What to do in County Londonderry

The Derry City Walls are among the best examples in Europe of a fortified commune. Derry was one of the last cities in Europe to build a protective wall, which is well preserved today. Walk the walls and encounter churches, cannons and shops along the way.

It’s also home to the largest theatre stage in Ireland, making it a brilliant venue for plays, shows, concerts and musicals. The Millennium Forum stands on Newmarket Street close to the River Foyle and is distinctive for its high, rounded corner face. Inside, visitors are greeted with an impressive entrance foyer and a sweeping stairway framed by a mural that takes them down to the auditorium and a marble-floored piazza with a brasserie restaurant.

Built using red sandstone and largely consisting of a cavernous hall and clock tower, the Guildhall was the administrative hub for the Londonderry Corporation and today serves as the city’s council chamber and Mayor’s Parlour, making it the last remaining working guildhall in Ireland.

The Museum of Free Derry is a fascinating institution with collections and displays on momentous parts of Ireland’s history. The Irish conflict between unionists who wanted to stay in the United Kingdom and nationalists resulted in bloody battles in the second half of the 20th century. Learn about the societal changes to Derry during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the Irish Troubles a decade later. See the Bloody Sunday Memorial that honors civilians violently killed by British soldiers.

The city covers both banks of the River Foyle, with Protestants largely living on the east bank and Catholics on the west. The impressive Peace Bridge is attempting to bring the two sides closer together and, so far, it seems to be working.

Castlerock Beach is a sandy area with picturesque dunes and sea cliffs. Standing between the rugged coastline of Downhill and an estuary, the serene shore has an RV park and a golf course. Explore the shops and traditional restaurants of this quaint coastal town and appreciate the calm ambiance.