Derry City Walls stand as a testament to resilience and history, the last fully intact walled city in Ireland and among Europe's most preserved fortifications. Constructed between 1613 and 1619 under the oversight of the Irish Society, the walls were designed to safeguard English and Scottish settlers during the tumultuous Plantation of Ulster. Their strategic design encircles the inner city in a 1.5-kilometer circuit, reaching heights of eight meters and widths varying between 12 and 35 feet. The walls' unbreached integrity earned Derry its nickname, "The Maiden City", a title cemented during the Siege of Derry (1688-1689). This pivotal 105-day standoff against Jacobite forces marked one of the longest sieges in British history, with the city's defenders famously holding fast until relief ships broke the River Foyle blockade in August 1689.
The walls' architectural and cultural significance extends beyond defense. The original walled town retains a Renaissance-era street plan, a rare surviving example of 17th-century urban design. Seven gates-Bishop's, Ferryquay, Butcher, Shipquay, New, Castle, and Magazine-each bear their own stories. Bishop's Gate, replaced in 1789 as a triumphal arch, features sculptures of the Rivers Foyle and Boyne, while Ferryquay Gate holds historical gravity as the first gate closed during the siege. Notably, the walls house Europe's largest collection of cannons with documented origins, restored in 2005 to their wartime grandeur. Among them, "Roaring Meg" on the Double Bastion dominates as a symbol of the city's defiant spirit. Visitors can walk the ramparts for panoramic views of the River Foyle and the Bogside, or explore the dry moat's quiet pathways, tracing the walls' original defensive earthworks.
Walking the walls offers a layered journey through time. Guided tours delve into the siege's dramatic events and the walls' role during the Troubles, when sections were temporarily closed but now reopened for reflection. The best visits occur in spring or autumn, when mild weather complements the serene atmosphere, though summer brings vibrant events like "Derry Walls Day", featuring historical reenactments. Whether tracing the footsteps of 17th-century defenders or contemplating the cannons' silent vigil, the walls provide an immersive connection to a past that shaped both the city and its people. Their enduring presence stands as a living monument to survival, architecture, and historical continuity.
Getting There
The walls are a 20-minute walk from the train station. Bus routes 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 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1184, 1185, 1186, 1187, 1188, 1189, 1190, 1191, 1192, 1193, 1194, 1195, 1196, 1197, 1198, 1199, 1200, 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1209, 1210, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214, 1215, 1216, 1217, 1218, 1219, 1220, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1226, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235, 1236, 1237, 1238, 1239, 1240, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1244, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1248, 1249, 1250, 1251, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1255, 1256, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1268, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1272, 1273, 1274, 1275, 1276, 1277, 1278, 1279, 1280, 1281, 1282, 1283, 1284, 1285, 1286, 1287, 1288, 1289, 1290, 1291, 1292, 1293, 1294, 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298, 1299, 1300, 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314, 1315, 1316, 1317, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, 1327, 1328, 1329, 1330, 1331, 1332, 1333, 1334, 1335, 1336, 1337, 1338, 1339, 1340, 1341, 1342, 1343, 1344, 1345, 1346, 1347, 1348, 1349, 1350, 1351, 1352, 1353, 1354, 1355, 1356, 1357, 1358, 1359, 1360, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1364, 1365, 1366, 1367, 1368, 1369, 1370, 1371, 1372, 1373, 1374, 1375, 1376, 1377, 1378, 1379, 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, 1387, 1388, 1389, 1390, 1391, 1392, 1393, 1394, 1395, 1396, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1400, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1406, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1410, 1411, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1415, 1416, 1417, 1418, 1419, 1420, 1421, 1422, 1423, 1424, 1425, 1426, 1427, 1428, 1429, 1430, 1431, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1435, 1436, 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440, 1441, 1442, 1443, 1444, 1445, 1446, 1447, 1448, 1449, 1450, 1451, 1452, 1453, 1454, 1455, 1456, 1457, 1458, 1459, 1460, 1461, 1462, 1463, 1464, 1465, 1466, 1467, 1468, 1469, 1470, 1471, 1472, 1473, 1474, 1475, 1476, 1477, 1478, 1479, 1480, 1481, 1482, 1483, 1484, 1485, 1486, 1487, 1488, 1489, 1490, 1491, 1492, 1493, 1494, 1495, 1496, 1497, 1498, 1499, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1508, 1509, 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 1514, 1515, 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1682, 1683, 1684, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1688, 1689, 1690, 1691, 1692, 1693, 1694, 1695, 1696, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1700, 1701, 1702, 1703, 1704, 1705, 1706, 1707, 1708, 1709, 1710, 1711, 1712, 1713, 1714, 1715, 1716, 1717, 1718, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1722, 1723, 1724, 1725, 1726, 1727, 1728, 1729, 1730, 1731, 1732, 1733, 1734, 1735, 1736, 1737, 1738, 1739, 1740, 1741, 1742, 1743, 1744, 1745, 1746, 1747, 1748, 1749, 1750, 1751, 1752, 1753, 1754, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 19
Parking
Parking Options
-
Bishop Street Car Park
- Spaces: 138 (including 5 disabled spots and EV charging)
- Fees: £0.80/hour (council) or £0.60/hour (via YourParkingSpace). Charges apply Mon-Sat 8:30am-6:30pm.
