Walled Wonders and Witty Wanderings: Offbeat Things to do in Derry/Londonderry

Must-Try Things to do in Derry/Londonderry (Without Looking Like a Complete Tourist)

The uninitiated visitor might assume Derry/Londonderry offers little beyond somber political tours and damp historical sites. They’d be spectacularly wrong. While understanding the city’s complex past is essential, today’s Derry balances historical gravitas with a surprising playfulness that catches most visitors off guard—like discovering your serious history professor moonlights as a stand-up comedian.

Walk the Complete Circuit of Ancient Walls

The 1.5-mile circuit of 17th-century walls encircling Derry stands as Europe’s most complete walled city fortification—and unlike tourist attractions that demand sacrificial offerings from your wallet, this one’s completely free. Taking approximately one hour (or three if you’re the type who photographs every cannon, plaque, and passing cloud), the walls provide the perfect orientation to the city’s compact geography. For perspective, these walls were already considered ancient when Americans were signing their Declaration of Independence.

The stretch between Bishop’s Gate and Double Bastion offers panoramic views that would make your social media followers question whether you’ve discovered an Instagram filter called “Moody Irish Perfection.” The cannons positioned along the walls—including the notorious “Roaring Meg”—point outward in silent testament to centuries of vigilance. Think of Charleston’s Battery but 300+ years older and with significantly more dramatic backstories involving sieges, starvation, and the occasional ghost story that tour guides swear “absolutely happened to my cousin’s friend.”

Cross the Peace Bridge and Appreciate Its Symbolism

Nothing symbolizes modern Derry’s journey quite like the Peace Bridge, which opened in 2011 at a cost of $19 million. This pedestrian-only structure connects predominantly Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods across the River Foyle, resembling two hands reaching out to shake—architectural symbolism that manages to be poignant without veering into heavy-handed metaphor territory. At sunset, the white structure glows with a light that photographers describe as “magical” and engineers describe as “efficiently placed LED installations.”

Standing midway across offers a moment to reflect on how far the city has come—from a flashpoint of the Troubles to a place where such a bridge exists. It’s the ideal spot for contemplative selfies that will make your followers think you’ve suddenly developed profound depth, when in reality you’re mostly wondering if that nearby pub serves food after 9pm.

Tour the Political Murals of the Bogside

No list of things to do in Derry/Londonderry would be complete without acknowledging the political murals that transform the Bogside neighborhood into an open-air gallery of historical reckoning. Visitors can opt for self-guided exploration (free) or guided tours ($15-25 per person) led by locals often personally connected to the events depicted—the difference being whether you want context from Google or from someone whose uncle appears in the artwork.

The most famous mural—”You Are Now Entering Free Derry”—dates back to 1969 and has become the Bogside’s unofficial landmark. For valuable context that Google can’t provide, the Museum of Free Derry ($9 admission) offers exhibits that explain how a working-class neighborhood became globally synonymous with civil rights struggles. It’s comparable to walking through civil rights landmarks in Alabama, except with fresher paint and a higher likelihood of sudden rain showers.

Attend a LegenDerry Food Event

The city’s food scene has earned the “LegenDerry” designation—a pun so obvious yet so perfect that marketing executives weep with envy. Throughout the year, food festivals showcase local specialties including dulse (edible seaweed that tastes like what might happen if the ocean floor decided to become a snack), yellowman (honeycomb toffee that threatens dental work but delights taste buds), and Doherty’s sausages (which have survived centuries of changing tastes).

The Walled City Brewery offers craft beer flights paired with local food ($15-25 for tasting menus) that tell the city’s story through gastronomy. For maximum immersion, time your visit to coincide with the LegenDerry Food Festival (usually March), which offers free entry and pay-as-you-sample options. Just remember that in Northern Ireland, “spicy” usually means “we acknowledged the existence of black pepper during preparation.”

Get Literary at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace

A 40-minute drive from Derry leads to the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, celebrating the Nobel Prize-winning poet who captured rural Irish life with more precision than a high-definition camera. For $12 admission (audio guides included), visitors can immerse themselves in Heaney’s world through interactive exhibits that make poetry accessible even to those whose literary experience begins and ends with greeting cards.

The café serves dishes mentioned in Heaney’s poems—literary gastronomy that feels pretentious until you taste it and realize it’s actually delicious. It’s comparable to visiting Hemingway’s house in Key West, but with more lyrical potato references and fewer six-toed cats. Even literary skeptics find themselves unexpectedly moved by lines about mundane farm tools that somehow capture the entire human experience.

