Embark on a journey that takes you back 400 million years of history and artwork at the McManus Art Gallery and Museum in the heart of Dundee. From twentieth-century artist prints to exhibitions about Scotland’s history, Dundee’s art gallery has it all. If you’re an art lover or a historical fanatic searching for things to do in Dundee, then this Gallery will be one of the highlights of your trip.
The McManus Art Gallery was opened in 1867 and today is home to eight stunning galleries that exhibit art, history, and the environment of the region. This Gallery is one of the highlights of any visitor’s trip to Dundee and is well worth the visit while in the area.
If you’re planning to visit this prestigious Art Gallery and Museum during your holiday, ensure you read our article to learn important details you should know and the top attractions to look forward to.
Important Details to Know
Keen to know what you should know before visiting the McManus Art Gallery and Museum? Fret not, here is a comprehensive guide to all the details you should know before you go.
Accessibility
The McManus Art Gallery and Museum has the following accessibility options
- Two disabled parking bays are located at the rear of the building
- There is level access to both the rear and main entrances to the building
- There is full wheelchair access to all public areas of the building and a lift to all floors
- Wheelchairs are available for loan from the reception area
- Our reception desk is fitted with an induction loop
- Room thresholds have lighting to assist visitors with partial sight, and there are larger text sizes on displays
Opening Times
Here are the opening times for McManus Art Gallery and Museum during the week.
- Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm
- Sundays, 12:30pm – 4:30pm
Last entry is 15 minutes before gallery closing time.
The McManus Gallery is open every day except 24, 25, 26 December, 1 and 2 January.
Ticket Prices
Entry into the McManus Art Gallery and Museum is completely free!
How to Get There
Here are all the ways you can reach the McManus Art Gallery and Museum:
Car
Dundee’s art gallery is easy to reach, with several networks of roads that lead you to Dundee from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and whatever city you’re coming from. The A90 is the easiest route to take, and there are two parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at the rear of the building.
For non-Blue Badge holders, there are public car parks that sit 5-10 minutes away from the Gallery.
Train
The East Coast line is the most common train route to reach Dundee, with local commuting available regularly from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Perth.
Bus
There are numerous bus services available to reach the McManus Gallery, including 1, 18, 19, 21, 28, 29, and 51 that drop you off at the north entrance of the building. There are also bus services that drop you off at the south entrance of the building at the 3, 3A, 4B, 20, 23, 31, 32, 33, 51, and more.
Attractions to See
Now that you’ve found how to get to the McManus Art Gallery and Museum and know everything before you arrive, here are the top attractions to see during your visit:
Explore the Permanent Exhibitions at McManus Art Gallery and Museum
No doubt, the highlight of the McManus Art Gallery and Museum is the vast collection of paintings and historical artefacts for you to see. The collections span four centuries of production by artists working in Britain and Europe. At its heart is a superb collection of nineteenth and twentieth-century Scottish paintings that demonstrates Dundee’s wealth and importance as a centre for the exhibiting and teaching of art.
The wider collection includes historic Dundee silver, Scottish pottery, studio ceramics and glass, sculpture, fine art photography and artist prints. If you’re interested in perusing a vast collection of twentieth-century artist prints and paintings, then the McManus galleries should be at the top of your list.
Catch the Rotating Set of Temporary Exhibits
Once you’ve visited museum galleries, it’s difficult to revisit it again without worrying that the experience will grow stale. Luckily, like a few other museum galleries in Scotland, the Dundee Art Gallery has a set of rotating exhibits throughout the year that feature some up-and-coming artists.
Exploring the temporary art that sits in the McManus throughout the year not only gives you a reason to come back more often, introducing its wonders to friends and family, but also lets you gain a fascinating insight into the contemporary artwork of the area. Why not see if you can pick up piece on show, the artist may become the next Picasso!
Visit Museum McManus Dundee
We’ve spoken at length about the beautiful works of art that guests can see at the McManus in Dundee, but there are several exhibitions that showcase the history of the region and the wonders of the natural world, too! This is the McManus Art Gallery & Museum, after all.
Take a look at how the earliest humans emerged into the world, the relics and sites that they left behind in Scotland, and how important nature and ecosystems are to our survival. If you want a bit of a change of pace from interpreting art, the museum McManus has is just the ticket.
Attend McManus Dundee’s Art Gallery Events
In addition to the temporary exhibitions that you can look forward to, the McManus Dundee Art Gallery hosts several events and programmes throughout the year that you can look forward to. The McManus Dundee boasts the largest Creative Learning space, with a creative learning team that is dedicated to providing you with a social hub to explore, engage in activities, and keep up to date with events.
The museum offers so much more than just exhibitions and makes the tours and events here so much more valuable.
Check out the McManus Gallery Gift Shop
Looking to keep a memento to remember your trip to the McManus by? Discover the amazing collection of items on offer here. The McManus Gallery Gift Shop has a little something for everyone, stocking amazing products from suppliers around the world.
Shop for specialist books, art supplies, jewellery, home decor, and toys for those friends and families who couldn’t make the trip.
Grab a Bite to Eat at the McManus Cafe
The McManus Café is there to deliver for when your stomach begins to grumble, and your throat feels parched. The cafe has an extensive selection of amazing dishes served on the premises, including sandwiches, scones, cakes and more! Have a coffee and tea with it, and we bet you’ll be buzzing for your next attraction.
More Scottish Galleries to Visit
- Aberdeen Art Gallery
- An Lanntair Arts Centre
- Compass Gallery
- Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries
- Gallery of Modern Art
- Hunterian Art Gallery
- Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
- Jupiter Artland
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
- Kirkcudbright Gallery
- National Galleries Scotland: Modern
- National Galleries Scotland: National
- National Galleries Scotland: Portrait
- Perth Museum & Art Gallery
- Pier Arts Centre
- Royal Scottish Academy
- Stills Gallery
- Talbot Rice Gallery
- The Burrell Collection
- The Fruitmarket Gallery
- The Modern Institute
