After being declared as the first UK City of Culture back in 2013, Londonderry/ Derry has really been certified as one of the most interesting parts of Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. With centuries of history visible from the city centre on out, backed up with artistic events and a totally unique community, the city’s a must see for anyone looking for a Northern Irish experience that’s a bit out of the ordinary. I’ve visited Derry a fair few times (just to explain the name differences, the city’s officially known as Londonderry, but local opinion is split between calling it that and Derry), and I’ve seen a fair bit of the city’s best.
There’s a fair few hotels around the city, but I’m pretty money conscious so I normally just book a room at the Travelodge Derry Hotel. It’s not particularly difficult to get around, but there’s far less public transport than somewhere like Belfast, so having a relatively central hotel is a pretty big advantage.
If you want to start exploring the city’s past, I’d really recommend taking a tour of the city. There’s some pretty good walking tours run by CitySightseeing (you’ll probably have seen their bright red buses around other cities and countries), starting off around the ancient city walls before taking you through the more modern and tragic side of Derry’s history.
Sadly, the city’s pretty well known as having been a big conflict area during the Troubles. The tour takes a respectful look through the Bog side of the city where you’ll find memorial and murals commemorating events like Bloody Sunday and the move towards peace. Understanding these events is essential if you’re to appreciate how Derry/ Londonderry is in the modern day.
Once you’ve checked out the history, things brighten up a bit with some of the city’s more modern sights. In the last few years, the Derry Guildhall got really modernised to show off the city’s history and culture in a truly unique way. While it’s more designed for kids than adults, it’s still a pretty interesting visit, and the Derry Peace Bridge right outside makes for a beautiful view.
In the evening, you could check out a local pub or head over for a play of some kind. Londonderry’s culture definitely excels in those two areas with plenty happening on a night. Peadar O’Donnell’s is pretty widely agreed to be the best choice around for a bit of traditional Irish drinking and relaxing. There’s some great drinks, live bands and a full on roaring fire all making for a proper experience.
Derry’s pretty into jazz, so if you’re more a fan of the saxophone than the bodhran, head over to Bennigan’s Bar where you’ll get a bit of a different sound going on. Like I said, the city’s got a couple of great theatres, so make sure you do a bit of research on what’s on before planning a day trip round this unique city!
Links:
Travelodge Derry Hotel: https://www.travelodge.ie/hotels/225/Derry-hotel
