Discovery Point
Discovery Point
4.5
Speciality MuseumsShipsHistory Museums
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
MADE IN DUNDEE | DESIGNED FOR ADVENTURE Discovery Point is home to the world famous Antarctic research vessel RRS Discovery. This award-winning visitor attraction tells the story of the Discovery, from her beginnings in Dundee in to her amazing Antarctic expedition and her voyages thereafter. Follow in the footsteps of Captain Scott and his heroic team at Discovery Point! Find out about the Heroes of the Ice who braved the harsh conditions of the Antarctic and hear their stories first hand. As you explore the self-led museum at your own pace you will: Enter the shipyard and find out how and why Discovery was built Learn about the first voyage of Discovery to the most inhospitable place on the earth Walk in the footsteps of Heroes and climb aboard one of the most incredible ships ever built Find out about ‘Scott of the Antarctic’ and explore the crews quarters and the Officers Wardroom Discover more about the ships voyages and journeys after The Discovery Expedition. Don't forget to visit the gift shop for unique Discovery themed items or your very own cuddly toy Emma Penguin. There is also a cafe on site with something for all tastes.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Discovery Point and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Liz A
    Bradford, United Kingdom708 contributions
    An enjoyable few hours spent
    I went to Discovery Point as part of a coach trip with Lochs and Glens. I found all the staff to be very friendly and helpful and it was a very interesting experience. I thought walking around the ship was great and a real privilege and I also enjoyed my visit to cafe there.
    Hi Lizzie, thank you for your generous review!
    Written 4 January 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled solo
    Written 25 December 2022
  • GlasgowVegas
    Glasgow, United Kingdom44 contributions
    It's good but could be so much better
    Superb location. It looks amazing from outside. Visitors centre inside is ok to be honest. Not a lot to see and a bit disappointing how thin it is. There is a great story to be told here and I don't think it conveys it. Discovery the boat. Awesome, it's been saved and put in a dry dock but I'd like to see a bit more history. Perhaps a audio tour or some more to read. Thanks, but could be so much better.
    Hi, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent experience with Discovery Point. And I am sorry to see you did not feel you had the experience we wish all our visitors to have. The ticket price allows for a full visit to the museum, which currently features over 150 objects on permanent display and several temporary exhibitions throughout the year. The museum also has over 20 audio-visual displays and hands-on interactives for all ages. The star attraction is, of course, the RRS Discovery herself. The ticket price includes full access to all her deck levels and the chance to spend as long as you wish walking in the footsteps of famous explorers such as Captain Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Douglas Mawson. Your ticket automatically entitles you to a free annual pass which allows as many return visits as you wish within a 12-month period at no extra cost. If you have any particular questions that arose during your visit that you feel were not covered by the displays or audio-visuals please feel free to email our education officer, who will be happy to answer: education@dundeeheritage.co.uk Discovery Point is operated by Dundee Heritage Trust, a not-for-profit, independent charity that generates 94% of its annual running costs through various activities, including ticket sales. This income is used to support the conservation and preservation of the world-famous polar ship RRS Discovery and its associated collections held within the museum. This helps us to ensure the history of the ship is not lost now or for future generations. Your admission costs really do make a difference for us.
    Written 14 February 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 11 February 2023
  • Rosemary M
    Stirling, United Kingdom39 contributions
    Well worth a visit
    Just across the road from the railway station and next to the Dundee V&A. The tour of Discovery is worth going for on its own. Fascinating to see of the early discoverers lived in very cramped quarters and extreme conditions
    Visited February 2023
    Written 18 February 2023
  • SL510
    Ayr, United Kingdom140 contributions
    Brilliant
    I was initially sceptical but what a place this is. You could easily spend all day here in the museum/visitors centre, totally immersed in the history of the time. It really makes you proud that Dundee and our country was at the forefront of polar exploration. What these men managed is nothing short of sheer brilliance. After exploring the interactive rooms and watching several short videos, it have you sufficient detail to then step aboard and explore the ship itself. Discovery is a work of beauty and it’s a testament to the staff and the charity she is at pride of place today. A stone throw from Dundee train station and literally next door to the V&A, what are you waiting for?!
