Dundee and Perth are conveniently located within easy reach of the other large cities in Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen, remaining within an approximately 90-minute drive from 90% of Scotland’s population. There are excellent road, rail and bus links to all 4 cities and London is six hours by rail and just over an hour by air from Dundee airport, flying direct to London Heathrow Airport.

The region Tayside is well connected, by car with the M90, A9, and the A90, and by plane through the conveniently located Dundee Airport. Coaches provide connections to the rest of the United Kingdom (U.K), while regional bus services provide travel between the Tayside areas and the smaller towns and villages.

The smaller towns and villages also make for lovely day trips, particularly on the weekend, and some examples of popular villages include Broughty Ferry, Crieff, Pitlochry, Blairgowrie, Kirriemuir, Brechin and Carnoustie.

Social Groups

• For avid walkers, the Dundee Ramblers are a friendly walking group open to both, beginner and expert walkers.

• For keen hikers and mountain blazers, the Dundee Mountain Club (DMC) is a great way to get to know others interested in hillwalking, climbing, mountain biking and skiing!

• For those that enjoy cycling, the Dundee Thistle Cycling Club welcomes all levels of cyclists to join them!

• Dundee is well known for its Latin Dancing Quarter and for anyone interested in learning this art or continuing its practice, SBK Dundee holds a variety of dance classes and social nights!

• For all those who enjoy a good book, Dundee has a variety of book clubs and reading groups, with the full list available on Dundee Reading Groups.

• For anyone that is curious to try waterboat activities, like sailing, rowing, powerboating or darting, the Royal Tay Yacht Club are hosting a few open days for this!

Activities

• For a list of the various sports clubs available to join or practice, have a look at Activities in Dundee

• For anyone who prefers more casual or solo climbing sessions, checking out Avertical World is a must!

• For anyone who is interested in trying out something new, aerial sports might just be the thing for you! Have a look at Aerial sports Aerial Arts, Pole and Fitness: Freebird Studio.

• Check out Clubs in Perth and Wider Perthshire for a list of all the available clubs, facilities and sports available to try in Perth!

• For fun outdoor activities, such as archery, kayaking or axe-throwing (to name a few!), Willowgate Activity Centre is a great place to visit!

Financial Amenities

There are various banks within the town centre, which include:

• Bank of Scotland, by the Wellgate Shopping Centre entrance

• Barclays Pod, within the Overgate Shopping Centre, opposite the Office and Claire's shops

• Clydesdale Bank, situated on the High Street by the front of the Caird Hall promenade

• Royal Bank of Scotland, also on the High Street

• TSB, at the end of Chapel Street, near the McManus Art Gallery

• Nationwide Building Society, on Reform Street

• Santander Bank, also on Reform Street

• Yorkshire Building Society, along Commercial Street

There is also a Post Office in the town centre, on Whitehall Street, as well as along Perth Road. Ninewells Hospital also has a post box within the Level 7 promenade area, by the first corridor on the right.

Both, the Perth Road and Whitehall Street post offices also facilitate services by the Western Union, for money transfering.

Religious Facilities

There are numerous Christian places of worship within Dundee:

• For Roman Catholics, some of the more popular places of worship include St Andrew's Cathedral along Nethergate, St Joseph's Church on Wilkies Lane as well as St Ninian's & St Clement's Churches which are situated in Menziehill and Charleston.

• For Prostestants, St Mary's Parish Church is located right at the heart of Dundee city centre, by the Overgate!

• All of the Presbyterian church congregations within Dundee have come together to produce the Dundee Westgait Church of Scotland, and worship across various church sites.

• For Methodist Christians, there is the Dundee Methodists Church, located in West Marketgait, opposite Lidl and Overgate.

• Dundee also hosts Gate Church International - an independent Christian denomination with Sunday services.

• For Episcopal Christians, the more poplar sites of worship are St Paul's Cathedral on Dundee High Street and St Mary Magdalene's Church on Dudhope Crescent Road.

