King's Award for St Columb's Cathedral
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises the volunteers whose work supports St Columb’s Cathedral, its visitors and its wider community.
Explore the rich history, culture, and stories of Derry/Londonderry with our expert local guides
Join us on Derry's historic walls — two guided tours every day, six days a week, starting from April.
Mon–Sat
10:30 am & 2:30 pm
Outside Starbucks
Top of Shipquay St
1 hour on Derry's Walls
£6 per person
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Derry's history and culture
"The tour was absolutely fascinating! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about Derry's complex history and brought every location to life with captivating stories."
Elaine Way
"Learning about the city's rich religious heritage was eye-opening. The tour provided balanced insights into all communities and their contributions to Derry's story."
Michael Thompson
"Walking the historic walls with such an informed guide made history come alive. The views across the city were spectacular, and the siege history was explained brilliantly."
Sarah Johnson
Stories, insights, and guides to enhance your Derry experience
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises the volunteers whose work supports St Columb’s Cathedral, its visitors and its wider community.
The 2025 Walk in the Light connected Derry churches through an All Saints’ Day pilgrimage centred on worship, fellowship and shared civic space.
Stingy Jack is a folktale associated with jack-o’-lanterns, not a documented historical person or proof of precisely when turnip carving began.
A Craighead family visit to First Derry connects personal genealogy with the documented ministry of Robert Craighead and the congregation’s history.
Our tours are designed to be accessible to visitors of all ages. However, some tours involve considerable walking, so we recommend considering the physical capabilities of young children and elderly participants. Children under 5 join for free, and we offer discounted rates for children aged 5-12.
We recommend comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Derry's weather can be changeable, so layers are advisable, and a light waterproof jacket is often useful even in summer. For winter tours (November-February), warm clothing and waterproof footwear are essential.
Our standard tours last approximately 2 hours. The Religious Tour and Historic Siege Tour can be extended to 3 hours upon request for groups wanting a more in-depth experience. We also offer abbreviated 1-hour highlight tours for those with limited time.
While we can sometimes accommodate walk-ins, we strongly recommend booking at least 24 hours in advance to guarantee your spot, especially during the busy summer season (June-August) and around key events like Halloween and St. Patrick's Day.
Many parts of our tours are wheelchair accessible, including sections of the city walls. However, some historical areas have cobblestones or steps that may present challenges. Please contact us before booking so we can discuss specific accessibility needs and suggest the most suitable tour route.
Tours proceed rain or shine, and Derry often experiences light rain. We incorporate indoor stops where possible during heavy rain. In cases of extreme weather that might impact safety, we'll contact you to reschedule or offer a full refund.
Yes, we regularly accommodate groups of up to 25 people. For larger groups, we recommend splitting into smaller parties with multiple guides to ensure everyone can hear and engage fully with the content. Please contact us at least two weeks in advance for groups larger than 10 people.
Book your tour today and experience the rich culture and history of the Maiden City.
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