Derry

[[file:Derry banner View from City Wall - The Bogside from City Wall}} This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group Derry or Londonderry (Irish phrasebook|Irish: 'Doire', meaning 'Oak Grove'), is the second city of [[Northern Ireland and the fourth largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin, Belfast and Cork. It is situated on the river Foyle in County Londonderry, close to county Donegal in the [[Ireland|Republic of Ireland. It has a population presence of roughly 100,000. Note that the name of the city is a point of political dispute, with unionists advocating the longer name, and nationalists advocating the shorter. A common attempt at compromise is to refer to the county as "Londonderry" and the city as "Derry", but thit is by no means universally accepted. Because of this, a peculiar situation arises as there is no common consensus either in politics or elsewhere as to which name is preferred; the city council is officially known as "Derry", but the city is officially recognised as "Londonderry" by the [[Northern Ireland Executive and the UK government. Whilst road signs in the Republic of Ireland use "Derry", alongside the Irish language translation "Doire", road signs in [[Northern Ireland will always read (unless vandalised) "Londonderry".

Derry Halal Travel Guide

Situated on the banks of River Foyle, Derry is the second largest city in [[Northern Ireland and one of the oldest inhabited places in the whole island of Ireland. As they say there, 'Derry was a city when Belfast was still a swamp'. Derry's history dates back over 1,450 years, a lasting reminder of the early inhabitants of the area is the Iron Age fort, just over the border in County Donegal, known as the Burt (Republic of Ireland) | Grianan of Aileach.

In the 6th Century Street Columba/Colmcille established a monastery in Derry. Shifting ten centuries later to the Plantation of Ulster, King James I of England had the wealthy guilds of London build up the city of Derry (hence the title Londonderry) and surround it by the defensive walls that still ring the city today.

These walls witnessed one of the most prominent events in the history of Derry. In 1688 the city was laid siege by the Earl of Antrim and the Catholic forces of James II and the English king who was deposed in favour of Protestant William of Orange. The settlers of the city who were protestant, barricaded themselves within the walls, when a group of apprentice boys from London on seeing the oncoming forces, locked the city gates and so started the Great Siege of Derry.

The siege was to be the longest in British history, lasting some 105 days, during which an estimated third of the city’s then population of 30,000 died through disease and starvation. When James II himself rode up to the city walls and lay down terms for surrender he was greeted with shouts of ‘No Surrender’. The siege was finally broken when the relief ship Mountjoy broke the boom which was laid across the River Foyle beside the city.

However the legacy of the Great Siege of Derry lasted for centuries with the Catholic and Protestant communities in Derry still largely divided today. During the years of the Troubles, Derry witnessed some of the most prominent and terrible events of those times. It was on Derry's Bogside area that British soldiers shot dead 14 civil rights protesters in what became known as Bloody Sunday. The majority of the Bogside murals commemorate this tragic loss of innocents.

Since the peace process in [[Northern Ireland, Derry is slowly emerging as an upbeat cosmopolitan city with great potential and huge tourist interest. In July 2010, Derry was awarded City of Culture for 2013. A lot of Derry’s sights are meshed with its history and the 16th Century walls which surround the city are among the oldest and the best preserved fortress walls in Europe.

A huge percentage of Derry’s population fall into the 20 – 30 age group and there are plenty of places to cater for them with lots of clothes shops and boutiques, pubs, restaurants and Derry's traditional Irish and folk music scene are well established.

How to travel to Derry

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Derry

City of Derry Airport IATA Flight Code: LDY 55.042778, -7.161944 located 11km north-east of the downtown - City of Derry Airport - City of Derry Airport - A431211 An airport serving Derry, County Tyrone, and Donegal in the [[Ireland|Republic of Ireland. Ryanair offers Flights to Alicante, Faro, Glasgow, London (London Stansted Airport|Stansted), Liverpool.

