Dundee: City of Discovery

Always a surprise to 1st time visitors, Dundee sits in a spectacular setting, overlooking the River Tay estuary on Scotland’s east coast. Once a heavily industrial - and famously seafaring - town, it has transformed itself in recent years into a lively, friendly, safe and affordable city, which is the regional centre for one of the most unspoilt and affluent parts of the UK.

These days - although the Antarctic explorer Captain Scott’s 100 year old expedition ship Discovery is berthed on the riverbank – Dundee is probably more famous for the leading role it plays in the creative industries, high-tech manufacturing, life sciences research, telecommunications and tourism than it is for its shipping heritage, and the waterfront is being revitalised as an up-to-the-minute centre for shopping, leisure and the arts,

As Scotland’s 4th largest city, with around 150,000 people, Dundee is well served for shops and shopping centres, has a buzzing nightlife, some stunning modern architecture, and an increasingly active and energetic cultural and social scene. Dundee Contemporary Arts is one of the UK’s most successful arts projects; the city is home to the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance; its theatre is highly regarded, and every year, it hosts guitar, blues, food and flower, and film festivals.

Around the city is some beautiful country in one of Scotland’s ancient heartlands, with a sweeping coastline, miles of sandy beaches, sites of historical interest, great hill walking and sporting activities, including the world famous championship golf course at Carnoustie. Dundee is Scotland’s sunniest city and has more students per head of population than anywhere else in the UK.