Produced by Lonely Planet for Aberdeen STUDYING IN THE SILVER CITY Aberdeen Aberdeen can teach you a thing or two. This bustling city by the sea off ers a vibe that’s hard to beat. And STUDYING IN THE SILVER CITY what’s more, at the city’s heart is the historic University of Aberdeen, a world-class institution. Deciding which university to go to? In association with the university, Lonely Planet off ers you a glimpse of student life in the Silver City. Get the Study Aberdeen iPhone app For all this information and more, download the free Study Aberdeen iPhone app. Simply download a QR code reader to your phone and then scan this code. Or search the App Store for ‘Study Aberdeen’. aberdeen-cover_final.indd 1 21/10/2011 12:30:58 PM STUDENT VOICE STUDENT VOICE Kojo Oduro-Kwateng, 27; originally Allison Pusateri, 22; from Kane in from Ghana, brought up in Vienna, Pennsylvania, USA; studying Politics Austria; studying for a Masters in and International Law International Law Do you like the King’s College What do you do when you’re not campus? I love knowing it’s been studying? I’m a DJ and Aberdeen’s around since the 15th century. It has music scene is really lively so there’s a beautiful Ivy League feel to it, always something new going on. I especially around Elphinstone Cloister also do the Urban show on the student and New Kings. radio where we promote current How would you describe Aberdeen? local bands. It’s a smallish city. I come from a small How would you describe Aberdeen? town so it’s been a great stepping stone It’s a really cosmopolitan, welcoming for me. I wouldn’t have wanted to move city. The night scene is splendid. You straight to a big city, no way, so this has go from pub to pub, club to club and been perfect. party to party. When I go away I really Have you explored the area miss it – I think: ‘aw – I just want to go around Aberdeen? Aberdeen is a great back to Aberdeen!’ hub. You can visit stone circles, castles, Have you explored around Aberdeen? whisky distilleries, the West Coast and There are so many castles and lochs the Isle of Skye. And Stonehaven is to explore, places like Balmoral, Loch really close, it’s beautiful – the coolest Ness, Fort William and Stonehaven – little Scottish village on the cliff s. And all beautiful. I’ve really, really enjoyed it. then there are the beaches. Where do you live?I’ve lived at Do you get to the beach often? Hillhead Halls for fi ve years now – it’s For sure. I love the sand dunes and like home to me. And having wi-fi endangered fl ora. It must have left an everywhere is so convenient. There’s impression as I’m getting married this no queuing for computers; at home or summer and we’re having the wedding everywhere you go, you’re hooked up to the internet. reception on the beach. aberdeen-cover_final.indd 2 21/10/2011 12:31:37 PM 1 CONTENTS This is Aberdeen 3 Get to Know the City 4 Studying in Aberdeen 6 Vital Statistics 9 Destination Aberdeen 10 Snapshots 20 Background 29 Find Out More 32 You can trust Lonely Planet’s travel information because our writers and contributors visit the places they write about every time we produce new content or a new edition of a guide. They never accept favours for positive coverage, and you can rely on them to tell it like it is without fear or favour. Lonely Planet has produced this book for the University of Aberdeen. The University of Aberdeen has had no inappropriate infl uence over its content. New Kings, University of Aberdeen 01-uoa-page-1-19_final.indd-uoa-page-1-19_final.indd 1 21/10/2011 12:43:31 PM 2 3 THIS IS ABERDEEN Aberdeen can teach you a thing or two. Packed with potential, this cosmopolitan city by the sea is just itching to spring some surprises. Here, broad boulevards of grandiose architecture lead towards miles of sandy beaches. Impressive civic buildings and big-city stores rub shoulders with pockets of funky independent shops and chilled-out cafés, and winding lanes snake past buzzing bars, restaurants and clubs. You can linger over brunch in a cool café then walk to the shore for a spot of surfi ng, sunset-strolling or dolphin-watching. Then head back to town to sample the cutting-edge club scene, an arthouse fl ick or a dram of local whisky in a supremely snug pub. And then there’s the University of Aberdeen’s historic campus. The epitome of cobbled collegiate-chic, its exquisite architecture, ornate spires and Hogwarts-esque coat of arms must turn other academic institutions green with envy. But here, ancient