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Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen city centre

Companionship careAberdeen

Days out in Aberdeen for an older parent

Seven places in Aberdeen that make a good day out for an older parent, from Aberdeen Art Gallery to Aberdeen Science Centre. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Aberdeen Art Gallery. Photo: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0

Seven days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Aberdeen

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen city centre

Photo: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Aberdeen city centre

Aberdeen Art Gallery

Aberdeen Art Gallery on Schoolhill holds a collection spanning 700 years, with works by Joan Eardley, the Scottish Colourists, Monet, Francis Bacon and Barbara Hepworth across 18 galleries. The ground-floor Sculpture Court and the Remembrance Hall are a good place to start before moving on to the upper floors.

Entry is free, so you can see one or two galleries and leave while your parent still has energy, and the nearest Blue Badge parking is on Schoolhill close to the entrance.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, donations welcome

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Aberdeen city centre

Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Aberdeen city centre

Photo: Bill Harrison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Aberdeen city centre

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Aberdeen Maritime Museum on the historic Shiprow tells the story of the city's life with the sea, from shipbuilding and fishing to North Sea oil, with ship models, a lighthouse lens and a nine-metre model of an oil platform. The top floor looks out over the working harbour.

There is no parking outside the museum, so a carer should plan to drop off on Shiprow or use a nearby car park, and check the museum's access guide before going as the displays are spread over four floors.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, donations welcome

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Aberdeen city centre

Cruickshank Botanic Garden, Old Aberdeen

Photo: AberdeenBill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Old Aberdeen

Cruickshank Botanic Garden

The Cruickshank Botanic Garden is an 11-acre university garden in Old Aberdeen with a rose garden, rock and water garden, sunken garden, herbaceous border and arboretum, holding more than 2,500 kinds of plant. The main entrance is on The Chanonry, close to St Machar's Cathedral, so the two make an easy pairing.

The rose garden and southern lawn are the easiest parts to reach, but some areas are not wheelchair friendly and there are no toilets in the garden itself, so a carer should plan a stop at The Hub across St Machar Drive.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free to enter

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Old Aberdeen

St Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen

Photo: Blu ranger, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Old Aberdeen

St Machar's Cathedral

St Machar's Cathedral is a granite church in Old Aberdeen, open every day of the year, best known for its flat ceiling decorated with 48 coats of arms from around 1520. Visitors are given a printed guide, and a touch screen lets you look closely at the ceiling and windows.

There is parking on The Chanonry along two sides of the graveyard, and a toilet for wheelchair users in an adjacent building, though there are no refreshments on site.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, donations welcome

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Old Aberdeen

Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen west end

Photo: AlasdairW, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Aberdeen west end

Gordon Highlanders Museum

The Gordon Highlanders Museum tells the story of the north-east's own regiment through uniforms, medals, silver and personal stories, in the former home of the artist Sir George Reid. There is a café on the ground floor and a walled Victorian garden with extra seating.

There is free parking at the museum, a ramp from the car park to the entrance, accessible toilets on every floor, a lift to the lower galleries and wheelchairs to borrow on the day.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Aberdeen west end

Aberdeen Beach and Esplanade, Aberdeen beach

Photo: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Aberdeen beach

Aberdeen Beach and Esplanade

Aberdeen Beach is a long sandy bay running north from the harbour mouth, with a promenade along the Esplanade and the Queen's Links behind it. The beachfront is being redeveloped by the council, with the Broad Hill already reopened with new paths, viewpoints and seating.

The Esplanade is a long promenade where a carer can drive close, stop wherever the view is good and turn back as soon as your parent has had enough.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Aberdeen beach

Aberdeen Science Centre

Museum · Aberdeen city centre

Aberdeen Science Centre

Aberdeen Science Centre on Constitution Street is a hands-on science centre with interactive exhibits on energy, the human body and the natural world, and regular live science shows. It suits a visit with grandchildren as much as a quiet weekday look round.

The centre has wheelchair access throughout, accessible toilets and free parking with disability bays, and carers can get a free ticket with proof of eligibility.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free carer tickets with proof

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Aberdeen city centre

Regular groups and events in Aberdeen

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Aberdeen.

  • Fishing · AberdeenAberdeen and District Angling AssociationFormed in 1946, the association holds over 30 miles of fishing on the Dee, Don and Ythan, including city beats at Garthdee and the Pots and Fords water by its bothy on Riverside Drive. A carer can help with membership and permits, carry tackle and stay nearby for a couple of hours on an easily reached bank.Details
  • Photography · AberdeenAberdeen Camera ClubA long running city club with weekly Tuesday evening meetings from late August to mid March, including talks and competitions, and some sessions held online. A carer can help with transport, or set up a laptop at home for the online meetings.Details
  • Sports · AberdeenWalking football with Sport Aberdeen and AFC in the CommunityA slower paced version of football for older players, run in partnership with Aberdeen FC and open to men and women, including people returning after injury. A carer can drive to the session and watch from the side, which suits someone nervous about a first attempt.Details
  • Sports · AberdeenAberdeen Indoor Bowling ClubAn indoor bowls club with seasonal membership, including a concessionary rate for long standing members over 80. A carer can handle membership paperwork and transport so a former outdoor bowler can keep playing through the winter.Details
  • Volunteering · AberdeenVolunteer Aberdeen roles for older adultsThe city's volunteer centre lists flexible roles across Aberdeen and has a section aimed at older volunteers, including befriending work with people over 60. A carer can help work through the listings and go along to a first session.Details
  • Volunteering · AberdeenFriends of Duthie Park volunteer daysA voluntary group working with the council on horticulture, nature and events in Duthie Park, with occasional work days. A carer can arrange a short shift at a task that can be done seated or from a bench.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Aberdeen

At a glance

The seven places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Aberdeen Art GalleryAberdeen city centrean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Aberdeen Maritime MuseumAberdeen city centrean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Cruickshank Botanic GardenOld Aberdeenan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
St Machar's CathedralOld Aberdeenan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Gordon Highlanders MuseumAberdeen west endan hour or twoPaid entryPartlyYesYes
Aberdeen Beach and EsplanadeAberdeen beachan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Aberdeen Science CentreAberdeen city centrean hour or twoPaid entryYesYesAsk

Where the places are in Aberdeen

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

1234567
  1. 1Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen city centre
  2. 2Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Aberdeen city centre
  3. 3Cruickshank Botanic Garden, Old Aberdeen
  4. 4St Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen
  5. 5Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen west end
  6. 6Aberdeen Beach and Esplanade, Aberdeen beach
  7. 7Aberdeen Science Centre, Aberdeen city centre

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Aberdeen

Carers in Aberdeen charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Aberdeen has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Art Gallery in Aberdeen city centre, Aberdeen Maritime Museum in Aberdeen city centre, Cruickshank Botanic Garden in Old Aberdeen, St Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen, Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen west end, Aberdeen Beach and Esplanade in Aberdeen beach and Aberdeen Science Centre in Aberdeen city centre. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Aberdeen Science Centre describes a step-free route. Gordon Highlanders Museum and Aberdeen Science Centre have an accessible toilet. Gordon Highlanders Museum lends wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Cruickshank Botanic Garden, St Machar's Cathedral and Aberdeen Beach and Esplanade. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 3 of the carers with a rate near Aberdeen drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Aberdeen shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Aberdeen

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Aberdeen

Days out in the areas around Aberdeen

Find a carer who could take them out in Aberdeen

See carers near Aberdeen who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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