Derry
Walk the walls first: the complete circuit is the city in one loop. Derry stands on the River Foyle, and its name comes from Doire, the Irish for an oak grove.
Best sites to see in Derry
Derry City Walls
A complete circuit of 17th-century city walls, about 1.5 kilometres around, with gates, bastions and cannons, forming one of the best-preserved walled city circuits in Ireland.
The Guildhall
The neo-Gothic civic building just outside the walls, known for its stained-glass windows telling the city's story and its clock tower overlooking the River Foyle.
St Columb's Cathedral
A cathedral within the walls, completed in 1633, with memorials connected to the Siege of Derry and a chapter house museum.
Tower Museum and the Bogside
The Tower Museum in O'Doherty's Tower covers the city's history, while the nearby Bogside murals and Free Derry Corner record its more recent past.
Where to stand, and when
- The walls above Shipquay Gate looking to the Guildhall: Morning light suits this classic view of the Guildhall and the Foyle beyond.
- The Peace Bridge from either bank of the Foyle: Photograph at dusk when the bridge is lit and its curve reflects on the river.
- Free Derry Corner and the Bogside murals: Go in the daytime for clear, even light on the murals, and be respectful as it is a residential area.
Derry through history
Derry's name comes from the Irish Doire, meaning oak grove, and tradition links its early monastery to Saint Columba, or Colmcille, in the 6th century.
The city walls were built between 1613 and 1619 as part of the Plantation of Ulster, when the city was renamed Londonderry under its London charter.
During the Siege of Derry in 1689 the city held out for 105 days against Jacobite forces, an event still commemorated in the city.
The Peace Bridge, a foot and cycle bridge over the River Foyle linking the city centre with Ebrington, opened in 2011.
Practical tips
- Walking the full circuit of the walls takes under an hour at a steady pace, but allow longer for the museums and cathedral.
- The wall walk has steps and ramps at different gates, so check access points if you need a step-free route.
- Park in car parks outside the walls and enter the old city on foot through one of the gates.
What's on
No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar