Derry / Londonderry

Northern Ireland's Compact Walled City on the River Foyle

Jul 2, 2007

Derry / Londonderry is known as much for being a walled city as for the violence during the Troubles and for Bloody Sunday in the Bogside. Today Derry is different.

People in Derry are quick to tell you they’re much friendlier than the folk in Belfast and that there is almost no political tension in their town (unlike Belfast).

Derry certainly has a mysterious charm of its own, maybe it is because of those incredible walls or just because it feels like a small town that suddenly became a city and nobody quite knew what to do about it. Try parking anywhere in downtown Derry and you’ll understand this statement. Once you eventually find parking, your wallet will feel a whole lot lighter as you walk out.

The Walls of Derry

The city of Derry, Doire or Londonderry is Ireland’s only remaining walled city and offers 1500 years of social, cultural and religious history. You can walk along the great 17th-century walls, about a mile round and 18 feet thick, which withstood several sieges and even today are unbroken and complete.

The walls form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town of Derry, which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan to this day of four main streets radiating from the Diamond to four gateways - Bishop's Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Shipquay Gate and Butcher's Gate. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columb.

The main thoroughfare, Shipquay Street, is very steep, with narrow little streets running off it and a craft village tucked in behind the O'Doherty tower. From the quay behind the Guildhall hundreds of thousands of Irish emigrants sailed to a new life in the New World.

When coming to Derry it is advisable to sort out your accommodation before arriving – the city is small and compact, and sometimes seems to be bursting at its seams.

Derry has great cozy pubs but it also offers choice shopping. Foyleside Shopping Center - named the Best and Biggest Shopping Center in Northern Ireland, the Richmond Shopping Center and for the alternative gifts, don’t forget the unique Craft Village.

Derry/Londonderry offers a wealth of tours - walking, bus, taxi and cruise boat tours.

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau Guided Walking Tours

Incorporating the city’s past and present the DVCB tours are a fascinating recollection of events, which have led to the vibrant city of culture and heritage which exists today. Contact Derry Tourist Information Centre.

Bogside and Derry Wall Mural Tours

Irish Tour Guides presents The Cultural Experience tour, which explores the modern political history of Northern Ireland through the murals of the city. This tour takes visitors around the Bogside, which in 1972 became the focus of world news with the worst ever atrocity to hit a European city since WWII on what has been named "Bloody Sunday". They also do a Wall Mural Tour.

Free Derry Tours

Free Derry Tours is a community led initiative offering walking tours of the Bogside and Fountain areas delivered by local guides. Free Derry Tours give the authentic history of the area by those who helped shape it. Departure times: 10.00am and 2.00pm daily from the Museum of Free Derry / Bloody Sunday Centre.

Derry Bus Tours

Well informed guides regale you of stories of past, present and possible future in these open top city bus tours. This is a very good introduction to the city. You get to know the lay of the land and see what you want to spend more time exploring. The buses leave on the hour between 10am an 4 pm from the Tourist Information Center with a pickup at the Guildhall.