Doors Open Days 2026: Dozens of Dundee buildings are opening their doors for FREE next month
- Andrew Batchelor
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
Some of Dundee’s most fascinating buildings are throwing open their doors this September, including historic churches, university buildings, artist studios, archives and even one of the world’s oldest ships.
Doors Open Days returns to Dundee on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, giving people the chance to explore places they might normally walk past without ever getting to see what is inside.
This year’s programme stretches across the city, with behind-the-scenes tours, exhibitions, live music, workshops and opportunities to discover more about Dundee’s architecture and history.
There are also several newcomers to the programme for 2026, alongside familiar favourites returning for another year.
Here are the places taking part.
Archive Services, University of Dundee
Saturday 26 September - 10:30am–11:30am
Head behind the scenes of the University of Dundee’s Archive Services inside the landmark Tower Building. The guided tour includes two archive stores and the chance to get hands-on with original material covering everything from Dundee’s jute and whaling industries to asylums, environmental history and comics.
Broughty Ferry Parish Church
Sunday 27 September - 1pm–4pm
Broughty Ferry Parish Church was formed in 2024 through the union of four local congregations. Visitors can explore the Barnhill St Margaret’s Worship Centre at Invermark Terrace and learn more about the church and its role within the Ferry community.
City Road Garden Association
Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September - 11am–3pm
Hidden away in Dundee’s West End, City Road Allotments contains 78 plots used to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Visitors will be given a map for a self-guided wander around the site, with children’s activities and a plant sale also taking place.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
Sunday 27 September - tours at 10am and noon
One of the more unusual opportunities of the weekend will take visitors inside DJCAD’s Crawford and Matthew buildings. The tour explores everything from the Crawford’s terrazzo floors and city views to the imposing Matthew Building, one of Scotland’s significant examples of Brutalist architecture. Tours run from 10am–11:15am and noon–1:15pm.
Dundee Burns Club
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm; Sunday 27 September - noon–4pm
One of the new additions for 2026, Dundee Burns Club is one of the oldest Burns clubs in the world, dating back to 1860. An exhibition will tell the story of the club and its work celebrating Scottish traditional music and literature, with talks taking place at 2pm on both days.
Dundee City Archives
Saturday 26 September - 11am–3:30pm
Dundee City Archives is offering a rare trip behind the scenes to see how centuries of the city’s history are preserved. Visitors will tour the stores before seeing a selection of original documents dating from the 14th century to the present day. Pre-booked tours leave 14 City Square at 11am, noon, 1:30pm and 2:30pm.
Dundee Congregational Church
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm; Sunday 27 September - 11am–2pm
Opened as Ward Chapel in 1833, Dundee Congregational Church is the city’s earliest Congregational church and a striking early example of Gothic Revival architecture. Guided tours will highlight its stained glass, carved woodwork and historic three-manual pipe organ, believed to be the largest surviving organ of its type in the world, with organ music also planned during the weekend.
Dundee Historic Environment Trust
Saturday 26 September - 2pm–4pm
Another newcomer to Doors Open Days, Dundee Historic Environment Trust is inviting people into its city-centre office for an interactive look at how we feel about Dundee’s historic buildings. Visitors can use photographs and emojis to record their reactions to familiar places before creating their own plaque inspired by a building of their choice.
Dundee Rep
Saturday 26 September - tours at 10:30am and noon
Ever wondered what happens behind the curtain at Dundee Rep? Its special behind-the-scenes tours will venture through the Grade A-listed theatre’s costume and set workshops, dressing rooms, green room and rehearsal spaces, revealing some of the work that goes into getting a production onto the stage. Booking is required.
Gilfillan Memorial Church
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm
Gilfillan Memorial Church has occupied its current home since 1888 and will open its doors with a focus on how historic church buildings can find new roles within modern communities. Its organ will feature during the day, while Pastor Jack Brown will give a presentation on revitalising churches at 2pm.
Hawkhill House, University of Dundee
Sunday 27 September - tours at 3pm and 4pm
Tucked behind DJCAD is a building many Dundonians may never have explored. Hawkhill House is the oldest building on the University of Dundee campus and the birthplace of pioneering engineer and codebreaker Sir James Alfred Ewing. Now used by the University’s Museums, curator Matthew Jarron will lead tours featuring collections spanning art, science and natural history. Pre-booking is required.
HMS Unicorn
Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September - 10am–4pm
At over 200 years old and one of the six oldest ships in the world, HMS Unicorn will be free to explore throughout the weekend. Visitors can head across its four atmospheric decks while staff and volunteers tell the story of the Royal Navy in Dundee, life at sea and the remarkable construction that has allowed the ship to survive since its launch in 1824.
