There's a very surprising UK entrant in this list of the world's 10 coolest destinations

The Scottish city of Dundee may have been around since the 11th Century, and hold the crown of fourth biggest city in the country but, really, for us, it truly gained immortality back in 2002 with the second series of I’m Alan Partridge when our eponymous hero talked of driving there barefoot after gorging on Toblerone.

And Alan would have reason to embark upon a repeat of his journey with the news that it has been named as one of 10 ‘hot destinations’ by no less an authority than The Wall Street Journal.

Yes, Dundee has now taken its rightful place alongside Shanghai, Madagascar and the Faroe Islands, with the publication declaring it “Scotland’s coolest city” - so The WSJ better watch out next time it’s out and about in Glasgow or Edinburgh - highlighting the opening of the Dundee V&A Museum of Design this summer as one of its attractions.

Only this week Dundee submitted a proposal to become the European Capital of Culture in 2023 but, while it might be giving itself another six years to up its culture quotient, it is, clearly, so hot right now.

The WSJ wrote: “A coastal college town, Dundee has emerged as Scotland’s coolest city (see the old public library turned underground club). In 2018 the V&A Museum of Design will debut as the centrepiece of a $1.5 billion transformation of the faded riverfront. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the new V&A will celebrate the country’s unsung design heritage - from jute to Minecraft.”

Of course, Dundee is famous as being the birthplace of D.C. Thomson, home of The Dandy and The Beano as well as it boasting two fiercely rival football clubs - Dundee and Dundee United - within spitting (and fighting) distance of each other. Indie band The View hail from Dundee, as well as Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue and, incredibly, one of the greatest soul funk groups of all time - Average White Band. Who would have thought such supreme funk would have come from this sceptred isle.

The top 10 ‘hot destinations’ are:

1. Faroe Islands

2. Puebla, Mexico

3. Kuelap, Peru

4. Minneapolis

5. Dundee

6. Grenada

7. Madagascar

8. Montenegro

9. Shanghai

10. La Rioja, Spain

(Image: iStock)