From Wikitravel

For other places with the same name, see Derry (disambiguation).

Derry or Londonderry (Doire in Irish), is the second city of Northern Ireland and the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin, Belfast and Cork. It is situated on the river Foyle in County Derry/Londonderry, close to county Donegal. It has a population of 100,000. Note that the name of the city is a point of political dispute, with unionists advocating the longer name, and nationalists advocating the shorter. A common attempt at compromise is to refer to the county as "Londonderry" and the city as "Derry", but this is not universally accepted.

[edit] Understand

Situated on the banks of River Foyle, Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland and one of the oldest inhabited places in the whole island of Ireland. As they say there, 'Derry was a city when Belfast was still a swamp'. Derry's history dates back over 1,450 years, a lasting reminder of the early inhabitants of the area is the Iron Age fort, just over the border in County Donegal, known as the Grianan of Aileach.

In the 6th Century St Columba/Colmcille established a monastery in Derry. Shifting ten centuries later to the Plantation of Ulster, King James I of England had the wealthy guilds of London build up the city of Derry (hence the title Londonderry) and surround it by the defensive walls that still ring the city today.

These walls witnessed one of the most prominent events in the history of Derry. In 1688 the city was laid siege by the Earl of Antrim and the Catholic forces of James II, the English king who was deposed in favour of Protestant William of Orange. The settlers of the city who were protestant, barricaded themselves within the walls, when a group of apprentice boys from London on seeing the on coming forces, locked the city gates and so started the Great Siege of Derry.

The siege was to be the longest in British history, lasting some 105 days, during which an estimated third of the city’s then population of 30,000 died through disease and starvation. When James II himself rode up to the city walls and lay down terms for surrender he was greeted with shouts of ‘No Surrender’. The siege was finally broken when the relief ship Mountjoy broke the boom which was laid across the River Foyle beside the city.

However the legacy of the Great Siege of Derry lasted for centuries with the Catholic and Protestant communities in Derry still largely divided today. During the years of the Troubles, Derry witnessed some of the most prominent and terrible events of those times. It was on Derry's Bogside area that British soldiers shot dead 14 Catholics in what became known as Bloody Sunday.

Since the peace process in Northern Ireland, Derry is slowly emerging as an upbeat cosmopolitan city with great potential and huge tourist interest. A lot of Derry’s sights are meshed with its history, the 16th Century walls which surround the city are among the oldest and the best preserved citadel walls in Europe.

A huge percentage of Derry’s population fall into the 20 – 30 age group and there are plenty of places to cater for them with lots of clothes shops and boutiques, pubs, bars and clubs and Derry's traditional Irish and folk music scene are well established.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• City of Derry Airport - The City of Derry Airport (LDY) is located 7 miles north-east of Derry on the main A2 Derry to Coleraine road.

There are scheduled flights to Dublin, Glasgow with British Airways and London Stansted, Glasgow Prestwick, Nottingham East Midlands, Liverpool and Bristol with Ryanair. See http://www.cityofderryairport.com for more information.

[edit] By train

Northern Ireland Railways (a subsidiary of Translink) have trains travelling to and from Belfast regularly during the whole day. Trains arrive in Derry's Waterside, with a shuttle bus linking the train station to the (more central) bus station.

The journey between Belfast and Derry takes just over 2 hours and between Coleraine and Derry affords great views along the shores of Lough Foyle.

[edit] By car

From Belfast: Start on the M2 and you can either take the main road (A6)to Derry via Dungiven or the scenic drive along the Antrim Coast, passing the Giant's Causeway.

From Dublin: Take the M1 motorway and go as far as the signpost for Derry and Ardee. Then take the N32 whick links to the N2. Follow the N2 via Carrickmacross and Monaghan to the Border where the road then becomes the A5. Travel northwards via Omagh and Strabane until you reach Derry(Londonderry on maps).

From Belfast International Airport: Take the main road to the M2 from the airport through Templepatrick. Follow the signposts onto the main road to Londonderry.

