Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest City, the powerhouse of the North East, and is nicknamed the ‘Granite City’ due to its proliferation of granite buildings. It nestles 120 miles north east of Edinburgh, in the middle of Scotland’s northeast coast. It sits on the banks of two rivers, the Dee and the Don, and is based around a working harbour that has been central to the life and prosperity of Aberdeen since Roman times. Stunning countryside is within easy reach of the City.
Originally focused around sea trade and fishing, the industry focus shifted in the last quarter of the 20th century, following the discovery of oil in the North Sea, which caused a financial boom to the City, peaking in the 1970s. It is still the UK’s premier City for the oil industry and the City’s oil industry gateway is fast-becoming a tourist attraction in its own right. Aberdeen is a fairly small City – with a 2014 population of just shy of 200,000 for the City itself, with a further 30,000 calling the local authority area home.
252,973
Income
£29,252
50+ golf courses
Space (sq ft)
7.8 million+
Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan City that offers a great range of culture, festivals and events
Retail & Leisure in Aberdeen
For shoppers, Aberdeen has it covered, with some of the biggest designer and high street names based there. There are large shopping centres and unique independent retailers. There is also a huge range of craft and vintage markets, outdoor farmers’ markets and international food markets.
Aberdeen is home to Aberdeen Football Club, and there are 52 golf courses within easy reach of the City. Aberdeen Sports Village hosts first class sporting facilities including indoor football and hockey pitches, a fully equipped gym, as well as an extreme sports facility, Transition Extreme.
There are lots of family-friendly attractions in and around Aberdeen to suit all ages. From picnics on the beach to outdoor obstacle courses to fun and educational museums that cover Aberdeen’s 8,000-year history, there is something for everyone. A popular leisure location is Glen Tanar Natural Nature Reserve, which sits in a glen at the heart of Royal Deeside, and boasts ancient trees, red squirrels, and a good number of wild salmon.
Retail Schemes
Doing Business in Aberdeen
In 2012, HSBC named Aberdeen as a leading business hub, and one of the UK’s eight ‘super cities’ – the only Scottish city in the list.
Shaping Aberdeen, a City Council initiative, is driving a plan for ongoing improvement of the City. It has plans to remove the barriers that developers come up against, whilst also delivering affordable housing and further enabling the private sector.
The council is working in partnership with private sector businesses, utility companies and national agencies to invest in the City's infrastructure and put the City on the world’s stage.
Aberdeen is a world leader in terms of educational and research. Home to two universities, a college of further education and a range of schools and training facilities, Aberdeen retains consistently-high standards and enjoys a reputation for being at the forefront of new developments in education.
Living in Aberdeen
In 2012, Aberdeen was listed as the fourth most livable city in Britain by Mercer in its Quality of Living Ranking. As a result of the oil industry, Aberdeen rivals London and Edinburgh for property prices, and some restaurants and clubs have matched their prices to the extensive budgets of their oil-rich clientele. To counteract this, Aberdeen has managed to keep some of its main attractions, including museums and galleries, free.
Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan city that offers a great range of culture, festivals and events including the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, alongside excellent shopping, dining, drinking holes and nightlife. Aberdeen’s coastal location and access to sprawling countryside means that outdoor pursuits are plentiful and varied. Snow sports are accessible in winter months, whilst kite surfing and windsurfing are popular during the warmer seasons.
Property choice varies from affordable housing to stunning townhouses. The City also boasts excellent healthcare facilities and is home to a pioneering children’s hospital. Outstanding educational facilities are available with a number of Aberdeen’s schools rated in the top 20 Scottish secondary school’s league table.
Communications
Aberdeen is connected to the rest of Scotland and the UK by excellent air, rail, road and sea links. Glasgow is only two and a half hours from Edinburgh by road and rail and a one-hour flight to London. These fast and regular transportation links ensure the City remains a UK centre for business. There is also a daily ferry from Aberdeen to Orkney and Shetland which, provides a vital link for residents, businesses and leisure.
Road
Only 2.5 hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh by road.
Rail
It takes 2.5 hours to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh by rail. Overnight sleeper trains provide a more relaxed way to head to London.
Bus
There are good bus connections within the City, and regular services around Aberdeenshire. The bus station is conveniently located next to the railway station to further facilitate connections, and an airport shuttle service runs from the train station.
Plane
Aberdeen serves domestic and European destinations, with the flight time to London just one hour.