The Granite City of Aberdeen has a reputation as a destination for museums, live entertainment, and golf, as well as shopping. Here you can find an array of shops, from High Street chains and up-market brands to quirky independent places. There are also some wonderful spots to buy souvenirs. Here we list six of the best places to pick up a gift in memory of your visit.
Alex Scott has been an Aberdeen fixture since 1925, making and fitting kilts for both men and women. Originally solely a tailors, thirty years ago they started to focus on Scottish clothing and souvenirs. If you want to find a gift that speaks of Scotland, this is definitely a good place to explore. There are kilts and tartans for dozens of clans, as well as jewellery and items such as tartan bags or purses.
Alex Scott, 43 Schoolhill, Aberdeen AB10 1JT, +44 1224 674874
Situated on George Street, Scotland’s Bothy is a souvenir shop full of not only Scottish gifts, but distinctly Aberdonian ones too. These include souvenirs with phrases written in Doric — the local variety of the Scots language. This is a good place to get stocked up on those wee gifts that are easy to transport, such as keyrings, fridge magnets, toys, and coasters, for example.
Scotland’s Bothy, 250-252 George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1HN, +44 1224 658077
If tartan is a perfect gift of Scottish clothing, then the best souvenir to drink has to be whisky. As vodka is to Russia, so whisky is to Scotland — it is a part of the land and people. There are several excellent places in Aberdeen to try before you buy, but one of the best places to purchase a bottle (whether for yourself, or as a gift — or both!) is S.R. & E. Barron, also known as The Maltman. This shop is in Dyce, where Aberdeen airport is, and has been selling the finest whiskies since 1981.
S.R. & E. Barron, Post Office, 119 Victoria St, Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 7BJ, +44 1224 722208
One of the best places to find unique gifts in any city or town is a local museum or art gallery, and Aberdeen is no different. The main art gallery is currently closed, undergoing a major renovation, but the gift shop was renowned for excellent and unique souvenirs and this will be continued when the gallery reopens in winter 2017. In the meantime there is always the brilliant Aberdeen Maritime Museum shop to check out.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, Aberdeen, AB11 5BY, +44 1224 337700
