Bordered to the south by the River Tay, to the north by Blackness and to the east by the city centre, the West End is primarily an affluent residential area surrounding its main commercial thoroughfare, Perth Road, and the main campus of the University of Dundee.

The neighbourhood is also home to St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Morgan Tower, an 18th-century tenement which is now a pharmacy – and Blackness Library located further west at the Sinderins: the area where Perth Road and the Hawkhill diverge once forming a major entry point to Dundee.

The district has many shops, bars, restaurants and hotels although this is balanced by many residential properties especially heading west.

By attracting people from across the UK and other countries, the university district has evolved a separate identity within Dundee.

Town and gown relations are generally cordial, although issues such as Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and parking difficulties are amongst the problems between the indigenous population and the University.