The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum
Free Victorian Gothic art gallery and museum in Dundee city centre with eight galleries on art, local history and the natural landscape.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The McManus began as the Albert Institute for Literature, Science and Art, a memorial to Prince Albert in the centre of Dundee. The Victorian Gothic building, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, went up in three stages: the public library in 1865 to 1867, the art gallery and museum in 1871 to 1873, and the Victoria Galleries in 1889. In 1984 the refurbished museum was renamed after Lord Provost Maurice McManus, who held office from 1960 to 1967.
Page\Park Architects redeveloped the building between 2005 and 2010, combining the historic galleries with new visitor facilities such as a cafe, shop and family space. The museum is nicknamed the People's Museum and holds a collection that stretches back 400 million years, much of it considered nationally important. Dundee's collections as a whole total some 150,000 objects.
Eight galleries on two floors cover the city's natural landscape and early settlement, the story of modern Dundee from the 1850s to the present, the city's international collections in the Albert Hall, studio ceramics, Scottish oil paintings in the Victoria Gallery, and twentieth-century art. The Victoria Gallery keeps its original curved walls and hangs paintings high in the Victorian manner. Admission is free, and the building is part of the venues run by Leisure and Culture Dundee.
Highlights
- Victorian Gothic building by Sir George Gilbert Scott
- Landscapes and Lives gallery on Dundee's natural landscape and early settlement
- Dundee and the World gallery in the Albert Hall with its wooden ceiling and stained glass
- Victoria Gallery with Scottish and English paintings hung in the Victorian style
- Collection of studio ceramics in the Long Gallery
Permanent exhibitions
- Landscapes and Lives – Dundee's natural landscape, the animals that lived here and the people who made their homes in the area, from early settlement to the Burgh of Dundee.
- Making of Modern Dundee – How the city developed from the 1850s to the present, including shopping, work and the two world wars.
- Victoria Gallery – Historic Scottish oil paintings alongside works by major English artists, in a gallery kept as it was when it opened in 1889.
- Founded
- 1867
- Operated by
- Leisure & Culture Dundee
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free and donations are welcome. A charge may apply for some workshops, activities or special events.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is level access to both the rear and main entrances, full wheelchair access to all public areas and a lift to all floors. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from reception, which has an induction loop. Two Blue Badge bays are at the back of the building. Room thresholds are lit for visitors with partial sight and displays use larger text, with large-format labels where possible. An adapted unisex toilet is on the ground floor; the nearest Changing Places toilet can be found through the Changing Places website. Guide dogs, hearing dogs and recognised assistance dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
A drop-in Family Space on the first floor helps families explore the exhibitions and collections. There is level access throughout, baby changing in the basement toilets and a designated buggy parking area in the basement, used at the owner's risk. The cafe has a children's menu.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Panmure Street (opposite the north entrance)
The museum is in Dundee city centre, about 10 minutes' walk from the bus and rail stations. Bus services 1, 1D, 1C, 18, 19, 21, 28, 29 and 51 stop on Panmure Street opposite the north entrance, and many more services stop on Commercial Street near the main south entrance. The East Coast line runs from London King's Cross and local trains run from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Perth.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Two parking spaces for Blue Badge holders are at the back of the building. The nearest public car parks are Bell Street, the Overgate and the Wellgate, each a 5 to 10 minute walk away. Bike parking is at the front and back.
- Accessible parking
The museum holds the Good Journey Mark for welcoming car-free visitors.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Loom Deli x The McManus Cafe serves sandwiches, soup, cakes and coffee, with a children's menu for under-12s. The shop on the ground floor sells local products, books, art supplies, jewellery and toys. Lockers in the basement need a £1 coin or trolley token, which is returned.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Venue hire enquiries are handled by email to the museum.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography for personal use is welcome, but flash, close-up photography and tripods are not allowed. |
| Good to know | A free digital guide with an audio tour is available through Bloomberg Connects. Group tours can be booked by phone or email, and schools and community groups must book in advance with the Creative Learning team. |