meets modern: free campus-wide wi-fi sees students surfing the net while lounging on the grassy quad; superb new sports facilities let you get fit and feel good; while a new jaw-dropping, multi-million pound library delivers world-class inspiration. Aberdeen also has more than a whiff of adrenaline-fuelled adventure. You can snowboard down local mountains in the morning and go to seminars in the afternoon. Fancy windsurfing and white-water kayaking? That’s close at hand too. Nearby whisky distilleries put the study of a top Scottish export on the timetable, while a scattering of classic castles and a sumptuous stately home provide stunning fi eld trips. Good transport links mean connecting with the wider world is easy too. Where you choose to study shapes the way you live your life. Finding out more about potential-packed Aberdeen could tempt you to this surprising Scottish city by the sea. Belinda Dixon Aberdeen beach Lonely Planet author 01-uoa-page-1-19_final.indd 2-3 21/10/2011 12:43:49 PM 4 5 GET TO KNOW THE CITY Surfers at Aberdeen beach Even for those not big on Belmont Street’s fabulous selection (pronounced ‘Fittie’). This cluster buildings, Aberdeen’s of boho cafés and lively drinking of ancient fi shermen’s cottages is a architecture is impressive. dens allows you to spend the night warren of tiny lanes and low granite An extraordinary array of fairytale touring its quirky bars, trendy clubs terraces, turned into a riot of colour turrets, Gothic baronial piles, and ancient pubs (p12). By day you by brightly painted sheds, backyards spires and green copper domes can try on designer clothes, browse overfl owing with pot plants and a pop up unexpectedly from behind for CDs or munch on an organic healthy population of garden gnomes. grand civic buildings and modern brunch (p12). You’ll also fi nd all the Aberdeen’s coastal location shopping arcades. Known as the major retail chains in Aberdeen, with means its climate is much better Granite City, highlights include the four large city-centre shopping malls, than you may expect – in fact, the fantastical Salvation Army Citadel, including the piazza-style Academy city has relatively mild winters and which was modelled on Balmoral and brand new Union Square. warm summers. Castle, the immense edifi ce of Around a mile north of town, Aberdeen is also a bustling port Marischal College and the twisting Old Aberdeen is home to the and its links with the oil industry turreted towers of the New Town University of Aberdeen’s King’s have seen it dubbed Europe’s House. Colours range from honey- College campus. An appealing oasis energy capital. But the energy the SAND & SEMINARS grey to light pinks, reds and pale of colleges, cloisters and cobbles, city generates extends far beyond A 15-minute walk east of the blue, while in the sunshine – and in strolling here at times feels like petroleum. There’s a vibrancy that campus leads to the salt- the rain –the stone’s silvery fl ecks walking around a fantasy fi lm set. can be felt in its avant-garde art tanged air of Aberdeen’s make the city sparkle. Its heart is King’s College, gallery and superb museums, as well miles and miles of sandy Aberdeen is Scotland’s third- complete with an ornate 15th- as in its thriving bars, restaurants, beach. An exhilarating largest city. It’s also a city of layers century chapel, whose vividly pubs and clubs. It’s also felt in a expanse, it’s perfect for a – literally and metaphorically. Built painted heraldic crests, crenellated buoyant local economy rich in touch of sandcastle-building, on sometimes steep slopes, fl ights of turrets and minispires would make student jobs. windsurfing or kite-flying. Or steps lead down from bustling Union Harry Potter feel at home. Add lions Aberdeen has been welcoming head to the funfair to ride a Bridge to the Green, an intimate and unicorns bearing gilded shields non-Scots for centuries. The legacy rollercoaster, fly round a Ferris enclave of eateries and shops. and the Hogwarts eff ect of that is a cosmopolitan city big wheel or just tuck into some Here you can shop for snowboards, is complete. enough to pulse to a metropolitan ice cream while wave-watching drum kits or electric guitars, sip a A stroll, cycle or rollerblade beat, but still small enough to be from a beachfront café. cappuccino or tuck into some truly down the promenade takes you to friendly. Perhaps it’s time to peel great bistro grub. Just opposite, the picturesque village of Footdee back those layers..