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Dundee · Museum
Discovery Point & RRS Discovery
Explore Dundee’s Antarctic expedition story in the museum, then step aboard the real RRS Discovery. The galleries are easier with a buggy; narrow stairs limit access to the bridge and lower decks.
- Best ages
- Primary ages and older
- Entry
- Paid · booking recommended
- Weather
- Mostly indoors · exposed ship areas
- Allow
- At least 1½ hours
Our family take
Choose Discovery Point when the real ship is the reason you are going. Children can follow the story from Dundee’s shipyards to Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition, explore museum displays and audio-visual material, and then see parts of RRS Discovery for themselves.
- Ship access. The bridge and lower decks use narrow stairs. Full buggy and wheelchair access is not possible; younger children may prefer a shorter gallery and main-deck visit.
- Current work. Conservation work is ongoing. Check for access updates before travelling.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening hours
- Summer (1 April-31 October): daily 9am-5pm. Winter (1 November-31 March): daily 10am-4pm. Closed 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 and 2 January; check before travelling.
- Tickets
- Tickets currently show Off-Peak Pass £14, Unlimited Pass £17, child (5-16) from £8 and Family Pass from £36; an accompanying carer is free. Check the live ticket page for current prices and pass dates.
- Booking
- Advance booking is not required, but booking ahead is recommended and online tickets can save 10%. Check current pass dates and prices before travelling.
- Visit length
- Allow at least 1.5 hours for the museum and ship. Add time if you want the café or a current family activity.
- Ship access
- Level entrance and ground-floor museum galleries. A ramp can reach the main deck, but the bridge and lower decks use narrow stairs; full buggy and wheelchair access is not possible.
- Parking
- Large pay-and-display car park adjacent. Blue Badge parking is free when the badge is displayed.
- Address
- Discovery Point, Discovery Quay, Dundee DD1 4XA.
ParkingCafé or restaurantToiletsWheelchair loanHistoric ShipIndoor Museum Galleries
11 August 2026
Visit official websiteA little more detail
Make it work for your family
What children will enjoy
What children can discover
Start with the museum galleries, where the story is anchored in Dundee’s shipbuilding and the 1901–04 British National Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Scott. Children can follow the crew, the expedition and the work of a scientific vessel before stepping aboard the real RRS Discovery.
Seeing the ship makes the history concrete. Children can see its scale and layout for themselves.
Who should choose Discovery Point
This suits children who like ships, history, polar exploration or real-world stories. Primary-age children and older are likely to get the most from the full route; younger children can still enjoy a shorter gallery and main-deck visit if adults are comfortable managing the stairs.
A ramp reaches the main deck; narrow stairs limit access to other ship areas.
Prams, accessibility and sensory support
The entrance is level and the museum galleries are on the ground floor. A ramp can be placed at the top of the gangway for the main deck, but the bridge and lower decks involve narrow stairs, changes of level and lighting, and steep steps. Full buggy and wheelchair access is not possible across the ship.
Child and adult wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge. Seating, adapted toilets, induction loops and free sensory backpacks are available, and the Odyssey gallery film with audio commentary and subtitles shows the parts of the ship some visitors cannot reach.
Food, toilets and baby facilities
Most of the visit is indoors, so Discovery Point can work well on a wet day. The ship is not completely sheltered, and temperatures can drop between the galleries and ship. Bring an extra layer, especially for younger children.
The 77° South café serves breakfasts, light lunches, cakes and drinks. Adapted toilets are available. Baby-changing is not listed in the access guide; confirm provision with the Trust before travelling.
Parking, booking and access updates
You can turn up without booking, but booking ahead is recommended and online tickets can save 10%. Check the live pass dates, current prices and opening pattern before travelling, especially around school holidays.
A large pay-and-display car park sits beside Discovery Point, with free parking for Blue Badge holders displaying a badge. The What’s On programme changes through the year. Conservation work is ongoing while the attraction remains open, so check for family activities, exhibitions or access updates before setting off.
Making more of the visit
Treat it as a focused half-day stop or part of a wider Dundee waterfront day. Add V&A Dundee if you want to make the outing longer.
Add time for the 77° South café, current exhibitions or family activities if your date offers them.
When another visit is a better choice
V&A Dundee is the more flexible free stop; Dundee Science Centre is better when hands-on activity is the priority. Both can extend a Dundee day, but Discovery Point is the one for children who want to see a real historic ship.
Plan the rest of your day
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Nearby stop
V&A Dundee
The adjacent free-entry museum is a more flexible option when trails, creative activities and easier buggy planning matter more than the ship.
Nearby stop
Dundee Science Centre
Choose this for a booked, hands-on rainy-day session if children need to press, test and explore rather than follow a heritage story.