Derry

Derry or Londonderry (Irish: Doire) is the second city of Northern Ireland, with a population of 85,000 in 2021. It's on the estuary of the River Foyle and historically within County Londonderry, which is no longer a unit of governance so the city is now part of Derry and Strabane District. It's on the border with County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, and its city walls reflect its frontier status. Derry is a fascinating destination with in-your-face history.

Accept at the outset that you will occasionally use the wrong name, or rather a right name in the wrong company, and be thunderously corrected. The multiple names of this city reflect its deep layers of history.

Doire is Irish for "oak grove". Glaciers gouged out the fjord of Lough Foyle, and as they retreated the Atlantic lowlands became carpeted in oak forest. Oak was essential so it's a common place-name element: Edenderry, Durrow, Kildare, Adare, and so on. Oak timber was needed for ships, carts, houses, furniture, fences . . . but even more it was needed to make charcoal to fire furnaces for metal-working and glass-blowing. (Coal was too dirty, and coke hadn't been invented.) A monastic settlement grew up at Doire at the head of the lough, while the forests were felled at a rate worthy of a Brazilian cattle tycoon. Meanwhile this northwest region of Ireland remained under Gaelic rule, rebuffing the Vikings, the Normans and the Tudors, until in 1603 Gaelic power was broken by the Nine Years War - almost. But in 1608 a diehard Gaelic noble rebelled, and the city was burned. The rebels were soon hunted down but the government were determined to prevent any repeat. Their astonishing solution was to outsource the place to a London business consortium - how come Nicosia or Sarajevo never thought of this?

Londonderry is the city they ringed with stout walls, soon put to the test. The consortium, "The Honourable The Irish Society", divvied up the area between their twelve leading merchant companies, and colonised it with loyal Protestant settlers mostly from Scotland. The walls were first tested in 1641 in the Civil Wars when Gaelic insurgents were repulsed. In 1649 Londonderry supported Cromwell and parliament, and withstood a siege by the Royalists. In "The Glorious Revolution" the city supported the Protestant King William but was attacked by Jacobites: on 7 Dec 1688 thirteen Apprentice Boys famously locked shut the city gates with a slam that echoes yet throughout Northern Ireland. On 18 April 1689 King James and his army began a siege that lasted 105 terrible days - "No Surrender!" - until relief ships broke through up the Foyle. And thus Londonderry was "the maiden city", never taken, and with an uncompromising tradition to uphold.

Derry remained in common use, and was the name of its Protestant and RC bishoprics. The big sectarian divide came in 1921, when Ireland was partitioned - six counties including Londonderry remained in the UK, while 26 including Donegal became part of the Republic. A "hard" border suddenly appeared at the west edge of the city, blighting both sides, while cultural borders hardened within it. "The Troubles" escalated in the 1970s, especially after the massacre of Bloody Sunday. In 1984 the city changed its name back to Derry, insofar as it was empowered to do so, but its Royal Charter of 1662 trumps this. The name you uttered became a badge of allegiance.

Stroke City was one mocking term for the hybrid "Derry / Londonderry", as used on transport and other facilities that were trying to be even-handed; it was also a nod towards Ulster's unhealthy lifestyle. Really, is this the most important thing for this city to obsess about? Unemployment, rust-belt industry, paramilitary crime, dysfunctional politics, drug misuse... The turning point was the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Peace and investment gradually returned and Derry, like Belfast, was able to relaunch itself as a tourist destination. "Splodgederry" is the place you might approach by road, as "London-" is often daubed out on signs. To avoid ambiguity these pages mostly use "Derry" for the city and "Londonderry" for the county, but note the opening sentence above. The county name was never changed, and since these have been abolished as units of governance it must remain County Londonderry.

Derry Girls (2018-2022, available on Channel 4/Netflix) is a dark coming-of-age sitcom set in 1990s Derry during the late Troubles and Good Friday referendum. Following the lives and families of five teenagers, who all attend a Catholic girls' school, it intersperses teen chaos and '90s nostalgia with poignant historical moments.

