Visit Aberdeen in Scotland

Posted by Margie Macleod

Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s largest cities (with only Edinburgh and Glasgow being larger) and has a couple of nicknames including “the Granite City” and “the Silver City with the Golden Sands”. Since the discovery of oil in the North Sea the city has prospered and the local economy is now dominated by oil related industries. However modern the city may appear it has a long and prestigious history with some evidence proving that the area has been inhabited for over 8,000 years.

Aberdeen is a lively and exciting city to visit with a vibrant night scene with a wealth of cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants and night clubs. For youngsters, or the young at heart, Aberdeen’s two mile long beach is the place to go where you will find fairground rides and various other attractions you would expect to see in a seaside resort. If you are more culturally minded you will be pleased to hear that the city has a number of fantastic museums and art galleries.

It is along the Beach Esplanade that you will find the excellent House of Fun. The House of Fun is simply huge, spread over 2 floors you will find all the latest video games, hi-tech simulators, driving games etc. together with laser tag, the foam factory, the family amusement arcade and much more fun stuff for the kids.

Obviously the House of Fun is great for kids but there is also much to keep the adults entertained. For those who like to gamble there is a cash arcade and bingo. There are also places to buy gifts and souvenirs but if you want your entertainment a little more adult then there are also various places to eat with such features as large screen tv and even live music.

Of course many people visit Aberdeen to do some shopping and for many in the surrounding rural areas this is vitally important. The main shopping district is around Union Street which has some of the usual retail outlets and other shops however many folk head to the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre which is a large indoor shopping mall on two levels. There are several other shopping centers/malls including The Academy and The Mall which are well worth visiting as they contain other types of shops including more upmarket stores and different high street brands.

Aberdeen’s history includes many stories of sporting excellence.

Typical of Scotland golf has been an important sport practiced in Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside. In 1780 the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen was founded making it the world’s 6th oldest golf club. In 1815 the club changed it’s name to Aberdeen Golf Club and in 1903, having been awarded Royal status, it became the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. The club has two golf courses, the Balgownie Championship Links and the Silverburn Course. Aberdeen boasts a further six golf courses, all public, Auchmill Golf Course, Balnagask Golf Course, an 18-hole and a 6-hole golf course at King’s Links and three Golf Courses at Hazlehead two of which are 18-hole and the other is a a 9-hole Pitch and Putt.

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Aberdeen with the city having a number of football clubs including Aberdeen FC which was formed in 1903 and has had some major successes including winning two European championships. At home Aberdeen FC has it most successful period during the 1980’s when they won the Scottish Premier League on three occassions. Of course there are plenty of facilities for soccer and other sports throughout the city.

Tags: Recreation

Under Recreation Tags: Recreation