As
the centre for the whole of the North East of Scotland,
Aberdeen has for centuries been the main shopping centre
for a huge catchment area. Indeed, the range and quality
of shops in the city even attracts shoppers from as far
afield as Norway.
Traditionally
Aberdeen's main shopping areas of the city have been Union Street
and George Street, but now shopping malls in the city
centre have changed the shopping patterns. Union Street
and George Street still, however, provide the main shopping
axes with the main shopping
centres accessible from them.
Car
parking can be difficult, particularly at peak times when the
Bon Accord Centre car parks regularly become full. In this case,
you may have to use the other multi-storey car parks such as:
West
North Street (usually has spaces and within reasonable walking
distance of Bon Accord Centre)
Shiprow
(one of the original multi-storey car parks near the tourist
information office at the east end of Union Street)
The Mall Trinity
South
College Street (usually has spaces and has a rather complex
walkway through to the Trinity Centre and Union Street)
Gilcomston
(behind His Majesty's Theatre)
Huntly
Street (FREE at weekends).
Alternatively
park outside the central area, or use the park-and-ride services
from Bridge of Don or Kingswells.
Most national chain stores are represented in Aberdeen, along
with long established local businesses.
There
are a number of antique stores in Aberdeen. In and around
the city centre some places to look include Colin Wood (on
Rose Street just off the west end of Union Street), J R
Webb (Bon Accord Terrace, near the west end of Union Street),
Adelphi Antique Centre (the small lane off Union Street
east of Frasers), Marischal Street (from Castle Street opposite
the Town House to the harbour), George Street (out the north
end of the Bon Accord Centre), the Rendezvous Gallery (at
the Forest Avenue, Union Grove roundabout), Michael Young
(Great Western Road).
There
are many gift stores around Aberdeen, but some particularly
worthy of mention are Nova (Chapel Street, off the west
end of Union Street), Annie Mos (Holburn Street), Just Scottish
(Upperkirkgate near Marischal College), Alex Scott (Upperkirkgate
near Bon Accord Centre), Pentangle (Union Street), Juniper
(Belmont Street), Round the World (Upperkirkgate).
A
sad late 1960's replacement for the glorious Archibald Simpson
19th century original. You'll find it behind BHS.
Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre
The
Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre is Aberdeen's largest shopping mall stretching from Union Street to the John Lewis Store on George Street. It was originally two separate shopping centres, the Bon Accord Centre and the St Nicholas Centre, separated by Upper Kirkgate. Since they came under the same ownership there has been talk of building the pedestrian bridge that was originally proposed when the separate centres were planned.
Sensitively
developed from the old Aberdeen Academy building on Schoolhill,
opposite the Art Gallery, the Academy has a range of shops
and restaurants.
Stumble It!
