Making the most of Londonderry
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is in Derry, Northern Ireland, located 11 km from the city center. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port and has a capacity for 30,000 ton vessels including cruise ships. It is situated on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle near the village of Strathfoyle. You often will be tendered to shore.
The port in 7 miles fom London Derry.
Terminal facilities are minimal, but during your visit, the local authorities will set up a canvas sun shelter with potted plants where passengers can wait for the hourly shuttle bus between the pier and central Derry's Guildhall.
Printable map to take along.
It was once a major port of embarkation for Irish emigrants to North America, and played a vital part for the Allies in WWII. During the war's longest running campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic eventually resulted in the surrender of the German U-Boat fleet at Lisahally on 8 May 1945.
Built in the early 1600s, the walled city of Londonderry is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached. Visit the Cathedral of St. Columb, the Tower Museum, and view modern Londonderry from the top of the wall. Beyond the city, enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Antrim coast and the Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland's most famous landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tower Museum, located just inside the walls near the Guildhall Square, is a small but first-rate museum that traces Londonderry's history from the prehistoric era through the present day.
Getting around
Derry, as the locals call their city, has the best-preserved town walls in the United Kingdom. The unbroken walls and gates are 18 feet high and 20 feet thick, with a circumference of about 1 mile or 1.5 km. You can climb up to the ramparts via stone stairways, and several points allow access by visitors in wheelchairs. (Pick up a Walking Tours map at the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau on Foyle Street for details.)
Hop on/off bus.
Food and shopping
Londonderry has several downtown malls and department stores, plus many shops of the sort that you might expect to find in Northern Ireland's second-largest city. You should be able to find shops that sell linens, woolens, and crystal in the town center.
Money
The currency throughout the UK is the pound (£). You may also hear the slang term quid for pounds. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so change the notes before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM) or less formally 'holes in the wall' are very widely available and usually dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, are accepted by most shops and restaurants.
Staying connected
English is spoken throughout the country, but sometimes with heavy accents!
Plenty of cafes and fast food outlets offer free WiFi.
The local emergency telephone number is 999, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours are in general:
Small stores 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm) Larger stores in general stay open til' 9PM Hyper marts often 24/7