On 17th February 20
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On 17th February 20
Living in Aberdeen
Aberdeen has the distinction of being the home of one of the oldest universities both in the UK and Europe, and hosts both Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen.
You can certainly see the history when you arrive in Aberdeen, particularly in the Old Town which still has its cobbles and old-style houses. The beautiful grey granite architecture leaves you in no doubt where you are and gives Aberdeen a distinguished edge. Not for nothing is it nicknamed ‘The Silver City’.
Aberdeen is home to both Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen, and the two face off every year in the Granite City Challenge. There’s a lot of banter but it’s all friendly, and the two universities team up for the town-wide Torcher Parade. Back in the day the students used to ride on horse-drawn carts, but these days they get to ride on lorries instead.
About 10% of the town is made up of students, so a lot of the clubs, pubs and bars host promos and dedicated student nights. Firm favourites include Triple Kirks/Exodus, TigerTiger, and Snafu. On the weirder side there’s also the gothic-themed Slains Castle, set inside an old church building. For that and the 7 Deadly Sins inspired cocktail list it’s definitely worth a look.
The Union Square, Trinity and Academy Shopping Centres are right at the heart of Aberdeen’s retail zone, with Union Street being the main high street area. There’s a few cinemas in this area, but it’s the live venues that really set Aberdeen apart. Bigger centres like the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre AECC), His Majesty’s Theatre and the Music Hall are the focus for concerts, musicals and theatre. Smaller venues like the Blue Lamp and Lemon Tree specialise in areas like comedy and alternative music, so keep an eye on their schedules for upcoming events.
It’s raining! Where should I go?
- Aberdeenshire Castle Trail: If you like castles, you’ll love this. The list covers thirteen of the best castles the region has to offer (although we can’t guarantee all the roofs are still in one piece. Take an umbrella, just in case.)
- Maritime Museum: This museum tracks Aberdeen’s heritage as a port and fishing town. And the view of the harbour’s not bad either.
- Whisky: Probably Scotland’s most famous export, so it would be a shame not to find out some more about it. The Glen Garioch Distillery is about half an hour outside the city and will give a tour, as well as a wee dram or two for you to sample.
It’s stopped raining! Quick, where should I go?
- Golf: Like most Scottish cities, there’s a wee bit of a golf fixation going on, with half a dozen large golf courses spread round the outskirts of Aberdeen. Why not try your hand at it?
- Cairngorms National Park: The stunning heart of the Highlands. Head here for outdoor adventuring, and perhaps a glimpse of majestic red deer or golden eagles.
- Coastline: Aberdeen’s own beach is pretty nice and sandy, and if you want to go further afield you’ll find everything from quiet fishing villages to dramatic clifftops.
Read Aberdeen Reviews
Very average on all accounts. One of my least favorite things about studying in Aberdeen is the city. Always has a depressing grey feel to it
Anyone who knows Aberdeen well knows that it looks depressingly grey and morbid. If you were Count Dracula you might like that kind of aesthetic?
Fantastic city to live in
nice place to live, bit cold sometimes
I love the city
lots to do and good nightlife
I enjoy it alot here
Nice city to stay in & close to everywhere
The costs are justified by the beautiful place
Aberdeen is a nice friendly city, but it doesn't have much going for it. It needs more culture outwidth its universities
Public trasportation sucks here. It's too expensive and the buses are very outdated
this building is located near union street where all the shops, cinemas, restaurants, and activities are
Amazing the best ever love it here
Better night out in Glasgow but still have a good night out
It's good af, love it here elgins boring
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Everything is nice and close to each other
Good student city
Beautiful city and great nights out
goooooooooooooooooooood
Enjoyable place but very grey and dull. Not much change.
First bus has a monopoly on the buses and they are, like anywhere else in the UK, awful. It's also kinda pricey to live here as a broke student but otherwise it's a good city.
I love living here in Aberdeen since this is where my grandparents attended University and where my grandmother grew up. I’m very happy that I get to have the same experience as they did when they were here.
This town is peaceful.
Good location and everything is round about when needed
Nice city for students with everything accessible
Aberdeen is a nice place to live, lots of shops, restaurants and activities to do
Very expensive , nights out better than expected
Well Aberdeen is Aberdeen.
The people are very welcome and friendly. Food is delicious.
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It is a good city
Aberdeen is a lovely city with a great location for getting into the highlands or spending time on the sea. However, it does lack in amenities such as a broad selection of cheap eats--most of the pubs in town have the exact same menu and ethnic options are very similar and not of good quality. Shopping is eh: a repeat of your basic shops all within blocks of one another with City Centre dead after 6:00 pm. Public transport is overpriced, ALWAYS late, and not convenient; there are two companies operating with Stagecoach offering the best fares and forays into the wider parts of Aberdeenshire but First providing more routes around the city itself. I would have liked more restaurants and shopping within walking distance of each neighborhood and, definitely, more entertainment and restaurant options around the University of Aberdeen campus. FYI: if you come to Scotland expecting sunshine and warm weather, you are gravely mistaken; be wary of seagulls.
a great bus service to and from campus making the relatively short journey into the city centre easier! There are 3 shopping malls and a large high street with plenty of shops. I found that everything I needed was catered for including several large supermarkets close to halls. Accommodation is difficult to find after halls and can be expensive, so searching early is essential! Nights out are great as well, with cheap drinks at Paramount and good atmosphere in most other clubs.
Aberdeen is an amazing city, On a night out, most people are out to have a good time and not cause trouble, one of the best nightclubs is Underground who do great theme nights over the whole year. Korova is a lovely place to eat and drink with half price food on mondays and half price cocktails from tuesday to thursday, great place for pre-drinks
Cost of halls is not worth the money