Union Terrace Gardens
Union Terrace Gardens
3.3
About
These beautiful sunken gardens afford great views of the city's sights.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.3
120 reviews
Excellent
24
Very good
35
Average
28
Poor
18
Terrible
15
GaryHMFC
Aberdeenshire, UK1,381 contributions
Jul 2023
The Council have spent ÂŁ30m of public money on this refurbishment. Yes, there are some improvements e.g. the gardens are much more open and accessible, they are lighter and not as dank as previously.
However, the kids' play park is very disappointing. We still don't have access to the grassed area in the middle. The removal of the mature trees is tantamount to environmental vandalism and it's incredible the Council were allowed to do that. There are three pavilions but only one is occupied (a small cafe) and the other two remain vacant (albeit a wine bar is supposedly opening in one).
Overall, I think there are some minor improvements but overall the gardens are quite disappointing and the loss of the trees is an outrage.
However, the kids' play park is very disappointing. We still don't have access to the grassed area in the middle. The removal of the mature trees is tantamount to environmental vandalism and it's incredible the Council were allowed to do that. There are three pavilions but only one is occupied (a small cafe) and the other two remain vacant (albeit a wine bar is supposedly opening in one).
Overall, I think there are some minor improvements but overall the gardens are quite disappointing and the loss of the trees is an outrage.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,135 contributions
May 2022
Sadly, the gardens are currently a construction site and not open to the public. According to the workmen, the upper section will be completed in July, but no idea when the rest will be completed. Sounds like the gardens will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Written May 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pritesh M
Leamington Spa, UK746 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
After watching the Aberdeen parade, we walked through the gardens, and it is great fun for the kids. Musical squares, slides, and very clean. Only thing that let it down was the time we came was the end of the season for some of the flowers and much was overgrown so spoiling the views. However, a great experience and more places across the UK need this type of garden.
Written August 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DunelmArts
Aberdeen, UK1,214 contributions
Mar 2023
After the £28 million revamp, I was excited to visit the gardens for the first time. I guess the kindest response would be underwhelming. There’s potential if the empty units could be filled, and the mud bath turned into lawn. I guess I was just expecting more for the money it cost.
Written March 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paulmV5565HR
Fife, UK25 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Used to visit the old gardens and they were beautiful. The planted areas were always immaculate.
Today we visited the new £28m upgrade. The hard landscaping is actually really quite nice and well thought out. I wish I could say the same about the planting. In general there has been a move to wild plants and flowers….that really equates to a wild garden….or as we know it better….a mess.
I’ve seen this many times including outside the Scottish Parliament.
Wild flowers/plants just planted wherever they land look a mess.
Today we visited the new £28m upgrade. The hard landscaping is actually really quite nice and well thought out. I wish I could say the same about the planting. In general there has been a move to wild plants and flowers….that really equates to a wild garden….or as we know it better….a mess.
I’ve seen this many times including outside the Scottish Parliament.
Wild flowers/plants just planted wherever they land look a mess.
Written July 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alibatty🦇
Dundee, UK21,913 contributions
Oct 2022 • Solo
Yes, the gardens are still fenced off as the £30 million renovation & refurbishment is not completed yet - but from through the barriers you can see it’s starting to shape up really nicely. There has been a lot of planting around the pathways , and it’s looking quite green and attractive. Hopefully 🤞 after the completion of various finishing touches it won’t be too much longer before it’s open to the public .
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,923 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
I visited Union Terrace Gardens late Autumn and i spent quite some time enjoying the area. The sunken gardens were opened in 1879 and lay between Union Street & Rosemount Viaduct and overlooked by His Majesty's Theatre. Strategically placed on the perimeter walls on Union Terrace are various statues including those commemorating William Wallace and Robbie Burns. There were some very nice landscaped areas in the park and were in full glory in the late October sunshine. The gardens are well hidden but are well signposted and an attraction not be missed whilst in Aberdeen.
Written December 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mahammy
Aberdeen35 contributions
Worst park in aberdeen the smell of urine was over powering. No facility's to speak off and nothing for children to do. Headed to duthie park instead.
Written August 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
japman2
Aberdeen, Scotland47 contributions
The gardens are a beautiful and tranquil oasis in the city centre. Great for a picnic on a fine summer day and stunning in the wintertime snow. At all times of year the gardens offer splendid views of his majestys theatre, st marks cathedral and the fine architecture of the surrounding union terrace. Sadly in recent years the gardens have been scandalously neglected by the local authority who currently are considering plans to destroy them and replace with a modern "development". To even be considering this vandalism is in my opinion an outrage. Visit the gardens whilst you can or better still join the local campaign to save them.
Written September 29, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurence B
Aberdeen, UK4,361 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
Often talked about but actually just run if the mill. Grass and some flowers and benches to sit on. Nice in the summer but not great at other times.
Written March 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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