[edit] By bus

Translink's Goldline Express No. 212 departs to and from Belfast regularly during the whole day. Dublin is connected with Goldine Express No. 274 and Bus Éireann service No. 33, which runs throughout the night. There is also a connection with the west coast with Bus Éireann service No. 64. Full details of bus services are available from Translink and Bus Éireann

Further services, aimed mainly at travellers arriving into the local airports are operated by Airporter.

[edit] Get around

Derry is essential split into two main areas, by the River Foyle - The Waterside and The City Side/Derry Side. The two banks of the river are connected by two bridges. The eldest of these is the Craigavon Bridge, a double-decker bridge which once carried trains on its lower deck. More-recently constructed of the two was the Foyle Bridge. This is a four-lane concrete bridge, which is further from the city centre.

The East side of the river is known as The Waterside. This is traditionally the home of Derry's unionist population.

The West side of the Foyle is usually known as The City Side. This is predominantly nationalist and contains most of the tourist attractions, the city centre and The Guildhall. Here you will find the city walls and the Bogside. The city centre is small and suitable for walking.

Visitors can now travel the length of the final section of the Foyle, from Derry City to Culmore Point (daytime) and on to Greencastle in County Donegal (evenings), on board the Toucan One cruiser. The Toucan One sails seven days a week, and offers full bar facilities and other refreshments. Cruises leave from behind the Derry City Council offices.

For bookings: Harbour Museum, Harbour Square, L’Derry. T: 7136 2857, F: 7136 2854.

[edit][add listing] See

As well as excellent tours around the city and its 17th Century walls, Derry also boasts a number of excellent visitor attractions. The Tower Museum is an award winning attraction, telling the history of the city and includes a range of exhibitions, while Derry's Guildhall, St Columb's Cathedral, St Eugene's Cathedral and St Augustine's Chapel are all historic buildings of stunning architecture.

Other sights include the fascinating Bogside Murals found on the walls of what is known as Free Derry Corner and depict various events in the history of the town, from the Nationalist perspective. A more contemporary sculpture in the city, known as Hands Across the Divide, serves as a symbol of the two communities coming together.

The city walls are the best-preserved in all of Ireland and make about a one-mile circumference around the city center.

[edit][add listing] Do

Walk around Derry on top of the city walls. If open, step into St Augustine's Church on the west side of the city walls, and have a friendly chat with the hosts. If you show a decent amount of respect, you may end up getting a more balanced view of how "The Troubles" was for people living in Derry.

Take a walk around the "Free Derry" corner between the Bogside and the western side of the old city walls. Stop and look at the political murals made by local artists during the 90's, depicting key events in the harsh conflict haunting Northern Ireland. In the same area, the Free Derry monument, Free Derry Museum, and memorial are also located.

[edit] Learn

• Magee College

[edit] Work

[edit][add listing] Buy

Most of Derry's retail stores are situated well within walking distance of the city centre. The main shopping malls are Foyleside and the Richmond Centre. Between them, these malls contain many of the stores which one would expect to find in any city in the UK or Ireland, such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Dunnes Stores.

Derry's last remaining home-grown department store is Austins, in The Diamond, and claims to be the world's oldest independent department store.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Where you should eat:

Danano's: A really nice Italian that is relatively cheap but great food

The Exchange: The best restaurant in Derry in the opinion of many ... try the duck!

O Briens: Tuesday night for the biggest steaks you can eat -- try to eat them all (not cheap). They also do a great T Bone steak

Badgers: A great port of call for lunch while shopping. Can be crowded and cramped at busy times.

The Mandarin Palace, Strand Road: Long established Chinese food restaurant with excellent service and value. Open from 5.00 in the evening.

Quaywest, Strand Road: by the Waterfront, quite near the Mandarin Palace. Opened in recent years and is quite successful. Serves light and sumptuous cuisine with an array of alcoholic drinks. Relatively cheap.

Timberquay Restaurant & Wine Bar, Strand Road: A new vibrant dining experience located on the banks of the River Foyle www.timberquay.com.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Derry is a small city with a recent turbulent past. Odds are, you shouldn't have any problems, but be aware of tensions.