• For Baptist Christians, there is the Central Baptist Church of Dundee on Ward Road, just north of the town centre.

• For Evangelical Christians, there is St. Peter's Free Church located along Perth Road.

  
  

The main mosques within Dundee City are:

• Dundee Central Mosque, located just north of the town centre, in close proximity to the Hampton by Hilton hotel.

• Al Maktoum Mosque, which is associated with the Al-Maktoum School and located close to The Hub accommodation, by the University's main campus. It is open to students and locals.

• Tayside Islamic Centre, with its associated Sunni Mosque, on Victoria Road in North Marketgait.

  
  

The Tayside Hindu Cultural and Community Centre is situated at the top end of Taylors Lane, which is the off-road that arises next to the Pacamara Café on Perth Road. They have an associated Facebook page for any queries!

For those that practice Sikhism, the Siri Guru Nanak Gurdwara is located on Victoria Road in North Marketgait.

Educational Facilities

While the University of Dundee Medical School has a library on the Ninewells Hospital site, 24-hour access is not available unless permission is taken and granted from the University Team.

However, other libraries that are available for public use in the meantime include:

• Blackness Library, along Perth Road

• Central Library, within the Wellgate Shopping Centre in town

Furthermore, there are plenty of cafes throughout Dundee that are suited to studying and some of these include:

• The Dundee Coffee House, on Union Street

• Henry's Coffee House, with one branch on the City Square and another on Seagate

• Flame Tree Café, located on Exchange Street

• EH9 Espresso, situated along Perth Road

• Empire State Coffee, on Whitehall Crescent

Shopping Facilities

For groceries, the following stores and supermarkets are available:

• Lidl, which is located opposite the main University Campus, along West Marketgait

• Tesco Superstore, which is located by Riverside Drive

• Along Perth Road, there are Sainsbury's Local and a Spar stores

• Asda Superstore, with the nearest one being located along Kingsway West

• Morrisons Superstore, which lies north of Kingsway East

• For Asian food stuffs, Matthew's Foods is perfect!

• Wellgate Shopping Centre, situated in the town centre, contains the following shops:

  • Iceland

  • Savers

  • B&M

For gift, accessory or clothes shopping, the Overgate Shopping Centre is the best place to start, with more shops situated along Murraygate, in the walk up to the Wellgate Shopping Centre.

Exercise Amenities

Dundee has a variety of sports facilities and gyms available but some of the most popular options are:

• PureGym, along West Marketgait

• Institute of Sports and Exercise (ISE), located on the main University Campus and is open to both, students and locals

• Olympia is a leisure centre located past Seagate, which functions as an indoor swim centre and also, has an on-site gym

  
  

There are also yoga and pilates across Dundee and some popular options include:

• Nomad Yoga and Pilates, along West Marketgait, just past the Pure Gym

• Pilates Dundee, on Seabraes Lane

Financial Amenities

• Barclays, within St. John's Shopping Centre

• Bank of Scotland, located on King Edward Street

• Nationwide Building Society, found along the High Street, within the city centre

• Royal Bank of Scotland, situated on Dunkeld Road

• Santander, also along the High Street

• TSB, also located on King Edward Street, opposite Bank of Scotland

• Virgin Money, also along King Edward Street but round the corner from TSB and Bank of Scotland

Within Perth, the two closest Post Offices are located on Jeanfield Road (the nearest one to Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) hospital) and in the city centre, on the High Street.

Religious Facilities

There are various Christian worship facilities within the city:

• For Roman Catholics, the St John the Baptist Church, is situated along Melville Street, just outside the town centre

• For Baptist Christians, the Perth Baptist Church is located towards the eastern outskirts of Perth whilst the Bible Baptist Church is within close proximity to the town centre.

• For Presbyterian Christians, St. Matthew's Church is located on Tay Street, along the River Tay whilst St. Leonard's In The Fields Church is found on Marshall Place, close to the South Inch Park, and St. John's Kirk Church is situated along St. John's Place.

