If shopping tops the list of your favorite pastimes, then Aberdeen City and Shire will not disappoint.
From designer boutiques to a host of high street names, you & # 39; l find all the labels and top quality outlets you & # 39; d expect from a major city.
With its striking skyline, historical old town and impressive granite buildings this is a prosperous, cosmopolitan city.
S something more exclusive or a little quirky that you & # 39; re after, one of Aberdeen & # 39; s independent retailers will be able to provide that too.
At a mile long, Aberdeen & # 39; s Union Street is Britain 's longest high street and is jam packed with a host of household names and high street favorites. At the upper end you ll find the newly opened Hugo Boss, G - Star Raw and Cruise, along with premium stores like Jaeger and Jones the Bootmaker.
Cruise, which opened in the autumn of 2007, is one of the UK 's leading independent luxury retailers with a fantastic reputation not only for designer brands, but as a showcase for fresh cutting edge fashion. Brands currently available at Cruise include Gucci , Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Dior, Hugo Boss, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Fendi, Chloe and Jimmy Choo to name a few.
At the bottom end of Union Street, just before it meets the historic Castlegate, is The Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Center.
The largest shopping center in the city, it is split into two buildings and has three floors extending to 630,000 sq ft over two levels. Built in a serpentine shape to maximize shop unit frontage, it is covered by a bar vaulted glazed roof with a 90-ft high glazed dome.
Flagship stores include New Look and Monsoon, one of the largest in Scotland, a large Boots and Woolworths and shops such as The Body Shop, River Island, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Ortak and Oasis. A new Costa Coffee will revive the most hungry And of course, there 's saucer in the center of the center, remain a poplar rendezvous for a casual lunch and a catch-up with friends. Starbucks, with an outdoor sitting area, if you fancy a spot of cafe culture.
Just across from the city & # 39; s Union Terrace Gardens, The Mall Trinity is a great, one floor shopping center with around 27 stock including Debenhams, Argos Extra, T-Mobile, HMV, Superdrug, Waterers and a large Primark.
Surrounding an Italian style style piazza, it has an excellent range of upmarket brands and individual shops, coffee shops, bars and Here the style conscious will find independent shops such as Attic, AB 10 and Concept, which specializes in casual designer - ware for men. A true style leader in Aberdeen, Attic is constantly introducing new collections including UARM, Green Apple Tree and Six Pack. AB10 has everything from footwear to accessories, with many main stream brands including G - Star, Ted Baker, Miss Sixty, Replay, Firetrap and Gio - Goi .
Nicknamed & # 39; Little Chelsea & # 39 ;, the Thistle Street area of the city is the acknowledged style quarter of Aberdeen with a range of independent shops stocking everything from clothes, shoes and accessories, in addition to gift shops, delicatessens, French bakers, florists and art galleries. Bellino and Hamish Munro both have excellent ranges of shoes by continental designers, and if you need a dress for a big night out, try Frox - with everything from funky to formal, it 's evening wear with attitude. Esslemonts and Esslemonts 2 stock a stylish choice of menswear and women 's fashion from leading brands such as Camel Active, Tommy Hilfiger, Remus, Hobbs and Turnover.
From contemporary evening wear and associated accessories through to casual jeans and edgy tops, Verdict was named by style guru Caryn Franklin as one of the top ten independents in Scotland.
For stylish, classic designs Kafka, just around the corner in Alford Place, has the latest from Armani, Burberry and Prada, while Kafka for men can be found on Rosemount Viaduct.
Aberdeen & # 39; s up and coming area, The Green, is home to a range of first class bistros and fine dining, and a number of trendsetting shops have also opened in the area, including Coco Violet, designs for the cool and trendy. It houses an eclectic collection of fashion for the woman in the crowd, with stunning items you will not find anywhere else in Aberdeen, let alone the UK. For shoes with a difference take a look at Fenner and Coburn at Netherkirkgate with an impressive collection of distinct designs.
Meanwhile Zoomp, tucked away in Jopps Lane behind John Lewis, has a wide range of clothing covering everyday casual to Jimmy Choo and Matthew Williamson.
If it 's after retrospect, you should not have anything wrong with it. featured in Vogue magazine, while Vintage Phoenix in Chattan Place will tailor your finds to fit.
Jewelery, art and antiques
Aberdeen is not known as the Silver City for nothing - the sparkling granite buildings that not are much more than the city is testament to the - the - city the same is also the home of some independent jewelers who can design that signature piece to celebrate a very special occasion .
