48 Hours in Derry

Derry, Londonderry, Stroke City are some of the many names that Northern Ireland’s second largest city is known as but my favourite is the local’s choice of “Legenderry” which is very appropriate for Northern Ireland’s hidden gem! While Londonderry is the official name, Derry is just as widely used and you will not offend anyone by using whatever name you choose throughout the city.

Derry is a cosmopolitan city steeped in history and culture but it’s the warm welcome extended by the people of Derry on every turn is what sets it apart. There is a real sense of community and pride in the people of the city and no where you will feel a more genuine welcome to the many tourists now flocking to its shores. Derry was one of those places that we really connected with and in my opinion it very much gets overlooked in favour of Belfast but is starting to come of its shadow as it is an ideal base to tour Northern Ireland from.

You cannot visit Derry without walking it’s City Walls. Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by the honourable, the Irish Society as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland. 

The Walls, which are approximately 1.5km in circumference, form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the quaint architecture and pretty streets which still preserves its Renaissance Style street plan to this day. 

I would highly recommend taking a walking tour which is approx. an hour and 15 mins long. We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour with McCrossan Tours and as family we came away with a much deeper understanding and appreciation for this city and how it stands not only tall and proud but so beautiful in the face of many years of strife and troubles. The tour itself was quite engaging for the children in that you were constantly moving and there were many tactile components such as canyons and ramparts that kept them captivated. Our tour guide welcomed their many questions and the explanations never went over their heads. Regarding the history of the troubles it was an education for us all!

The tour company’s we would recommend are Martin McCrossan Tours and Tours and Trails.

Any city would be proud to be associated with a smash-hit comedy like Derry Girls. But there can’t be too many places in the world that would eulogise it with a giant mural on the side of a building. The Derry Girls Mural, on the end wall of Badgers Bar and Restaurant, perfectly captures the cheek and charm of Derry-Londonderry’s famous five.

Take the obligatory selfie with Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and the ‘wee english fella’ James. Ever where you turn you will be reminded about these girls as the people of Derry are fiercely proud of them and if you are a fan of the show you will easily locate the popular spots featured in the show as you walk around this compact city.

Another unique way to tour the city is on Boom Boards which is a new slow adventure experience which is a first for Derry-Londonderry and Ireland. The 2 hour tour starts with a lesson in St Columb’s Park. Then it takes you to the streets and winds up at the famous Walled City Brewery in Ebrington Square. Teenagers in particular get a lot out of the experience. It is not only immensely fulfilling, but a street-based skill that mimics surfing a wave.

With 30 rooms Bishopsgate is an intimate boutique hotel offering families a choice of accommodation with family rooms that sleep four and for larger families they have a number of newly refurbished apartment rooms that have their own front door out onto the cobbled streets of Derry, giving great independence.

We stayed in one of the hotel’s apartments which we a life saver as it rained heavily while we were in Derry so it was great to have plenty of space to spill out and a separate sitting room area from the bedrooms. The apartments do not have cooking facilities but yu do have dining and coffee making facilities.