Places to visit in Aberdeen Scotland
Aberdeen is the third largest city in Scotland, in relation to the city’s population size. Aberdeen’s buildings, since the mid eighteenth century, have been made using local grey granite and the city is well known for its sandy coastline. This has led to the city being nicknamed the Silver City with the Golden Sands and also the Granite City. However in more recent times the city has added the nicknames of the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe due to the discovery of oil in the North Sea. The city has benefitted greatly from the income generated by the oil industry and the support industries. Nowadays Aberdeen is thoroughly modern and immensely vibrant with a lively nightlife.
Aberdeen hotels are often booked by businessmen but also by various other types of visitors keen to take advantage of the many tourist attractions the city has to offer. Below you will read details of three; Satrosphere Science Centre, Duthie Park Winter Gardens and Aberdeen Maritime Museum:
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum is situated close to the harbor, at the legendary Shiprow. There are breathtaking sights of the harbour from the museum. The Maritime Museum can be found in a small number of buildings, which include a former church and one of the oldest dwellings in Aberdeen. The museum has exhibits which include everything to do with the marine environment, from fishing boats to the oil industry. In essence, the museum conveys the story of Aberdeen’s epic relationship with the sea. Some of the collections contain ship plans, paintings, models and photographs from the greatest shipbuilders of Aberdeen.
Duthie Park Winter Gardens
Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston,in 1881, gifted to the council, 44 acres of land. The land for the park was purchased, as a lasting memorial to her brother and uncle. In 1899, when the gardens were completed, they opened up to the public. However, in 1969 disaster struck and the greenhouses had to be knocked down and rebuilt. This was due to severe storm damgage. Today, the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park are one of Scotland’s favourite garden attractions, and also the largest indoor gardens in the whole of Europe. Each greenhouse has an important collection such as, the Japanese Garden, Temperate House, Victorian House, Tropical House, Fern House and Corridor of Perfumes.
Satrosphere Science Centre
In Aberdeen, the Satrosphere Science Center was one of the first science and discovery centers in Scotland. This interactive, hands-on science center, has more than fifty exhibits and live science demonstrations, and opened its’ doors to the public in 1988. Even though the center is aimed at primary age children, the attraction of the exhibits is universal. The center is located in the old tram sheds, close to the beach, on Constitution Street. The aim is to inspire children to become scientist’s, as interest in science courses in universities, is in decline. One of the best loved exhibits at the center is the famous giant soap bubble, where each child can be encircled in a magic bubble.
There are many other visitor attractions in the Aberdeen area which are worthwile visiting and those described above were randomly chosen. If you are planning to spend some time in Aberdeen, Scotland then you will discover numerous quality hotels in Aberdeen, or many other forms of accommodation, available to book online.