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

20 years on and i mias butteries

Aberdeen js a fab city - have you been to Old Aberdeen op?

It's not grey - gets less rain that other side of Scotland and today you are treated to a beautiful sunny day for your final day. The granite will be sparkling.

Glad you've enjoyed your time here. Aberdeenshire is beautiful also

Very fond of Aberdeen.
We're taking DS up on Monday to start his second year at Aberdeen Uni. DH and I loved our time at uni there too.
Have you been to The Maritime Museum on Shiprow? Just behind it is The Vegan Bay Baker - the Battenburg Cake is amazing.
I'd also suggest a walk around the uni too. Parts of it date from 1495.
The Aquatic Centre is great if you fancy a dook.
The art gallery is a great place to visit with a decent cafe.
Cove, just outside Aberdeen has a lovely harbour.
So looking forward to a fix of the Biocafe on Rosemount on Monday.
Enjoy your time in Aberdeen.

👋🏻to @AlanGrantsNeckerchief , @JazzTheDog & all fellow toonsers £ teuchters alike. Nice to meet you all 😁

Mitchell and Muir? You know you're dealing with quality when the paper bag disintegrates 😋😋

Marischal College is the second biggest granite structure in the world, it's an absolute stunner imo.

I’ve only been once (for work) and it was a sunny day and the granite buildings all looked gorgeous - silvery/shiny

its a gorgeous train ride up the coast as well

quite fancy going back for a couple of days break actually but it’s a trek from Glasgow

I remember being given a cold stodgy rowie in the Matty after I’d had DC2 🤢 It was the last thing I wanted!

I went to Aberdeen for work many years ago and I remember it being very friendly and surprisingly sparkly with all the granite buildings!
Some great coast scenery round there and I'd love to go again.

Lots of happy memories of my uni days - Cafe Continental on the beach, Amadeus nightclub, many, man, MANY nights out in the Union, Lemon Tree, Mud Club, days out to Stonehaven, ceilidhs/balls, shopping down Union Street, the cobbles of Old Aberdeen!

I think I'm probably a toonser by adoption 👋Nice to meet you too!

I'm so glad to see some folk speaking highly of Aberdeen. I'm from Aberdeen, and have lived in the City and Shire most of my life, now settled permanently about 50 mins north of the city. It does have its problems, and the sad state of the main shopping street Union Street is pretty major. But I don't think it is alone in facing a run down shopping area. Some decisions made by subsequent Councils have been extremely questionable, and have negatively affected citizens, but I genuinely believe it is a great area to live.
Crime statistics are low compared to other cities, and it feels like a pretty safe place to live. There are lots of things to see and do. We have some stunning historic buildings, and it is in a beautiful part of the world. You can have a great quality of life living there.

It can't compare to some other larger cities in terms of attractions, but it is tiny compared to most cities. It has less than 200,000 folk living there.
I find people in general are friendly and approachable, but that is probably the same in most places.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Not too many people, traffic nowadays is pretty good, the sea, countryside and mountains available close by, and in general pretty temperate weather. Never horrifically cold for too long, and we don't have the awful heat down south has in the summer. I'm happy here. (I'd maybe take more daylight in the winter though!)

Glad you liked it! The NUART walking tours are always good.

Have you been to the cafe at Greyhope Bay to watch dolphins?

Yes this a hundred times over. My fave place in the world.

How about Footdee (pronounced Fitty) https://www.adventuresaroundscotland.com/scotland-travel-blog/footdee

And have you had a buttery yet? (like a flat croissant, but savoury). Food of the gods

@Edithisoverthere thanks, I am neither bigoted nor insular and have been know to direct tourists from cruise ships to good cafes etc.

Yes, the state of Union Street makes me sad. I do like Union Terrace gardens now. And the Music Hall is great.

Still mourning the departure of John Lewis.

This thread has given me some great ideas for our week off in the October holidays

Born and bred Aberdonian. Couldn't wait to get to the bright lights and big city of Glasgow for uni 😂

The Aberdeen I grew up in lacked diversity, different cultural influences.. It's changing now though. Still can't abide the accent. Union street is sad now too.

I like going back for nostalgia, but also for the beauty around the river Dee, the coast, the castles, the walks.

@TooOldForThisNonsense a trek from Glasgow?? Just over a couple of hours on the train and under 3 in the car 🤔

I think we must have been at university there around the same time @AlanGrantsNeckerchief , around mid-90s? Dh and I had our first date at Cafe Continental! I remember dancing to Fat Boy Slim in Amadeus 😅

I honestly don't recognise these descriptions of Aberdeen! But I lived there 20 years ago, was a student and came from an even grimmer small Scottish town so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I loved it when I was there but like anywhere visiting and living is usually different

Union street and the shopping centres are just dire and depressing.

but butteries can go a long way to overcome all ills, and you can’t get them anywhere else.

If you want a random recommendation for an extremely random afternoon activity - the prison at Peterhead is great. Was there in February - genuinely never been as cold in my life!

I moved to Aberdeen about 18 years ago and I really loved it then. It was bright and vibrant, Union St was bustling. But now it is a lot sadder and rundown than it used to be. Union St is awful now. Empty buildings, vape shops, mobile phone shops, junkies hanging around the Castlegate and Poundstretcher, that's pretty much it. There's very little to actually do in the centre as a long-term resident. The local paper and FB groups are full of residents complaining about the state of the city centre. It needs a real regeneration. UTG is a good start but when the surrounding area is so dire, it's difficult to justify bothering going in to visit. There's so many much nicer places in the countryside surrounding, but if you wanted a city break Aberdeen would certainly not be top of my list! I suppose the good thing is I've always good treatment at the hospital?!

I sold my Aberdeen property last year (I now live in the shire and have for about six years, which I absolutely love) for a massive loss compared to what I had bought it for in 2011. Property prices had absolutely tanked. I tend to default to going to Dundee now for things because I find it much less depressing.

But I can maybe see how if you're there for a day or two on a sunny day it might look nice!