Londonderry Travel Guide, United Kingdom

Londonderry, UK - Overview: Maiden City of Ireland

Londonderry is a city with a difference. It is situated in Northern Ireland and has a population of over 85,000. Londonderry is the fourth largest urban centre in entire Ireland. This historic city is also called as Maiden city that lies on the west bank of the River Foyle.

Early Londonderry

The city was officially named Londonderry in 1963. It was earlier called Derry. Still, many people refer to it as Derry. From the 6th century to the 11th century, Londonderry was known as the Monastic Settlement. The city became quite noteworthy during the Tudor Invasion of Ireland. In 1608, the town was totally destroyed by Cahir O'Doherty, who was an Irish chieftain of Inishowen. Then, the city was reconstructed in the 18th century. The first bridge was created at River Foyle in 1790 that opened the ways for famine stricken Irish people. During the Second World War, the city played vital roles in the Battles of Atlantic.

Location

A deep valley formed by River Foyle created some of the breathtaking views in the city. The hilly areas of the city make it absolutely distinctive. The western part of the city is known as the Cityside and the oriental area is referred to as Waterside.

Shopping

Londonderry is a shopper’s paradise. The largest shopping centers of the city are Foyleside Shopping Centre and Richmond Centre. The Foyleside Centre has 45 stores and a wide parking space, whereas Richmond consists of 39 retail units. You can easily find out stores having internationally recognized brands.

Sports

The football game is very popular in Londonderry. You can find out numerous sports clubs in this small city. The boxing clubs are also present here. The Ring Boxing Club and City of Rugby Club are the famous clubs in the city.

Education

The Magee campus is one of the major campuses of Londonderry city, which was earlier just a college. Every year, numerous foreign students enroll in the university. Again, there are many primary and secondary schools in the city, which ensures a bright future to the next generation.

Economy

The textile industry is a significant industry. In the last 15 years, the city has tried to increase the inward investment to make its economy strong.

Visiting this wonderful city of Londonderry is sure to give you a wonderful experience. It has an environment, which will give you the type of fun that you wished for a long time.