The Best Things to Do in Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland

In 1689, King James II and a Jacobian army besieged Derry-Londonderry for 105 days. It’s one of the most significant touchstones in the city’s history, and you can learn all about it at the Siege Museum. Located just a 10-minute walk from the Craigavon Bridge, it’s filled with artefacts from the siege, as well as first-hand accounts.

Derry has a rich cultural history, much of which harkens back to the height of the Troubles in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. There are murals across the city that depict and comment on this dark chapter in Northern Irish history. Walking tours are available online and at tourist information centres, and you can experience the great art all while learning more about the events that birthed it.

If you want a real taste of how the city looked in the 18th century, the Craft Village is the place for you. An actual reconstruction of a street from that time, it plays host to a string of shops selling traditional food, books, handmade items and more. The Craft Village is on Sackville Street, next to the Peace Bridge. It’s easy to get to, and on a good day, you might even be able to catch an event.

It could be tempting (if not particularly healthy) to spend an entire day hopping between the city’s many pubs, but why not learn something while you’re at it? Based in Ebrington Square, the Walled City Brewery offers brewing masterclasses where you can learn (and drink) your way through the 9,000-year history of beer. Those who indulge in the tour will get to taste 10 different beers during a one-and-a-half-hour masterclass, as well as dine in the award-winning restaurant.

Derry is the only completely walled city anywhere in Ireland, flanked by stone walls that were built to keep invaders out during the 17th century (such as during the siege). Standing approximately 6m (20ft) high, they are still largely intact, and you’ll get excellent views of the city at large while walking across them. Across the length of the route, you’ll encounter cannons, battlements, watchtowers and more, and you can join it from a variety of places, such as next to St Columb’s Cathedral.

Why just experience Derry-Londonderry from the ground when you can also experience it from the water? A paddleboard tour offers a unique view of the city, taking in monuments old and new in the process. There are several companies based in the city centre that offer this experience, and the tours themselves usually last around two hours.

Having grown in popularity in recent years, the annual Halloween extravaganza in Derry is now one of the biggest parties in Europe. The local population swells in number as thousands of visitors join a week-long celebration of everything spooky. Halloween as we know it can trace its origins back to Ireland, and the mix of modern American paraphernalia and authentic Irish folklore make this an unforgettable event. This is the place to be at the end of October, and more than 100,000 people agree!

Stand at either end of this 235-metre bridge and you’ll get a glorious view of the River Foyle running through Derry, plus a view of the opposite city side. The curved shape on the footbridge was built to flow with the river below and enhance the landscape surrounding it – new and old combined – making it a great memory from Northern Ireland to take home. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

This Cathedral was the first of its kind to be erected in Ireland, after the ‘Planter’s Gothic’ period. The building is adored for its history; it was built by the finest masons in the city immediately following the Plantation of Ulster, 1613. Today, it is paramount to the beach building process in Derry, and in Northern Ireland. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

The Central Sperrins are at the heart of County Derry – you can get some great shots of them at Strabane and Dunamanagh, on the River Foyle. The entire span of the River Foyle is a great place to get a panoramic photographs and the Sperrin mountains have some fantastic reservoir spots to explore. You can also visit Glenelly Valley, an area formed by the Ice Age, now home to cycle routes, and nearby attraction, Glenroan Portal Tomb. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern

This area in the Southside of The Sperrins is famed for its lakes and sandy eskers, situated in one of Northern Ireland’s OANB’s (Outstanding Area of Natual Beauty). The glaciated surroundings, spring colours and Sawel Mountain point – Northern Ireland’s highest point at 678 metres – make this a must-visit for budding photographers. – Recommended by Naimh McGovern