Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the third most populous city in Scotland Nicknames include the Granite City, the Grey City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, whose mica deposits sparkle like silver. The city has a long, sandy coastline. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe.

The area around Aberdeen has been settled for at least 8000 years, when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don.

In 1319, Aberdeen received Royal Burgh status from Robert the Bruce, transforming the city economically. The city's two universities, the University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, and the Robert Gordon University, which was awarded university status in 1992, make Aberdeen the educational centre of the north-east. The traditional industries of fishing, paper-making, shipbuilding, and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen's seaport. Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland.

Hitchhiking Out

South towards Dundee, Edinburgh or Glasgow

Work your way south of the river to Kincorth (a district about 1hr walk SW from the train station). Walk onto the A90 (Stonehaven Road). Just South of where Nigg Road meets the A90 is a petrol station from which many people are heading south. (sorry, this is a rubbish description, check google maps, youll find it easier.) From experience thumbing is not very effective, be willing to approach people as they fill up their cars.

Public Transport

Buses

First Bus Company have run on the Majority of routes: Single Tickets vary up to the price of £1.50, Day Tickets are £3 and Student Day Tickets are £2.60

Places to Visit

Relaxing, quiet places

Shared Planet Café

Every Wednesday in the Chaplaincy on King's College Campus, Shared Planet Society put on a lunch time café from 12-2 pm. We serve cheap food and drink, including Cheese Toasties and Vegan Soups. Open to all 12-2, but if you want to come along and help out for some free hospitality and to meet some people, we set up from 10am and will be clearing up until about 3:30 ish.

Cultural

Art Gallery

An old historical building tucked away in the middle of the city, previously residence to Lord Provost George Skene (the namesake) and Matthew Lumsden, a wealthy merchant and covenanter in the 17th Century.

Accommodation and Sleep

There are always ample Couchsurfers in Aberdeen, we also have an SOS Couchsurf Group if you get stuck. There are no hostels in Aberdeen and hotels tend to be expensive, however if you do wish to stay in a hotel, the Railway Hotel and the Jury's Inn are popular hotels immediately outside the train station.