Aberdeen Attractions

Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums

Aberdeen Art Galleries & Museums - Art Gallery, Maritime Museum,Provost Skene's House and Tolbooth Museum

Aberdeen Art Gallery

Aberdeen's splendid Art Gallery, which opened in 1885, is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. In its elegant marble-lined interior is displayed a varied collection of works of art, including outstanding examples of Modern Art, and work by the Impressionists and the Scottish Colourists. Visitors can also see contemporary craft, Aberdeen silver and a wide range of decorative art.

Schoolhill, Aberdeen, AB10 1FQ     Web site

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Showing all the Aberdeen's seafaring history - from fishing and shipbuilding (including the clipper ship Thermopylae) right through to Oil & Gas exploration. Situated on the historic Shiprow and incorporating Provost Ross's House - built in 1593 - Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city's long relationship with the Sea.

This award-winning museum houses a unique collection covering shipbuilding, fast sailing ships, fishing and port history, and is the only place in the UK where you can see displays on the North Sea oil industry.

Aberdeen Maritime Museum also offers a spectacular viewpoint over the busy harbour.

Shiprow, Aberdeen, AB11 5BY    Web site

The Beach and Fun Fair 

• Beautiful sandy beach
• The following attractions can be found at the beach: a leisure centre,fun fair ,bowling alley,multi-screen cinema,restaurants, Swimming Pool with flumes etc. and shops as well as the historic fishing village of Footdee (Fitty).

Codona's, Scotland's largest amusement park

Beach Boulevard, Aberdeen, AB24 5NS

The park has 3 areas

• Amusement Park - Grown up and kiddies rides - Big wheel, Roller coaster, log flumes etc.
• Sunset Boulevard - Tenpin bowling, dodgems, games etc
• Miami Beach - Simulators, Bars, Games, Food, Pool tables etc

Sunset Boulevard and Miami Beach is open all year round except Christmas Day, the Amusement Park is open seasonally please tel 01224 595910 to check opening times of the Amusement Park.

Web site

Gardens

Cruickshank Botanic Garden

Developed at the end of the 19th century, the 11 acres include rock and water gardens, a rose garden, a fine herbaceous border, an arboretum and a patio garden. There are collections of spring bulbs, gentians and alpine plants, and a fine array of trees

Cruickshank Botanic Garden: University of Aberdeen, St Machar Drive, aberdeen, AB24 3UU

Duthie Park & David Welch Gardens

Large park area with indoor Gardens which can be enjoyed throughout the year

Theatres

His Majesty's Theatre

Aberdeen's main theatre.

Miscellaneous Attractions

Provost Skene's House The Tolbooth

This elegant 16th century town house now contains an attractive series of period room settings, recalling the graceful furnishings of earlier times. The displays include a suite of 17th century rooms, a Regency Parlor and an Edwardian Nursery. Visitors can also see a unique series of religious paintings and find out more about archaeology, coins and local history. The Costume Gallery features a changing program of fashions and accessories. The Cellar cafe bar serves light snacks and refreshments.

Guestrow (between Broad Street and Flourmill Lane), Aberdeen, AB10 1AS    Web site

Satrosphere "Hands-On" Science & Technology

Satrosphere, the Discovery Place, is different from many museums or exhibition centres. It is an Interactive Centre where everything is `hands-on'. Displays aren't locked in glass cases and there are certainly no "Do Not Touch" signs. Scientific discoveries the fun way. An exciting science museum where a hands on approach is encouraged.

Satrosphere "Hands-On" Science & Technology: 179 Constitution Street, aberdeen, AB24 5TU

Web site

The Tolbooth

The Tolbooth is one of the oldest buildings in Aberdeen and one of the best preserved 17th century Scottish gaols. Built between 1616 and 1629 the Wardhouse, now known as The Tolbooth, was a gaol for those awaiting either trial in the adjacent court or punishment.Now a museum, The Tolbooth focuses on the history of crime and punishment within the city.

Castle Street, Aberdeen      Web site

Attractions beyond Aberdeen

Royal Deeside - Including historical Balmoral Castle, Braemar and Ballater

ARCHAEOLINK

Archaeolink is an Oyne village well situated for visitors on a wider tour of Scotland, being less than one hour's scenic drive from the Malt Whisky Trail and the attractions of Royal Deeside.

Storybook Glen (10 km from Aberdeen)

Large children's playground with play areas interspersed with lots of your favourite story friends - old and new.

The Whiskey Trail

Glenfiddich

A journey to the home of Glenfiddich makes you appreciate each mouthful even more. "Glenfiddich" means "Valley of the Deer" in Gaelic and, if it sounds like something straight out of a film, being there lives up to all expectations. Glenfiddich is 55 miles (88.5km); from Aberdeen Airport to Glenfiddich is 50 miles (80.5km). This takes approximately 1 hour in fair weather.

The Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland, AB55 4DH    Glenfiddich

Malt Whisky Trail - The only Malt Whisky Trail in the world

Royal Lochnagar Distillery

LOANHEAD OF DAVIOT (37Km)

Appreciate quintessential examples of recumbent stone circles. The stone circle at Loanhead of Daviot is thought to date from the later part of the Neolithic, when people recognised a particular site as sacred through the centuries.

Castles

Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is the private residence of Queen Elisabeth II. .Balmoral Castle has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848.

The Castle is located on the large Balmoral Estate, a working estate which aims to protect the environment while contributing to the local economy.

Web site

Castle Fraser, Garden & Estate

The granite walls rising up to the distinctive turrets make an imposing sight. This was the impression the lairds intended as the present castle took shape between 1575 and 1636

Sauchen, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire AB51 7LD  Web site

Drum Castle, Garden & Estate

A visit to Drum Castle is a little like striding across the centuries. Its chameleon-like character has evolved with the additions made to the building over the years. Here you’ll find a medieval tower, a Jacobean mansion house and several ‘modern’ additions by Victorian lairds. This was the work of 21 generations of the Irvine family who lived here for over 650 years.

Drum Castle, Garden & Estate, Drumoak, by Banchory, Aberdeenshire AB31 5EY   Web site

Dunnottar Castle

Dunnottar Castle is a dramatic and evocative ruin. Perched on high cliffs, almost surrounded by the sea it is a very impressive. Dunnottar Castle was the location for the 1990 film version of Hamlet starring Mel Gibson

Located less 2 miles south of Stonehaven, 15 south of Aberdeen, on the east coast of Scotland.

     Website

Huntly Castle. (Gordons Palace of Strathbogie)

Huntly Castle is famous in Scottish History being visited by Robert the Bruce in 1307, and also visited by James IV  and Queen Mary. The first timber castle was built in the 12 ^th century, replaced by a stone one in the 1400's. Further alterations abd additions have taken placethrough later centuries.

     Website

Castle Trail

Castle Trail - Scotland's only Castle Trail