The 25th most populous city in the United Kingdom and the third largest in Scotland, it is the place to visit to find the best that Scotland has to offer. From the moment you leave your hotel to the moment you return, Aberdeen is surprisingly full of things to do and places to see.
Aberdeen has been given many names, mostly describing the beauty of the city with people using ‘The Silver City’ or ‘Granite City’ due to the prevalence of granite buildings glistening in the sun. Others have called the city ‘Britain’s Flower Capital’ as the city has won the ‘Beautiful Blooming Britain’ award no less than 10 times, a record-breaking achievement. The city has also been nicknamed the ‘Oil Capital of Europe’ or ‘The Energy Capital of Europe’, as it is the center of Europe’s oil industry and is home to the UK’s largest seaport, which although not sounds just as appealing as its other names, it’s still impressive.
Aberdeen is a vibrant and modern city and there is a wide range of visitor attractions and with a bus and train service it should be easily accessible from your hotel. There are long sandy beaches along the shorelines perfect for taking the kids to the beach. There is also a wide variety of shops and markets to visit throughout the city. There are historical attractions such as its great theaters and castles, as well as hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife within its country and national parks. The city is also famous for its football team, Aberdeen FC, which Sir Alex Ferguson helped make famous in the 1980s. The club’s stadium will also host a Rod Stewart concert in June 2011 and it is possible that Several hotels offer package deals.
The Aberdeen Conference and Exhibition Center, located north of the city, is another popular venue, not only with tourists but also with locals. The venue hosts a wide range of shows and entertainers with top comedians like Tim Minchin, Alan Carr and Lee Evans all performing throughout the summer. The best musicians also play there and Iron Maiden, Katie Perry and Tinie Tempah will also play this year. There are a number of hotels near the venue for visitors to stay.
Finding a hotel elsewhere in the city shouldn’t be a problem. Being a large city, Aberdeen is full of hotels that cater to both the willing to spend and those on a budget. Depending on where you want to go and what you want to do, there are a number of slightly more expensive hotels in the city center and several cheaper options spread out on the outskirts. A quick internet search will provide you with a number of different hotels to choose from.
For a great weekend in Scotland choose Aberdeen, a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Scotland’s other cities, but still with plenty to do.