Family-owned Finnies the jewelers, has Scotland & # 39; s largest stock of diamond jewelery - and large collection of grandfather clocks. As well as over 26 watch brands, you & lt; ll find unusual gifts including silver snooker chalk holders. Jamieson and Sandy Menzies Designer Jewelers present a constantly evolving from the pearls, established in 1733. From pearls to pendants it & # 39; sa firm favor favor with with jewelery lovers. range of contemporary jewelery. The design and production of commissioned pieces in precious metals and gemstones are also available, while George Kite on Holburn Street features a range of modern Scottish designers.
For antiques, head for the city & # 39; s West End, where you & # 39; ll find Elizabeth Watt on Thistle Street, specializing in ceramics, silver and jewelery while Rendezvous, on Forest Avenue, has great art deco finds as well as contemporary For antique maps, go to Colin Wood on Rose Street, who carries a very fine range .
Gallery Heinzel specializes in contemporary Scottish art from its bibliothek in Thailand Street. The gallery hosts up to 10 exhibitions a year showing the work of established and emerging Scottish artists. The Carby Art Gallery, in a contemporary art space, offers a unique gallery experience. Resident artist Ian Carby, famed for his vibrant landscapes and shoreline scenes, exhibits alongside international and local artists with sculptures, ceramics, jewelery and photography
It's comprehensive gift selection ranges from the cool and funky to the classic while Annie Mo & # 39; s, on Holburn Street and the bottom end of Union Street, also stocks an unusual range of gifts along with some beautiful furniture.
Markets
Aberdeen 's Country Fair is a monthly market with over 30 stalls of fresh farm produce, local crafts, home-baking, food and drink. The main market takes place on the last Saturday of every month and there' A typical Aberdeen Country Fair will feature everything from Aberdeen Angus beef, weekly version every Saturday at the largest markets in Scotland, it offers local farmers and crafters the opportunity to showcase their quality home-grown and handcrafted products. fish landed at Aberdeen and Peterhead Harbors, local fruit and vegetables, baking, cheeses, confectionary, Scottish whiskey, wines and handmade
crafts.
Three or four times through the year, and in the weeks leading up to Christmas, you & # 39; l l find Aberdeen & # 39; s popular International Market, one of the largest and most successful of the kind. a wide range of European and British foods with 70 stalls including French fruit and vegetables, French, Dutch, Scottish and English cheeses, hams from Spain, biscuits from Brittany, and a variety of French breads. You & # 39; ll also find an array of fine textiles, accessories, and arts and crafts on offer.
Shopping in the Shire
In Inururie try Altro Designer Wear on You are not always need to visit the city for shopping, as Aberdeenshire also as a great range of shops. There are a number of stylish clothes shops that are well worth a visit. B & # 39; s Knees Too (and original B & # 39; s Knees in Oldmeldrum) carries a fabulous range of clothing and accessories from casual, North Street for D & G, Versace, Armani, Guess, Hugo Boss, and G- wear to exclusive evening wear and a wide range of bags, shoes and jewelery. A branch of attic has recently opened in the town too.
Thirty minutes drive from Aberdeen City center, Royal Deeside is a treasure trove of galleries, craft shops and exclusive outlets, many of them with Royal Warrants.
There are a few surprises too, such as the Chocolate Box, which also sells Lulu Guinness handbags, and Foxy for an eclectic range of clothes, jewelery and furniture.
Future developments
This will involve building a second floor on The plans include a glass walkway to connect the Bon Accord St Nicholas centers and an improved link to the John Lewis department store, which will form an anchor at the far end of the shopping mall, with Marks and Spencer at the Union Street end. be completed by 2010.
The Bon Accord Center will also have a new entrance while building a new entrance in a new entrance.
A new retail center on the corner of Market Street / Union Street is also proposed. Including Aberdeen & # 39; s Indoor Market, to create modern retail space and it will also provide improved access to the historic Green area of the city.
Due to be completed in 2009, the Union Square project will offer project will provide Scotland & # 39; s second-largest shopping center, complete with a multiplex cinema and links to a new transport hub at the nearby Aberdeen railway station and the Guild Street bus station.
The new developments are expected to bring a number of new stores to the city and will confirm Aberdeen & # 39; s position as the premier shopping center in the North of Scotland.
To find out more about Aberdeen City and Shire visit:
http://www.aberdeencityandshire.com
