Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
Free Things to Do in Aberdeen!
Free Aberdeen Museums – Provost Skene House/Aberdeen Art Gallery/Zoology Museum/Aberdeen Maritime Museum/The Tollbooth // Dolphin Spotting, Torry Battery & Girdleness Lighthouse // Aberdeen Beach // Hit Up Old Aberdeen // Follow the Granite Trail // Find the Nuart Graffiti Art // Hit the Park – a vast selection to choose between // Get Walking – Summits and Hikes // Where to Stay
Free Museums in Aberdeen – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
Provost Skene House
FREE The oldest house in Aberdeen shares stories about the leading lights of the city. From entertainers and performers (Mary Garden, Annie Lennox, Emelie Sandie) to explorers, inventors, sportspeople, scientists and medics. Look out for the Painted Gallery too. Plus each room has a fun, engaging or hands on activity for kids – from colouring in and building, to puppets and magic tricks.
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Reopened after a splendid refurbishment, this gallery is now up to date, interactive, fun and accessible for kids. Read a full review here.
Aberdeen’s Dead Zoo!
The University of Aberdeen’s Zoology Museum is a hit with kids – huge animal skeletons are everywhere, from elephants to whales and chimps. Plus taxidermy and quirky specimens. This venue is also right next door to the free Cruickshank Botanic Garden (see below) so little legs can run around after seeing all the animals. Week day opening hours – Mon-Fri 1000-1600.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
The city’s modern Maritime Museum tells the story of Aberdeen’s links with the sea. From whaling, to the fastest clipper on earth, to fishing and the cutting edge oil industry, this museum, over four floors, covers it all.
The Tollbooth
Visit the small but free Tolbooth Museum tells the story of crime and punishment – from witch persecution to Peter Williamson’s story of the kidnap and export of children in the 18th century. Discover harrowing stories behind the cell walls.
Dolphin Spotting, Torry Battery & Girdleness Lighthouse
A mix of coastal adventures, the renowned RSPV dolphin spotting point, a historic military fortification, a lighthouse, foghorn and rock formations to explore.
Hit the Beach & Explore Footdee – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
Aberdeen Beach is epic, it may not always be warm, but it’s epic. We’re talking miles of golden sand. It’s buggy friendly, and popular with surfers, runners and wee kids on bikes and scooters. You’ll undoubtedly spot huge oil vessels just offshore waiting to access the city harbour so it’s a little bit different from your average beach.
If you like history the traditional fishing village of Footdee is located at the end of the beach. The idiosyncratic outhouses are colourful and quirky, great for a stroll, and the individuality of the decor makes for great photo opportunities. There’s also a playpark at the Footdee end of Aberdeen beach.
Hit Up Old Aberdeen – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
The site of Scotland’s third university Old Aberdeen is excellent for a historic stroll. Take in King’s College, the cobbled streets, Powis Gate (see pic below), the scheduled ancient monument Brig O Balgownie (which features in a poem by Lord Byron) and the elegant St Machar Cathedral.
From a kid’s point of view I’d recommend Seaton Park with its fantastic playground, floral displays, riverside walk, and great flat paths for learner drivers of bikes and scooters. Another outdoor attraction is the Cruickshank Botanical Gardens, and the aforementioned Zoology Museum. Used for student research and home to over 2000 plant varieties Cruickshank Botanic Gardens offer a lovely walk on a bright day. Read a full Old Aberdeen guide here.
Follow the Granite Trail – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
From the world’s second largest granite building, to tales of education, information and damnation, follow Aberdeen’s Granite Trail to see why Aberdeen is known as the Granite City.
Find the Nuart Graffiti Art – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
With a wild selection of colourful and vibrant pieces of unique artworks, some vast, some absolutely tiny, tracking down the Nuart creations that capture the kids imaginations is a no-brainer. Find a map here.
Hit the Parks – Free Things to Do in Aberdeen
Duthie Park is one of the best parks in Scotland for kids. With a bandstand, lots of green space to kick a ball, boating ponds with pedaloes, paths for little scooters and bikes, three playgrounds (the one with little houses is fantastic for toddlers upwards), a spiralling walk up to a viewpoint, and a cafe too.
The highlight is the David Welch Winter Gardens – these indoor botanicals, brilliant for any age to explore, include an Arid House, a Japanese Garden and Corridor of Perfumes. Colour, scents, new temperatures and texture at every turn. Kids enjoy looking out for the giant goldfish, the terrapins, the mechanised frog, Nessie and the ‘talking cactus’. One idea is to park up near the Bridge of Dee, walk along the river spotting the ducks as you go, then visit the park.
Hazelhead Park in the west of the city is also a great option for children. Again, lot of opportunities for bike-riding, running and stretching little legs but there’s also a big play park, lots of sculptures dotted around the grounds, a cafe. From an adult point of view the Queen Mother Rose Garden is stunning in bloom and you’ll also find the Piper Alpha Memorial here, highlighting the city’s close ties to the oil industry.
Johnston Gardens is lush, intimate and colourful, but still ideal for little legs to explore.
Another popular park for children is Westburn Park and its playground (across the road from Victoria Park, which has excellent cycling/scooting terrain, so you get two parks for the price of one) in the west end of the city. Or head to Old Aberdeen to the playground of the aforementioned Seaton Park.
Get Walking
There is a host of family friendly hikes, hillsides and trails in Aberdeen (and shire). There are so many to choose between so I’ve written a really comprehensive list here. One of our city favourites is the Den of Maidencraig.
Where to Stay
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