Explore Union Street

Aberdeen, nicknamed the Granite City, reveals its architectural and cultural heritage through the gleaming stone facades of its main thoroughfare. On this walking tour, you'll stroll along Union Street, once called The Finest Street in the Empire, discovering the stories behind Aberdeen's magnificent granite buildings while learning about the city's unique history, from royal connections to local traditions.

The tour starts at Sainsbury's on Union Street, the site of Aberdeen's infamous 1963 typhoid outbreak. You'll walk along the historic main street, passing elegant churches, banks, and public buildings while hearing tales of the master architects who shaped the city. You'll discover why Aberdeen's buildings sparkle in the sunshine, learn about the engineering marvel that made Union Street possible, and explore the characters and events that defined the city's development over two centuries.

You'll encounter traditional pubs housed in historic buildings, uncover the symbolism behind Aberdeen's leopard motif, and view Aberdeen's most spectacular building—Marischal College, the second-largest granite building in the world. The tour ends at the Castlegate's Mercat Cross, a medieval marketplace symbol that stands as a testament to Aberdeen's long-standing prosperity.

During this 90-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Learn about Aberdeen's architectural heritage and why it earned the nickname Granite City
• Visit the historic Music Hall, a spectacular Neoclassical building that made architect Archibald Simpson's reputation overnight
• Discover the story behind Kelly's Cats, the decorative leopards that have become beloved city symbols
• View St. Nicholas Cemetery with its beautiful carved granite headstones and Celtic crosses
• Explore cobbled wynds and narrow lanes that show what Aberdeen looked like 250 years ago
• See the impressive Marischal College, a Gothic Revival masterpiece and the second-largest granite building in the world
• Visit Provost Skene's House, Aberdeen's oldest building dating from 1545
• Hear humorous stories and local traditions, including why Aberdeen residents have a reputation for frugality

Follow in the footsteps of generations of Aberdonians who walked the mat along Union Street, the heart and soul of the Silver City by the Grey North Sea.