Aberdeen is a coastal city that has been the hub of the UK’s energy industry for the last few decades. With the presence of the oil industry has come high employment, and property prices are correspondingly higher than the Scottish average.
However, it’s easy to find reasons that living here is worth the high cost. From its two-mile sandy beach to its parks, cobblestoned old town to grey granite centre, and schools to bars, Aberdeen offers something for every resident.
In 2012, Aberdeen was named the happiest place in Scotland, and one of the three happiest places in the UK – alongside Oxford and Reading.
Aberdeen is home to an international community, with a large population of students at the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University, and workers in the oil and gas industry. Aberdeen locals, like residents of many Scottish cities, have a reputation for being gregarious and friendly.
The Alternative UK University City League Table declared Aberdeen the second safest city in the UK in April 2017, based on having a low number of burglaries, robberies, and violent crimes per 1,000 residents over a 3-year period. In 2015/2016, almost half of recorded crime consisted of crimes of dishonesty, while 7% were violent and sexual crimes.
Parking in Aberdeen is about average for any city, with the usual traffic and parking troubles in the city centre. Car parks throughout the centre offer 2 hours for rates between £2 - £7.
Road links include the A90, which runs along the coast, and offers a connection to the A9 and M90 at Perth. The A96 links Aberdeen to Inverness.
Aberdeen offers the range of nightlife that one would expect from a major city. There are restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, cinemas, and music and theatre venues. The area is also well-served by local buses, so it is often not necessary to drive to reach the nightlife.
Aberdeen has a very wide range of property, with plenty of relatively affordable homes that would be suitable for families. There is a good stock of terraced, semi-detached, and detached housing, including traditional granite period stock as well as more modern houses, many with gardens.
There are several parks and open spaces within the Aberdeen city centre, including Duthie Park, Westburn Park, and Seaton Park, among others. There is also the long stretch of beach along the Esplanade, and a golf course. Aberdeen also offers access to outstanding countryside and national parks like the Cairngorms in its surroundings, with hill walking and sandy beaches among the options for residents to explore.
Education opportunities in Aberdeen are strong, with state schools, private schools, Scotland’s largest further education college, and two universities. The population of children in Aberdeen City is slightly low for Scotland, at about 14%.
Property in Aberdeen varies widely, and includes many homes that would be suitable for pets. Flats, cottages, semi-detached houses, and detached houses are all available in Aberdeen, and include period and modern homes, many with gardens.
There are several parks and open spaces within the Aberdeen city centre, including Duthie Park, Westburn Park, and Seaton Park, among others. There is also the long stretch of beach along the Esplanade. Aberdeen also offers access to outstanding countryside and national parks in its surroundings, with hill walking and sandy beaches among the options for residents to explore.
Aberdeen has a central train station, which connects the city centre to the surrounding areas of Dyce, Portlethen, Inverurie, and Stonehaven as well as with the rest of the UK.
The major bus terminal is located beside the train station. Road links include the A90, which runs along the coast, and offers a connection to the A9 and M90 at Perth. The A96 links Aberdeen to Inverness. Aberdeen Airport is about 20 minutes from the city centre by car.
NorthLink ferries connect Aberdeen to places like Orkney and Shetland.