55.042778-7.1619441 City of Derry Airport (LDY  ^IATA), Eglinton BT47 3GY (7 miles east of city on A2). Loganair fly from Glasgow and London Heathrow. Ryanair fly from Birmingham and Manchester. Charter flights ply to the Med in summer. Buses stop on the main road 200 yards from the terminal, see Get Around. A taxi to Derry might take 20 min; they await incoming flights, otherwise call them from the yellow phones as you come out of Arrivals.  (updated Sep 2026)

You could also fly into Belfast City or International Airport, or Dublin, all with car hire and public transport. Aircoach 705X runs hourly from Dublin city centre and airport to Belfast Grand Central, with alternate buses continuing to Belfast International Airport and Derry city.

Donegal Airport on the northwest coast has flights from Dublin and Glasgow. Driving will take 90 min.

Trains run hourly, daily between 7AM and 9PM from Belfast Grand Central via Antrim (for International Airport), Ballymena, Coleraine, Castlerock and Bellarena, taking two hours to Derry. The last stretch of line along the coast from Castlerock is very scenic. Change at Coleraine for trains to Ulster University and Portrush, and for buses along the Antrim coast to Bushmills, Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle.

54.993018-7.312742 Londonderry Waterside Station is east bank of the River Foyle. Walk across the Craigavon Bridge or the Peace Bridge or take the bus to city centre.

From Belfast city and ferry port the direct route is M2 / A6, but there are several scenic alternatives depending on how much of the Antrim Coast you want to take in.

From Dublin take M1 to the N33 for Ardee, then N2 north via Monaghan to the border, then A5 via Omagh and Strabane.

Road signs south of the border read "Derry". Those north of the border call it "Londonderry" but are often vandalised. It's as much mischief as political, so don't be surprised to encounter a sign for London Zoo.

Goldliner 212 runs from Belfast Grand Central, taking two hours. It’s every 20 min M-F and hourly Sa Su.

Goldliner 273 from Belfast takes a longer route south of Lough Neagh via Lurgan, Dungannon, Omagh and Strabane.

Goldliner 234 runs from Coleraine, taking 75 min via Limavady, Ballykelly and Derry Airport. There are 7 buses M-F, 4 Sa and 2 Su. In term-time they start from Ulster University near Coleraine.

Ulsterbus 98 / 102 runs from Strabane (1 hour), and Ulsterbus 144 from Limavady (also 1 hour).

Goldliner / Bus Éireann X3 / X4 runs 4 times a day from Dublin Busáras and Airport, taking 4 hr 30 min either via Monaghan and Omagh or via Armagh, Dungannon and Cookstown.

Expressway 64 runs every two hours from Galway via Tuam, Knock, Sligo, Ballyshannon, Donegal Town and Letterkenny, then another 30 min brings it into Derry.

54.9967-7.31853 Foyle Street Buscentre is at the foot of city centre.

East of the River Foyle is the district of Waterside, predominantly Unionist. The railway station is here and to reach city centre you either take the hourly bus, or walk across Craigavon Bridge which carries the main road, or walk via the Peace Bridge downstream.

The bus station, main city and areas of most interest are Cityside, west of the Foyle and mostly nationalist. The city has some steep streets but is compact and walkable. Suburbs and industry stretch out beyond.

Taxis wait at the bus and railway stations but you're unlikely to need one. You need your own wheels to explore the countryside, such as Grianan of Aileach prehistoric fort or the Donegal coast of Lough Foyle.

Londonderry is the only city in Ireland with its walls intact, and one of the finest examples in Europe. They were built 1613-1618 by "The Honourable the Irish Society" to defend settlers from England and Scotland. They're 1.3 km / 0.8 miles in circumference, ranged over the crag that rises from Guildhall to St Columb's. They're mostly over 4 m / 13 ft high and wide, with a walkway giving great views over the city, free to stroll with multiple access points. Originally there were four gates: Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Then Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate were added later.

