//
City in Northern Ireland
Photo: Andreas F. Borchert, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
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.
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.
Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall
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.
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.
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.
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.
Intended as a follow-on from the Free Derry Museum, this is about recent oral history. It’s within the Gasyards Community Centre.
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.
DNA
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.
Spacious wildlife park, acting as a refuge / rehab zoo for northern species such as bears, bison and wolves.
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.
"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.
Trad Italian cafe serving great value meals and ice-cream.
Burrito bar with great selection of Mexican food. Takeaway or small sit-in area available.
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.
formerly Danano Forno
Pleasant inexpensive Italian.
Long-established Chinese restaurant, food is so-so.
Wine bar and European restaurant.
This is the one with the Derry Girls mural. Good trad bar for food and drink.
Modern Irish and European fare.
Yummy Thai food within the city walls.
Lebanese restaurant, lots of mezze and vegetarian dishes. Very small restaurant so booking is advised. BYOB, £2 corkage.
High-end dining venue, great reviews.
Excellent dining on Waterside. Their central outlet is Browns in Town.
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.
Popular city centre bar with a good selection of craft beer and cocktails, also serves pub food. Live music most evenings.
Gastropub and craft beer bar. Live music at weekends.
Trad Irish bar with a great atmosphere and live music. Peadar Ó Domhnaill (1893-1986) was a notable Donegal republican and socialist.
Geared purely to live music but more contemporary than Peadar O'Donnell’s. Upstairs is a nightclub.
Near Brandywell Stadium, this bar is busy on Derry City FC matchdays.
Microbrewery with attached restaurant. Splendid food.
Smart welcoming guesthouse west of city.
Modern hotel, very central within the city walls.
Modern hotel with restaurant, night club, function space and meeting rooms. Free car parking.
Modern hotel on the quay with spacious guest rooms, conference and event venues and dining.
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.
Pleasant place 3 miles northeast of city centre.
Comfy efficient hotel on A2 near airport.
Charming old house, dog-friendly.
Swish central hotel with good restaurant.
Bill and Hilary Clinton stayed in this plush hotel. It's nowadays a wedding venue and doesn't accommodate individuals.
By train
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.
By road
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.
By bus
Goldliner 212 runs from Belfast Grand Central, taking two hours. It’s every 20 min M-F and hourly Sa Su.
East of the River Foyle is the district of Waterside, predominantly Unionist.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Derry, Derry and Strabane · Regional · LDY
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Derry and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsA complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.