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Union Street at dusk, granite buildings and a spire down the long straight street.
Aberdeen

Union Street

Aberdeen's grand main street, a mile of granite from the Castlegate to Holburn Junction, carried over the Denburn valley on a single great arch.

Welcome

Union Street is the spine of Aberdeen, a straight, wide street of silver-grey granite that runs for about a mile from the old Castlegate to Holburn Junction.

Aberdonians call it the Granite Mile.

It was a bold idea. At the end of the 1700s the roads into the town were narrow, twisting and steep, and the council decided to cut a grand new street straight west across the hills and valleys. Houses were bought and pulled down, a hill was levelled, and the Denburn valley was crossed by the Union Bridge, a single granite arch of 130 feet designed by Thomas Fletcher. It opened the growing city up to the west.

Walk it from end to end and you pass the Town House and the Mercat Cross, the arches of the Kirk of St Nicholas, the bridge over Union Terrace Gardens and grand granite banks and halls. It is at its best in low evening light, when the granite catches the sun.

Round the cornerSo... NYCBringing the sandwich culture of New York City to Aberdeen’s Union Street, So…NYC serves New York style bagels.1 min by roadSee itHanging bulbs light the interior of SO NYC Bagels & Brew, Aberdeen
Before you go

A city street, there at any time.

Where
Castlegate to Holburn Junction.
Length
About a mile.
Union Bridge
One span, 130 feet.
Where it is

The main street of Aberdeen, running west from the Castlegate to Holburn Junction.

Close byAberdeen.
  1. Wooden bar with hanging wine glasses, bottles and a lit fireplaceCafé BohemeUnder a mile 1 min by road
  2. Granite steps lead up to a statue and His Majesty's Theatre in AberdeenUnion Terrace GardensThe sunken garden off its middle.Under a mile 1 min by road
  3. Three cocktails on a bar, garnished with blackberry, lemon and starfruitUnder the HammerUnder a mile 1 min by road
  4. Weathered statue and gravestones in a churchyard framed by autumn leavesKirk of St NicholasThe Mither Kirk behind the arches.Under a mile 3 min by road
  5. Aberdeen's Mercat Cross stands beneath dark clouds with birds overheadMercat CrossThe cross in the Castlegate.2 miles 6 min by road
Directions
Hanging bulbs light the interior of SO NYC Bagels & Brew, AberdeenCafeSo... NYC0.2 miles
Golden Everest beer beside a plate of grilled tandoori chicken and peppersRestaurants8848 Restaurant0.2 miles
Grilled salmon sushi roll topped with chives on a rectangular white plateRestaurantsYorokobi by CJ0.2 miles
Teal shopfront of Six by Nico, with sandstone buildings reflected in its windowsRestaurantsSix by Nico0.2 miles
Coloured parasols hang above a green-walled restaurant with gold plates and framed artworkRestaurantsMadame Mew's0.3 miles
Sauce drizzled over prawns and mussels with breadcrumbs on a white plateRestaurantsCafe Harmony0.3 miles
Wooden boards with cured meats, olives, bread and dipping saucesRestaurantsMi Amore0.3 miles
Granite façade of Aberdeen's Central Library, with "Public Library" carved above its arched entranceAttractionsAberdeen Central Library0.4 miles
Sliced pastry filled with meat and onion, plated with salad leaves and tomato sauceRestaurantsThe Braided Fig0.4 miles
The Daily for 19 October, from Scotland with love. bare tree stumps standing in an autumn loch, forested hills reflected in the still water

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