Destinations > Northern Ireland > County Derry

Co Derry

Derry (Londonderry; Doire Cholm Cille)

Derry (called Londonderry by the British) is Northern Ireland's second largest city and is Ireland's only remaining completely walled city. It is a pleasant city, particularly inside the walled old town. If you're travelling from Co Donegal in the Republic, Derry will be your first port-of-call in Northern Ireland.

Practical Information

Derry Tourist Information Centre

44 Foyle Street, Derry

Tel (028) 7126 7284

Website www.derryvisitor.com

Open Jan-mid Mar Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; mid Mar-Jun Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm; Jul-Sep Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; Oct Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm; Nov-Dec Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

INTERNET ACCESS

bean-there.com

20 The Diamond, Derry

Tel (028) 7128 1303

Website www.bean-there.com

Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm

Coming & Going

AIR

City of Derry Airport (tel (028) 7181 0784; website www.cityofderryairport.com) has flights to Dublin, Glasgow, London (Stansted) and Manchester). The AIRporter bus (tel (028) 7126 9996) runs between the airport and the city centre.

BUS

There are hourly bus services between Derry and Belfast as well as regular buses to Dublin. Buses stop on Foyle Street.

TRAIN

Derry's Waterside Station is across Craigavon Bridge on the western side of the River Foyle. Translink (website www.translink.co.uk) have direct trains to Belfast.

Accommodation

Ash Villa Hostel

43 Governor Road, Derry

Derry City Independent Hostel

44 Great James Street, Derry

Tel (028) 7128 0542

Paddy's Palace

1 Woodleigh Terrace, Asylum Road, Derry

Steve's Backpackers (Derry Backpackers)

4 Asylum Road, Derry

Tel (028) 7137 7989

Sights

The Bogside Artists & Studio

This famous Catholic neighbourhood is best known for its murals, which depict the last 30 years of conflict in Derry. The Bogside Artists Studio offers the opportunity to meet the artists responsible for the murals and watch a one-hour slide presentation about them.

Unit 7, Meenan Square, Derry

Tel (028) 7129 0371

Website www.bogsideartists.com

Admission £5

City Walls

Derry's city walls date to the 17th century and have withstood several sieges including one that lasted for 105 days. You can walk the 1.5km circuit along the top of the walls, which offers views of the old city.

Free Derry Corner

A sign declaring, "You are now entering Free Derry", marks the entrance to the Bogside district. Nearby is a monument commemorating the 14 victims of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre.

Corner Fahan Street & Rossville Square, Derry

Guildhall

This neo-Gothic building boasts one of Ireland's largest collections of stained glass windows.

Guildhall Square, Derry

Tel (028) 7137 7335

Admission free

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Harbour Museum

This museum has exhibits about the city's maritime history.

Harbour Square, Derry

Tel (028) 7137 7331

Admission free

Open Mon-Fri 10am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm

St Columb's Cathedral

Dating from 1633, St Columb's Cathedral is Derry's oldest building and it is also the oldest purpose-built Protestant cathedral in the British Isles.

London Street, Derry

Tel (028) 7126 7313

Website www.stcolumbscathedral.org

Admission £1.30

Open summer Mon-Sat 9am-5pm; winter Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 2pm-4pm

Tower Museum

This museum has a variety of displays on local history including the Siege of Derry and the Troubles as well as the Spanish Armada.

Union Hall Place, Derry

Tel (028) 7137 2411

Admission free

Open Jan-Jun Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; Jul-Aug Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 2pm-5pm; Sep-Dec Tue-Sat 10am-5pm

Downhill

This tiny village near Coleraine has no shops but it has a lovely hostel by the sea.

Coming & Going

The closest train station is Castlerock on the Belfast-Derry line. Bus 134 connects Downhill with Coleraine and Limavady.

Accommodation

Downhill Hostel

12 Mussenden Road, Downhill

Bus 134

Tel (028) 7084 9077

Sights

Downhill & Mussenden Temple

Fredrick Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol built this large house perched upon the cliff top overlooking Downhill. Although the main house is now in ruins the property is also home to the spectacular Mussenden Temple and a mausoleum to his brother.

Hezlett Farm, 107 Sea Road, Castlerock

Bus 134

Tel (028) 7084 8728

Website www.ntni.org.uk

Admission free; parking £3.60

Open Mar-May Sat-Sun 11am-6pm; Jun 11am-6pm daily; Jul-Aug 11am-7.30pm daily; Sep 11am-6pm daily; Oct Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

Portstewart (Port Stíobaird)

This seaside town is a slightly classier alternative to neighbouring Portrush in County Antrim. It's main attraction is the 3.25km-long Portstewart Strand, which is one of Northern Ireland's top beaches.

Coming & Going

Portstewart is well served by buses with Ulsterbus (website www.translink.co.uk) buses 140 and 252 going to Coleraine and Portrush and bus 252 continuing along the coast to Larne, stopping en route at Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway and Ballycastle.

Accommodation

Rick's Causeway Coast Hostel

4 Victoria Terrace (Atlantic Circle), Portstewart

Tel (028) 7083 3789

Sights

Portstewart Strand & Barmouth

This 3.25km-long stretch of beach is backed by sand dunes that reach heights of up to 30 metres.

Website www.ntni.org.uk

Admission free, parking £4

Open Mar-Sep 10am-6pm daily; Oct Sat-Sun 10am-5pm