Derry City Walls

📍 Derry/Londonderry City Centre

💷 Free

🅿️ Paid city-centre parking nearby

🚻 Public toilets available nearby

♿️ Partially accessible, with steps, slopes and uneven surfaces along parts of the route

☕ Plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby

🧒 Best for ages 4+, especially children who enjoy castles and exploring

🗺️ The Diamond, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6HW

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What You’ll Find

If your little adventurers love castles, cannons and exploring somewhere filled with history, a walk around Derry City Walls is a brilliant free family day out.

The walls were built in the early 1600s and form a complete walkway around the old city. The full route is approximately one mile long, making it manageable for families while still feeling like a proper adventure.

Children will love walking high above the streets, passing through the historic gateways and spotting the cannons positioned around the walls. There are lovely views across the city, including the Bogside, the Guildhall and the River Foyle.

Information boards placed along the route help bring the history of the walls to life. You can complete the entire circuit or simply explore a smaller section if you’re visiting with younger children.

The walls are right in the heart of the city, so it’s easy to combine your walk with the Guildhall, the Peace Bridge or a stop for something to eat.

For the Grown Ups

The walls offer some of the best views across Derry/Londonderry and are a lovely way to explore the city without spending anything.

There are plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops nearby, along with public toilets and several city-centre car parks. The central location makes this an easy adventure to combine with other attractions.

Why We Liked It

✅ It’s completely free to explore

✅ The full route is short enough for a family walk

✅ Children will love discovering the cannons and historic gateways

✅ There are brilliant views across the city

✅ The information boards add some history without making the walk feel like a lesson

✅ You can easily combine it with other nearby attractions

✅ There are lots of places nearby for coffee, lunch or a treat

Top Tips

⭐️ Allow around an hour to complete the full circuit at a relaxed family pace

⭐️ Wear comfortable shoes because some sections are cobbled or uneven

⭐️ There are steps and slopes along parts of the walls, so a buggy may be difficult to manage

⭐️ Keep younger children close, particularly on the busier and more elevated sections

⭐️ Bring a light jacket because it can feel windy and exposed on top of the walls

⭐️ Park in one of the nearby city-centre car parks and explore the rest of the area on foot

⭐️ Download a city map or collect one from the Visitor Information Centre before starting

Have you Visited?

Have you walked Derry City Walls? Let us know what your wee adventurers thought in the comments below!

Nearby Adventures

📍 The Guildhall

📍 Peace Bridge

📍 Ebrington Square

📍 St Columb’s Park

📍 Brooke Park