Taxis are available from the airport, with the typical fares to the downtown around £12, with the journey taking roughly 15 minutes. The easiest way to get one is by using the very visible yellow phones by the exit on the left as you come out of arrivals. Although, because there are only ever a few flights a day, many taxi men know when to come to the airport, so when you walk out you should see them by the vehicle park and most are there to pick up any free fares. Don't forget that many won't accept Euros!

There is also a bus service but given the intermittent timetable, unless you're short of cash, you should just take a taxi. For details of Ulsterbus bus services visit Translink. The typical fare to the downtown is £2.70 and the journey takes roughly 20-30 minutes.

From Belfast

Belfast has two airports, serving a host of destinations. Belfast#By_plane|Belfast International Airport is situated 100km from Derry, whilst Belfast#By_plane|Belfast City Airport is located 115km from Derry. Both Belfast airports are served by a good bus connection to Derry downtown with Airporter.

From Dublin

It is also feasible to get to Derry from Dublin#By_plane|Dublin Airport, 225km to the south-east. Dublin Airport is Ireland's international air hub, served by Ryanair, Aer Lingus and many other international carriers, with destinations in Ireland, Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East.

 Buses link Dublin Airport and the Derry, running throughout the night.

Travel by train to Derry

[[Northern Ireland Railways (a subsidiary of Translink) have trains travelling to and from Belfast regularly during the whole day. Trains arrive in Derry's Waterside, with a shuttle bus linking the train station to the (more central) bus station.

The journey between Belfast and Derry takes just over 2 hours and between Coleraine and Derry affords great views along the shores of Lough Foyle, which was described by Michael Palin as “one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world”].

By car

From Belfast, start on the M2 and you can either take the primary street (A6) to Derry (signposted as Londonderry) via Dungiven or the scenic drive along the Antrim Coast, passing the Giant's Causeway.

From Belfast International Airport, take the primary street to the M2 from the airport through Templepatrick. Follow the signposts onto the primary street to Londonderry.

From Dublin, take the M1 motorway and go as far as the signpost for Derry and Ardee. Then take the N32 which links to the N2. Follow the N2 via Carrickmacross and Monaghan to the border where the road then becomes the A5. Travel northwards via Omagh and Strabane until you reach Derry.

South of the border road signs will read "Derry", north of the border "Londonderry". It is common to see vandalism where the "London" part has been spray-painted over leaving only "derry" remaining. It is also feasible to see some signs where "derry" has been painted over and directions for "London" are on display. Thit is often done as a joke by kids and is not done to intentionally confuse or misdirect tourists.

Travel on a Bus in Derry

Translink's Goldline Express No. 212 departs to and from Belfast regularly during the whole day. Dublin is connected with Goldine Express No. 274 and Bus Éireann service No. 33, which runs throughout the night. There is also a connection with the west coast with Bus Éireann service No. 64, which runs to Sligo and Galway and then onwards to Limerick and Cork. Full details of bus services are available from Translink and Bus Éireann ]

Further services, aimed mainly at travellers arriving into the local airports are operated by Airporter.

Get Around

GPS 54.9966|-7.3239 layer=M}} Derry is crucially split (by the River Foyle) into two main areas - The Waterside and The Cityside/Derry Side. The two banks of the river are connected by three bridges. The elder of these is the Craigavon Bridge, a double-decker bridge which once carried trains on its lower deck. A more recently constructed road bridge is the Foyle Bridge. Thit is a four-lane concrete bridge, which is further from the downtown.

The east side of the river has been known as The Waterside. Thit is traditionally the home of Derry's unionist population.

The west side of the Foyle is usually known as The Cityside. Thit is predominantly nationalist and contains most of the tourist attractions and the downtown and The Guildhall. Here you will find the city walls the Bogside. The downtown is small and suitable for walking. There are bus services from the main terminal on Foyle Street and local bus stops dotted along the same road, but many Muslim actually prefer to get about by taxi. Fares are surprisingly affordable with the average journey costing £3.00. Taxi men in Derry love a good chat, so if you get them going they'll not be prone to bumping up the fare.

