Aberdeen

Aberdeen Scotland gets its name from its location, namely where the River Dee and the River Don meet. While the city isn’t technically in the Highlands of Scotland, it’s prominent seaside location three hours north of Edinburgh makes it a valuable addition to any central Scotland itinerary. Aberdeen’s centuries-long history is typical of most Scottish cities, including land grants from Robert the Bruce and multiple major fires and illness epidemics. However, when oil was discovered in the North Sea, Aberdeen experienced a rebirth. Today, it is Scotland’s third most populated city with one of the busiest heliports and seaports in the world. It is expected to continue to grow due to its strong economy.

Granite Architecture

Due to multiple quarries in and around Aberdeen Scotland, the primary building material of the city is granite, earning it the nickname The Granite City. It is also sometimes referred to as The Silver City, due to the high content of shiny mica in the granite, causing the stone to sparkle in the sunlight. This hard, gray stone resists wear and need very little maintenance. It is also much easier to clean than the more commonly used sandstone in Scotland’s other cities, giving Aberdeen a cleaner appearance. Some of the most popular granite buildings in Aberdeen Scotland are the Town House, the Castlegate, and Marischal College, the second largest granite building in the world after The Escorial in Madrid. Granite has also been used to create sculptures and statues prominently displayed throughout the city, including such Scottish heroes as William Wallace, Robert Burns, and Robert the Bruce.

Parks & Gardens

Aberdeen Scotland is well known for beautiful parks and gardens, having won Britain in Bloom ten times and Scotland in Bloom 20 times. Much credit is given to Johnston Gardens in the west end of Aberdeen, filled with a variety of flowers, water features, rockeries, and a rustic bridge. In addition to a rose hill and a boating pond, Duthie Park, on the north bank of the River Dee, offers David Welch Winter Gardens, Europe’s second largest enclosed gardens. Hazlehead Park is a heavily forested area on the outskirts of Aberdeen, known especially for its sports fields. Victoria Park and Westburn Park sit adjacent to each other forming a 26-acre area of greenery, including sports fields and a fountain comprised of 14 types of granite.

UK Map

Museums & Galleries

One of Aberdeen’s most popular museums is the Marischal Museum containing collections from the University of Aberdeen. Visitors can peruse nearly 80,000 art pieces and archeological items pertaining to the history of Scotland and Europe. Visitors can learn Aberdeen’s long seafaring history, from clipper ships to the offshore oil industry, at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum in Shiprow. It includes a model of an oil production platform that reaches 28 feet high. Scottish history comes alive at Provost Ross’ House, the second oldest dwelling in Aberdeen. This house, built in 1593, displays its medieval kitchen, fireplaces, and ceiling construction.

Aberdeen Scotland Hotels

Due to the presence of the oil industry in Aberdeen, hotel prices are high throughout the city. Skene House is an especially popular brand of accommodation, offering multiple locations throughout the city. Visitors looking to indulge in spa services prefer The Marcliffe at Pitfodels (pictured). The city also offers many business-friendly hotels for its many business related visitors. From the comfort of luxury hotels and fully serviced apartments to the personalized service of bed and breakfasts, Aberdeen offers accommodations for every taste.

Aberdeen is the Scottish city that granite built — the Granite City of 200,000 people on the North Sea coast where the stone quarried from the Rubislaw Pit (the largest man-made hole in Europe) was used to construct every building in the centre, giving the city a silvery grey shimmer unique in Britain. The North Sea oil industry has funded two world-class art galleries. The fish market still operates at dawn.