also a jazz venue and has a good café-restaurant in the foyer.
Shopping
The new Overgate Centre is on Nethergate and has all the usual High Street shops, including Debenhams and H&M. The main bookshops are James Thin, 7 High St, and Waterstone's, 34 Commercial St.
Football
Dundee has two Premier League football clubs, the cosmopolitan Dundee FC, who strut their stuff at Dens Park, T826104, and their bitter rivals Dundee United (aka the 'Arabs'), who reside at Tannadice, T833166, which is just across the street.
Golf
There are two public courses, at Caird Park, Mains Loan, T434706, and Camperdown, in Camperdown Park, T432688. Downfield Golf Club, on Turnberry Av, T825595, is a fine private course which allows visitors. Dundee is also within 30 mins' drive of Carnoustie and St Andrews, both of which have famous championship courses.
Leisure Centres
Olympia Leisure Centre, Earl Grey Place (next to the RRS Discovery), T43888. Pool with water slides and wave machines, also gym, sauna and climbing wall. Open Mon-Fri 0900-2100, Sat-Sun 0900-1700. Stack Leisure Park, Harefield Rd. Multiplex cinema and 10-pin bowling.
Some Useful Addresses
Banks: Bank of Scotland, 2 West Marketgait, Tel. 317500. Lloyds TSB, 96 Albert St, T463356. Royal Bank of Scotland, 133 Albert St, Tel. 462256. Currency exchange: Thomas Cook, City Sq, Tel. 200204. Open Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1700. Also at the TIC.
Communications Internet cafes in Dundee: Megabyte Internet Bistro, 31 Hilltown (behind Wellgate Centre), Tel. 200204.
Post office: 4 Meadowside, Tel. 203532. Open Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1900.
Medical services Hospital: Dundee Royal Infirmary, Barrack Rd, Tel. 660111. 24-hr accident and emergency. Pharmacy: Boots, High St. Open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 0830-1745, Thu till 1900. Sun opening on rota basis; check local press.
Travel agents: Campus Travel, Airlie Pl, Tel. 200412. Ramsay Travel, Crichton St., Tel. 200394.
Police: Tayside Police HQ, Bell St, Tel. 223200.
Retrieved from "http://www.scotland.org.uk/guide/Dundee_Essentials"
Banks: Bank of Scotland, 2 West Marketgait, Tel. 317500. Lloyds TSB, 96 Albert St, T463356. Royal Bank of Scotland, 133 Albert St, Tel. 462256. Currency exchange: Thomas Cook, City Sq, Tel. 200204. Open Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1700. Also at the TIC.
Communications Internet cafes in Dundee: Megabyte Internet Bistro, 31 Hilltown (behind Wellgate Centre), Tel. 200204.
Post office: 4 Meadowside, Tel. 203532. Open Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1900.
Medical services Hospital: Dundee Royal Infirmary, Barrack Rd, Tel. 660111. 24-hr accident and emergency. Pharmacy: Boots, High St. Open Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 0830-1745, Thu till 1900. Sun opening on rota basis; check local press.
Travel agents: Campus Travel, Airlie Pl, Tel. 200412. Ramsay Travel, Crichton St., Tel. 200394.
Police: Tayside Police HQ, Bell St, Tel. 223200.
Retrieved from "http://www.scotland.org.uk/guide/Dundee_Essentials"