In 2011 and the Peace Bridge was opened, which is a pedestrian bridge connecting the Waterside to the heart of the downtown, and in turn bringing the two communities, Catholic and Protestant closer together as well.

What to See

Guildhall_with_cannon_in_foreground - Derry's Guildhall.

As well as excellent tours around the town and its 17th Century walls, Derry also boasts a number of excellent visitor attractions. The Tower Museum is an award winning attraction, telling the history of the city and includes a range of exhibitions, while Derry'sGuildhall, St Columb's Gothic Church, St Eugene's Gothic Church and St Augustine's Chapel are all historic buildings of stunning architecture.

Other sights include the fascinating Bogside Murals found on the walls of what has been known as Free Derry Corner and depict various events in the history of the town, from the Nationalist perspective. A more contemporary sculpture in the city, known as Hands Across the Divide, serves as a symbol of the two communities coming together.

The city walls are the best-preserved in all of Ireland and make about a one-mile circumference around the town center.

City walls

Derry_walls_and_tower_museum - Derry Walls with the Tower Museum in the background.

Derry is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe. The walls constitute the largest monument in storic-Walls-of-Derry-Londonderry-Derry-P7097 State care in [[Northern Ireland and, as the last walled city to be built in Europe, stands as the most complete and spectacular.

The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by "the honourable the Irish Society" as defences for early 17th century settlers from England and Scotland. The Walls, which are roughly 1 mile (1.5 km) in circumference and which vary in height and width between 12 and 35 feet (4 to 12 metres), are completely intact and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance style street plan. The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate to which three further gates were added later, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate, making seven gates in total. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of Street Columb and the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the courthouse.

It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, withstanding several sieges including one in 1689 which lasted 105 days, hence the city's nickname, The Maiden City.]

Bogside

Take a walk around the "Free Derry" corner between the Bogside and the western side of the old city walls. Stop and look at the political murals made by local artists during the 90s, depicting key events in the harsh conflict haunting [[Northern Ireland. In the same area and the Free Derry monument, Free Derry Museum, and Bloody Sunday memorial are also located. Taking a guided tour of the Bogside is probably the best option for visitors.

Museums

The city is home to several museums. (Contact Derry Tourism Board for their opening times which can be somewhat erratic):

Tower Museum Union Hall Place 54.99742, -7.32090 ☎ +44 28 7137-2411 - Considered the main museum of the city, it tells the story of Derry from pre-historic times to the foundation of the city in 542 and the siege of 1689 and the Irish Famine of 1846 and the partition of Ireland in 1921 and the recent conflict of 1969-1994, up until modern times. The museum now houses a new exhibition of the Spanish Armada. Voted European museum of the year in 1994.

Railway museum Foyle Road 54.9909, -7.3207 - Details the city's railway legacy and four railway companies.

Harbour Museum Harbour Plaza 54.99336, -7.31906 - The city's maritime museum.

Workhouse Museum Dungiven Road - A restored workhouse showing what conditions were like during the Irish Famine.

Genealogy Centre Butcher Street 54.99598, -7.32317 - Trace your Irish ancestry!

Free Derry Museum Glenfada Park 54.9969, -7.3259 - A museum of the Northern Irish conflict. A section is dedicated to the Bloody Sunday and its aftermath.

The People's Gallery - Rossville Street The "Bogside Artists", who painted the murals in the Bogside, tell the story of over thirty years of turbulent history and unrest through their paintings.

Old Gaol Fountain 54.99287, -7.32368 - Opening Hours: Visit by prior arrangement only A small museum of Loyalist memorabilia. Only one of the original gaol (jail) towers remain and the rest having been demolished in 1973. Wolfetone, one of the leaders of the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion, was imprisoned here prior to his execution.

Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall Society Street 54.99543, -7.32394 A museum is housed in the main building detailing the history of the Apprentice Boys and their prominent role in the 1689 Siege.

