Dundee museum scoops best visitor attraction accolade

McManus’ bumper spell during Beano’s 80th anniversary celebrations pays off big time as bosses celebrate prestigious prize

Dundee’s McManus museum has added the accolade of Scotland’s best visitor attraction to its spectacular displays charting millennia of city history.

At the Scottish Thistle Awards final in Edinburgh, the Victorian Gothic building, which houses a city museum collection spanning 400 million years of history, saw off tough competition from across the country to scoop the top title.

Delighted bosses at the city centre attraction have thanked the public for their continued support, a decade on from the £12 million restoration of the stunning building.

Now in their 27th year, the 2019-20 Thistle Awards saw almost 600 entries submitted, including more than 1,000 nominations from members of the public.

The museum saw off tough competition from the Edinburgh Dungeon, Delgatie Castle Trust, Heads of Ayr Farm Park and Isle of Raasay

Distillery to claim the prestigious prize.

Billy Gartley, head of cultural services at Leisure & Culture Dundee, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award as we have been working hard to make the McManus even more appealing to visitors.

“We are also excited to play our part in the region’s tourism success and can’t wait to welcome visitors from home and abroad to our beautiful galleries.

The award comes on the back of a bumper spell for the McManus, which included record numbers in 2018, helped by the thousands who flocked to the Bash Street’s Back at the McMenace celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Beano comic.

“That helped us to our best year ever, and we are really pleased with the numbers again this year,” added Mr Gartley.

The museum showcases eight open gallery spaces, featuring internationally-significant items and displays giving a fascinating insight into Dundee and its development.

“The building itself is a bit of a star, but there are so many things which people love about the McManus,” said Mr Gartley.

The museum has hosted Titian’s masterpiece Diana and Actaeon with the National Galleries of Scotland, and partnered V&A, the Royal Collection, British Museum, National Museums of Scotland and the Tate in showing major exhibitions.

The Land Rover Experience Scotland based at Dunkeld was honoured as the country’s best outdoor and adventure experience in the awards.

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Clockwise from main image: Billy Gartley, head of cultural services at Leisure & Culture Dundee, with the award; Winkie the Pigeon, who greets visitors; one of the public’s favourites, the Tay Whale; David Batchelor’s Waldella bottles display, probably the museum’s most photographed piece.