Tucked away in the North West of Ireland, sitting on the Atlantic coast, Derry City is just a forty-minute flight from mainland Britain, making it the perfect destination for your next city break. Whether you are seeking a reclusive weekend getaway or attending one of the many festivals the city offers, you are set to have an unforgettable experience.
Coming to land in the City, you are met with the picturesque River Foyle that winds along the coast linking the counties of Derry and Donegal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. With this as the setting, it’s not difficult to see why the City has a selection of Ireland’s best cuisine, with the local produce being some of the most sought-after in the world, yet all found on the City’s doorstep.
Where to stay in Derry
Just a fifteen minute drive away from the airport, the city centre is where you’ll find many hotels, bars and restaurants. This makes the entire journey from departing the runway to your accommodation seem shorter than a traffic jam on the M60.
The hassle-free nature of travel makes a stay in hotels such as The City, Maldron and Bishops Gate even more relaxing. These popular spots are perfect for travellers wanting to stay close to the city’s nightlife or attending exciting festivals nearby. While visitors can also enjoy a touch of history, with a stunning view of the 17th-century historic city walls.
Engulfed in rich history
If history is your thing, then you’ll fall in love with Derry. This tiny part of the world is steeped in history, offering a variety of historical walking tours that you can complete in one day, ensuring that you see everything that you want to.
A perfect day can be planned with a minimal budget. For example, The People’s Gallery and Derry Walls are free of charge and a short distance from each other. While a good tip for a beautiful photograph of the Peoples Gallery would be to walk to the corner of the city walls near Bishop’s Gate, where you can capture the whole of Bogside in one shot.
Must-visit festivals
It’s not hard to tell when walking through the City’s narrow and quaint streets that it’s a city bursting at the seams with culture. This can be seen through the independent shops, street art and musicians that line the city centre. The City’s festival calendar is one of envy among its bordering cities, between food festivals and music festivals there are many events to look forward to all year round. But the most notable is the spooktacular Derry Halloween festival, the biggest Halloween festival in Europe, and has beat Salem to claim the best Halloween festival in the world!
If Halloween isn’t your scene, Derry’s nightlife culture might be. Going for the traditional Irish feel, Waterloo Street will take you to some of the City’s best-known live music venues for that pint o’ plain. Pubs like Lizzie O’ Farrels, The Dunlough and Peader O’Donnells are located all within walking distance of each, which just adds to that stress and hassle-free feel.
Derry City also has a huge love for Dance music, hosting annual festivals like Celtronic which has run in the city for over 23 years. Other festivals, like Jika Jika festival, have taken ravers from the inner city to the surrounding hills of Donegal offering some ravers the chance to dance against some of the most scenic locations like Malin Head, where scenes from Star Wars were filmed.
The best food you'll find
To truly indulge your senses while in Derry, the food game is incomparable. Award-winning cafe, Primrose located on the Quay of the Foyle uses its own family’s farm produce to make unique seasonal dishes. Just a few metres away from there, you have the artisan Pyke & Pommes, providing diners with a luxury experience onboard a stationary double-decker bus.
If you seek luxury from your dining experience, Browns in Bonds Hill is the perfect location. Browns restaurant is listed in the Michelin Guide and is immensely popular with the locals. However, if you are anything like me and have a soft spot for takeaway food, you can’t beat a takeaway from Derry. But, be warned, the words ‘Derry’ and ‘takeaway’ alone can have the natives living outside the city itching to get a flight back.
So, if you are thinking of your next weekend away, the question is why not visit Derry? Here, you’ll find immense history, and culture, matched with incredible nightlife, food and relaxation. You’ll never want to leave.
