I recently attended The Tall Ships event at Aberdeen Harbour, and to say it was a letdown would be an understatement.
While the idea of showcasing these majestic vessels is undoubtedly appealing, the execution left much to be desired. From the overwhelming crowds to the lack of accessibility and educational content, the event failed to live up to expectations.
Below, I’ll detail the key issues that made this experience far from enjoyable.
While the idea of showcasing these majestic vessels is undoubtedly appealing, the execution left much to be desired. From the overwhelming crowds to the lack of accessibility and educational content, the event failed to live up to expectations.
Below, I’ll detail the key issues that made this experience far from enjoyable.
Accessibility Woes: A Struggle for Many
One of the most glaring problems was the sheer inaccessibility of the event, particularly for those with reduced mobility.
The entrance setup was nothing short of absurd.
Visitors were required to start at CastleGate, walk down Marischal Street, take a left at Regent Quay, and continue almost to the Footdee end before reaching the main entrance to the harbour.
For anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues, this was a gruelling trek.
I witnessed a woman struggling to push a wheelchair back up the steep incline of Marischal Street—she even joked that her gym session later that night would be redundant.
There was no shuttle bus or any form of assistance for disabled visitors, which is inexcusable.
You either had to walk, have your wheelchair pushed, or simply not bother.
To give you an idea, I clocked 2.5 miles from CastleGate to the harbour, including the wandering once inside.
For those relying on mobility scooters, the charge would likely run out before making it back up to CastleGate.
The steep inclines of Marischal Street, Market Street, and ShipRow only compounded the issue for anyone trying to return to Union Street or the surrounding areas.
It's clear that accessibility was not a priority for the organisers.
The entrance setup was nothing short of absurd.
Visitors were required to start at CastleGate, walk down Marischal Street, take a left at Regent Quay, and continue almost to the Footdee end before reaching the main entrance to the harbour.
For anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues, this was a gruelling trek.
I witnessed a woman struggling to push a wheelchair back up the steep incline of Marischal Street—she even joked that her gym session later that night would be redundant.
There was no shuttle bus or any form of assistance for disabled visitors, which is inexcusable.
You either had to walk, have your wheelchair pushed, or simply not bother.
To give you an idea, I clocked 2.5 miles from CastleGate to the harbour, including the wandering once inside.
For those relying on mobility scooters, the charge would likely run out before making it back up to CastleGate.
The steep inclines of Marischal Street, Market Street, and ShipRow only compounded the issue for anyone trying to return to Union Street or the surrounding areas.
It's clear that accessibility was not a priority for the organisers.
Crowd Chaos: Too Many People, Too Little Space
The event was plagued by overcrowding, which severely limited what could be seen or enjoyed.
It felt as though the entire city had descended upon the harbour, with no effective crowd management in place.
People were moving in all directions, making it impossible to follow a clear path or queue.
I found myself constantly squeezing past others and bumping into people due to the lack of space—anxiety-inducing, to say the least.
Some attendees seemed oblivious to the need to make way for others, further exacerbating the situation.
The event would have benefited greatly from a ticketing system to control the number of visitors at any given time.
This would have alleviated the overcrowding and allowed for a more pleasant experience
As it stood, the sheer volume of people made it difficult to appreciate the ships or engage with the event in any meaningful way.
A Lack of Engagement and Education
Once inside, the disappointment continued.
There was little to no stimulation beyond simply walking around and looking at the ships.
I had hoped for some interactive elements—perhaps something akin to what Satrosphere offers nearby at Aberdeen Beach.
Instead, it was a passive experience with no hands-on activities or opportunities to learn about the ships.
The organisers missed a golden opportunity to educate visitors.
There was no information about each ship’s purpose, history, or significance.
A simple app or downloadable MP3 with a voiceover narrator could have guided attendees through the exhibits, much like what's done at Peterhead Prison Museum or the Gordon Highlanders Museum.
As it was, the event boiled down to "here are some tall ships, enjoy"—hardly an enriching experience.
I couldn't help but think how much better it would have been if sailors had been on hand to teach visitors some ship-related tasks.
Even something small, like tying knots or handling ropes, would have added an interactive and educational dimension.
Instead, it was all style and no substance.
Overpriced Refreshments and Poor Planning
Another frustration was the exorbitant cost of refreshments.
I paid £3.50 for a small, tasteless cup of tea—daylight robbery, frankly.
The size of the cup was laughable, and the quality didn't justify the price.
To make matters worse, visitors weren't allowed to take drinks around the harbour, likely to prevent littering.
However, on a sweltering day, this policy felt misguided, as it denied people much-needed hydration while navigating the crowds.
Moreover, the event operated on a card-only payment system, which is problematic for those without credit or debit cards.
