United Kingdom, Aberdeen

The city of Aberdeen is the capital of north-east Scotland and is known by the nickname the 'Granite City.' The city offers plenty of scope for touring, with pretty woodlands, sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs just a stone's throw from the city.

The heart of the old city lies across the Brig O’Balgownie (one of the oldest bridges in Britain) leading to the old market square and King’s College with its famous dome-crowned tower. The city’s architecture is a reminder of its heritage and rich history, but Aberdeen also has a cosmopolitan buzz and is very much a city on the rise.

History

The name Aberdeen probably comes from the word aber (meaning mouth of the river) Don. Aberdeen was probably founded by the 8th century AD as a fishing settlement. However by the early 12th century Aberdeen had grown into a town.

In the early middle Ages there were actually two settlements, Old and New Aberdeen. In the late middle Ages they merged together physically but they remained legally separate.

In 1801, at the time of the first census the population of Aberdeen was 27,000. By the standards of the time it was a large town and it continued to grow rapidly.

The 19th century was a time of considerable expansion. By 1901 the population was 153,000 and the city covered more than 6,000 acres (24 km²).

Housing in Aberdeen greatly improved in the 20th century. In the 1920s and 1930s serious slum clearance took place. Between 1919 and 1939 2,955 slum houses were demolished.

Today's Aberdeen is a surprising mix of contrasts, many founded in its rich and complex history. Modern day Aberdeen is a centre for tourism and is home to some splendid countryside. It is also home to HM theatre and a Music hall.

Geography & Demographics

The City of Aberdeen is located in North East Region of Scotland. It is situated between the rivers of Dee and Don and is a popular source of Salmon fishing, it covers an administrative area of 186Km² and It has a population of over 250000 persons, that represents 4.00% of that of Scotland and 0.34% of the population of the entire United Kingdom.

Economy

The city is Europe’s offshore oil platform capital. The oil discovered in the North Sea has brought the city its prosperity and touched many of its city industries. Oil and gas, discovered in the North Sea in the 1970s, continues to dominate the local economy and as a result it is a wealthy and cosmopolitan city, enjoying one of the highest per capita incomes of any area in the UK.

The city is now one of the richest in Scotland and this affluence has brought with it a proud café culture and flourishing arts scene. Fisheries, whisky, construction, education, engineering, farming and tourism also generate a lot of income for the city.

Culture

The city is blessed with amenities which cover a wide range of cultural activities and boasts a selection of museums. Aberdeen is a city both modern and ancient which provides a friendly environment in which to live and study. It hosts 11 festivals, including the Aberdeen Alternative Festival and the widely acclaimed International Youth Festival. Aberdeen is also home to an excellent art gallery, theatre and music hall as well as a good range of cinemas. On the shopping front, there are several shopping malls offering everything from the latest designer labels to high street fashion.

Sports

Aberdeen has scenic countryside on its doorstep. There are many opportunities to try different activities like hill walking, canoeing and skiing.

Sporting facilities in Aberdeen are excellent, with golf courses, swimming pools, ice rinks, a Scottish Premier League football team, the largest bowling alley in Scotland.

Transportation

Aberdeen Dyce Airport is situated 9km to the northwest of the city of Aberdeen. The airport is served by a number of airlines including Air Europe, Balkan Holidays Airlines, BMI, Spanair and VLM Airlines. If driving to the city centre from the airport, follow the A96 route.

The city is well served by the national railway network. Aberdeen has regular rail services to Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as long distance trains to London via Edinburgh. It is possible to take the longest scheduled rail journey in the whole of the British Isles from Aberdeen.