Retire in Paradise

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Aberdeen is the 3rd largest city in Scotland and is widely known as the “Granite City” but is also known as the “Silver City (with the Golden Sands)”. Although the area shows evidence of being inhabited for over eight thousand years Aberdeen is a thoroughly modern city with a strong association with the oil and gas industries.

As you would expect in any modern city Aberdeen has an interesting array of art galleries and museums. In contrast the city has one of the most lively night scenes in Scotland with a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and nightclubs. Around the area of the 2 mile long beach can be found fairground rides and other types of entertainment for the younger folk (or younger minded adults).

A place definitely worth visiting is the House of Fun which can be found on the Beach Esplanade. Inside you will find loads of family entertainment including Just For Kids, the foam factory, the family amusement arcade. You will find lots, lots more throughout the two storeys which also include all of the most popular video games such as driving games.

Inside the House of Fun you will find a selection of places to eat, some focused on families while others are altogether more adult. Of special note is the Motown Bar which often features live music, has a large screen television and a BBQ terrace. You will, of course, also find places to buy souvenirs, gifts and the likes.

Aberdeen has plenty to keep the keen shopper entertained with a number of malls and markets. The main shopping area can be found at Union Street but, if you enjoy shopping, you really need to visit the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre which has a large number of shops on two levels. Other noteworthy shopping areas are The Academy and The Mall shopping centres.

Aberdeen’s history includes many stories of sporting excellence.

Aberdeen, like many other places in Scotland, has a long association with the game of golf. Way back in 1780 the world’s sixth oldest golf club was founded, the “Society of Golfers at Aberdeen”. In 1903 the club was awarded Royal status and was renamed the “Royal Aberdeen Golf Club” (having changed it’s name to Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815) and the club has two golf courses, the Silverburn Course and the Championship Links at Balgownie. There are six public golf courses in Aberdeen; Hazlehead (3 courses, 2 x 18-hole, 1 x 9-hole Pitch and Putt), Balnagask Golf Course (2 courses 1 x 18-hole, 1 x 6-hole) and Auchmill Golf Course.

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Aberdeen with the city having a number of football clubs including Aberdeen FC which was formed in 1903 and has had some major successes including winning two European championships. At home Aberdeen FC has it most successful period during the 1980’s when they won the Scottish Premier League on three occassions. Of course there are plenty of facilities for soccer and other sports throughout the city.