A Family-Friendly Aberdeen City Break: Exploring Aberdeen from Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa

When planning a family city break, we're always looking for a destination that offers a mix of attractions, outdoor space and opportunities to make memories together. Aberdeen proved to be exactly that. Known as Scotland's Granite City, Aberdeen combines fascinating museums, beautiful parks, a stunning coastline and plenty of family friendly activities.

For our stay, we used Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel and Spa as our base. Conveniently located in the city centre, the hotel made it easy to explore Aberdeen's attractions while also being within walking distance of shopping centres, restaurants and local amenities. Here's how we spent our two days discovering some of our favourite spots around the city.

Day One

Discover Hands On Fun at Aberdeen Science Centre

We began our Aberdeen adventure at Aberdeen Science Centre, one of the city's most engaging attractions for families. Packed with interactive exhibits covering science, technology, engineering and energy, it's a place where children are actively encouraged to touch, explore and experiment.

From hands on activities to fascinating displays, there was plenty to keep our daughter entertained while also teaching her something new. The centre strikes a great balance between education and fun, making it an excellent starting point for a family day out.

Explore Hazelhead Park

After a busy morning indoors, we headed to Hazelhead Park for some fresh air and outdoor fun.

One of Aberdeen's largest parks, Hazelhead offers far more than just open green space. The recently renovated children's play area was a particular highlight, providing plenty of opportunities for climbing, sliding and exploring. Our daughter loved trying out all the new equipment and burning off some energy after the Science Centre.

The park is also home to a maze, which added an extra layer of adventure to our visit, while the beautiful rose garden offered a quieter space to wander and enjoy the surroundings. We also stopped by the park café for refreshments before continuing our afternoon.

One of the standout features of Hazelhead Park is its animal collection, where visitors can meet both traditional farm animals and a selection of more exotic species. It's a lovely addition to the park and proved especially popular with our daughter, who enjoyed seeing the animals up close.

With so much to see and do, Hazelhead Park could easily fill several hours and is a fantastic family-friendly attraction within easy reach of the city centre.

Evening Walk Around Footdee (Fittie)

As the day began to wind down, we headed towards Footdee, known locally as "Fittie". This historic fishing village sits at the edge of Aberdeen Harbour and feels completely different from the city centre despite being only a short distance away.

Originally built in the early nineteenth century to house fishing families, Fittie is made up of charming cottages arranged around neat squares. What makes it particularly special today is the individuality of each property. Colourful doors, creative garden displays, maritime decorations and quirky touches make every corner interesting.

Our daughter absolutely loved wandering around the village and spotting all the colourful buildings and decorations. It felt like there was something new to discover around every corner.

Fittie is also home to a small bakery, which is worth visiting if you're there during opening hours, although it's worth checking ahead as these can vary.

One of the most memorable discoveries during our walk was an old fishing shed that has been transformed into an honesty room. Visitors can help themselves to a coffee, snack or treat and leave a donation in return. We learned that donations support AberNecessities, a local charity helping children and families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire by providing essential items to those who need them most.

Nearby, we also found an honesty shed selling fresh produce using the same trust based approach. These thoughtful community initiatives add even more charm to what is already one of Aberdeen's most unique locations.

Check In at Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa

After a busy day exploring, it was time to check into Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa.

The hotel immediately impressed us with its bold and colourful décor. In fact, our daughter quickly declared it "the most colourful hotel" she had ever visited.

The hotel offers convenient on-site parking, making arrival stress-free and its city-centre location meant everything we needed was close by. For families travelling with young children, selected rooms also include kitchen facilities and cooking equipment. We found this particularly useful for preparing snacks and heating bottles, helping us maintain familiar routines while away from home.

After settling in, it was the perfect place to relax and recharge for another day of exploring.

Day Two

Visit the Zoology Museum and Cruickshank Botanic Garden

After checking out the following morning, we made our way to the Zoology Museum at the University of Aberdeen. This hidden gem is well worth visiting, although it's a good idea to check opening times before travelling.

The museum houses an impressive collection of animal specimens from around the world, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects. Alongside the exhibits, there are several activities designed to engage younger visitors.

Our daughter enjoyed the cosy reading corner, colouring activities and wildlife-themed challenges, while the collection of animal puppets provided an extra interactive element that she loved.

One of the best things about visiting the Zoology Museum is that it leads directly into Cruickshank Botanic Garden.

Stepping from the museum into the gardens felt like entering a peaceful oasis. The garden contains an impressive variety of plants from around the world, with winding pathways, colourful displays and plenty of quiet corners to explore.

The combination of wildlife, learning and nature makes the museum and gardens a perfect pairing for families looking for a more relaxed pace of sightseeing.

Spend the Afternoon at Aberdeen Beach

No trip to Aberdeen would be complete without visiting its famous beach, so we spent the rest of our day enjoying the coastline.

Aberdeen Beach offers a wide stretch of golden sand alongside a lively promenade filled with attractions, cafés and food vendors. Whether you're looking for a leisurely walk, somewhere for the children to play or simply a place to enjoy the sea air, it's easy to see why it's such a popular destination.

During our visit, we stopped at Kava Coffee for an iced latte before heading onto the beach.

One of our favourite memories from the day came shortly afterwards when our daughter repurposed the empty cup as a sandcastle mould. Watching her use it to create her beach masterpieces was a reminder that some of the best travel moments are often the simplest ones.

Between the fresh sea air, family friendly atmosphere and excellent food and drink options, Aberdeen Beach was the perfect way to round off our city break.

Why Stay at Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa?

One of the biggest advantages of staying at Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa in our families opinion is the convenient city-centre location. With on-site parking, easy access to Aberdeen's main shopping centres, restaurants and attractions, and family-friendly room options, it provides an excellent base for exploring the city.

After a day spent exploring, chasing adventures and discovering some of our family's favourite spots around Aberdeen, it was nice to return to the hotel and unwind. Combining comfort, practical family-friendly features and a fantastic location, Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa proved to be an excellent base for our Aberdeen city break

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