- Distance: 5-10 minute walk to the walls. -
Foyle Road Car Park
- Spaces: 89 (3 disabled spots).
- Fees: £0.50/hour (council) or £0.30/hour (YourParkingSpace).
- Distance: 10-15 minute walk. -
Foyleside East & West (Private)
- Spaces: 915 (East) and 579 (West).
- Fees: £1.50 for 1 hour; £3.00 for 2 hours; £1/hour thereafter. Hours vary:- Foyleside East: 24/7.
- Foyleside West: Mon-Tue 7am-7pm; Wed-Fri 7am-10pm; Sat 7am-8pm.
- Distance: 15-20 minute walk.
-
Quayside Car Park (Private)
- Spaces: 400.
- Fees: £1 for 1 hour; £2.50 for 4 hours; £1.20/hour thereafter. Open Mon-Thurs 7am-9:45pm; Fri-Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 8am-6:45pm.
- Notes: 24-hour passes available for City Hotel guests (£12). Height limit 2.05m. -
William Street Car Park
- Spaces: 146 (£0.70/hour). Closes at 10pm nightly; locked vehicles require assistance (call 07803 517642/07720 591996).
Key Considerations
- Peak Times: Private lots like Foyleside and Quayside are recommended during busy periods (e.g., weekends, festivals).
- Disabled Access: Disabled parking is available at Bishop Street, Foyle Road, Carlisle Road, and most council-managed lots.
- Holiday Exemptions: Council car parks are free on 1 January, Easter Monday, 12/13 July, and 25/26 December.
- Payment Methods: Use the JustPark app, pay stations (cash/credit), or call 028 9124 8440. Pre-booking via YourParkingSpace/JustPark secures lower rates.
Tips for Visitors
- Street Parking: Limited spaces are available outside council hours (before 8am or after 6:30pm).
- Height Restrictions: Some lots (e.g., Quayside, City Hotel Carpark) limit vehicles to 2.05m.
- EV Charging: Available at Bishop Street, Carlisle Road, and Queens Quay car parks.
Pricing
Guided Tours and Additional Costs
- Martin McCrossan Tour: £6 per person (approx. €5.50). This popular walking tour is paid directly to the guide and requires no pre-booking for group participation.
- Bloody Sunday and Bogside Murals Tour: £25 per person (approx. €23.00). Minimum two people required for this private guided tour, which explores the city's pivotal historical events.
- Derry Girls TV Show Filming Locations Tour: £25 per person (approx. €23.00), also requiring a minimum of two participants.
- Bogside History Tours: £10 per person (approx. €9.20). These private tours delve into the Bogside's cultural and political significance.
- Audio Guides: Available for purchase at Derrie Danders, though specific pricing isn't provided in sources.
Group and Private Rates
Private tours (e.g., Bloody Sunday, Derry Girls) require a minimum of two people and are priced per head. No family or group discounts beyond the base rates are mentioned, but booking for larger groups may be arranged by contacting the providers directly.
Payment Methods
Most tours are paid upfront in cash to the guide, while private bookings (e.g., Bogside History Tours) can be arranged via phone or email, with payment details confirmed upon reservation.
Important Notes
- Parking charges may apply near the walls, though exact fees aren't specified.
- Ticket prices for tours are subject to change, so it's advisable to confirm rates directly with providers.
All GBP prices are converted to EUR using an approximate exchange rate of £1 ~ €0.92 (calculated via an intermediate USD conversion at 1 USD = 0.922 EUR and £1 ~ $1.09). For the most current rates, check with local providers.
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