HMS Unicorn

HMS Unicorn is a wooden warship moored permanently at Victoria Dock, with four decks open for exploration. The vessel retains its original rigging, cannons, and interior spaces ranging from the quarterdeck to the cramped storage areas below.

The ship was completed in 1824 but never saw combat, serving instead as a training vessel and later as a shore headquarters. It came to Dundee in 1873 and remained there as a floating warehouse and training center until the mid-20th century.

Visitors can see where sailors slept in hammocks and stored their few personal belongings in the crew quarters. The officers' cabins show how differently people lived onboard depending on their rank.

The ship is within walking distance of the city center and has ramps plus adapted facilities for wheelchair users on the lower decks. The upper areas require climbing steep stairs that may be difficult for some visitors.

The wooden hull was never covered with metal plating and still shows the hand-crafted construction techniques from the 1820s. The ship retains its original sailmaker's tools and carpenter's workshop, which show how repairs were carried out at sea.

Location: Dundee City

Address: Victoria Dock, Dundee DD1 3JA

Website: http://frigateunicorn.org

GPS coordinates: 56.46160,-2.95851

Latest update: December 9, 2025 13:10