• Guildhall, Guildhall St BT48 7BB (opposite Tower Museum), ☏ +44 28 7137 6510. Daily 11AM–4PM. Built in 1890, this fine building is where the city council meet. It's just outside the city walls, and for decades its councillors saw their role as shutting the Catholics out of housing and jobs as effectively as the walls shut out King James. It therefore became a target for nationalists and was twice bombed. It contains a museum exhibit on the history of Derry, a small exhibit on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and houses the Nobel, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr peace prizes of John Hume. In summer there are guided tours, £3. Free. (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9974-7.32091 Tower Museum, Union Hall Place BT48 6LU, ☏ +44 28 7137-2411. Daily 9AM–5PM. Formerly the city's main museum. The collections are now transferring to the DNA museum east of the river (see below) so there’s limited content. Adult £6, conc £4, child £3.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9954-7.323942 Siege Museum (Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall), 13 Society Street BT48 6PJ, ☏ +44 28 7126 1219. M-Sa 10AM–4PM. This is the fraternity house of Apprentice Boy societies worldwide. It also houses the Siege Museum detailing the history of the Boys and their prominent role in the 1689 Siege. Adult £6, conc £5.  (updated Sep 2026)
• First Derry Presbyterian Church is an imposing building north side of the Siege Museum, opened in 1780 and embellished in the 19th century. It has a fine wooden ceiling and stain glass windows.
• St Augustine’s Church south side of the Siege Museum is a neo-gothic Church of Ireland building of 1872.
• 54.9939-7.32313 St Columb's Cathedral, 17 London St BT48 6RQ, ☏ +44 28 7126 7313. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 10-11AM, 3-4PM. This is the cathedral of the Church of Ireland (Anglican) Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. It was built in 1633 and extended in the 18th and 19th centuries.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Derry Girls Mural is painted on the gable end of Badgers Bar at 18 Orchard St, 100 yards south of the bus station. It depicts the five protagonists from the TV sitcom Derry Girls, Clare, Orla, Erin, Michelle and James.

This is the valley immediately west of the heights of the walled city, then the ground rises again onto the Creggan estate. A couple of miles further across the fields is the Irish border. Night after night during the Troubles the Bogside was the stuff of newsreels, with protests, vehicles on fire, shootings, and makeshift barricades against police and army trucks. It's an essential part of visiting Derry and the area of interest is within a short walk of the centre, and safe in daylight.

• 54.9971-7.32584 Museum of Free Derry, 55 Glenfada Park BT48 9DR, ☏ +44 28 7136 0880. M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM–4PM. Excellent museum of the Northern Ireland conflict: the march of civil rights, Bloody Sunday and its long aftermath from the republican side. Walking tours of the Bogside start from here. Adult £10, conc £8, child £7.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9958-7.32685 Free Derry Corner is the junction of Rossville Rd / Lecky St with Creggan Rd. A monument marks the bounds of "Free Derry", the fiercely nationalist quarter of town during the height of the Troubles. Building gable-ends around are painted with the "Bogside Murals" of political art, and another monument commemorates the peaceful protestors gunned down by the British army on Bloody Sunday. Today it’s co-opted for various political movements and memorials via permit at various times of the year, such as for LGBTQ2+ rights and Palestinian solidarity.
• James Connolly House is a small free museum at 8 Chamberlain St at the east edge of Bogside, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Connolly (Séamas Ó Conghaile, 1868-1916) was a labour activist from Edinburgh who moved to Ireland and sought to rid the country not only of British but of capitalists, landlords and financiers. He was prominent in the Easter Rising and was executed by firing squad along with six other ringleaders.
• 54.999958-7.328466 St Eugene's Cathedral, Creggan St BT48 9AP, ☏ +44 28 7126 2894. Daily 7:30AM-8PM. This is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the Diocese of Derry, built in neo-Gothic style from 1849 to 1873. As with other RC cathedrals in Ireland, famine and penury held up the work, and much of the funding was raised in the USA. The bell tower and spire were added in 1903. There were subsequent renovations, the latest major work being in 2015.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9927-7.33077 Peacemakers’ Museum, 128 Lecky Rd BT48 6NP, ☏ +44 28 7126 2812. M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 10AM–4PM. Intended as a follow-on from the Free Derry Museum, this is about recent oral history. It’s within the Gasyards Community Centre. Adult £8.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Long Tower Church (aka St Columba’s) is 100 yards up the hill from the Peacemakers’ Museum, as Lecky Rd climbs east out of Bogside. It’s an elegant RC church of 1780, with a heritage centre.