Scare Yourself at Derry Halloween

If your travel dates coincide with late October, you’ve accidentally stumbled into Europe’s largest Halloween festival (October 28-31). Derry transforms into a city-wide celebration that makes American Halloween look like amateur hour. The parade features elaborate costumes that locals spend months creating, fireworks illuminate the walled city, and street performances turn random corners into theatrical experiences.

Insider tip: Book accommodation at least 6 months in advance—Halloween brings 100,000+ visitors to a city of 85,000, creating a mathematical problem that results in “no vacancy” signs and desperate tourists checking Airbnb listings in neighboring counties. Most events are free, though premium experiences like haunted houses run $10-30. The costume competition judges are notoriously discriminating, so that Spirit Halloween outfit you packed won’t cut it here.

Climb the Guildhall Tower

The neo-Gothic Guildhall with its clock tower (often described as “Big Ben’s more attractive Irish cousin”) offers free tours that include access to panoramic city views. Built in 1890, destroyed by fire in 1908, bombed in 1972, and restored multiple times, the building itself serves as an architectural metaphor for the city’s resilience—though tour guides typically avoid pointing this out, preferring to let visitors draw their own profound conclusions.

The stunning stained glass windows depict the city’s history with more color and less bloodshed than the actual events. Open 10am-5pm daily except holidays, the Guildhall offers the added benefit of being indoors—a feature whose value becomes apparent around the fifteenth rain shower of your visit.

Shop at the Craft Village

For souvenirs that rise above mass-produced shamrock merchandise, the Craft Village offers a quirky recreation of an 18th-century street filled with artisan shops and cafes. The cobblestone pathways and colorful storefronts create an atmosphere that hovers between “authentic historical recreation” and “theme park designed by history professors”—yet somehow works perfectly.

Prices range from mid-range to “I should probably call my credit card company first”: handmade jewelry $20-100, artwork $30-500, and specialty foods that cost more than you’d normally spend but less than the regret of returning home with nothing authentic. Located in the city center, it’s easily walkable from most accommodations and provides shelter during inevitable rain showers.

Sample the Local “Craic” in Traditional Pubs

No compilation of things to do in Derry/Londonderry would be complete without mentioning the pub scene, where “craic” (pronounced “crack” but referring to fun conversation rather than illicit substances) flows as freely as the perfectly poured Guinness. Peadar O’Donnell’s offers live traditional music most nights with no cover charge—though the unspoken expectation is that the space your body occupies will be compensated for through regular drink purchases.

For different vibes: Sandino’s attracts a younger crowd with alternative music and political murals that prompt deep conversations after the second pint. Blackbird showcases the growing craft beer scene with local brews ($5-8 per pint) served in an environment that balances traditional pub coziness with hipster aesthetics. And no visit is complete without ordering a “half and half” at Fiorentini’s ice cream shop—the unofficial dessert of Derry that combines two flavors separated by a perfect diagonal line that seems to defy the laws of physics.

Take a Day Trip to the Giant’s Causeway

Just 50 miles from Derry (approximately 1-hour drive) lies the Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. Geologists claim they resulted from ancient volcanic activity, but locals insist they were built by the giant Finn McCool as stepping stones to Scotland—a theory that becomes increasingly plausible after a few Irish whiskeys.

Day tours from Derry including transportation run $50-75 per person, offering the advantage of entertaining driver commentary and freedom from navigating narrow coastal roads—though a well-planned Derry/Londonderry itinerary can help you maximize your time in the city itself. Combine with stops at Bushmills Distillery (oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world) for the perfect day out. It’s comparable to visiting Yellowstone, if Yellowstone’s features were attributed to battling giants rather than geology, and if the gift shop sold whiskey instead of bear-shaped honey jars.

Where to Stay in Derry for Different Budgets

Accommodation options span from budget-friendly to “special occasion splurge” with surprising variety for a compact city. Budget travelers seeking cheap places to stay in Derry/Londonderry can book Hostel Connect ($25-35/night for dorm beds) located centrally with clean facilities and the added entertainment of fellow travelers attempting to pronounce Irish place names. Mid-range options include the Maldron Hotel ($100-150/night), situated within the city walls with convenient access to major attractions.

Those seeking luxury should consider Bishop’s Gate Hotel ($200-300/night), housed in a historic building with upscale amenities and staff who remember your name with either impressive memory skills or hidden earpieces. For a unique stay, Shipquay Boutique Hotel ($175-225/night) combines a historic façade with contemporary interiors—architectural fusion that somehow avoids the identity crisis affecting similar properties. Book at least 3 months in advance for summer visits, 6+ months for Halloween, or risk accommodations so far from the city center that your transportation costs exceed your lodging savings—similar planning applies when considering what to do in Belfast for 5 days if you’re extending your Northern Irish adventure.