Not Just the V and A – A Guide to Dundee's Best Museums
It’s most famously home to Captain Scott’s RRS Discovery and the first V&A museum outside of London, but Dundee has plenty more to offer visitors who wish to learn about Scottish history and art.
Most people will organise their visit around Dundee’s two most notable museums, but there are many more that shouldn’t be overlooked, spotlighting everything from comics to comets, jute to Japanese spider crabs. Dundee’s myriad strengths as a city with a highly rated art college, a rich maritime history and renowned scientific research centres filter into its galleries and museums, creating much more diversity than one might expect for a city of its size. Whether you wish to explore its past as a shipbuilding and jute-manufacturing hub or ponder its future in medical technology and contemporary art, Dundee has something for you.
1. V and A Dundee
Building, Museum
Few will have missed the fanfare surrounding the launch of the V&A Dundee in September 2018 – fortunately, it lives up to expectations. On entering, it’s hard to know which is the main event – perhaps it’s the permanent (and free entry) Scottish Design Galleries, the highlight of which is the Art Nouveau Mackintosh Tea Room, reconstructed in its entirety using the original oak panels. Or maybe it’s the building itself, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma to resemble Scottish cliffs. Either way, it’s not an experience you’re likely to forget.
2. RRS Discovery
Museum, Historical Landmark
3. Verdant Works, Dundee
Museum
4. The McManus
Building, Memorial, Museum
5. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee
Art Gallery
6. Dundee Museum of Transport
Museum
Virtually unknown even to locals, the Dundee Transport Museum opened in 2014 in temporary premises, with plans to claim permanent residence in the Maryfield Tram Depot in the near future. It’s guaranteed to be a big hit with children, who can climb onto most of the cars and buses on display. There’s also a horse-drawn ambulance, a recreation of Dundee’s first flying machine, and a perfect replica of the car used in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). Check the website for listings – previous events have included motor shows and toy train weekends for children (and big kids, too).
7. Dundee Science Centre
Museum
8. HMS Unicorn
Museum, Historical Landmark
Dundee’s other famous ship is a very different beast to the Discovery. At almost 200 years old, it’s one of the UK’s oldest surviving wooden ships and Scotland’s last remaining navy sailboat. It was launched in 1824 but saw little active service, mostly being used for training and eventually acting as the headquarters ship for Dundee’s senior naval officer during both World Wars. For this reason, it’s fantastically preserved and well suited to its current occupation, which is to host an interactive exhibition on the golden age of sailing (and the occasional nautical-themed birthday party).
9. Broughty Castle Museum
Museum, Historical Landmark
10. D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum
Museum, University
One of the city’s stranger attractions, this museum houses the zoology collection of Sir D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, the first professor of Biology at the University of Dundee. Specimens include an astonishing collection of skulls, taxidermy and various critters pickled in jars. Since 2016, the museum has been working on digitising its collection and has made the resulting scans available on its website – if you own a 3D printer, you can download and print your own chimpanzee skull or nautilus shell. As a working university lab, the museum keeps limited opening hours – check the website for details.
11. Mills Observatory
Museum, Architectural Landmark
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