Amelia Earhart Museum Ballyarnett Country Park ☎ +44 28 7135-4040 Opening Hours: Monday to Thur: 9.00am – 4.00pm Fri: 9.00am-1.00pm Dedicated to the female aviatrix who landed in the city in 1936 becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Derry

Derry City Football Club play their home matches are played the Brandywell_Stadium|Brandywell Stadium, in the Brandywell area of the city, with most league matches taking place on Friday night. The club play in the League of Ireland Premier Division, which is actually the league of the [[Ireland|Republic of Ireland. Visitors to the club with be assured of a warm welcome and a lively atmosphere, with the club being one of the top teams in the nation.

Events

The city is host to an annual Halloween Carnival on the 31st October. Upwards of 30,000 revellers dressed in fancy dress costumes throng the streets and bars until the early hours. It is the biggest festival of its kind in Ireland attracting visitors from as far as Australia, Japan and the USA.

Study in Derry

Magee College is a campus of the University of Ulster located in the city.

Shopping in Derry

Derry_Craft_Village - Derry's Craft Village.

Most of Derry's retail stores are situated well within walking distance of the downtown. The main shopping malls are Foyleside co.uk and the Richmond Centre . Between them and these malls contain many of the stores which one would expect to find in any city in the UK or Ireland, such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Dunnes Stores.

Derry's last remaining home-grown department store is Austins, in The Diamond, and claims to be the world's oldest independent department store. Be sure to visit Guildhall Plaza during the day, where a local market operates.

The town centre is very busy on a Saturday as many travel from the Republic to take advantage of Pound/Euro strengths. However Sunday is very quiet and many shops do not open.

Halal Restaurants

Fiorentini's - Italian-owned cafe, known throughout the city for its great value meals, and home to the best ice-cream in town. Be sure to try the Knickerbocker Glory! Great food, staff very helpful, especially the three owners.

Costa Coffée - Very small (located beneath an escalator!), within the FoyleSide Shopping Center, fair priced, delicious coffee and Snacks.

Dohertys Bakery - A true greasy spoon cafe and there are a number of bakeries around the town all run by this local chain, but their cafe on William Street is the best place to go after walking around the walls and Bogside area for a affordable and tasty lunch. the cafe is located in the back behind the main bakery.

Danano's. A really nice Italian that is relatively affordable but great food.

Badgers. A great port of call for lunch while shopping. Can be crowded and cramped at busy times.

Flaming Jack's. Top quality, good value restaurant. 2 courses for £10 offer on most days. One of the busiest downtown restaurants in Derry, located on Strand Road. Quaywest. Strand Road: by the Waterfront, quite near the Mandarin Palace. Opened in recent years and is quite successful. Serves light and sumptuous cuisine with an array of soft drinks. Relatively cheap.

Grillroom Restaurant - 15 Culmore Road, BT488JB ☎ +44 28 7127 9111 Lunch specials from £6.95 This restaurant in the Ramada Da Vinci Hotel complex serves food daily from 5pm. With mid week specials of 2 courses for £12.00. All Day Sunday menu running from 12.30-8pm. Fabulous a la carte food Monday - Saturday.

- Guava. Healthy food smoothie café. Can be crowded at most times. If one prefers more substance than a smoothie and there is a choice of non blended food!}} - The Mandarin Palace Strand Road. Long established Chinese food restaurant with excellent service and value, if you can spare the cash that is! It is however well worth the money. Open from 5.00 in the evening. - The Exchange. The best restaurant in Derry in the opinion of many ... try the duck!}} - Imperial City. Another upper class Chinese restaurant, recently opened, authentic and delicious menu.

Timberquay Restaurant & Wine Cafe - 100 Strand Road - A new vibrant dining experience located on the banks of the River Foyle.

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Brown's Restaurant and Champagne Lounge. Now under new management, with multi-award winning chef Ian Orr. Certainly one of the North West's finest restaurants and first champagne lounge.

