What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Aberdeen

Relocating to Aberdeen

About the City

As Scotland’s third most populous city, Aberdeen is indeed a hive of activity, housing a diverse population of over 220,400 people. Whichever country you are moving to Aberdeen from, rest assured, this is a multi-layered environment, steeped in culture and new beginnings. For instance, Aberdeen University was founded in 1495 and the city itself dates more to back for over 8,000 years, aspects that blend perfectly with its lively sports culture and innovative approach to the gas and oil industry.

Despite its deep historical roots, Aberdeen has everything firmly in place for modern living — in fact this Scottish gem was named Mercer’s 56th most livable city in the world in 2012. Framed by a long, sandy coastline, Aberdeen has something for everyone, whether moving to the buzzing inner city or retiring to one of its picturesque beach locations — often referred to as ‘The Golden Sands’ — you will find the city’s contrasting villages have something for everyone.

Art lovers simply adore Aberdeen’s International Youth Festival, which as the name suggests attracts an international following of around 1000 participants from the performing arts world. Those who favor the great outdoors will enjoy Aberdeen’s beautifully rich environment, from its varied watersports such as surfing on the city’s sandy coastline to leisurely walks around 10 times winning ‘Britain in Bloom’ gardens.

The Climate in Aberdeen

When moving to Aberdeen it is important to be aware that the weather tends to be on the grey and windy side, even in summertime. Cold winter months can typically start as early as October, so make sure to pack plenty of warm clothing as you prepare for your new home. Remember, Scotland as a whole generally experiences pretty harsh winters with plenty of snow. However, the region’s windy conditions lend themselves to the many surfers taking advantage of the city’s coastal spots.

Finding Accommodation in Aberdeen

Moving to Aberdeen means you will obviously need to know more about the type of available housing; this is paramount prior to making the move from your native town or country. Did you know, for instance, that Aberdeen is listed as the UK’s 37th most populous built-up area? Aberdeen’s inner-city house prices are at the higher end of the spectrum, whether you are planning to buy or rent. Therefore when moving to Aberdeen it is worth considering one of the smaller surrounding fishing or market villages, as commuting by train, bus or car is usually hassle free and accommodation is cheaper out of town.

Wherever in the Aberdeen area you choose to live, it is safe to say that there are plenty of houses simply oozing with character — from chocolate box cottages nestled within quaint villages on the outskirts of the city to one of the inner city grey granite buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries (renowned for sparkling like silver). If contemplating a move closer to the city center, it is important to be aware that the vast majority of accommodation is made up of tenement flats, ideal for first-time buying in the area. Alternatively, one of the more residential areas, such as Rosemount, featuring convenient local amenities, may sound more like your ideal home from home.