• 54.9908-7.3218 Foyle Valley Railway Museum, 1 Foyle Road BT48 6SQ, ☏ +44 28 7136 2424. This was built as the terminus of the GNR Irish standard gauge line from Omagh, but most of the exhibition is about the narrow-gauge railways that weaved and wended across Donegal. It’s now run by Destined, a charity for adults with learning difficulties.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.998-7.31639 Peace Bridge is the footbridge spanning the river between Foyle Embankment city-side and Ebrington Square waterside. An artful modern structure of 2011, it symbolises what you'd expect it to symbolise, but more practically it greatly improves pedestrian access between the two banks.
• Derry North Atlantic Museum (DNA), Ebrington Square (east end of Peace Bridge). Scheduled to open in Spring 2027, this is to be the city's main museum. It covers prehistory, the 6th-century monastery, the Spanish Armada and siege of 1689, the Great Famine, the partition of Ireland, the Troubles of 1969-1994, and present times. Expect some disruption at Tower Museum as collections transfer. (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0519-7.338410 Wild Ireland, Burnfoot F93 KN7X, ☏ +353 74 971 9890. Daily 10AM-5PM. Spacious wildlife park, acting as a refuge / rehab zoo for northern species such as bears, bison and wolves. Adult €19.36, conc or child €15.17.  (updated Sep 2026)
• The Sanctuary / IOSAS Centre is 500 m east of Wild Ireland, at Derryvane F93 F104. It mainly hosts retreats but you can stroll and contemplate in the Celtic Prayer Garden, open W-F 9:30-4PM, Su 12:30-4:30PM.
• 55.016667-7.43333311 Grianan of Aileach, Burt, Co Donegal. 24 hours. Eochaid, the fair-haired, vindictive; he ordered these a rath to build, Aileach.... according to the Book of Lecan. This is a sturdy 6th / 7th century ringfort atop Greenan Mountain, with walls 4.5 m thick and 5 m high. It's built over earlier structures going back to the Iron Age, and was inhabited as late as 1050 AD. Free.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0196-7.502212 Burt Castle is a crumbling Z-plan turret built in the 16th century, a stronghold of the O'Doherty clan. In 1608 it was the seat of the rebellion that led to the burning of Derry. It's on private farmland with no public access.
• See Buncrana for Inch Wildfowl Reserve and Lisfannon Beach.

• Millennium Forum has the city's largest auditorium, with music, theatre and panto.
• The Playhouse by St Columb's Cathedral has theatre and music.
• Cinema: Omniplex is in Quayside Shopping Centre.
• 54.991-7.3361 Derry City FC, Ryan McBride Stadium, 155 Lone Moor Rd BT48 9LA, ☏ +44 28 7137 3111. "The Candystripes" play soccer in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the Republic's top tier; they are the only participants from Northern Ireland. The stadium has a capacity of 3700. The playing season is April-Oct, with games usually on Friday evening.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Institute FC also play soccer at Ryan McBride Stadium. They play in the NIFL Championship, the second tier in Northern Ireland, playing Sep-April.

• Gaelic games: Derry GAA play Gaelic football and hurling. Their home ground is Celtic Park (capacity 18,000) on Lone Moor Rd by the soccer stadium.
• Golf: nearby courses are Faughan Valley on A2 northeast, City of Derry on A5 south, and Foyle on A2 north along the west river bank.

