AIBU to tell everyone how wonderful Aberdeen is

[Tr1skel1on]

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

Move off the city a bit ( 25 minutes) and visit st Cyrus beach reserve . It’s sunning . Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are absolute gems . We love it too

Have you been to Newburgh Beach and seen the seals? I've never seen anything like it.
And lunch at the pub there is fine as well.

As an Aberdonian (from a long line of Aberdonians) I'll confess I raised an eyebrow at your title, OP, but I'm prepared to accept that I have the complete lack of objectivity which comes from having grown up somewhere and being desperate to get out and explore the world. I hate to see others speak ill of it but by the same token I've been gone for 18 years now and have no desire to return to live.

Provost Skene's House is worth a look around, ditto St Machar's Cathedral (good opportunity for a poke around Old Aberdeen) and Fittie (Footdee). If you're able to get out of the city the Dunnottar Castle and a trip to Stonehaven would be a nice change of scenery.

Having been a student in St Andrews, I think Scotland is incredibly beautiful in the spring/summer/autumn, the light is ethereal and the scenery is just magic. January to March, however, I have never ever felt so miserable and low as I did there.

When DH and I visited Aberdeen as students, we hated it. Dull, grey and with a weird superior vibe from the people we met. Interestingly, we did not like Dunedin in NZ either, which is very similar.

When I was young Aberdeen was the closest city to us and we’d go for shopping with mum every 3 months and it was grim. I’ve been back several times as an adult, it’s ok if you’ve enjoyed it op them that’s all that matters.

Oh OP, tis the law of mumsnet. Start a new thread in aibu stating that Aberdeen is a frozen, god forsaken shithole and you'll get reams of answers about how the fault is yours and Aberdeen is fkn amazing 😂

Love Aberdeen and the fabulous beach with all the great food vans. Love walking around Footdee.

We've been recently. No one was rude to us.

I found many locals surly in Aberdeen.

There is absolutely zero to do in Aberdeen, it's a vile place. Filthy city centre, pretty much just vape shops and drugs. Bigoted, insular people on the whole - try moving to one of the villages to see that in action.

If you like outdoors and the weather is good, yes, there are decent walks and scenery - but Aberdeen itself? Dear God no.

You can say similar about many places.

I’ve never smelt as much weed just walking out and about as I have around the south coast of England. Didn’t get that in Aberdeen at all.

The Aberdeen hate is strong with this thread.

I totally get it though, all that boring granite. And apparently, not as many rich oil rig workers up for grabs any more these days either.

Attitudes towards Aberdeen are always skewed because lots of people end up there not through choice because the oil and gas industry at it's peak employed so many people.

In truth, it's an underrated city that like all places could do with a bit of t&c but is in no way a shithole. It's a compact city with plenty to do.

If you have transport, get out to Stonehaven and Dunnottar castle. If you are bit more limited a walk to Old Aberdeen and Fittie down the beach are worthwhile.

Nah. This is too much. Aberdeen is full of ordinary people just like anywhere else, you don't get to pronounce them bigots or call an entire proud city 'vile'. Hop it.

Maybe, if you think the entire populous of one place are rude and obnoxious the problem is you, not everyone else. Just saying.

I was a student in Aberdeen for a year in the mid 90s. I didn’t find it the most exciting place but I loved Footdee and the shopping centre with the John Lewis in it, it used to feel quite shiny and glitzy. Went for the first time since then earlier this year and while Footdee was still lovely, that shopping centre is a depressing state (JL gone) and the big one nearby is fine but didn’t have the shiny feel. I used to like the Lemon Tree but don’t know it’s still there. The dog loved the beach though!

I said "generally" 🙄

Both beautiful
We have relatives in Ballater
We love it there

I’m from Aberdeenshire then lived in Aberdeen, then left almost 20 years ago.

I’m always surprised when I hear people say they like Aberdeen. I love “the shire” but not the city. Tend to avoid it on visits and it’s hard to imagine circumstances where I’d ever move back to the city. I’m even more surprised to hear that op had a pleasant trip to the broch - surely that can’t be right 😂

ABZ does have a weird vibe, I find the people can be very materialistic even though it feels like the oil & gas wealth and heyday has lost its shine. It’s also quite anti-English ime.

Like I say, shire much nicer, and I do love a lot of it, but there are other places in Scotland that have the edge.

Yeah, exactly. Point stands.

I'm from the NE too but am a teuchter rather than a toonser!

I'm on holiday in N.I. so not sure what the weather is like at the moment but a trip up Deeside or Donside to Inverurie or similar is a nice day out.

Ooh there's some divided opinion on this thread. I really want to go to Aberdeen now just to make my own mind up about it.

I loved it too. Fantastic beach. Sparkly buildings. Nice people.

i went to university there and loved it!!! is a bit grey though (both in terms of buildings and the weather 😂). was a great student city!