Peadar O'Donnell's, 63 Waterloo St, phone +44 (0) 28 7137 2318. If you are looking for traditional Irish folk music sessions, this is the best place in Derry. Such sessions are held nearly every day of the week, and both locals and visitors create a nice atmosphere. Located in the "Catholic" part of the city.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• The Merchant's House, 16 Queen Street, phone +44(0)28 71269691/71264223. A wonderful old house with Bed and Breakfast. Nice and clean, good breakfast. No en suite bathroom because it would be a pity to change the house.

• Derry City Independent Hostel, 44 Great James Street, phone +44 (0)28 71280542, email derryhostel@hotmail.com. A friendly, independent hostel, run by two backpackers who have been traveling around the world for quite some time themselves. The hostel actually consists of three separate houses, all spread out within walking distance of the old town and the Bogside murals. http://www.derryhostel.com

[edit] Mid-Range

• City Hotel, Queen's Quay, off Foyle Street, Derry BT48 7AS. Contemporary four star hotel centrally located on the bend of River Foyle, 200 metres from Guildhall - Many rooms overlook these points of interest. Rooms fairly spacious. Restaurant serves good but nonetheless pricy food. Staff are usually polite. Underground parking provided.

• Tower Hotel, Butcher Street. Modern Four star hotel, centrally located inside the city walls, 200 metres from Guildhall. Underground parking provided.

• Travelodge, Strand Road. Centrally located, 200 metres from Guildhall. Use of adjacent multistorey car park.

• Da Vincis Hotel, 15 Culmore Road, Derry BT48 8JB. Modern four star hotel, 2 kilometres north of the city centre. Large bar and good restaurant. Free car parking.

• Broomhill Hotel, Limavady Road, Derry BT47 6LT, Tel: 02871 347995. Three star hotel, 3 kilometres north of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking.

• The Waterfoot Hotel & Country Club,14 Clooney Road, Derry BT47 6TB, Tel: 02871 345500. Located 5 kilometres north of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking.

• BT48 Apartotel - 5 Star Self Catering Accommodation, luxury 1-3 bedroom apartments on the banks of the River Foyle:www.derrycityaparthotel.com

[edit] Splurge

• Everglades Hotel, 41-53 Prehen Road Derry BT47 2NH. Four star hotel, 2 kilometres south of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking.

• Beech Hill Country House Hotel, 32 Ardmore Road, Derry BT47 3QP, Tel: 02871 349279. Five star hotel as stayed in by Bill and Hillary Clinton. Small hotel in a converted country house, located in large grounds 5 kilometres east of the city centre on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free car parking.

[edit] Stay safe

After Belfast, Derry was the main centre of trouble during Northern Ireland's conflict. As a majority Catholic city, there still remain significant tensions between the Republican and Loyalist communities in some parts of Derry. In particular, the area known as the West Bank (a working class housing estate) is best avoided. In addition to this, wearing items of clothing which would identify you as being from any particular religious denomination or political viewpoint (for example Rangers or Celtic football shirts) is not advised.

Derry has developed a reputation as a place with high levels of alcohol-fuelled violence, at weekends in particular, but in actual fact it is really no more than the drunken brawling which blights so many town centres throughout the UK and Ireland. Use your common sense when out for the evening and you will be unlikely to run into any trouble. However due to the past political situation, the arrival of police is more likely to herald the start of trouble rather than the end of it.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Get out

The city itself is quite small, making it easily to escape to the surrounding countryside. The county of Derry and nearby County Donegal have a wealth of green fields and sights to appeal to nature lovers. Ulsterbuses can be used for outings. These are operated by Translink.

A trip to the Giant's Causeway on the north coast is highly recommended. If you have a choice, come early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds of tourists treading all over the place. Translink operate buses to and from the Giant's Causeway from both Derry and Belfast.

Not far outside Derry, across the border in Donegal is Grianan of Aileach. This ancient stone fort is on a hilltop between Derry and Letterkenny and affords superb views of loughs Foyle and Swilly, and of Derry itself. The fort at Grianan is however closed for renovation work as it was deemed a danger to the public and will open again within the next few years.

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