Visiting V&A Design Museum Dundee Scotland - brilliant design, superb interiors and facilities

There is a marvellous museum in Dundee, Scotland worth a visit for its design alone - the V&A Dundee. A branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the V&A Dundee not only exhibits artwork and product designs, but is also a cultural centre to host concerts and workshops. The majestic facade of the museum immediately grabs your attention as you approach it on the Riverside Esplanade. The museum has been designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The distinctly layered precast concrete slabs on sloping walls represent Scotland's cliffs, and on stepping inside, the interiors will stun you even more. Best of all, this museum is open to everyone for free with no admission fee. There is a paid ticket only for specific scheduled events.

Snapinfoshots from the Museum Visit

A well-written piece about architectural design-

The Dalmore Luminary Series Sculpture No. 2-

A very creative piece is the bottle of whisky in a glass sculpture. The info card next to it states: "This prototype sculpture is formed of layers of translucent acrylic shaped into a continuous cascade. The design was inspired by the depth of flavour in whisky, the warming sensation experienced when it's tasted, and the rich copper-coloured stills to prepare it...." There are a few more details on the card and you can know more about its creator and those who collaborated on the design.

The Dalmore Luminary Series Sculpture No. 2

Really fascinating and a brilliant idea are the flap openings which frame the outside views, like this one-

View of the Tay Bridge through a window flap

The above photo of the Tay Bridge is from the window flap, and the one below is taken of the bridge from outside

Tay Bridge Dundee

Don't miss the Creature Collective exhibit on the wall by Donna Wilson, a well-known Scottish textile designer. There are a variety of uniquely designed absolutely adorable woollen creatures and you can also shop online for them.

Creative Collective by Donna Wilson

There are shops within the museum where you can purchase something useful as a souvenir of your visit to V&A Dundee or to gift somebody. There are bags, books, leather bookmarks, tea candles, jewellery, posters and prints, etc. The photo below shows some of the products. By the way, there are three shops- the V&A Shop, the Exhibition Road Quarter Shop, and the V&A Fashion Shop.

Shop products

If you are interested in a fun activity, pick up the free seek + peek play trail card (see the photo below) which will lead you around the plaza, urban beach and gardens across the waterfront.

Fun Play Trail Cards

Contact information

Address: 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee DD1 4EZ. 

Ph: +44 (0)1382 411 611

V&A Dundee Website

Timings: The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October, and at the same time from November to March, except on Tuesdays.

Admission Fee: Admission to the museum is free. You only need to pay for a ticket to some events. 

Those looking for a parking spot will find this map handy, and for more queries, you can send an email to parkingenquiries@dundeecity.gov.uk or Call Tel: 01382-432095.

Additional notes: The V&A Dundee has excellent facilities, including wheelchairs for hire (please inform by email in advance for these), seating arrangements, including portable stools to rest tired feet in gallery spaces (brownie points for that!), and free guided tours for which you need to book in advance (check the official website for timings of the tours). Those keen to visit regularly can apply for an annual membership.

Overall, V&A Dundee is awesome, fun and well worth a visit.

By the way, within less than a two-hour journey by train is Edinburgh, where you can visit Calton Hill.