Destination Ireland: Derry~Londonderry

Derry~Londonderry is the perfect city break destination to visit in October, as it is slowly growing in popularity the world over for its ghoulish Halloween festivities.

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Things to see and do

Derry~Londonderry is a beautiful city steeped in Irish history, and in more recent years it has been catapulted into the spotlight, thanks to the likes of Channel 4’s popular comedy series, Derry Girls. Pop culture aside though, Derry is shining in its own right, having been understated for so long. If you are a fan of Derry Girls, then you can make a stop within the City Walls to the giant mural that has been painted in homage to the show, featuring the four Derry Girls and ‘the wee English fella’. This can be found on the side of Badger’s Bar right in the heart of the city.

Derry is the only remaining walled city on the island of Ireland, and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. The walls are approximately 1.5km in circumference and form a walkway around the inner city, providing a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town, which still preserves its renaissance style. The walls themselves date back to the early 17th century and were originally built as a defence against settlers from England and Scotland. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishops Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Open to the public from dawn to dusk, there are also guided tours available.