Aberdeens Union Street: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Aberdeen’s Union Street: A Self-Guided Audio Tour offers an engaging exploration of the city’s historic main thoroughfare. Utilizing the VoiceMap app, visitors can embark on a flexible, GPS-triggered tour that brings the street’s rich heritage to life through insightful narrations. Whether you’re a first-time traveler or a local seeking to uncover new stories, this self-paced experience promises to reveal the captivating tales that have shaped Aberdeen’s iconic Union Street over the centuries. With a wheelchair-accessible format, the tour caters to all, inviting you to discover the city’s vibrant culture at your own leisurely pace.

Key Points

• A self-guided audio tour covering Aberdeen’s main thoroughfare, Union Street, with a duration of approximately 1 hour and a distance of 2km.
• The tour utilizes the VoiceMap app for automatic audio playback, offering offline access to maps, audio, and geodata.
• The tour is wheelchair accessible with minor modifications and is located near public transportation for easy access.
• The tour features highlights such as St. Nicholas Kirk, the Town House, and the iconic Mercat Cross, providing insights into Aberdeen’s rich history and architecture.
• The tour allows for customization, flexibility in timing, and lifetime access to the app, enabling personalized exploration of Union Street.

Tour Overview and Features

This self-guided audio tour of Aberdeen takes participants on a captivating journey along Union Street, the city’s main thoroughfare.

Lasting about an hour and covering a distance of approximately 2km, the tour begins at Holburn Junction and concludes at the iconic Mercat Cross.

Utilizing the VoiceMap app, the audio plays automatically via smartphone GPS, providing an immersive experience even when offline.

Alongside the narration, the tour offers lifetime access to the app, offline audio, maps, and geodata, ensuring a seamless and flexible exploration.

Suitable for most travelers, the tour is also wheelchair accessible with minor modifications, making it an inclusive experience for all.

Meeting and End Points

The tour begins at the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, located at 484 Union St, Aberdeen AB10 1TS, UK.

After exploring Union Street, the tour ends at the Mercat Cross, situated on Castle St, Aberdeen AB11 5HP, UK.

To get to the starting point, detailed instructions are available after downloading the VoiceMap app.

The key meeting and end points are:

1. Start: Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, 484 Union St, Aberdeen AB10 1TS, UK
2. End: Mercat Cross, Castle St, Aberdeen AB11 5HP, UK
3. Detailed instructions provided through the VoiceMap app

Accessibility and Participation

The tour is wheelchair accessible with small modifications, making it available to most travelers.

It’s located near public transportation, allowing easy access for visitors.

While infants must sit on laps, the tour is suitable for a wide range of participants.

The walking distance is approximately 2km, with a duration of around 1 hour, excluding any stops.

The self-guided audio tour can be enjoyed at one’s own pace, providing flexibility and the opportunity to pause for coffee, snacks, or photography along the way.

User Reviews and Feedback

Travelers have provided a wealth of feedback on the Aberdeen’s Union Street Audio Tour, with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on 9 reviews.

The positive feedback highlights the tour’s flexibility, informative content, and entertaining narratives. Some users noted minor glitches due to construction, but overall they enjoyed the experience.

The tour received:

1. 5 reviews at 4 stars
2. 4 reviews at 5 stars
3. 0 reviews at 3, 2, or 1 star

The combination of high ratings and constructive feedback suggests the audio tour is a well-received and valuable addition to exploring Aberdeen’s Union Street.

Tour Duration and Availability

Although the Aberdeen’s Union Street Audio Tour runs year-round, it’s available for a limited time from April 1, 2019 to June 29, 2025. This self-guided tour can be enjoyed daily from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM, providing visitors with the flexibility to explore Aberdeen’s landmarks at their own pace. Once downloaded, the tour’s offline audio, maps, and geodata can be accessed indefinitely through the VoiceMap app, allowing for a seamless and engaging experience.

Tour Availability
Start Date	April 1, 2019
End Date	June 29, 2025
Days of the Week	Monday to Sunday
Tour Hours	12:00 AM – 11:59 PM

Starting the Tour

Commencing the self-guided audio tour begins at the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments located at 484 Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1TS, UK.

After downloading the VoiceMap app, visitors can access the detailed starting instructions.

The tour then guides participants through the following steps:

1. Arrive at the meeting point and ensure the VoiceMap app is ready to start the tour.
2. Press play and follow the app’s directions, which will automatically trigger the audio commentary based on the user’s location.
3. Explore the sights along Union Street, pausing for photos, coffee, or snacks as desired, while the audio provides informative and entertaining narratives.

Highlights Along the Route

As visitors stroll along Union Street, they’ll be treated to a variety of architectural gems and historic landmarks that showcase Aberdeen’s rich heritage.

The towering St. Nicholas Kirk, dating back to the 12th century, stands as a testament to the city’s medieval roots.

Nearby, the majestic Town House, with its distinctive Renaissance-style facades, serves as the seat of local government.

Further down the route, the iconic Mercat Cross, a historical symbol of Aberdeen’s civic pride, marks the end of the tour.

Along the way, the audio guide provides fascinating insights into the buildings’ histories and the people who shaped this vibrant city over the centuries.

Customizing Your Experience

The self-guided audio tour allows visitors to customize their experience along Union Street. Participants can pause the tour at any time to explore local shops, grab a bite to eat, or snap photos.

The tour also provides:

1. Flexible timing – Visitors can complete the tour at their own pace, taking breaks as needed.
2. Offline access – The audio plays automatically, so users don’t need an internet connection during the walk.
3. Lifetime access – The tour can be revisited anytime, allowing for repeat experiences or sharing with friends.

These features enable travelers to personalize their journey, creating a memorable and tailored exploration of Aberdeen’s iconic Union Street.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tour Available in Multiple Languages?

The tour is available in English only. The audio guide plays automatically via the VoiceMap app, so it doesn’t offer multilingual options. Participants will need to have a good understanding of English to fully enjoy the self-guided experience.

Can I Purchase the Tour as a Gift for Others?

The tour can be purchased as a gift for others. Once purchased, the recipient can download the VoiceMap app and access the self-guided audio tour at their convenience. The tour makes a great personalized gift for those interested in exploring Aberdeen.

Are There Any Discounts or Package Deals Available?

Unfortunately, the tour does not currently offer any discounts or package deals. However, users can enjoy the flexibility of purchasing the tour for themselves or as a gift for others to explore Aberdeen at their own pace.

How Detailed Is the Historical Information Provided?

The tour provides detailed historical information about the key sites and landmarks along the route, offering an in-depth look at Aberdeen’s rich history and architecture through engaging audio narratives. The content is informative and tailored to enhance the self-guided experience.

Can I Bring My Pet on the Tour?

According to the information provided, pets are not explicitly mentioned as being allowed on the tour. However, the tour is described as wheelchair accessible, suggesting it may accommodate small assistance animals. It’s best to confirm with the tour operator before bringing a pet.

Recap

Aberdeen’s Union Street audio tour offers a captivating exploration of the city’s historic heart. With automatic GPS-triggered narrations, visitors can discover notable landmarks at their own pace, making it an accessible and flexible choice for all. Whether strolling leisurely or seeking a deeper dive into Aberdeen’s rich heritage, this self-guided tour provides an engaging and enlightening experience.