• St Patrick's Day is on 17 March whenever that falls in the week. It's a public holiday, with parades and general hoop-de-hoop.
• City of Derry Jazz Festival is next held 30 April - 4 May 2026.
• Foyle Maritime Festival has tall ships, clipper races and shore events, next held 25-28 July 2026.
• Maiden City Festival commemorates the siege of 1688, after the Protestant apprentice boys slammed the city doors against James II. The next is probably 1-8 Aug 2026, tbc.
• Halloween Carnival is on the last weekend of October when the clocks change.
• Foyle Film Festival is held in the last two weeks of November.

• Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster in the city. The main campus is just north of Coleraine.

• Foyleside is the large retail mall just south of the bus station, and Richmond Centre is a block west.
• Quayside Shopping Centre is 200 yards north of Peace Bridge.
• Walled City Market is held in Guildhall Square 11AM–5PM on the first Saturday of the month.
• Cross-border shopping is sometimes a feature, whenever pound/euro rates or sales tax differences draw shoppers from the Republic.

• Fiorentini, 67 Strand Rd BT48 7BW (block north of Quayside Centre), ☏ +44 28 7126 0653. W-Su noon-4PM. Trad Italian cafe serving great value meals and ice-cream. (updated Sep 2026)
• Guapo, 69 Strand Rd BT48 7AD (next to Fiorentini), ☏ +44 28 7136 5585. M-Sa noon-9PM, Su 1-9PM. Burrito bar with great selection of Mexican food. Takeaway or small sit-in area available. (updated Sep 2026)
• Doherty's Home Bakery, 23 William St BT48 6EP (200 yards west of Guildhall), ☏ +44 28 7126 9376. M–Sa 7:30AM-4:30PM. Bakery with four outlets in town, but their cafe on William Street is the best place to go after walking around the walls and Bogside area for a cheap and tasty lunch. The cafe is behind the main bakery. (updated Sep 2026)

• Bella Mia (formerly Danano Forno), 4 Lower Clarendon St BT48 7AH (by Quayside Centre), ☏ +44 28 7167 0188. Daily 4–11PM. Pleasant inexpensive Italian. (updated Sep 2026)
• Mandarin Palace, Lower Clarendon St BT48 7AW (next to Bella Mia), ☏ +44 28 7137 3656. M-Sa 4-11PM, Su 1-11PM. Long-established Chinese restaurant, food is so-so. (updated Sep 2026)
• Umi is Asian cuisine at 57 Strand Rd next to Quayside Centre, open Tu 5-9PM, W-Sa noon-3PM, 5-9:30PM. There’s another outlet within Foyleside Centre.
• Mama Masala is tandoori and pizza 100 yards north of Quayside Centre at 24a Queens Quay BT48 7AS. It’s open M-Th 4:30-9:30PM, F Sa 1:30-10:30PM, Su 1-9PM.
• Old Docks Bar & Grill next to Mama Masala is open daily noon-9PM.
• 55.0029-7.32151 Quaywest, 20A Queens Quay BT48 7AS, ☏ +44 28 7137 0977. M-F noon-3PM, 5-9PM, Sa Su noon-9PM. Wine bar and European restaurant.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Brown’s in Town is trad Irish fare at 21 Strand Rd, open F-M.
• Gaza is halal Middle Eastern food at 6 Sackville St, open Su-F noon-midnight.
• El Tapas Grá is at 7 Waterloo Place, open W-F & Su 5-9PM, Sa 3-10PM.
• Badgers Bar and Restaurant, 18 Orchard St BT48 6EG (by Foyleside Centre), ☏ +44 28 7136 3306. Daily noon-1AM. This is the one with the Derry Girls mural. Good trad bar for food and drink. (updated Sep 2026)
• Spaghetti Junction is at 46 William St, open W-Su 5-9PM.
• The Exchange, Queens Quay BT48 7AY (block north of Guildhall), ☏ +44 28 7127 3990. Tu-F noon-3PM, 5-9PM, Sa noon-9PM, Su 2-8PM. Modern Irish and European fare. (updated Sep 2026)
• Mekong is at 7 Magazine St, open Tu-Th 5-9PM, F Sa 3-9PM.
• Siam Thai, 12A Shipquay St BT48 6DN, ☏ +44 7831 737267. Th-Tu 5:30-10:30PM. Yummy Thai food within the city walls. (updated Sep 2026)
• Moksh is an Indian restaurant near the railway station at 162 Spencer Rd, open W-M 4:30-9:30PM.
• Mena’s Pizzeria is at 119 Spencer Rd, open M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 10AM-8PM.
• Curry Leaf is South Indian cuisine at 105 Spencer Rd, open Tu-Su 5-9:30PM.

