Beyond the Headlines: How to Experience Derry Like a Local

My first full experience of Derry/Londonderry, from the historic city walls to the murals, Bloody Sunday memorial and Peace Bridge.

*Waterloo Street – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Derry/Londonderry was one of the places I was particularly looking forward to visiting during my Northern Ireland road trip. After landing at Belfast International Airport and collecting my hire car, I made my way north-west, stopping at Antrim Castle Gardens before continuing towards Derry. I had planned to spend the afternoon exploring the city on foot.

*Derry Girls Hangout – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

First impressions of Derry

Derry is a city where history is impossible to ignore. The historic centre is surrounded by its famous walls, which remain one of the city’s most recognisable features.

*Bishop’s Gate – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Walking around the walls was the perfect way to start my visit because it gave me an overview of the city and allowed me to see many of the main landmarks from above. The walls also make it easy to understand the layout of the historic centre.

St Columb’s Cathedral

One of my first stops was St Columb’s Cathedral. The cathedral dates back centuries and is an important part of Derry’s history. I enjoyed seeing it as part of the wider historic centre rather than simply visiting it as an isolated attraction. From here, I continued towards the city walls.

Walking the Derry Walls

The Derry Walls were one of the highlights of my visit. The walls form a complete circuit around the historic city centre and provide some excellent views over the surrounding area. As I walked, I could see many of the places I would visit later in the afternoon.

*Derry Walls – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

It was also interesting to see how the old fortified city sits alongside the much more modern parts of Derry. For anyone visiting Derry for the first time, I would definitely recommend walking the walls rather than simply viewing them from below.

*View from near the* *Derry Walls – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Free Derry Corner and the Bogside murals

From the historic centre I continued towards Free Derry Corner. The area around the Bogside contains some of the city’s best-known murals and is closely connected with the history of the Troubles and the civil rights movement.

*Free Derry Corner – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

I then visited the Bloody Sunday Monument. This was one of the more serious parts of my visit. The memorial commemorates the people who were killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972.

*Bloody Sunday Memorial – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Seeing these places in person gives a different perspective from simply reading about the events in a history book.

*Peaceful Monument – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Tower Museum

I also visited the Tower Museum, which provides further context about the history of Derry and the surrounding region.

It was useful to have the historical background after walking through the city and seeing many of the places connected with its past.

Derry Guildhall

Another building that caught my attention was Derry Guildhall. The architecture is impressive and the building stands prominently near the city walls.

I particularly enjoyed photographing it because of the contrast between the red sandstone exterior and the surrounding streets.

The Peace Bridge

I then made my way towards the Peace Bridge. The bridge crosses the River Foyle and connects the city centre with the Ebrington area.

*Peace Bridge – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Its sweeping design is very different from the historic architecture I had seen earlier in the day. I liked the contrast between the old city walls, historic buildings and this modern piece of architecture.

The murals

Before leaving, I made sure to see more of Derry’s famous murals. The murals are an important part of the city’s visual identity and tell stories connected with its political and social history.

*Derry Girls Mural – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

Derry is one of those places where walking around is almost like walking through a history book.

*Civil Rights Association Mural – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

My impressions of Derry

What I enjoyed most about Derry was that the main sights are close enough together to explore on foot. The city has a strong sense of identity, and its historic architecture sits alongside much more modern landmarks such as the Peace Bridge.

*Hands Across the Divide statues – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

I would recommend allowing at least half a day for a first visit, although a full day would give you more time to explore the museums, murals and surrounding areas without rushing.

*Ferryquay Gate – Derry – Northern Ireland – UK – September 2026*

For me, the combination of the city walls, the Bogside murals, Free Derry Corner, Bloody Sunday Monument, Guildhall and Peace Bridge made Derry one of the most memorable parts of my Northern Ireland trip.