Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Guide
Introduction
Aberdeen, situated half way up the north east coast of Scotland on the banks of the rivers Dee and Don, is the third largest city in Scotland and the capital of the Grampian Highlands. Since the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1970s and the establishment of oil company headquarters here, Aberdeen has seen an enormous influx of money and people and it remains today a very prosperous city. Over the last three decades, millions of pounds have been spent on city regeneration, including harbour improvements and the extension of the airport, and upmarket bars, restaurants and commercial developments have popped up all over the place.
‘The Granite City’, as it is often known, has a very distinctive look, with sharp grey granite buildings that sparkle and glisten after rainfall. In contrast, the bright and vibrant flower gardens create an explosion of colour all around. In fact, the city has won numerous awards for its spectacular foliage and flower displays and there’s always something blossoming all year round.
With great museums, gardens, restaurants, bars and shops, there’s always plenty to do in the city, but it also makes a great base for exploring the castle and whisky trails of the surrounding Grampian countryside.
Attractions
Union Street is Aberdeen’s main thoroughfare and it boasts the finest granite architecture in the city. Standing at the Castlegate, where the city’s castle once stood, gives a wonderful view up the street with its clean and crisp towers, turrets and chimneys.
The first magnificent spire that you’ll see towering above you is that of the Town House, a 19th century granite façade which houses the old 17th century tolbooth behind it. This former jail is one of the oldest buildings in the city and it is now a museum outlining the history of crime, punishment and policing in Aberdeen throughout the centuries.
Aberdeen’s oldest private house, Provost Skene’s House, is just round the corner on Broad Street. It’s named after Provost George Skene, a wealthy merchant who lived there in the 17th century, although the building itself dates to the mid 16th century. It has also been turned into a museum, with various period rooms decorated in 17th, 18th and 19th century style. There’s also an archaeological collection and a costume gallery with a rotating programme of clothes and accessories.
Another of Aberdeen’s excellent museums is the maritime museum on Ship Row. Housed in a converted 19th century granite building and 16th century provost’s house with a wonderful view of the harbour, it gives a fascinating account of Aberdeen’s relationship with the sea throughout the ages – from fishing and shipbuilding to the oil industry.
The Art Gallery on Schoolhill is also well worth a visit, for the exterior as well as the interior. It’s another impressive example of Aberdeen’s trademark granite architecture and it has several rooms with collections on impressionism, modern art, applied art, 18th century portraits and landscapes, and the Scottish colourists.
For those who want to enjoy the outdoors, Aberdeen has some wonderful gardens around the city and miles of sandy beaches just a couple of miles from the city centre. Don’t miss the Union Terrace Gardens, a tranquil green haven in the middle of the city which gives spectacular views of the city skyline and is a great place to relax.
There’s plenty to do in the area surrounding Aberdeen. Grampian is a major malt whisky producing region and there’s a well signposted road trail that weaves its way around the countryside past all the distilleries. It’s a great way to see the area as well as find out more about its whisky heritage. Alternatively, another well signposted tourist trail provides an excellent tour of the castles of the region, from old ruined fortresses to extravagant baronial mansions.
Eating Out
As Aberdeen has a strong fishing tradition, there’s an abundance of excellent fish and seafood restaurants in the city. Stroll down to the fish market at the harbour to see where they source their fresh daily catches from. There has been a fish market on this site for over 800 years and it’s still as busy as ever. It’s best to go down early in the morning when the day’s catch has just been hauled in to see the full range of what’s available.
Silver Darling on Porca Quay is Aberdeen’s most exclusive seafood restaurant, with a rooftop dining room that provides excellent views of the harbour and coast.
The Stage Door restaurant on North Silver street is a converted 19th century theatre building in the heart of Aberdeen’s cultural centre, close to His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall. It serves modern Scottish food and has a very good pre-theatre menu.
Nightlife
The offshore oil rigs employ thousands of people and as a result Aberdeen has an enormous transient population, with plenty of excellent pubs, clubs and bars to keep them entertained while in town.
The Bassment on Windmill Brae is a lively rock music pub that serves just about every type of cocktail under the sun, while the best live music can be found at The Lemon Tree on West North Street, where there’s always something on, from folk to rock and often comedy too.
Amadeus on the seafront is a great nightclub for a really lively night out. It’s the biggest club in Scotland and there are regular themed nights such as a 70s disco and a student night. There are regular buses to and from the city centre.
Aberdeen also has an excellent traditional pub scene and there are plenty of places where you can enjoy a good local beer. The Prince of Wales pub on St Nicholas Lane claims to have the longest bar in Scotland and an equally lengthy real ale selection. Alternatively, Carriages on Crown Street has a good range of ales and ciders. Both of these bars are always packed with local residents and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
There are lots of entertainment venues in Aberdeen so there’s always plenty going on. His Majesty’s is the main theatre in the city and it plays a wide range of shows from Shakespeare to pantomime. The Aberdeen Arts Centre on King Street also holds a variety of performances. There are some fantastic music venues too. Classical music lovers will always find something going on at the Cowdray Hall on Schoolhill, while the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre hosts large rock and popular music events.
