The Derry Walls form the only completely walled city in Ireland. Built between 1613 and 1618, the walls can now be explored on foot along a circular route about one mile long. Before your visit, check whether temporary maintenance work affects access. The city’s history also includes a collection of cannons whose origins are precisely known. Many were used during the two sieges in the 17th century.

Discover history in several places

In the Bogside, the Museum of Free Derry explores the civil rights movement and the city’s early conflict history, including Bloody Sunday. Its multimedia exhibition is complemented by an archive of more than 25,000 individual items relating to this period in the city’s history. This gives you different ways to learn about the events and how they are understood.

The Tower Museum focuses on two named exhibitions: “The Story of Derry” and the “Derry Girls Experience.” As programmes can change, it is worth checking the latest information before your visit. At the Guildhall, a dedicated exhibition explains how the Plantation shaped the city’s history. The Gothic Revival building was originally built in 1887.

Religious and community history can also be experienced at specific sites: Saint Columb’s Cathedral has stood in its distinctive location within the city walls since 1633. The Blue Coat School Heritage Centre tells the story of the First Derry Presbyterian Church, which has been at the heart of its community since the 17th century. Each of these places has a different focus, from civil rights history and conflict to urban development, architecture and community life.

Parks in County Londonderry: landscapes and activities

Creggan Country Park covers 100 acres and brings together three freshwater lakes, woodland, hedgerows and an activity centre. Activities include watersports and outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, kayaking and raft building. Rainbow trout fishing is also available. Some activities may require advance booking; check the relevant conditions when planning your visit.

At Roe Valley Country Park, riverside views and woodland paths provide a scenic setting. Activities on offer include salmon and trout fishing, canoeing, climbing and orienteering; availability may vary by season. A circular route of about 3.6 kilometres starts and ends at the car park on Dogleap Road. Check the route details locally before your walk. This makes it possible to plan your visit around specific paths and activities without combining the different options into a single tour.

Guided discoveries and getting there

Guided Walled City Tours take you through Derry and cover murals, monuments and buildings as well as the city walls. Tour dates and operating hours may change seasonally, so check them in advance. The Walled City Brewery offers a different experience: when it opened in 2015, it was the first new craft brewery in Derry-Londonderry in a century. A hands-on beer-making experience includes a tasting of ten different beers. Booking and tasting formats may change, so check the current offering in advance.

Derry-Londonderry can be reached by train from Belfast and by bus from Dublin and Belfast. Check timetables and operators before travelling. This allows you to combine your arrival with cultural discoveries in the city and the landscapes and activities on offer in County Londonderry.

Discover more destinations: Derry, Fermanagh, Banbridge, Ards, Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena, Magherafelt

For the main travel overview: Northern Ireland.