Children wanting to spend their pocket money on souvenirs, were probably left disappointed.
Additionally, those with bank cards that only work at ATMs were unable to purchase anything.
On a hot day, this meant some visitors couldn't even buy a drink to stay hydrated.
It's a poorly thought-out policy that excludes a portion of the audience.
I paid £3.50 for a small, tasteless cup of tea—daylight robbery, frankly.
The size of the cup was laughable, and the quality didn't justify the price.
To make matters worse, visitors weren't allowed to take drinks around the harbour, likely to prevent littering.
However, on a sweltering day, this policy felt misguided, as it denied people much-needed hydration while navigating the crowds.
Moreover, the event operated on a card-only payment system, which is problematic for those without credit or debit cards.
Children wanting to spend their pocket money on souvenirs, were probably left disappointed.
Additionally, those with bank cards that only work at ATMs were unable to purchase anything.
On a hot day, this meant some visitors couldn't even buy a drink to stay hydrated.
It's a poorly thought-out policy that excludes a portion of the audience.
Organisation and Logistics: A Shambles
The layout and logistics of the event were equally frustrating.
There weren't enough exits, meaning once you were in, it was difficult to leave quickly.
The separation of entry and exit points added to the confusion, and the lack of clear signage made navigation a challenge.
Bag searches were supposedly in operation, according to signs along Regent Quay, but I never had my bag checked, nor did I see anyone else's being inspected.
It's unclear what the purpose of this was, but it seemed more like a token gesture than a genuine security measure.
There weren't enough exits, meaning once you were in, it was difficult to leave quickly.
The separation of entry and exit points added to the confusion, and the lack of clear signage made navigation a challenge.
Bag searches were supposedly in operation, according to signs along Regent Quay, but I never had my bag checked, nor did I see anyone else's being inspected.
It's unclear what the purpose of this was, but it seemed more like a token gesture than a genuine security measure.
Suggestions for Improvement
The event could have been salvaged with some simple changes.
A ticketing system would have controlled the crowds, while interactive activities and informative displays could have made it more engaging.
An app or narrated guide would have provided much-needed context about the ships, and a Shuttle Bus Service would have ensured accessibility for all.
These adjustments would have transformed it from a chaotic disappointment into a worthwhile experience.
A ticketing system would have controlled the crowds, while interactive activities and informative displays could have made it more engaging.
An app or narrated guide would have provided much-needed context about the ships, and a Shuttle Bus Service would have ensured accessibility for all.
These adjustments would have transformed it from a chaotic disappointment into a worthwhile experience.
Advice for Future Visitors
If you're determined to go, I'd strongly advise parking as close to the Footdee area or York Street as possible.
This would save a considerable amount of walking, as the Main Entrance is much nearer to that end than to CastleGate.
Inside the docks, seating was scarce.
I had to squeeze onto the end of a picnic table, joining a lovely couple from England and another family.
Along the boundary wall at the corner of Regent Quay and Market Street, there were some metal folding chairs, but unless you had visible signs of reduced mobility, securing a seat was unlikely.
Bring your own water or juice to avoid the massive queues and high prices at the refreshment vans.
This would save a considerable amount of walking, as the Main Entrance is much nearer to that end than to CastleGate.
Inside the docks, seating was scarce.
I had to squeeze onto the end of a picnic table, joining a lovely couple from England and another family.
Along the boundary wall at the corner of Regent Quay and Market Street, there were some metal folding chairs, but unless you had visible signs of reduced mobility, securing a seat was unlikely.
Bring your own water or juice to avoid the massive queues and high prices at the refreshment vans.
In summary, The Tall Ships at Aberdeen Harbour was a disappointing experience.
The combination of poor accessibility, overcrowding, lack of educational content, and overpriced refreshments made it a frustrating day out.
The event felt like a missed opportunity to showcase these magnificent vessels in a way that was engaging and informative.
If you enjoy walking long distances on a hot day, staring at ships without learning anything about them, and navigating through chaotic crowds, then this event might be for you.
For everyone else, I'd suggest giving it a miss.
The organisers could learn a lot from other local attractions that manage to balance entertainment with education, all while ensuring accessibility for all visitors.
The combination of poor accessibility, overcrowding, lack of educational content, and overpriced refreshments made it a frustrating day out.
The event felt like a missed opportunity to showcase these magnificent vessels in a way that was engaging and informative.
If you enjoy walking long distances on a hot day, staring at ships without learning anything about them, and navigating through chaotic crowds, then this event might be for you.
For everyone else, I'd suggest giving it a miss.
The organisers could learn a lot from other local attractions that manage to balance entertainment with education, all while ensuring accessibility for all visitors.
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