s1homes introduces the second of six blog posts, to find out what it’s like to live in some of the best places across Scotland.
So, you want to move to Dundee? Well you best be quick because this is a city that has been transformed over recent years and is continuing to blossom. Once known for the three Js – jute, jam and journalism – it has undergone a period of great change.
Dundee has made a name for itself as a hotbed of creative activity. The opening in 2018 of the V&A Museum of Design, the first outside London, will be a fine feather in the city’s cultural cap.
In terms of physical development, the waterfront – which has Captain Scott’s ship Discovery as a jaw-dropping centrepiece – has been transformed into a chic residential and retail destination. In the 1920s, the decline of the jute industry was a blow but industries such as video gaming and bio-medical science now flourish – and the West End, between the city centre and the River Tay, is Dundee’s most desirable area.
Leafy residential streets sit off the main thoroughfare of Perth Road, which is home to a lively array of independent boutiques. Music fans will fall in love with Groucho’s Record Store, an award-winning independent treasure trove of tunes. And, if you’re looking for somewhere different to wine and dine, this is certainly the place to be.
Choose from lively bars such as the The Nether Inn, with its friendly, all-go atmosphere thanks to local university students, or the PlayWright Restaurant, ideal for every occasion but especially a romantic table for two (look out for its glass floor and the view into the wine cellar!).
Since being designated a cultural quarter by the council in 1998, the area between the West End and the city centre has become a hub for arts venues. It is home to the Sensation Science Centre and Dundee Contemporary Arts building, as well as two theatres.
Part of the vibrancy of the West End is due to the large number of students who live here. The University of Dundee and Duncan of Jordanstone Art College are both in the vicinity and where there are students, there’s a cultural buzz.
Moving westwards towards Ninewells, the area becomes more residential in its feel and the houses more substantial. As well as the truly handsome Edwardian buildings, there are some enticing green spaces here too. Magdalen Green, with its iconic bandstand, is a popular place for a stroll, as is beautiful Balgay Park.
There are West End homes to suit all budgets. A two-bed terraced house could be yours for as little as £90,000. For students, too, there’re affordable flats to buy – as well as very fanciable apartments to rent from around £350 a month.
As an area, the West End inspires a fierce pride in its residents and it’s easy to see why. Within the City of Discovery, there is much to be found in this established, vibrant quarter.
If you’re looking to move to Dundee’s West End search s1homes.com for your next home.