Discovery Point and RRS Discovery

About

Discovery Point and the RRS Discovery form one of Dundee’s most compelling heritage experiences, telling the story of the city’s role in Antarctic exploration. The centrepiece is the Discovery herself, the 1901 Dundee‑built research ship that carried Captain Scott and his crew on the National Antarctic Expedition. Remarkably preserved, she remains a powerful symbol of endurance, scientific ambition and human courage. Inside the museum, visitors can explore immersive galleries that trace the expedition from its planning to its dramatic challenges in the polar ice. Original artefacts, scientific instruments, diaries and photographs reveal how the crew lived, worked and survived in extreme conditions. Detailed exhibits explain the ship’s innovative design, including her reinforced hull built to withstand crushing ice. Stepping aboard the Discovery is the highlight. Visitors can walk through the mess deck, wardroom and captain’s cabin, gaining a vivid sense of life at sea during the heroic age of exploration. The rigging, timberwork and compact living quarters all retain their authentic character.

Dundee Scotland

Location

Discovery Point and RRS Discovery are located at Discovery Quay, Riverside Drive, Dundee, DD1 4XA, Scotland. Situated right along the banks of the River Tay in Dundee’s bustling waterfront district, this world-class visitor attraction centers around the famous Royal Research Ship Discovery, built in Dundee and used by Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton on their landmark Antarctic expedition. The central waterfront location places you right next to several of Dundee's premier cultural and historic landmarks. Sitting right alongside Discovery Point is V&A Dundee, Scotland’s striking international museum of design. A short walk east along Victoria Dock brings you to HMS Unicorn, one of the oldest surviving wooden warships in the world. Head into the nearby city center to visit The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum, housed inside a magnificent Victorian Gothic building packed with fine art and local history displays, or venture slightly west to explore Verdant Works, a restored jute mill showcasing the city's rich industrial heritage. For those looking to explore fortresses and palaces nearby, a short drive east leads to Claypotts Castle, a unique 16th-century Z-plan tower house, and Broughty Castle Museum, a 15th-century coastal fortress overlooking the Tay estuary.