V&A Dundee

What children can do at V&A Dundee

Pick up a free Selkie Trail at the Welcome Desk for sketching and finding out about the building. For making, Design Busters has activity sheets in the Upper Foyer, while Twist and Shape lets children build with wooden planks and stackable triangles in Locke Hall.

The seek + peek! trail takes you outside around the plaza, urban beach and gardens. Keep it for a dry spell and use the indoor trail if it is raining.

Check the current family programme before travelling if a workshop is the reason for your visit; dated events have their own arrangements.

Who is it best for?

Choose it for children who like drawing, making, noticing shapes, asking questions or exploring at their own pace. It suits mixed ages because adults and older children can spend longer with the design collections while younger visitors follow a trail or try an activity.

Children who need a high-energy play session or a single big ride may prefer another attraction. For toddlers, keep the visit short unless an activity catches their interest.

Baby-changing facilities are on Levels 0 and 2. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are welcome around the museum. The unattended buggy park is on Level 0, with more buggy parking beside Tatha; ask about the route through your chosen galleries if you need to keep the buggy with you.

The main entrance is step-free and accessible toilets are listed on all levels, but Level 1 is currently stairs-only while a lift fault is repaired. This means wheelchair access to its Changing Places toilet and Quiet Room is unavailable. Contact the museum before travelling if either is essential.

Weekday mornings are usually quieter. Ear defenders and other sensory tools are available at the Welcome Desk on Level 0 and near Gallery 1 on Level 2, so support is available without reaching the Quiet Room.

Check current access and lift updates · Checked 2 October 2026

Allow flexibility rather than setting a fixed finish time. Some families make a shorter highlights visit; others stay a full afternoon across galleries, café and workshops.

Tatha Bar & Kitchen has a children’s menu, highchairs and bottle warming on request. For your own food, there are tables and chairs beside the shop on Level 0.

It fits neatly into a Dundee waterfront day. Choose Discovery Point for ships and heritage, or Dundee Science Centre for a booked hands-on science session.

Parking and getting there

Use nearby Dundee City Council car parks and check current charges and locations before travelling. The access page lists Blue Badge bays on South Crichton Street, plus parking at Discovery Point and Greenmarket. Check the access information if you need a particular bay.

Dundee station is about a five-minute walk away, with buses nearby, so a train day can be simpler than finding a space.

Tickets and opening checks

For a low-pressure plan, choose the free galleries first and treat any ticketed exhibition or workshop as an optional extra. Under-18s visit exhibitions free; check the ticket arrangements for the exhibition or event you choose.