Things to do in Dundee
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RRS Discovery
The three masts of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s famous polar expedition vessel the RRS Discovery dominate the riverside to the south of the city centre. The ship was built in Dundee in 1900, with a wooden hull at least half a metre thick to survive the pack ice, and sailed for the Antarctic in 1901 where she spent two winters trapped in the ice. From 1931 on she was laid up in London where her condition steadily deteriorated, until she was rescued by the efforts of Peter Scott (son of Robert) and the Maritime Trust, and restored to her 1925 condition. In 1986 she was given a berth in her home port of Dundee, where she became a symbol of the city’s regeneration.
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City Square
The heart of Dundee is City Sq, flanked to the south by the 1930s facade of Caird Hall, which was gifted to the city by a textile magnate and is now home to the City Chambers. A more recent addition to the square, unveiled in 2001, is a bronze statue of Desperate Dan, the lantern-jawed hero of children's comic the Dandy (he's clutching a copy in his right hand), which has been published in Dundee since 1937.
Pedestrianised High St leads west into Nethergate, flanked to the north by St Mary's Church. Most of the church dates from the 19th century, but the Old Steeple was built around 1460.
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Verdant Works
One of the finest industrial museums in Europe, the Verdant Works explores the history of Dundee's jute industry. Housed in a restored jute mill, complete with original machinery still in working condition, the museum's interactive exhibits and computer displays follow the raw material from its origins in India through to the manufacture of a wide range of finished products, from sacking to rope to wagon covers for the pioneers of the American West. The mill is 250m west of the city centre.
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Tay Rail Bridge & Tay Road Bridge
At just over 2 miles long, the Tay Rail Bridge was the world's longest when it was built - it was completed in 1887 and replaced an earlier bridge whose stumps can be seen alongside. The original bridge collapsed during a storm in 1879, less than two years after it was built, taking a train and 75 lives along with it. The 1.5-mile Tay Road Bridge was opened in 1966.
Tay Rail Bridge costs 80p per car southbound, but is toll-free for northbound traffic.
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HM Frigate Unicorn
Unlike the polished and much-restored Discovery, Dundee's other floating tourist attraction retains the authentic atmosphere of a salty old sailing ship. Built in 1824, the 46-gun Unicorn is the oldest British-built ship still afloat – she was mothballed soon after launching and never saw action. By the mid-19th century sailing ships were outclassed by steam and the Unicorn served as a gunpowder store, then later as a training vessel. When it was proposed to break up the ship for scrap in the 1960s, a preservation society was formed. Wandering around the four decks gives you an excellent impression of what it must have been like for the crew forced to live in such cramp…
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Metro
Sleek, slate-blue banquettes, white linen napkins, black-clad staff and a view of Victoria Dock lend an air of city sophistication to this stylish hotel brasserie, with a menu that ranges from steaks and burgers to Caribbean jerk chicken with coconut curry. There's a three-course dinner menu for £21.50. Located just east of the city centre, close to the Frigate Unicorn.
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Jute Cafe-Bar
The industrial-chic cafe-bar in the Dundee Contemporary Arts centre serves excellent deli sandwiches and steaks, as well as more adventurous Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine. Early-bird menu (5pm to 6.30pm daily) offers a two-course dinner for £12. Tables spill out into the sunny courtyard in summer.
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André’s
A quaint little corner that appears to have been fashioned out of someone’s attic bedroom, André’s nevertheless offers an authentic taste of France with a small, ever-changing menu of French classics ranging from onion soup to boeuf bourguignon.
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Jahangir
The food is good, but it’s worth going to this curry house for the décor alone – pure Hollywood Moghul, with a turbaned doorman, an over-the-top tent, and a tinkling fountain inhabited by live goldfish and carp (no, they’re not on the menu).
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Reading Rooms
Dundee's hippest venue is an arty, bohemian hang-out in a run-down former library that hosts some of Scotland's best indie club nights. Live gigs have ranged from island singer-songwriter Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society) to Ayrshire rock band Biffy Clyro.
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McManus Galleries
Housed in a solid Victorian Gothic building designed by Gilbert Scott in 1867, the recently restored McManus Galleries is a city museum on a human scale – you can see everything there is to see, without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. The exhibits cover the history of the city from the Iron Age to the present day, including relics of the Tay Bridge Disaster and the Dundee whaling industry. Computer geeks will enjoy the Sinclair ZX81 and Spectrum (pioneering personal computers with a whole 16K of memory!) which were made in Dundee in the early 1980s.
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Desperate Dan Statue
A recent addition to the square is a bronze statue of Desperate Dan, the lantern-jawed hero of the children's comic The Dandy (he's clutching a copy in his right hand), which has been published in Dundee since 1937.
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Rep Theatercafé
The city’s arty types hang out in this Continental-style café-bar and restaurant in the foyer at the Dundee Rep Theatre. Great sandwiches and pizza, as well as tasty steaks, fish cakes and veggie dishes.
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Dundee Law
It's worth making the climb up Dundee Law (174m) for great views of the city, the two Tay bridges and across to Fife. The Tay Rail Bridge – at just over 2 miles long, it was the world's longest when it was built – was completed in 1887 and replaced an earlier bridge whose stumps can be seen alongside. The original bridge collapsed during a storm in 1879, less than two years after it was built, taking a train and 75 lives along with it – the infamous Tay Bridge Disaster. The 1.5-mile Tay Road Bridge was opened in 1966. Dundee Law is a short walk northwest of the city centre, along Constitution Rd.
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St Mary's Church
Pedestrianised High St leads west into Nethergate, flanked to the north by St Mary's Church . Most of the church dates from the 19th century, but the Old Steeple was built around 1460.
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Globe
Serves good bar meals from noon to 7.30pm (6pm Sunday) and often has live music or sport on the big-screen TV.
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Nether Inn
This large, stylish place, with comfy couches, pool table and drinks promos, is popular with students.
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Broughty Ferry
Four miles to the east of the prominent hill of Dundee Law is Broughty Ferry, Dundee's seaside resort.
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Fisher & Donaldson
There's an excellent tearoom in the upmarket bakery and patisserie.
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Fat Sams
Fat Sams has been around for more than 20 years but is still one of the city's most popular clubs, with regular live gigs, DJs and student nights pulling in a young crowd (including lots of students from St Andrews University).
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