Felicity Long
If the only thing that comes to mind when you think about Dundee, Scotland, is marmalade, you're missing out on one of the destination's newest hot spots.
The city, located just over 35 miles from Edinburgh, made its name as far back as medieval times as an important seafaring port. But in recent years Dundee is making a new name for itself as a cultural hub.
Over the years, more traditional forms of business, like manufacturing and trade, gave way to forward-thinking investments in fields like video game design and medical research.
Meanwhile, a billion-dollar-plus plan to revitalize the waterfront and link it to the historical city center kicked off in 2001 and has progressed to the point that in 2014 Dundee won the coveted designation of Unesco City of Design, the first in the U.K.
The cherry on top, however, and the reason Dundee is generating so much buzz lately, is the much-awaited opening of the Victoria & Albert Museum of Design Dundee, the only V&A museum located outside of London. Set to debut this September, the museum was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and will feature a dramatic, curved exterior that mimics the sides of a ship. Exhibitions will include an homage to the city's past called "Ocean Liners: Speed and Style" and a look at Scottish design, from jewelry to architecture.
Of course, even the most devoted design buff can't live by art alone. Fortunately, there are plenty of other things to explore in the city.
Shoppers can find everything from original art to jewelry at Dundee Contemporary Arts, comprising contemporary art galleries, a print studio and a design store selling one-of-a-kind creations from graduates of Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, voted this year as the No.1 design school in the U.K. by the Complete University Guide, which ranks U.K. schools in a variety of disciplines.
Clothing created by local designer Hayley Scanlan has made its way onto the pages of "Vogue," into Topshop stores and onto the fashion runways. Fans who want to go right to the source can buy her creations at her shop on Perth Road in Dundee.
Dining options include indie cafes, some of which also double as art galleries; pop-up food markets; and gourmet restaurants.
The Bach, for example, located in the Old Flour Mill building in city center, serves up such trendy options as pork bellies, avocado burgers and chicken shawarma as well as barista-worthy coffee. It's BYOB.
The Taypark House on the other hand, located near the Botanic gardens, offers a more elegant vibe, thanks to its location in an original mansion overlooking the River Tay.
For more ideas on what to do in Dundee, go to www.dundee.com/visit or www.visitscotland.com.