Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to tell everyone how wonderful Aberdeen is

129 replies

Tr1skel1on · 31/08/2023 23:43

Long story but ended up on our family holiday in Aberdeen for a week. Had no idea what to expect.

I wasn't expecting Aberdeen to steal my heart! My grumpy teenager wants to live in Aberdeen.

I have one more day in this amazing city, we've done all the obvious things, any locals have any suggestions what I should do tomorrow?

Thank you

OP posts:
lunar1 · 31/08/2023 23:45

We found the place we stayed racist as hell when we went 10 years ago, we actually left our hotel and got on a train to Edinburgh for the rest of our holiday!

Malarandras · 31/08/2023 23:47

Sorry but you are completely unreasonable. Unless the Aberdeen you are referring to is a different one to the Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland. In which case you are totally reasonable.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 31/08/2023 23:53

I love ABZ. Granite city. Always had a lovely stay there.

AlltheFs · 31/08/2023 23:54

Try it in January. Bleak as fuck.

JockTamsonsBairns · 31/08/2023 23:56

I'm Scottish and I can't bear Aberdeen.

This can't be a real thread.

Clefable · 31/08/2023 23:57

Interesting! I've lived in Aberdeen and in the surrounding area for many years and I would say the city is probably the worst city in Scotland for tourism/visiting, purely talking about the city and not the wider area, which is very beautiful and where I now live. What have you been doing, OP? I'd struggle to think of much to tell anyone visiting to do in the actual city! Every time I go in now I'm depressed by the sorry state of the city centre.

Clefable · 01/09/2023 00:00

Royal Deeside is beautiful though, as is some of the north-east coast up at Portsoy etc. Also down into the Mearns. I love living among the countryside here. But I can't say I'd ever want to move back into Aberdeen itself.

Original poster
Tr1skel1on · 01/09/2023 00:02

I actually come from a small island with a strong fishing community, maybe that's why I loved it so much. I have an extremely alternative teenager and was slightly worried but we've had no hassle here at all. Staying in a flat in the city centre.

Loving all the great veggie restaurants, botanic gardens, the beach, everything.

Felt safe wondering around, my nearest big city to home is Liverpool and it feels safer than parts of there

OP posts:
Cabezagrande · 01/09/2023 00:05

I love Aberdeen, always had a soft spot for it!

Terrribletwos · 01/09/2023 00:08

It is a safe but boring city

Where are these great veggie restaurants op, can you name them?

Original poster
Tr1skel1on · 01/09/2023 00:08

We've been out and about to Aviemore and the Grampians etc went to fraserburgh yesterday.

Aberdeen city centre is so clean compared to Liverpool, I'm not trying to be rude, but it is

OP posts:
Original poster
Tr1skel1on · 01/09/2023 00:12

Veggie restaurants, Food Story just off Union Street plus their van at the beach. Roots plant based cafe just to start. Loads of places my veggie gluten and dairy free kid could eat

OP posts:
Original poster
Tr1skel1on · 01/09/2023 00:17

Slightly surprised by the hate for Aberdeen and the snide comments aimed at me when I simply said I liked somewhere and wanted suggestions for things to check out in the area.

MN has been a lot more hateful than Aberdeen quite honestly.

OP posts:
SadieContrary · 01/09/2023 00:21

My DH is Aberdonian and doesn’t have a lot of love left for his home city as he feels it’s become so rundown.
I’m like you, though. I love it and would happily move there albeit you can get far more for your money in other areas of Scotland.
Nice to see some genuine appreciation. Enjoy the last of your trip

Clefable · 01/09/2023 00:26

I'm glad you're having a lovely time, OP! I think you do see different sides of places as a visitor v living there, so it's good to know that it's appealing for visitors.

I don't think much of Aberdeen now myself and try to avoid going there, but I am really impressed by what's been done to Dundee in recent years. I live sort of slap bang between the two now and whenever I go into the office it seems like the fortune of Aberdeen has gone down while Dundee is looking increasingly great. I went to our office in the city centre there a while ago and was amazed how different it was from when I lived there in my early 20s. So it's nice to see regeneration happening.

TartanTed · 01/09/2023 00:27

Take a trip to Stonehaven & walk up Dunotter Castle then come back for fish & chips at The Bay.

Seaton Park & Old Aberdeen worth a visit if you haven't already been.

Enjoy the last day of your holidays!

Clefable · 01/09/2023 00:27

If you can get out to Crathes Castle (if you have transport), it's a really beautiful journey and location.

SnacksToTheMax · 01/09/2023 00:33

Dunnottar (Stonehaven) is worth a visit - not in the city, but not far outside. Or a wander around the old harbour at Footdee?

(In my day (80s/90s) I would have said: trip to Codonas, a visit to Satrosphere and a fish supper at the Ashvale… no idea if any of those still exist however!)

Clymene · 01/09/2023 00:34

It's grim

Allchangepls · 01/09/2023 01:48

'We've done all the obvious things'
....
Like what?! There is fuck all to do there!

Tell us more OP

readingismycardio · 01/09/2023 04:23

I went to uni in Aberdeen! I'll always love it!

Impatientwino · 01/09/2023 04:32

Duthie park and the botanical gardens there are really nice for a wander within the city

Stonehaven and Dunnottar castle is a great day out and definitely fish and chips at the Bay followed by ice cream from Aunty Betty's (same row of beachfront shops as the bay)

BarbaraofSeville · 01/09/2023 04:51

I went for work earlier this year. It seemed quite pleasant. There seems to have been quite a lot of regeneration, fancy hotels near the airport, concert arena, new ring road etc, so maybe those who haven't been for a while should give it another chance?

I love an outdoor swimming pool so if you have a car or the public transport works to get to Stonehaven and you have swimming costumes with you, I'd do that.

I think I know where you live and have visited that island many times so see how it would have a certain familiarity for you.

Flossflower · 01/09/2023 07:03

OP if you want to travel a bit further my suggestions are:
Loch Muick, which is just down from Balletar.
Linn of Dee, just past Braemar.

Purplecatshopaholic · 01/09/2023 07:08

Malarandras · 31/08/2023 23:47

Sorry but you are completely unreasonable. Unless the Aberdeen you are referring to is a different one to the Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland. In which case you are totally reasonable.

Defo this. I assume you mean another Aberdeen - defo not the Scottish one which is ugly, boring, and expensive! (Used to work there, also lived there for a while - know it well…)