• For Episcopal Christians, St John the Baptist Church is located along Princes Street, just bordering the town centre, and St. Ninian's Cathedral on North Methven Street.

Along Glasgow Road and within close proximity to Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) hospital, the Perth Islamic Society and its associated mosque are found.

Educational Facilities

While PRI hospital does have an on-site library by its Taymount Terrace entrance which you can access, here are some additional study spaces in case you wish to spend time out of the hospital area!

• Found on York Place, the A.K. Bell Library is the main public library for Perth and Kinross.

• Aptly located near North Inch Park, the North Inch Community Library is another public library available for use.

Additionally, there are various cafes within Perth that are very welcoming to all individuals wishing to study!

Shopping Facilities

Between the city centre and PRI hospital, there are various shops situated along the way for grocery shopping, including:

• Lidl

• Aldi

St. Catherine's Retail Park is also a short walk from the city centre and contains:

• Morrisons

• Halfords

• B&M

• Currys

For gift, accessory and clothes shopping, St John’s Shopping Centre is located within the city centre and holds a variety of shops. There are also numerous shops surrounding this shopping centre, for you to explore!

Exercise Amenities

There are several exercise facilities within Perth, including:

• The Gym Group, located on

• Live Active has various sites across Perth city, with the most popular one being the Perth Leisure Pool, which has an associated gym!

• Another popular choice is Perth Bannatyne Health Club, situated within St. Catherine's Retail Park, which has a swimming pool, gym and spa!

Art Galleries

The two most popular galleries within Dundee are the McManus Art Gallery, situated in the town centre, the V&A, which is found by the riverside, and the Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), which is located along Nethergate, on the way into town!

It is also worth remembering that all of these art facilities have on-site restaurants and cafes, whilst the DCA also holds a cinema!

Science and Nature

For those who like exploring nature and the sciences, Dundee has a variety of facilities to enjoy!

The Dundee Science Centre, situated close to the town centre, is a great place to explore various exhibits and holds the annual Dundee Science Festival.

For those who take an interest in outer space, Mills Observatory, located just behind the Royal Victoria Hospital, adjacent to Balgay Hill, is a great place to go on a clear night, to get a close-up of the planets and stars!

Parks

Dundee is home to various parks which make for pleasant walks on a sunny day.

Camperdown Country Park, with its associated Wildlife Centre, makes for a lovely day out for all those interested in animals! It is located on Cupar Angus Road, off Kingsway West.

Dundee Law is another popular park within Dundee, as it is the highest point within the city, being the remains of an extinct volcano!

Other popular parks within Dundee include Balgay Park, Baxter Park, Magdalen Green, Slessor Gardens and Dudhope Park. For a full list of all the parks within Dundee, please follow this link: Parks and Environment | Dundee City Council

Museums

The Verdant Works Museum, located just outside the town centre, is an interesting place to learn about Dundee's industrial heritage, particularly the jute trade.

The Dundee Museum of Transport, located just past Gallagher Park, is a great place to explore local transport pioneers and a diverse range of vehicles!

The Discovery Point, located adjacent to the Dundee V&A Gallery, is a fascinating place to learn about the Royal Research Ship Discovery, including the Antarctic Expedition.

The D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, located within the University of Dundee, is named after the first professor of biology within this academic establishment. As this museum is used for teaching, its public opening hours are restricted to Friday afternoons and every second Saturday of the month.

Whilst in Ninewells Hospital, don't forget to stop by the Tayside Medical History Museum, which is located on Level 7 of the Medical School, beside the Gannochy Lecture Theatre and DUSA Kiosk shop.

Theatres, Cinemas and Arcades

For those who enjoy the performative arts, the two main theatres are the Dundee Rep Theatre, located between the main University campus and town centre, and Whitehall Theatre, located along Hawkhill, both of which host a variety of shows, ranging from dance, comedy and panto.