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 21 February 2023
  • DollyBirdScotland
    458 contributions
    Pride of Dundee
    I was here as a young teen twice where it had left a huge impression on me. The ship is still as beautiful and the museum is still great [although I remember a piece of Antarctic ice being in a beautiful glass pyramid being there]. Has a good combination of high quality films to give the history and then more traditional story boards and exhibits. You can feel the sense of pride and love over this Dundee built ship and the city's contribution to early Antarctic exploration. Will definitely be back with the family as I want to do my Xmas shopping in the museum shop. Also has very reasonable priced Scandi like cafe which cured me hangover with the chicken noodle soup.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 23 February 2023
  • GWoolfe
    Scarborough, United Kingdom81 contributions
    A must see
    Absolutely overjoyed with my visit to Discovery Point and onboard RSS Discovery. I didn’t know anything about Antarctic exploration and the museum gives a fascinating insight into this piece of history. The museum is laid out so well that it truly transports you to the era and tells a fascinating story. That being said, I enjoyed the first part of the space more, as I felt it got a bit confusing learning about the Discovery in later life. There is a lot of interaction with videos to watch and it feels like a great place to visit either solo or with a family. It was great to go onto the RSS Discovery, although I felt there could have been a little bit more information points and I was left wondering what I was looking at times. Lovely staff on the front desk, shop and in the cafe. This is 100% worth the price, with a joint ticket available to the Verdant Works and the price is for an annual ticket, which is great.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 4 March 2023
  • Jethro672
    1,046 contributions
    Phenomenal exhibition and learning experience
    World class exhibition. Phenomenal, you'll need 2hrs here - at least. Even better than I imagined. I was really rushing and there's a lot to read and watch and was struggling to complete it all in 90 minutes. Extremely educational for all ages. One of the best exhibitions I've been to. Well done to everyone involved. Unfortunately I never had time to go up into the dome and you'll need to book a slot for this. This is one of the many reasons to come and visit Dundee
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 11 March 2023
  • 797dennisp
    Montrose, United Kingdom30,369 contributions
    A most fascinating ship !!
    This trip to see the Discovery should best be done on a beautiful summer's day but my visit in September was close to perfect could be. The Royal Research Ship Discovery was one of the last wooden three-masted, barque rigged sailing ships to be built in Britain. As a major whaling centre Dundee’s shipyards had long experience of constructing ships robust enough to travel through the Arctic pack ice. Over 100 years after this ship was built it is now back home resting in Dundee.
    Visited September 2022
    Written 30 March 2023
  • Josepha M
    148 contributions
    See the ship that took Scott and Shackleton to the Antarctic
    I have always been fascinated by the stories of the exploration in the Antarctic so was very excited to see the ship, Discovery, which took Scott and Shackleton there in 1901. The ship was inspiring especially seeing the dining saloon and the cabins. However the ship is in poor condition and needs money spent on it. Would be a worthy National Lottery project. There are extensive exhibitions about the construction of the ship and the lives of the men on the ship.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 April 2023
  • thegreenkiwis
    Sheffield, United Kingdom100 contributions
    A must-do in Dundee - fantastic exhibition, ship and unexpected extra finale!
    An absolute must-do in Dundee (even though it hadn't been on the list before we went)! Fabulous location next to the V&A. The exhibitions are really well done and, along with several short films, provide a great insight into the Discovery’s Antarctic journey. I knew various bits of Scott and Shackleton’s adventures but it pulled them altogether for me. Being able to walk around the ship was a huge thrill – it would have been anyway but was all the more so for having understand its history and adventures. I loved the Officers’ Wardroom and cabins, and being on deck admiring the masts and rigging. There was an unexpected finale, needing to be time-slot booked (free) but definitely not to be missed. On the top floor, the Discovery Dome was opened last year and now houses a permanent Gaia (the World installation by Luke Gerram), which I’d been planning to try to see on its tour around the country sometime! There’s a 7-minute soundtrack for it, followed by a film about the development of Dundee, before the blinds are lifted for a spectacular 360 degree view of the city and river. Would 100% recommend a visit!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 April 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
2,315 reviews
Excellent
1,679
Very good
542
Average
77
Poor
14
Terrible
3

MrsW1608
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK92 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
A great day trip from our Lochs and Glens holiday. Discovery Point museum holds many interesting facts and artifacts about Captain Scott and his crew’s mission to the Antarctic. There are 2 screens with films before and during their hazardous journey. The ship itself was brought back to Dundee and restored. She is berthed just outside and you can go onboard to see where the crew slept and the conditions they lived in.
