Aberdeen City Guide - Overview

Built on the banks of the rivers Dee and Don around a working harbour, Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city. Much of Aberdeen’s incredible architecture dates back to the Victorian era and was hewn from granite, earning it the nickname the ‘Granite City’.

The heart of the old city lies across the Brig O’Balgownie (one of the oldest bridges in Britain) leading to the old market square and King’s College with its famous dome-crowned tower. The city’s architecture is a reminder of its heritage and rich history, but Aberdeen also has a cosmopolitan buzz and is very much a city on the rise.

Situated on Scotland’s northeast coast, Aberdeen also boasts an expansive sandy beach within a mile of the city centre. With its traditional industries in decline, the economy received a boost in the 1970s when oil was discovered in the North Sea, and this attracted a multi-national mix of employees. The city is now one of the richest in Scotland and this affluence has brought with it a proud café culture and flourishing arts scene.

As Aberdeen continues to grow in popularity (thanks in part to the city’s low-cost airline routes) more and more visitors are discovering this often overlooked corner of Scotland for themselves. And it would seem that they are in good company; as the tourist literature so proudly proclaims, Aberdeen and the Grampian Highlands have been the holiday choice for the Royal Family for over 150 years. And with such a lot to offer the visitor, it’s easy to see why.