Top travel magazine’s world-wide boost for City of Discovery

Conde Nast Traveler lists city among 10 British places to watch in 2018

One of the world’s leading travel magazines has singled out Dundee as one of the main reaons to visit the UK in 2018.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine also includes an article by Dundee-born comedian and writer Danny Wallace about the city’s recent renaissance.

Including the UK in its 10 destinations to watch in 2018, the magazine cites Dundee as one of the main reasons to visit the UK, along with London and Bristol.

It states: “A surprise entry this year: Dundee. Its soon-to-be-launched V&A Museum of Design, large populations of galleries and art students, and plum spot on the Firth of Tay make a strong case for a highland fling.”

Mr Wallace, who was made an ambassador for Dundee in April, has also written about his home city’s regeneration in recent years for the magazine.

He says that Dundee used to be “the only punchline Scottish stand-up comics needed to end a lazy joke”.

However, he insists all that is changing.

Wallace said: “Hardy, witty Dundee took all that on the chin. Looked the other way, like a grown-up. And Dundee did grow up, to become one of the coolest, smartest most cultured and confident cities Britain has.”

He adds: “Its critics might once have said it was something you drove through on your way somewhere else. Now it’s a destination. A weekend getaway.”

The comedian also describes Dundee as: “A place that consistently punches above its weight for creativity, smarts and sheer inventiveness” and praises attractions like The McManus, The Rep, The Botanic Gardens and the opening of the V&A next year.

The article comes just weeks after the Wall Street Journal named Dundee as one of the 10 must-see destinations in 2018.

The new V&A museum on the waterfront is also set to play a key role in campaigns to market Scotland as a tourist destination next year.

VisitScotland has said the KengoKuma designed museum, due to open in the second half of 2018, will feature in both domestic and international advertising campaigns.

“Dundee has grown up to become one of the coolest, smartest, most cultured and confident cities in Britain. DANNY WALLACE

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Dundee writer Danny Wallace lavished praise on his home town.