Things to do in Dundee and surrounds

amd

Hi,
We've a 3 day break lined up next month in Dundee Travelodge courtesy of their sale. We did it a few years ago with the kids (girls, now 10 and 14) and saw the Discovery and the Science Museum across the road (can't remember the name) but would like to know if there's any other good free(ish) stuff they'd enjoy. They're into museums - is the Dundee one any good for kids? Interesting shops - we love a good rummage! - not the usual High St bland ones - interesting eateries that are cheap and family friendly? Parks and gardens?

Just remembered the viewpoint thingy - must print out a map! Is it OK to drive up there at night?

Appreciate any local insight!

pogofish

For an evening meal, Taza on City Quay does a decent & inexpensive buffet in the evening. I've gone there a few times with friends & never been dissapointed. You won't have a problem bringing kids either.

http://www.taza.co.uk/

The Chinese next door does something similar IIRC - we have talked about going to that instead sometime & there is a Thai nearby that my pal also rates.

The walk/cycleway along the Tay past Broughty & Carnoustie is good - with lots to see & do along the way - early morning is good when the mist on the water lifts. . I think you still need to ask permission to go through the docks but you can pick-it up beyond thesfinal security gate if you want instead. There ought to be somewhere that hires bikes?

lrr_2

Dundee museum not open yet as being refurbished, if you want some nice places to go drive over the bridge to fife as has a lot of nice places to go including St Andrews.

Violetta_2

You might enjoy the DCA , do you mean The Law for the viewpoint thing, to be honest I don't know about going up there at night, it may well be fine hopefully someone else can advise, or do you mean Mills Observatory thats free too.
I'd recommend a wander around Broughty Ferry the shops are nicer there more independent ones. There is the Castle there too Dundee website quite useful.
Hope you all have a great time.

Swan_2

hi amd
if you like historical stuff & museums ...

VERDANT WORKS a working jute mill, costs £14 for a family ticket though

ARBROATH SIGNAL TOWER MUSEUM maybe doesn't sound very interesting, but our kids loved it, admission free, Arbroath itself is a lovely little town with a beautiful ruined Abbey, you'd need to get a bus if you've no transport

DUNDEE BOTANICAL GARDENS is worth a visit, not free, but only £8.00 for a family ticket, it's pleasant walk from the city centre & they have a nice cafe

the DCA as Violetta mentioned, often has really interesting stuff going on & is worth visiting, but be warned, the food is very patchy, ranging from delicious to send back-able



agree with pogofish, Taza's good for an Asian buffet & the Habour Lights Chinese buffet nearby is good value, both much cheaper at lunchtime

the Thai restaurant is very nice, but is expensive at night, although it does a reasonably priced & varied lunch

best pub lunch in town, imho, is the Trades, at the top of Union St (no evening meals though) if you prefer not to eat in the pub itself, there's a bit on the left when you go in that's separated & quieter

if you like Turkish, Aga Khan out the Perth Road is outstanding, you can see the kitchen from where you sit & see the food cooked ... & the decor is absolutely spectacular & unique, it's tiny so you'd need to book 01382 644227 or you can get a takeaway, evenings only



Dundee shops are dire, so as has been suggested, you're far better heading elsewhere to shop, although the Perth Road out past the University has some interesting little shops & cafes
if you fancy a long walk, you could head to the Botanical Gardens via Riverside & come back along the Perth Road

as lrr suggested St Andrews is lovely, lots of information HERE & if you go a visit to the CASTLE & the tunnel dug there during the siege is essential

if I can think of anything else I'll add it later

hope you have a great time

generaloneill

amd wrote: »

Hi,
We've a 3 day break lined up next month in Dundee Travelodge courtesy of their sale. We did it a few years ago with the kids (girls, now 10 and 14) and saw the Discovery and the Science Museum across the road (can't remember the name) but would like to know if there's any other good free(ish) stuff they'd enjoy. They're into museums - is the Dundee one any good for kids? Interesting shops - we love a good rummage! - not the usual High St bland ones - interesting eateries that are cheap and family friendly? Parks and gardens?