Derry is a small city with a recent turbulent past. Odds are, you shouldn't have any problems, but be aware of tensions. (see "Stay Safe" below)

Located in the centre of the city, just outside the Walled City, Waterloo Street is a steep hill lined with some of the city's liviliest bars. - Sandinos Water Street near the bus terminal. Perhaps the most interesting bar in Derry. Named after Augusto C. Sandino and the bar has very strong Central/South American vibe. The walls are decorated with posters and paraphernalia of leftist movements form Cuba and Nicaragua amongst others. There are also images from the Citys own past and struggle through the 'troubles', including the battle of the bogside. Thit is where you will find Derrys inteligencia and one or two local celebs, a must for a pint when in the Walled City. - Peadar O'Donnell's 63 Waterloo Street ☎ +44 28 7137-2318. If you are looking for traditional Irish folk music sessions, thit is the best place in Derry. Such sessions are held nearly every day of the week, and both local residents and visitors create a nice atmosphere. Drinkers can access Gweedore Cafe through an interior door. - Granny Annie's (Formerly Bound For Boston) Waterloo Street. A Derry institution, situated in Waterloo Street this lively bar attracts people of all ages to sample the perfect pint. Only a few minutes walk from the famous Butcher Gate and City Walls. Renowned live band venue. - Gweedore Cafe Waterloo Street. Geared purely to live music but with a more contemporary band nature than Peadar O'Donnells. Here you can listen to line ups of all ages strutting their stuff giving their interpretations of all the favorites and some original self penned music. Upstairs is in a nightclub-style, with disco nights. - The Metro Bank Place. You'll find this charming bar in the shadow of the imposing city walls. The décor is interesting, with intriguing bric-a-brac collected from around the world, and lots of alcoves provide an intimate atmosphere. The pub grub here is of a high standard and features every thing from soup and sandwiches to a hearty beef stew in Guinness. A night the upper level transforms into ad hoc dance area, filled with a young crowd. Complete with a roof-top smoking area, great on a sunny day.

Downeys Cafe Complex Shipquay Street 54.99667, -7.32011 - Features a pub-style bar on the ground floor, a sports bar (The Poolworks) on the upper levels and the largest roof top organic juice garden in the city.Also contains 'Sugar' nightclub, extremely popular with the younger crowd. - Oak Grove Bishop Street Without.. Located close to the Brandywell Stadium, this bar is busiest on Derry City FC matchdays.

Da Vinci's Hotel - Cafe serving Fruit cocktails and Pub Grub, in the Ramada Da Vinci Hotel. Shows Sky Sports. Open daily. Hotel also has a spirit café.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Derry

Derry - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Derry, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Derry. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Derry and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Derry. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Derry. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Derry: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Derry.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Derry: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Derry, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Derry.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Derry, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Derry, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Derry and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Derry, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Derry, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Derry without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Derry is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Derry.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Derry is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Derry, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Derry Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Derry

eHalal Group Derry is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Derry. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Derry.

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

The Merchant's House 16 Queen Street ☎ +44 28 7126-9691 or +44 28 7126-4223 - A wonderful old house with Bed and Breakfast. Nice and clean, good breakfast. No en suite bathroom because it would be a pity to change the house.

Groarty House And Manor - ☎ +44 28 7126-1403 - Groarty Manor is a newly built house, set in its own one acre site surrounded by trees, and is tastefully furnished in warm relaxing colours. Has disabled access and disabled bathroom facilities on the ground floor. It offers a great base for touring County Londonderry, Donegal, and Derry City itself with its historic walls, museums and various other tourist attractions.

Derry City Independent Hostel 44 Great James Street 55.00007, -7.32570 ☎ +44 28 7128-0542 - A friendly, independent hostel, run by two backpackers who have been traveling around the world for quite some time themselves. The hostel actually consists of three separate houses, all spread out within walking distance of the old town and the Bogside murals.

