ASRA News
Getting to the Conference: Aberdeen
Aberdeen's a city that looks and feels quite different…
Not just on a summer’s evening, when you can walk the main street in daylight at 11pm. Not just because that same main street – the mile-long Union Street – is lined with classic granite buildings that help make this “one of the most architecturally distinctive cities in Europe” (The Scotsman – one of Scotland’s national newspapers).
But mainly because this isn’t just a city by the sea, it’s a city of the sea. A city where ships dock right up against the city-centre streets. Where urban dolphins leap at the harbour mouth. Where locals paddleboard and surf off the city beach. And golden sands stretch for miles – towards vast dunes to the north and high cliffs to the south. It’s a city of rivers too, where the Dee and the Don meet the sea, bringing crystal clear waters from the Cairngorm mountains.
With so many transport options, Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire have never been easier to get to!
Aberdeen can be reached by road, rail, sea, or air and when you get here Aberdeenshire is easily accessible by public transport, taxi or car.
By Air
Aberdeen International Airport is located just six miles from Aberdeen city centre and has easy access to rural Aberdeenshire.
The region is well connected globally with daily flights to all major airports including London Heathrow. The international airport also has many direct routes from major UK cities as well as key European destinations.
For further information about the destinations you can fly from to Aberdeen, or to book your flight, please visit the Aberdeen Airport website.
By Sea
Aberdeen Ferry Terminal is located at Jamieson's Quay directly across from the shopping centre, Union Square and the Aberdeen Railway Station.
The centrally located harbour is where ferries travel regularly to/from the Scottish Isles, Orkney, and Shetland.
More information about travelling from Orkney and Shetland and for ferry timetables.
By Road
No matter where you start your journey in Scotland, Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire are simple to get to by car.
Aberdeen is approximately 2.5 hours’ drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and less than a three-hour drive from Inverness. Well sign-posted, the surrounding area of Aberdeenshire is within close proximity of Aberdeen with the towns and villages easy to get to by major country and main roads.
Get help with planning your journey to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
By Train
Aberdeen’s railway station, right in the heart of the city, has frequent fast and reliable services to and from major cities.
Travel on one of the hourly trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh or use the east coastline to travel from cities such as York or Newcastle.
LNER Trains run services along the East Coast Main Line and frequently run trains from cities such as Edinburgh, York, Newcastle, and London further details can be found on the LNER website.
Scotrail provides an express rail service direct to Aberdeen from many major cities. For timetables and to book your train tickets to Aberdeen visit the Scotrail website.
Aberdeen can also be reached overnight from London on the Caledonian Sleeper. Visit the Caledonian Sleeper website for more information about this service.
National Rail offers rail services to Aberdeen and the surrounding area, perhaps when you get here you may wish to travel to towns including Dyce, Inverurie, and Huntly. See the National Rail website for further details, or plan your rail journey and get live train running times, accessibility, and facility information on Trainline.
And after all that planning, don't forget to reserve your place at Conference 2024!
Joining ASRA
If you or your organisation are thinking of joining ASRA just go to our Membership Section for all the details on types of membership and how to connect with one of the biggest networks of student accommodation professionals in Europe.