• 54.9932-7.31972 Cedar, 32 Carlisle Rd BT48 6JW, ☏ +44 28 7137 3868. W-Sa 5-9PM. Lebanese restaurant, lots of mezze and vegetarian dishes. Very small restaurant so booking is advised. BYOB, £2 corkage.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Artis, 29 Craft Village BT48 6AR (by Tower Museum), ☏ +44 28 7126 1212. W Th 5-9PM, F Sa noon-2PM, 5-9PM. High-end dining venue, great reviews. (updated Sep 2026)
• Brown's Bonds Hill, 1 Bonds Hill BT47 6DW (opposite railway station), ☏ +44 28 7134 5180, eat@brownsrestaurant.com. Tu 5-9PM, W Th noon-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM. Excellent dining on Waterside. Their central outlet is Browns in Town. (updated Sep 2026)

The main bar strip is Waterloo Street, a steep street just north of the walls.

• Sandinos, Water St BT48 6BQ (next to bus station), ☏ +44 28 7130 9297, ann@sandinos.com. Daily 12:30PM-1AM. Latin America-themed bar named for Augusto César Sandino (1895-1934), who rebelled against the US occupation of Nicaragua. The US backed the dictator Somoza, who had Sandino shot. No food. (updated Sep 2026)
• Blackbird, 24 Foyle St BT48 6AL (next to bus station), ☏ +44 28 7136 2111. Daily 11:30AM-midnight. Popular city centre bar with a good selection of craft beer and cocktails, also serves pub food. Live music most evenings. (updated Sep 2026)
• Guildhall Taphouse, 4 Custom House St BT48 6AA (north side of Guildhall), ☏ +44 28 7136 4888. M-Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-midnight. Gastropub and craft beer bar. Live music at weekends. (updated Sep 2026)
• Peadar O'Donnell's, 63 Waterloo St BT48 6HD (block west of Tower Museum), ☏ +44 28 7126 7295. M-Sa 11:30AM-1:30AM, Su 12:30PM-1:30AM. Trad Irish bar with a great atmosphere and live music. Peadar Ó Domhnaill (1893-1986) was a notable Donegal republican and socialist. (updated Sep 2026)
• The Gweedore, 61 Waterloo St BT48 6HD (next to Peadar O'Donnell’s). Geared purely to live music but more contemporary than Peadar O'Donnell’s. Upstairs is a nightclub. (updated Sep 2026)
• Tracey’s Bar is round the corner at 48 Waterloo Place.
• Oakgrove Bar, 88 Bishop St BT48 6QE, ☏ +44 28 7141 4240. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 12:30PM-midnight. Near Brandywell Stadium, this bar is busy on Derry City FC matchdays. (updated Sep 2026)
• Walled City Brewery, 70 Ebrington St BT47 6FA (by DNA Museum), ☏ +44 28 7134 3336, Info@walledcitybrewery.com. M-Th 5-8PM, F Sa 1-9PM, Su 1-5PM. Microbrewery with attached restaurant. Splendid food. (updated Sep 2026)
• The Quiet Man Whiskey is blended on Rossdowney Road on Waterside, but they don’t distill here.
• Northbound Brewery is on Campsie Industrial Estate next to the airport, no tours. You can buy online but they only deliver within the city area.
• Otterbank Brewery is on the border at Muff, no tours.