The two main cinemas within Dundee City are Cineworld, found by Kingsway West, and Odeon, which located is located just off Kingsway East.

The two main arcades within Dundee are Tenpin, further north up Kingsway West, and Hollywood Bowl, which is situated next to the Odeon cinema! Both facilities offer bowling along with indoor arcade games, with Tenpin also hosting laser tag and karaoke, whilst Hollywood Bowl provides mini golf!

Castles and Fortresses

Dundee is home to four castles, which includes:

1. Broughty Ferry Castle, which has an associated museum and is situated along Broughty Ferry Beach.

2. Claypotts Castle, situated just on the outskirts of Broughty Ferry.

3. Mains Castle, located towards the northern-east side of Dundee.

4. Dudhope Castle, which is found within Dudhope Park!

Here are some general trails to get you started on various areas that you may like to visit!

• General Tayside Tour

• Trailing the Tayside Coast

• The main types of bank account and what they are used for.

• The terms and conditions for each type of bank account (and if there are any perks!).

• How to change banks or building societies.

In order to open a bank account you usually have to fill in an application form, which you can do in the branch or online, and in some cases, even over the phone.

You will have to provide proof of your identity including your full name, date of birth and address. You will usually have to show the bank two separate documents that prove who you are (e.g. passport) and where you live (e.g. a recent utility bill). If you do not have any of the documents that the bank wants, they should accept a letter from a responsible person that knows you, such as a GP, teacher, social worker or probation officer.

It is possible that the bank may refuse to open a current account if you have any of the following:

• Poor credit history

• History of or current bankruptcy

• Record of fraud

  
  

However, if you are/have been bankrupt or have a poor credit rating, you may still be able to open a basic bank account and it is worth discussing this openly with the bank.

Art Galleries

Perth Art Gallery, located just off West Bridge Street in Perth, contains one of Scotland's oldest art collections.

For anyone who wants to enjoy a walk around Perth whilst incorporating art and sculpture into it, the River Tay Public Art Trail, is a lovely way to combine the two, especially on a sunny day!

Science and Nature

For any geography and geology enthusiasts, The Fair Maid's House, located within Perth city centre, is a great place to learn more about the impact of climate change and other environmental factors upon the world we live in.

Parks

Located along Dundee Road, prior to entering Perth City, Branklyn Garden is a popular flower garden set upon a hill and is a great way to spend a sunny day. There is a fee to pay on entry.

Found just off the eastern banks of the River Tay and just outside Perth city centre, is Rodney Garden, which is a free botanical garden for all to enjoy.

The North and South Inch Parks are public parks located just outside Perth city centre, which make great spaces to play sports, especially as the North Inch Park has a rugby pitch.

Museums

Associated with Perth Art Gallery and located just off West Bridge Street, Perth Museum houses Scotland's very own most treasured possession, the Stone of Destiny.

Theatres and Cinemas

Located within Perth city centre, Perth Concert Hall hosts a variety of shows and performances that are worth attending!

The main cinema in Perth is the IMAX Playhouse, also located within the city centre!

Castles and Fortresses

Nestled between the city of Perth and the neighbouring town of Scone lies Scone Palace, which was the crowning place of previous Scottish kings. It is surrounded by Scone Park, which makes for a lovely daytime walk and is within proximity of Perth Racecourse.

Within Perth city centre, lies Black Watch Castle, Museum and Cafe, where you can explore the history of Scotland's oldest Highland Regiment. There is a fee to pay on entry.

Located on the eastern side of Perth city, Huntingtower Castle, which is the subject of several ghostlore stories! There is a fee to pay on entry.

