The seaport and second largest city in Northern Ireland is Londonderry, or simply Derry, as it is lovingly called by the locals (Londonderry) boasts significant historical milestones that once took place here – this is the siege of Derry and the Battle of Boside. It also has wonderfully preserved 17th-century fortifications, and its lively pubs and friendly locals are a real find for the inquisitive tourist. See JIBIN123 for United Kingdom customs regulations and visa requirements.
Tourist centers and post
The Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau is located at 44 Foyle Street. The Fáilte Ireland tourist center is also located there. And one more – City of Culture Office – is located on Waterloo Place.
Post offices are open from 09:00 to 17:30 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 12:30 on Saturdays. The Main Post Office is located on Custom House Street.
How to get there
Derry Airport is located 12 km east of the city on the A2 highway through Limavady. The airport has regular flights from Dublin and Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Nottingham. You can get there by bus number 143A, next to Limavadi (travel time 30 minutes). A taxi to the airport will cost 15-20 GBP.
By bus
Maiden City Flyer’s route 212 provides regular service between Derry and Belfast (fare 15 EUR, travel time 1hr 45min) and Goldline Express’s 271 connects Derry to Dublin (EUR 20, 4 hours). Derry also has routes from Omagh (1hr 15min), Coleraine (1hr) and Portstewart and Portrush.
Lough Swilly offers transportation to Buncrana, Carndon, Dungloe, Letterkeny (30-45 minutes) and Greencastle in County Donegal (1 hour). Bus Éireann runs from Derry to Galway (5 hours 15 minutes) with stops via Letterkeny and Sligo.
Airporter has routes to Belfast International Airport (1hr 30min) and George Best Belfast City Airport (2hrs). Buses leave every hour on weekdays and every 2 hours on weekends.
The bus station is located northeast of the Old Town.
The prefix “London-” appeared in the city in the 17th century (decree of the English King James I). Since then, the question of the true name has remained the subject of controversy between the freedom-loving Irish and the British. The first, which is understandable, prefer simply “Derry”.
On the ferries
Lough Foyle Ferry operates a ferry service between Magilligan in County Derry and Greencastle in County Donegal and between Buncrana and Rathmullan.
Transportation
Local carrier Ulsterbus Foyle serves Derry and the surrounding area on 13 different routes. Buses leave from a stop on Foyle St. An unlimited day pass on these routes will cost 2.30 GBP.
Bicycles can be rented from Bee’s Cycles on Waterloo Street or BM Cycles at 159 Clooney Road. There are car rental points at the airport – Avis, Europcar and Hertz, as well as in the city – Desmond Motors Ltd at 173 Strand Road.
Weather in Londonderry
The warmest months are July-August when the temperature rises to 17°C. The coldest months are December-January with a temperature of 7°C.
Shopping
Most shops are concentrated in the city center. The two main malls are Foyleside and Richmond. Smaller shopping centers – Quayside and Lisnagelvin – are located on the outskirts of the city.
Markets open daily at Guildhall Square and Union Hall Place. Another market – Walled City Market – opens on Guildhall Square every first Saturday of the month.
Londonderry is also home to the oldest store in the world, Austins, founded in 1830.
On Saturdays, the city center is crowded with tourists, but on Sunday the influx subsides, and therefore many shops are closed.
Cuisine and restaurants
The Bayleaf is a restaurant serving traditional Irish cuisine and seafood, located at 2 Clarendon Street. Another Irish restaurant, Halo Pantry & Grill, is located on 5 Market Street.
Entertainment and attractions Londonderry
Notable is the historic building Derry’s Guildhall, where various events take place; Cathedral of St. Columbus (St Columb’s), opened to parishioners in 1633; Neo-Gothic St Eugene’s Cathedral and St Augustine’s Chapel.
Museums
The Tower Museum with an exhibition about the history of the city is located on Union Hall Place, the railway museum on Foyle Road, the Harbor Museum on Harbor Square.
Developments
Halloween Night Carnival – Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en. Derry hosts Big Tickle Comedy in March, City Of Derry Jazz And Big Band in April, and Foyle Film, Northern Ireland’s largest film festival, in November.
The annual Instinct Arts Festival, the Celtronic Electronic Music Festival, the Maiden City Festival, and every summer Derry hosts the Tomo-Dachi Anime Festival.