• Iona Inn is 200 yards south of the railway station by Craigavon Bridge.
• Bishop Gate B&B is at 150 Bishop St.
• 55.014-7.37641 Groarty House and Manor, 62 Groarty Rd BT48 0JY, ☏ +44 28 7126 1403. Smart welcoming guesthouse west of city. B&B double £90.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 54.996-7.32272 Maldron Hotel, Butcher Street BT48 6HL, ☏ +44 28 7137 1000. Modern hotel, very central within the city walls. B&B double £120.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0145-7.31253 Da Vinci's Hotel, 15 Culmore Road BT48 8JB, ☏ +44 28 7127 9111, info@davincishotel.com. Modern hotel with restaurant, night club, function space and meeting rooms. Free car parking. B&B double £140.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9993-7.32044 City Hotel Derry, Queens Quay BT48 7AS, ☏ +44 28 7136 5800, reservations@cityhotelderry.com. Modern hotel on the quay with spacious guest rooms, conference and event venues and dining. B&B double £150.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Holiday Inn Express is next to City Hotel at 31 Strand Rd.
• Hotel Number 9 is a no-frills contactless hotel at 9 Strand Rd.
• Shipquay Hotel is at 15 Shipquay St BT48 6DJ.
• Quay 8 is at 8 Shipquay St.
• Legenderry is a B&B at 64 William St.
• Chamberlain House is at 29 Chamberlain St on Bogside.
• Abbey Guesthouse is at 4 Abbey St on Bogside.
• 54.9819-7.3375 Everglades Hotel, 41 Prehen Road BT47 2NH, ☏ +44 28 7132 1066. Pleasant hotel 2 miles south of city centre on the east bank of the river. It's part of the Hastings chain so it often hosts their coach parties. B&B double £130.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0095-7.27886 Waterfoot Hotel, Caw Roundabout BT47 6TB, ☏ +44 28 7134 5500, reception@waterfoothotel.com. Pleasant place 3 miles northeast of city centre. B&B double £120.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0302-7.21877 Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel, 68 Clooney Rd, Campsey BT47 3PA, ☏ +44 28 7186 0606. Comfy efficient hotel on A2 near airport. B&B double £130.  (updated Sep 2026)

• 55.0013-7.32428 The Merchant's House, 16 Queen St BT48 7EQ, ☏ +44 28 7126 9691. Charming old house, dog-friendly. B&B double £180.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9948-7.3239 Bishop's Gate Hotel, 24 Bishop Street BT48 6PP, ☏ +44 28 7114 0300. Swish central hotel with good restaurant. B&B double £230.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9692-7.270110 Beech Hill Country House Hotel, 32 Ardmore Road BT47 3QP, ☏ +44 28 7134 9279. Bill and Hilary Clinton stayed in this plush hotel. It's nowadays a wedding venue and doesn't accommodate individuals.  (updated Sep 2026)

Derry was scarred by the late 20th century Troubles, and it remains an "interface area" where Republican and Loyalist communities co-exist and occasionally kick off. But it's become a normal city by British and Irish standards, and hasn't seen the need for the kind of "Peace Wall" that still separates neighbourhoods in Belfast. There are down-at-heel districts where you have no reason to go, and aggressive drunks whose politics you need not debate, same as anywhere else. Safeguard your valuables and vehicle, beware traffic, and use your common sense; you'll do fine.

To call a number in Northern Ireland from the Republic, use area code 048 with no country code. The +44 28 versions given above will work but incur international rates.

As of July 2026, Derry has 5G from all UK carriers, which extends some miles into the Republic, especially along Lough Foyle west shore.

It also picks up an Irish 4G signal from Eir and Three, and a mobile signal from Vodafone.

• The County Londonderry coast is scenic: Castlerock has the ruin of an eccentric mansion and "temple". Portstewart is the main beach resort.
• The Antrim coast east of Portrush has the big attractions of Bushmills Distillery, Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Bridge. It's very touristy on summer weekends.
• County Donegal has a rugged coastline and marks the start of the Wild Atlantic Way: you pick up the signposts for this as you cross the border at Muff.

Letterkenny ← continues as ←	W  E	→ Limavady → Coleraine
END ←	N  S	→ Strabane → Dublin
END ←	NW  SE	→ Magherafelt → Belfast