Just remembered the viewpoint thingy - must print out a map! Is it OK to drive up there at night?

Appreciate any local insight!

sheep and ky?

Swan_2

generaloneill wrote: »

sheep and ky?

sounds like an out of town venue

Tea3

Its fine to go up the law at night although I would advise a day trip first if you can and then nip up at night too - it looks so different but great making out whats what from your day visit (ok reading that back it sounds really boring lol but it is an amazing view day and night).

Theres Balgay Park which is gorgeous with the mills observatory at the top(not a museum but lots of astronomy/interesting things).

Sensation http://www.sensation.org.uk/ (think this is the science place you mention) - not too cheap but great for kids.

Lots of outdoor parks including Broughty Ferry (just on out skirts of dundee) which has a sandy beach, play park and small museum (all free) http://www.cometobroughty.co.uk/htm/the-beach.htm.

Camperdown park http://www.camperdownpark.com/general.htm with play area (free) and wildlife park (great for days out and picnics and quite cheap too).

Whats on Dundee guides:
http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/hotels/dundee-city-quay/city-guide/
http://www.scotland.org.uk/guide/Things_To_Do_In_Dundee
http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/navigation.php?id=77
http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,RGN629vs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html

Have a great trip

ailuro2

I will ask my 10 year old DD in the morning what she likes best about living here - but at a guess I'd say...

Sensation, (great for big kids too)

Verdant Works is interesting but probably moreso for adults or a school visit,it's an old jute mill and you get to see how they are made.

There are loads of shops - the Overgate is the nicer shopping mall, the Wellate at the other end of the main pedestrainised area is less so - but that's where to find Poundland and Peacocks.

The Blue Seaway ay Monifieth is a popular park, just round the corner from a really excellent chippie for a fish supper tea(kids meals in a box), and also next door to a reasonable sized Tesco. Depends on how far you want to drive.

Broughty Ferry is the place to go for shops you won't find on your High Street at home, and also has quite a few charity shops too. also loads of nice pubs if DH wants to rest his legs while the girls trawl the shops. There's an M&S food at one end of 'the Ferry' main street too, handy for picking up snacks and sarnies, although Greggs or Bayne's the baker is probably cheaper.:money: .

Ice skating is on every Saturday and Sunday morning, and it has lesson sessions too beforehand, but it's about £8 each iirc, but as a one off it's not too bad.
Camperdown Zoo is in Camperdown park, haven't been there for years as I don't really like zoos.

Further afield, Pleasureland in Arbroath is an indoor amusement type place - not very high tech, but great on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The walk along the cliffs is bracing, stay away from the edge though- they're dangerous drops!

St Andrews Sea Life centre is nice, as is St Andrews, although because it's small andpopular it can be a pain finding parking there compared to Dundee.

Cinema does films for £2.50 for kids, brong an adult free every Saturday and Sunday morninga at about 11:15, usually something older, but since we don't go very often it doesn't matter to us. (odeon.co.uk, it's the douglasfield one)

As for going up the Law Hill at night, hmm, I wouldn't go wandering too far from the car, it's not very well lit. Go at T time, it will be dark then, but not too late. You can also go for a walk along Riverside and see the remains of the old Tay Rail bridge, the one in the disaster of about 110/120 years ago, nice flat walk, goes for miles along the front.

Any thing you fancy doing but aren't sure if it's in Dundee or the surrounds, give us a shout and we'll try to help.:D

ailuro2

http://kidsvisitfree.pizzahut.co.uk/Sensation-dundee

download a voucher to get a child in free to Sensation when one adult pays.

http://kidsvisitfree.pizzahut.co.uk/Search-results?search_id=43ad2f75928b38ccc569a70a0bd371c1 same for Angus area.

http://kidsvisitfree.pizzahut.co.uk/Search-results?search_id=c7c26283606e125df3652473b9c00a8c Perth and Kinross

LilacPixie

Law hill notadvisable atnight unless you fancy spotting some boy racers in 1.1 saxo's

My girls love camperdown. Icerink is also good and close by, Calatto resevoir, Monikie and Craigtoun county parks are close by if you have transport.