SCOTLAND'S oldest ship is offering tickets at half price to mark a major anniversary.
The ship, which TripAdvisor ranks as one of the top three visitor attractions in Dundee, will be offering half price tickets from December to the end of January to encourage visitors during the traditionally quieter winter months.
Guided tours will be available giving visitors the opportunity to explore the 200-year-old ship, learn about its history and discover what life was like on board.
The Unicorn Preservation Society, which takes care of the attraction, has also invested in improving accessibility to the ship, by replacing the old main entrance gangway. A £26,775 grant from the FCC Communities Fund and a £3000 grant from the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust contributed to the build.
The new gangway includes a second, lowered handrail for wheelchair users. Two additional new gangways will also be installed over the next six months.
Executive director Matthew Bellhouse Moran said: “To continue our bicentenary celebrations, we’re keen for as many visitors as possible to experience HMS Unicorn and so we’ve made moves to improve the accessibility of the ship. We’ve also cut our ticket prices for December and January so finance is not a barrier for those who are interested in coming and learning more about HMS Unicorn and its rich history.
“We’re also keen for visitors to hear about the exciting plans for HMS Unicorn’s future, namely Project Safe Haven, to secure her existence for future generations and ensure she doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of time.
"Project Safe Haven is the development of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, which will improve the visitor experience in Dundee, bringing more economic benefit and helping those within the city to thrive through the creation of more jobs and opportunities.”
As part of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, Project Safe Haven will see a purpose built, environmentally sound Heritage Centre for visitors, learners and the community and will house collections, events and larger group activities.
However, a significant injection of funding is required for major preservation work on HMS Unicorn to ensure its existence for future generations, and in order that Project Safe Haven can be realised.
Work has already begun on phase one of the work, but to embark of phase two of the planned works £11.2 million needs to be raised by summer 2026. The Unicorn Preservation Society aim to raise the first £1 million by March 2025.