Masonic Lodge Ancient No.49
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm
Hidden away on Artillery Lane, Lodge Ancient No.49 will give visitors a chance to find out more about Freemasonry in Dundee. Members will be available to discuss the history of the lodge, its charitable work and the wider story of the Masons, with reference books and other material on display.
Meadow Mill Studios
Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September - 10am–5pm
One of 2026’s new additions could also be one of the weekend’s most colourful. The former North Dudhope Mill is now home to more than 90 artists, makers and designers, and its Open Studios weekend will allow visitors into normally private creative spaces belonging to painters, ceramicists, textile artists, printmakers, sculptors and more.
Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4:30pm; Sunday 27 September - 1:15pm–4:30pm
This Category B-listed church on Forebank Road dates from 1851 and combines Byzantine-Romanesque architecture with later Art Nouveau additions. Guided tours will be available on request, giving visitors a closer look at a building which has been part of Dundee’s religious landscape for 175 years.
School of Medicine, University of Dundee
Saturday 26 September - 11am–2pm
Doors Open Days is not only about historic architecture. At Ninewells, the University of Dundee’s School of Medicine will showcase the research and teaching happening inside the school today, with exhibitions, presentations and hands-on science activities suitable for all ages.
St Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Lochee
Sunday 27 September - 11:30am–3:30pm
With more than 150 years of history in Lochee, St Margaret’s will explore how the church supported its community through everything from the world wars and Depression to the decline of Dundee’s jute industry. There will be historic photographs and stories, organ recitals at noon and 1:30pm, the chance to try the organ yourself and children’s activities including a treasure hunt.
St Mary Magdalene’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Saturday 26 September - 10am–3pm
Visitors can explore St Mary Magdalene’s at their own pace, taking in its collection of stained-glass windows and learning about the building’s earlier life as a Catholic Apostolic Church. Displays will also showcase vestments used throughout the church’s liturgical year.
St Mary’s Scottish Episcopal Church, Broughty Ferry
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm; Sunday 27 September - noon–4pm
New to the programme for 2026, St Mary’s dates from 1858 and was designed by celebrated Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott. A self-guided tour will showcase its stained glass and impressive reredos by Sir Robert Lorimer, while visitors can also discover how the historic building has been adapted into a modern community space.
St Mary’s Church, Lochee
Saturday 26 September - 11:30am–4pm
This Grade A-listed 19th-century church has long been part of Lochee’s distinctive identity and heritage. Guided tours at 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm will explore the building’s history and its importance to generations of people in the area.
St Peter’s Free Church of Scotland
Saturday 26 September - 10am–4pm and 7pm–9:30pm
Built in 1836, St Peter’s has strong links to influential minister Robert Murray McCheyne and retains its distinctive galleries, cast-iron columns and Arts and Crafts stained glass. Tours, a cappella singing, historical displays, children’s activities and a lunchtime barbecue will take place during the day before a Blues and Folk concert featuring local artists from 7:30pm.
St Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church
Saturday 26 September - 9:30am–noon; Sunday 27 September - 12:30pm–3pm
St Salvador’s is one of Dundee’s architectural hidden gems. Designed by leading Gothic Revival architect G. F. Bodley in 1868, its richly decorated interior features painted and stencilled walls, a gilded screen, elaborate reredos and an 1882 organ. Visitors can take a guided tour or simply explore the space themselves.
Stobswell Trinity Church of Scotland
Saturday 26 September - 10am–3pm
Built in 1840, Stobswell Trinity combines a spacious historic sanctuary with a small garden described as an oasis within its busy urban surroundings. Visitors can explore the church, stained glass, organ and garden, meet volunteers and see artwork showing how children view their church community in 2026.
Tay Valley Family History Society
Saturday 26 September - 10am–3pm
Think there might be an interesting Dundonian hiding in your family tree? Tay Valley Family History Society’s research centre holds more than 5,000 items covering genealogy and local history across Dundee, Angus, Perthshire, Fife and Kinross. Volunteers will be on hand to show beginners how to start tracing their ancestors and discovering their connections to the area.
The McManus Collections Unit
Saturday 26 September - 10am–2pm
The McManus Collections Unit is turning the clock back to one of the biggest names in Dundee’s industrial past: Timex. Visitors will get the chance to explore objects and stories from the museum’s significant Timex collection and learn about the thousands of Dundonians who helped turn the city into an important centre for watchmaking and technology.
Tower Foyer & Lamb Galleries, University of Dundee
Saturday 26 September - 11:30am–12:30pm
The University of Dundee’s unmistakable Tower Building will feature for a second time in the programme, this time focusing on what is on public display. Museum staff will lead a special hour-long tour through the current exhibitions in the Tower Foyer and Lamb Galleries alongside some of the permanent artworks found throughout the building.
Doors Open Days Dundee takes place across Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026.
Most venues are free to drop into, although some tours and activities require advance booking due to limited capacity.