I can remember being told Captain Scott’s story but this really brings it to life.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your 5 star review! We're so glad you enjoyed your voyage and hope to welcome you back soon.
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Viva-Vampira
Edinburgh, UK23 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
A wonderfully curated little exhibition on Captain Scott, Shackleton and Artic exploration. The information was presented well, videos very well made and a treasure trove of artefacts which were fascinating. Throughout they had placed interactive displays for children and families to enjoy which were also educational and tied in well with the history of the expedition. A wonderful little gem of a museum. A special mention for Derek on the front desk who was so kind, helpful and good humoured with us on our trip. He was a star!
Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed your voyage and hope to welcome you back soon.
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jackie H
United Kingdom1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Family
Discovery Point was great - very interesting and there were also things that children could do which kept them interested. The ship was fantastic and really interesting. Afterwards (3pm) we went to the cafe for a hot bite to eat or soup (it was a cold day). We were told by the staff in the cafe that they had stopped serving hot food and could only offer hot drinks and cakes. We were so disappointed and hungry. Due to travelling we didn't manage to get lunch before we arrived. Instead we left Discovery Point and went to McDonalds for lunch instead. An absolute disgrace to stop serving hot food in the middle of the afternoon, especially at the weekend.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! We are so glad you enjoyed your visit around the museum and will pass your feedback on.
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sam B
Glasgow, UK31 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
My wife and I went here and spent 3 hours exploring the history of captain Scott's ship discovery. Well worth a visit.
Written 11 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your 5 star review! We're so glad you enjoyed your voyage and hope to welcome you back soon.
Written 29 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

hespenal
4 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This is one of Dundee's jewel in their crown. An excellent venue very well put together and we would encourage everyone who can to gift aid this venue.
The various interactive exhibits, and the static ones give great depth to Scott and his story. Not forgetting the story of the rest. The ship itself has clearly been cared for well, though in need of more care as it ages, but then again, don't we all!
With the pass lasting upto a year, this is a more than value for money venue where you can hide from the bad weather or keep the kids entertained. A very well rounded experience that we will be sure to revisit on our next adventure
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your 5 star review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit and hope to welcome you back for many more voyages.
Written 6 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

glitrberi
USA84 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
It was really neat being on a ship that went on an Antarctic exploration. Closest I'll probably ever get to going on one! I really enjoyed learning about the ship, the men and the journey they went on to explore a part of the world not many get to see.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're very glad that you enjoyed your visit and hope to welcome you back soon.
Written 30 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Mark
Sheffield, UK505 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
It always caught my eye when passing so we had a chance to call and take a closer look.The start gives a good history to the ship, and it's famous crew, lots of interaction for the kids before even reaching the ship. The size and scale of the ship is amazing and the history behind it goes hand in hand.Lots to see above and below decks with areas kept as they were all those years ago, you get a real sense of history.Its looking it's age in places but works are ongoing to restore where needed, not that would take away the enjoyment of the visit, in all a great insite into the past.
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit. If you would like to keep up to date with what urgent conservation and restoration works are being undertaken aboard the ship, please do follow our social media; @discoverydundee. Thank you!
Written 25 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James Knowles
36 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This was a really cool museum and I wish I'd spent more time there. The ship was really cool to see as well as the video at the end!
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your 5-star review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit and hope to welcome you back with your annual pass soon.
Written 16 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jean M
Glasgow, UK8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Visited this venue 5 years ago and were not disappointed with our return today. Such a superbly organised space with knowledgeable and friendly staff (and a lovely cafe). There’s so much to take in one visit doesn’t actually suffice. We bought a joint ticket with the Verdant jute museum in advance and saved a lot of money (you can return within a year to these venues for free if you keep your card). Naturally seeing round the Discovery ship was a highlight and quite awe-inspiring. I’d recommend anyone to go to Discovery Point - you’ll never think about snow the same way again!
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We are glad that you enjoyed it and will pass your lovely words onto our staff.
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KDF4
Glasgow, Scotland, UK271 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
This was unexpectedly brilliant. The museum was so interesting and the Gaia display in the dome is unmissable. Then to actually get on the ship was fantastic. Do not miss this experience if you go to Dundee.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your 5-star review! We really appreciate it and are glad that you enjoyed your visit so much.
Written 9 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 2,211
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

DISCOVERY POINT: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Discovery Point