Dundee has been named Scotland’s best place to live after undergoing a “dramatic transformation”.
The city has welcomed the arrival of the V&A Museum in a rejuvenated waterfront, helping it claim the accolade in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
The announcement comes ahead of the overall winner of the UK-wide list being revealed this Sunday.
READ MORE: A new beginning for Dundee?
Dundee is the highest ranking place in Scotland, and it and North Berwick are the only two locations north of the border to return to the list.
Sunset behind The Lamb, a small island off North Berwick in East Lothian (Jane Barlow/PA)
Helen Davies, The Sunday Times Home editor, said: “Finding our very own best place to live now feels more important than ever, for our wellbeing and wealth, happiness and health.
“Wherever you are on the property ladder, The Sunday Times has championed 101 locations across the UK, and crowned one lucky winner, that we think is a great place to make a home.
“This year we were looking for community spirit along with convenience and culture. There is so much going on around the country, and so many great places that the choice was a hard one.”
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Dundee was also praised for offering a good chance of spotting wildlife in the River Tay, having good schools and a highly-ranked university, and only being an hour’s train ride from Edinburgh.
Stewart Hosie, MP for Dundee East, said: “Dundee has been Scotland’s best kept secret for years but I am glad that the city is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.
“I hope that this well-deserved accolade will encourage more folk to come to Dundee and will inspire businesses to set up shop and invest here. This is only the beginning of a very bright future for Sunny Dundee.”
Buildings along The Shore reflected in the unusually still Water of Leith (Lesley Martin/PA)
The capital itself has two locations on the list: Leith, recognised for its creativity and culinary scene, and Stockbridge.
Last year’s Scottish winner Melrose is missing entirely from this year’s list, with its place taken by Borders neighbour St Boswells.
Mull, the only island on the list, is described as “the perfect Goldilocks option: not too remote, not too busy, and perfectly Scottish” with its beaches and Ben More.
Glasgow’s trendy Finnieston area, Killearn, Kilmacolm and Port Appin make up the 10 Scottish places featuring on the full list.
The list will appear at thesundaytimes.co.uk/bestplacestolive on Sunday.
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