Union Street & Castlegate
Aberdeen's granite main street, a mile long, ends at Castlegate, where a market cross dating from 1686 stands.
Union Street was laid out in the early 19th century as Aberdeen's main thoroughfare. It stretches about a mile, lined with granite buildings, and includes the Union Bridge over the Denburn valley. At its eastern end, Castlegate was the market square of the medieval town, dominated by the Mercat Cross built in 1686 and carved with the heads of Stuart monarchs. Beside it stand the spired Town House and the old prison, the Tolbooth. The eastern stretch of Union Street is the highlight for architecture. The western section, the parallel Belmont Street and the Merchant Quarter have many restaurants and bars. Free to visit, it makes an excellent backbone for a city-centre walking route: Castlegate, Union Street, Union Terrace Gardens, Art Gallery.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kirk of St Nicholas
- Provost Skene's House
- Aberdeen Art Gallery
- Marischal College
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum
- Duthie Park & David Welch Winter Gardens
- King's College & Old Aberdeen
- St Machar's Cathedral