Things to Do in Derry/Londonderry
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Both names for this city are in common use, Derry among nationalist residents, Londonderry among unionists, and this guide uses both together rather than picking a side. It's the only city in Ireland with a complete circuit of city walls still standing, and its 20th-century history is told directly and honestly rather than tucked away. This is the proper guide to things to do here, what things actually cost, when to go, and which bits are worth your time. Five main stops below, plus a quiz at the bottom to see if you were paying attention.
The City Walls
I asked in the quiz what defensive structure this is the only city in Ireland to retain a complete example of, and the answer is its city walls, built between 1613 and 1618 and still forming an essentially unbroken circuit around the old city centre, roughly a mile in total. You can walk the full loop, free, at any time, taking in views down into the Bogside on one side and the River Foyle on the other, genuinely one of the best free things to do anywhere in Northern Ireland.
The walls pass several of the old gates and bastions, and information panels along the route explain the city's layered history, from the original Plantation settlement through to more recent decades.
Best time Any time; daylight for the views, guided evening tours also run
The Bogside Murals
The Bogside area, just outside the walls, is where I asked in the quiz about the turbulent period reflected in its large political murals, the Troubles, the decades of conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s onward. Collectively known as The People's Gallery, twelve large-scale murals painted by the Bogside Artists depict key moments including the Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday, alongside figures like Nelson Mandela, honoured for his own civil rights work.
The Museum of Free Derry, right in the heart of the Bogside, tells this history in detail through first-hand accounts from those who lived through it, a genuinely essential stop if you want more than a surface-level understanding of what the murals depict. A guided walking tour is the best way to get the full context behind each piece.
Getting there A short walk from the city walls, just outside the Bogside
The Peace Bridge
Opened in 2011 and the answer to the third quiz question, this S-shaped pedestrian and cycle bridge crosses the River Foyle to symbolically link the city's two main communities, the largely nationalist Cityside and the largely unionist Waterside. It's become one of the most photographed pieces of modern architecture in Northern Ireland, and walking or cycling across it, particularly at sunset with the city walls lit up behind you, is one of the more reflective things to do in the city.
Ebrington Square, on the Waterside end of the bridge, was once a British Army barracks and is now a public events space, worth a look for how deliberately its former use has been repurposed.
Getting there A short walk from the city walls, crossing the River Foyle
The Tower Museum
Located within the city walls, the Tower Museum houses two permanent exhibitions, The Story of Derry, walking through the city's full history from prehistoric times to the present, and a separate exhibition on the Armada shipwreck La Trinidad Valencera, discovered off the nearby coast. It's a good grounding stop if you want the fuller historical context before or after walking the Bogside murals.
Hours Open daily, check current times
St Columb's Cathedral
One of the first cathedrals built in the British Isles after the Reformation, completed in 1633, with genuinely striking stained glass windows and war memorials inside telling their own layer of the city's history. It's free to enter and sits within the city walls, an easy addition to a walking route that already includes the walls themselves and the Guildhall.
The Guildhall, a neo-Gothic civic building visible from much of the city, hosts exhibitions and events and is also free to visit when open, worth checking what's on before you plan your route.
Best time to visit Derry/Londonderry
May to September gives the most reliable weather for walking the city walls and crossing the Peace Bridge, and it's when guided walking tours run most frequently. The city's indoor attractions, the Tower Museum, the Museum of Free Derry, St Columb's Cathedral, all work fine whatever the weather's doing, so a wet day doesn't rule out a good visit.
Getting around Derry/Londonderry
The old city, contained within its walls, is compact and entirely walkable, the Tower Museum, St Columb's Cathedral and the Guildhall all sit within a few minutes of each other. The Bogside and the Peace Bridge are both a short walk beyond the walls in different directions. Derry~Londonderry's train station sits on the Waterside, a walk or short taxi ride across the Peace Bridge or Craigavon Bridge from the city centre.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Derry/Londonderry worth visiting?
- Yes, it's the only city in Ireland with a complete circuit of city walls, and it tells its own 20th-century history directly and honestly through the Bogside murals and the Museum of Free Derry, a genuinely different kind of city visit.
- How many days do you need in Derry/Londonderry?
- A day covers the city walls, the Bogside murals and the Peace Bridge comfortably. Add a second day if you want to properly explore the Tower Museum and the Museum of Free Derry without rushing.
- Is Derry/Londonderry expensive?
- No, it's one of the more affordable city breaks in the UK and Ireland, and several of the best things to do, the city walls, the murals, the Peace Bridge, cost nothing at all.
- What is Derry/Londonderry famous for?
- Being the only city in Ireland with a complete circuit of city walls, the Bogside murals depicting its role in the Troubles, and the modern Peace Bridge symbolically linking its two main communities.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
