Cultural Attractions

Cox's Stack is an 85m (282 ft) high chimney in the Lochee area of the city and one of the remaining relics of Dundee's once buoyant jute industry. It was constructed in 1866 and formed part of the Cox Brothers' Camperdown Works, one of the largest jute factories of its time. Modelled on an Italian campanile, the Stack was designed by local architect James MacLaren.

This extended late-medieval tower house is located on the southern face of The Law and was built in the late 13th century by the Scrymageour family. The castle was redeveloped between 1985 and 1988, and is now in use as offices and a conference centre as well as housing the University of Abertay's Dundee Business School.

Dundee’s main attractions run a varied programme of special events, entertainment and talks throughout the year. Check out individual websites for details and download the Dundee App to access up-to-the minute WHAT’S ON information on your smartphone or i-pad.   

The Howff is the name given to the historic graveyard that lies on the south of Meadowside in Dundee. It occupies the garden of the former Greyfriars monastery, which was founded by Devorgilla Balliol in the 13th Century. The monastery was destroyed in 1548 and Mary Queen of Scots gifted the land to Dundee. 

The bandstand was built in 1890 and is an iconic Dundee image, immortalised by the paintings of James McIntosh Patrick (1907-1998).

You can just catch the Tay Rail Bridge to the left of the bandstand and the distant Fife skyline.

The ornate bandstand plays host to Sunday performances by brass bands during the summer months.

Mains Castle is a medieval castle thought to have been built around 1562 by Sir David Graham. Restored in the early 80s, it's now a restaurant and Bar and is a popular wedding location.

Wasps Studios started its life in Dundee in 1977 and has grown to provide studios for creative people across Scotland. Located in Meadow Mill, an historic jute mill which they have occupied since 1989, they successfully redeveloped the studios in 2012. The Mill now provides 58 high quality studios for up to 100 artists and makers working across varying disciplines.

It also houses a...

A mercat cross is an old market cross found in Scottish towns and cities where merchants would gather. They became focal points for local gatherings. Dundee's Mercat Cross dates back to 1586, is carved from stone and features a resin-bronze unicorn sculpted by Scott Sutherland in the 1960s.

Mills Observatory was gifted to the people of Dundee in 1935 through a bequest from John Mills, who was a linen and twine manufacturer and a keen amateur scientist.

It was purpose built to encourage the public to have a greater understanding of science.

Mills Observatory is the UK's only full-time public Observatory, and houses an impressive Victorian retracting telescope, a...

Desperate Dan, hero of DC Thomson's ‘The Dandy' comics, is immortalised in Dundee, his place of ‘birth'.

The grizzly-faced strong man is cast in an 8-ft tall bronze statue in the city centre alongside his ‘Dawg'.