Easy Hiking Trails

• Camperdown Country Park Loop

• Dundee Riverside Walk via City Centre

• Dundee Law via Law Steps

• Clatto Country Park Loop

• Trottick Mill Ponds Local Nature Reserve Loop via Mains Castle

Intermediate-to-Expert Hiking Trails

• Grassy Beach and Castle Green via The Esplanade

• Dundee Law, Balgay Hill & the Firth of Tay Loop

• Broughty Ferry to Buddon Lighthouse

Easy Hiking Trails:

• Perth River Tay North Inch Circuit Trail

Intermediate-to-Expert Hiking Trails:

• Exploring Perth Trail

• Perth to Kinnoull Hill Trail

• Kinnoull Hill Trail

For a bit of extra fun on the side, Perth also has the Treasure Hunt Trail, which costs £9.99 and allows you to explore Perth.

Regarding dietary requirements (e.g. Halal, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free etc.), please contact the restaurants or check the website to ensure that these are catered to!

Afro-Caribbean Cuisine

• Gidi Grill

• The Horeb Food Company

Burger Bars and Pizza Places

• Bun & Slice

• Luigi's Pizza

• New York Pizza Dundee (NYPD) Pizza

• Shax Burger

• Slice 'n' Easy

• Storm Burgr

• The Giddy Goose

Brunch Restaurants

• Pacamara

• Post Coffee House Co. (Invergowrie)

• Tartan Coffee House

• The Pancake Place

• The Bach

• The Cannon

• The West House

Chinese Cuisine

• Bamboo Garden Chinese Takeaway

• The Manchurian

• China Town

• China Pot

• Chopstix

Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Cuisines

• Azaad (Invergowrie) Food Delivery

• Babujee Tawa & Balti Restaurant

• Goa (Broughty Ferry)

• Gumnam

• Mirch Masala

• Rishi's

• Taza Indian Buffet Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

• Frank's Wine and Pasta Bar

• Don Michele

• Piccolo

Japanese Cuisine

• Oshibori

• Susushi

  
  

Mediterranean, Turkish and Arabian Cuisines

• Agacan Turkish Restaurant

• Milas Turkish Restaurant

• Tahini Lebanese Restaurant

• Beirut

Mexican and Latin American Cuisines

• Más

• Mexican Grill

• Rancho Pancho

• Wee Mexico

Tapas Bars

• Gallery 48

• Sol y Sombra

• The Selkie

Thai Cuisine

• Rama Thai

Bars

• The Art Bar

• Bird & Bear

• Black Mamba

• Duke's Corner

• Draffen's

• Casa

• Jute (within the DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts))

• Nola

• Temple Lane

• The Tinsmith

• The Blue Room (within Frank's Restaurant)

• St. Andrew's Brewing Co.

  
  

Pubs

• Speedwell Bar (a.k.a. "Speedies")

• Taybridge Bar

• The George Orwell

• The Bank Bar

• Phoenix

• Nether Inn

• Molly Malones (Belhaven)

  
  

Nightclubs

• Afrobeats

• Aura

• Club Tropicana & Venga

• Fat Sam's

• Firewater

• The Vault Nightclub (within Casa bar!)

  
  

A Dundee Tradition: Clark's Bakery

Clark's Bakery is a Dundee-based franchise with multiple bakeries located across the city. However, the one on Annfield Road is open for 24-hours and is well-known for being the go-to place for food following a night of clubbing!

Please note that in order to register with a GP practice, you need to be residing within the locality that the GP practice covers. Furthermore, you can only register with a GP practice if you will be staying in the same area for more than 3 months. If you are not, you may still be treated, but you will need to register as a Temporary Resident.

For all those who will be registering with a GP practice in the United Kingdom for the first time, remember that medical records from outside the United Kingdom cannot be traced.

The first step is choosing a GP practice, for which the two following criteria must be met:

1. The GP practice must be covering the area that you live in.

2. The GP practice must be open to accepting new patients (as some practices are currently full).

To find your nearest GP practice, use the following link:

Scotland's Service Directory - GP Practices

Once you have found a GP practice you should:

• Contact them via phone or in-person to find out how to register with them and how long the process will take (including how you will be notified if your registration is successful!)

• Complete and submit the registration form to the practice, following their registration process.