City Hotel Queen's Quay, off Foyle Street, BT48 7AS - Contemporary four star hotel centrally located on the bend of River Foyle, 200 metres from Guildhall - Many rooms overlook these points of interest. Rooms fairly spacious. Restaurant serves very good food, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. Underground parking provided.

Tower Hotel Butcher Street 54.99598, -7.32266 - Modern Four star hotel, centrally located inside the city walls, 200 metres from Guildhall. Underground parking provided.

Travelodge Derry Hotel | 22-24 Strand Road 54.99956, -7.32165 200 m from Guildhall ☎ +44 870 1 911 733 +44 28 7127-1277 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: from £35 Use of adjacent multistorey vehicle park.

Da Vincis Hotel - 15 Culmore Road, BT48 8JB ☎ +44 28 7127 9111 - Modern 4 star hotel. 65 spacious bedrooms, award winning traditional Irish Bar, Grillroom Restaurant, Spirit Cafe night club, Style Cafe function space and meeting rooms. All guests can avail of complimentary vehicle parking, unlimited wi-fi and weekend entertainment.

Broomhill Hotel Limavady Road, BT47 6LT ☎ +44 28 7134-7995 - Three star hotel, 3 kilometers north of the downtown on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free vehicle parking.

The Waterfoot Hotel & Country Club 14 Clooney Road, BT47 6TB ☎ +44 28 7134-5500 - 5 kilometers north of the downtown on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free vehicle parking.

BT48 Apartotel - 5-star self catering lodging, luxury 1-3 bedroom apartments on the banks of the River Foyle.

City Hotel Derry Queens Quay 54.999283, -7.320386 ☎ +44 28 7136-5800 - Four-star hotel on Queen’s Quay. Spacious guest rooms, conference and event venues and dining options.

Everglades Hotel 41-53 Prehen Road, BT47 2NH - Four star hotel, 2km south of the downtown on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free vehicle parking.

Beech Hill Country House Hotel 32 Ardmore Road, BT47 3QP ☎ +44 28 7134-9279 - Five star hotel as stayed in by Bill and Hilary Clinton. Small hotel in a converted country house, located in large grounds 5km east of the downtown on the east bank of the river (Waterside). Free vehicle parking.

Stay Safe

After Belfast, Derry was the main centre of trouble during Northern Ireland's conflict. As a majority Catholic city, although significantly improved, some tensions still remain between the Republican and Loyalist communities in some parts of Derry. Wearing items of clothing which would identify you as being from any particular religious denomination or political viewpoint (for example Rangers or Celtic football shirts) is not advised.

Derry was awarded Purple Flag status in October 2011, which recognises that the city provides evening visitors with an entertaining, diverse, and safe night out, and has brought the Purple Flag accreditation to [[Northern Ireland for the first time.

Cope in Derry

For someone not familiar with English and the Derry accent can be quite challenging to understand at first (sometimes even to the native English speaker) and they tend to speak quite loudly and fast. However, if they know you are not from the area they will more than likely make an attempt to be more understandable.

The city is built on some quite steep hills. Therefore it is worth noting that a lot of walking up and down these hills will be required. They can become quite slippery in cold weather and sometimes when wet.

News & References Derry

More Muslim Friendly Destinations from Derry

The city itself is quite small, making it easy to escape to the surrounding countryside. County Londonderry and nearby County Donegal have a wealth of green fields and sights to appeal to nature lovers. Ulsterbuses can be used for outings. These are operated by Translink.

A trip to the Giant's Causeway on the north coast is highly recommended. If you have a choice, come early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds of tourists treading all over the place. Translink operate buses to and from the Giant's Causeway from both Derry and Belfast.

Not far outside Derry, across the border in Donegal is Burt (Republic of Ireland) | Grianan of Aileach. This ancient stone fort is on a hilltop between Derry and Letterkenny and affords superb views of loughs Foyle and Swilly, and of Derry itself. The fort at Grianan had been recently closed for renovation work. It is now once again open to the public.