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 sits in Derry, Northern Ireland, 11 km from the city centre. The United Kingdom's most westerly port can take 30,000 ton vessels, including cruise ships. It is on the east bank of the River Foyle, at Lough Foyle's southern end near Strathfoyle, and passengers are often tendered ashore.
The port is 7 miles from London Derry.
Terminal amenities are limited. During calls, the authorities provide a canvas sun shelter with potted plants, where passengers can wait for the hourly shuttle between the pier and central Derry's Guildhall.
Take a printable map along.
Once a key embarkation port for Irish emigrants heading to North America, Lisahally also played a vital Allied role in WWII. The Battle of the Atlantic, the war's longest campaign, ended with the German U-Boat fleet surrendering at Lisahally on 8 May 1945.
Built in the early 1600s, Londonderry's walled city is one of the few European cities whose fortifications were never breached. See the Cathedral of St. Columb and Tower Museum, and take in modern Londonderry from the wall top. Beyond the city are the magnificent Antrim coast and Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's best-known landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tower Museum is just inside the walls near Guildhall Square. Small but first-rate, it follows Londonderry's story from prehistoric times to the present.
Getting around
Derry, as locals call it, has the United Kingdom's best-preserved town walls. Its unbroken walls and gates stand 18 feet high and 20 feet thick, with a circumference of about 1 mile or 1.5 km. Stone stairways lead to the ramparts, and visitors in wheelchairs can access several points. For details, collect a Walking Tours map from the Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau on Foyle Street.
Use a hop-on/hop-off bus.
Food and shopping
Londonderry has downtown malls, department stores and the range of shops expected in Northern Ireland's second-largest city. The town centre should have shops for linens, woollens and crystal.
Money
UK currency is the pound (£), often informally called quid. Scottish bank notes can be frowned upon elsewhere in the UK, so change those notes before leaving Scotland.
ATMs, also known as cash machines or "holes in the wall", are readily available and commonly issue £10 and £20 notes.
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro are accepted in the majority of shops and restaurants.
Staying connected
The country speaks English, sometimes with distinctly heavy accents.
Many cafes and fast-food outlets provide complimentary WiFi.
Dial 999 for local emergency services, or use the EU-wide 112 number.
Opening Hours and
General shopping hours are:
Small stores may trade 6 or 7 days each week from 10am to 6pm. Larger stores generally stay open until 9PM, and hyper marts are often available 24/7.