When you register with a GP practice, it’s recommended that you provide information to confirm your identity and address to enable you to be matched with any existing NHS records. However, you should NOT be delayed or refused registration at a GP practice if you cannot provide this information.

Anybody in Scotland can access primary care services at a GP practice without any fee or charge.

Much like finding a GP practice, you can use the following link to find the closest dental services in your area:

Scotland's Service Directory - Dental services

Once you have found a dentist that is able to take you on as a new NHS patient, you will need to provide some information, such as your name, address, date of birth and contact details.

You will then be given an appointment for an enhanced clinical examination. The practice may put you on a waiting list to be registered until you have been seen for the this examination, even if they do provide an emergency appointment.

Before your appointment, you will be asked to complete a full medical history form before your appointment, so please ensure that you bring an up-to-date list of all your medications.

At this stage you should be given all the relevant information you need about your dentist including:

• Dental services they provide

• The professional that will conduct your dental treatment

• Contact information and opening hours

Regarding dietary requirements (e.g. Halal, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free etc.), please contact the restaurants or check the website to ensure that these are catered to!

British Cuisine

• Dean's (British and French)

• Effie's

• North Port Restaurant (Scottish)

Chinese Cuisine

• Hong Kong

• The Jade Garden

  
  

French Cuisine

• Breizh Restaurant

• Café Tabou

• Café Kisa's

• Cardo Restaurant (French and Portuguese)

  
  

Italian Cuisine

• Broth3rs

• Enzo Restaurant

Mediterranean Cuisine

• Cridos Restaurant

Nepalese, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi Cuisines

• Everest Inn

• Tabla

• Sidhu and Dizato

Spanish/Tapas

• Paco's Restaurant

  
  

Thai Cuisine

• Mae Ping Dining

Bars

• BrewDog

• That Bar Lounge

• The Bunker Bar

Pubs

• The Twa Tams

• Old Ship Inn

• King James Pub & Kitchen

• The Kirkside Bar (a.k.a "Kirky")

  
  

Nightclubs

• Loft

• Ego

• Club One

Seagate Bus Station, located just past the town centre, hosts connections via Stagecoach and Megabus to the surrounding areas of Tayside, such as Stracathro, Blairgowrie and Kirriemuir, as well as to other areas of Scotland, including the major cities (i.e. Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen), as well as Fife (St. Andrews, Leuchars and Cupar).

The Ember bus is another bus transportation system available to Dundee, which departs from its allocated bus stop at Slessor Gardens, to other areas of Scotland.

Meanwhile, the FlixBus is an alternative bus company that departs from its allocated bus stop next to the Overgate Shopping Centre, with services to other parts of Scotland, the United Kingdom and Europe.

There is also FLY bus service, which departs from its allocated bus stop in front of the Malmaison Hotel, heading directly towards Edinburgh Airport.

Dundee also has a railway station, served by ScotRail and LNER trains, that provide rail links to other parts of Scotland, as well as England.

Lastly, there is also Dundee Airport, located along Riverside Drive, which is small but provides direct air travel to London Heathrow Airport for further flight connections.

The Perth Bus Station, located on Leonard Street, near Best Western Hotel, hosts connections via Stagecoach, Flix and Megabus to the surrounding areas of Tayside, as well as other Scottish cities.

There is also an intercity bus service Broxden Park and Ride, however, this station is situated on the outskirts of Perth city.

Perth Railway Station, located on Leonard Street in close proximity to Perth Bus Station, served by ScotRail and LNER trains, that provide rail links to other parts of Scotland, as well as England.

This makes the process more efficient!

For Dundee, the following numbers will link to different taxi companies based in the city:

• Dundee City Taxis: 01382 204060

• CityCabs Dundee: 01382 450450

• Dundee TeleTaxis: 01382 825825

For Perth, the following numbers will link to different taxi companies based in the city:

• Fair City Cabs: 01738 446446

• Ace Taxis Perth: 01738 444000

• Perth Radio Taxis: 01738 580058

• A&B Taxis: 01738 444234