Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [572]
Playhouse (Map; 7126 8027; www.derryplayhouse.co.uk; 5-7 Artillery St; box office 10am-5pm Mon-Fri) Housed in beautifully restored former school buildings with an award-winning modern extension at the rear, this community arts centre stages music, dance and theatre performances by local and international performers. It’s also home to the Context Gallery (open 11am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday), which hosts exhibitions by local artists.
Waterside Theatre ( 7131 4000; www.watersidetheatre.com; Ebrington Centre, Glendermott Rd; box office 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri) Housed in a former factory 500m east of the River Foyle, this theatre stages drama, dance, comedy, children’s theatre and live music.
Magee College (Map; 7137 5679; www.culture.ulster.ac.uk; University of Ulster, Northland Rd) The college hosts a variety of arts, theatre and classical-concert performances throughout the year.
Derry Omniplex (Map; 08717 200400; www.omniplex.ie; Quayside Shopping Centre, Strand Rd) This seven-screen multiplex is the place for mainstream movies.
Shopping
Ogmiós (Map; 7126 4132; www.gaelaras.ie/shop.htm; 34 Great James St) Housed in the An Gaeláras Gaelic language centre, this craft shop stocks a good range of Irish-language books, traditional music CDs, musical instruments, pottery, prints and jewellery.
Donegal Shop (Map; 7126 6928; 8 Shipquay St) A long-established craft shop, the Donegal is crammed with Irish knitwear, Celtic jewellery, Donegal tweeds, Irish linen and souvenirs.
McGilloway Gallery (Map; 7136 6011; 6 Shipquay St) A commercial gallery that provides a showcase for the best of contemporary Irish art, the McGilloway sells work by local artists and stages around half a dozen exhibitions each year.
Whatnot (Map; 7128 8333; 22 Bishop St Within) The Whatnot is an interesting little antique shop crammed with jewellery, militaria, bric-a-brac and collectables.
Cool Discs Music (Map; 7126 0770; www.cooldiscsmusic.com; 6/7 Lesley House, Foyle St) One of Northern Ireland’s best independent record shops, Cool Discs has a wide selection of music by Irish artists old and new.
Austins (Map; 7126 1817; 2 The Diamond) The world’s oldest independent department store (established 1830), Austins is a good place to shop for Irish linen (they can ship your purchases overseas).
Foyleside Shopping Centre (Map; 7137 7575; Orchard St; 9am-6pm Mon & Tue, to 9pm Wed-Fri, to 7pm Sat, 1-6pm Sun) This is a huge, four-level mall just outside the eastern city walls that contains a Marks & Spencer, Eason bookshop and other high-street chain stores.
The little courtyard of Craft Village (Map) is home to a handful of craft shops selling Derry crystal, hand-woven cloth, ceramics, jewellery and other local craft items. Enter from Shipquay St, Magazine St or Tower Museum.
Getting There & Away
AIR
City of Derry Airport (Map; 7181 0784; www.cityofderryairport.com) is about 13km east of Derry along the A2 towards Limavady. There are direct flights daily to Dublin (Aer Arann), London Stansted, London Luton, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow Prestwick (Ryanair).
BUS
The bus station (Map; 7126 2261) is on Foyle St, just northeast of the walled city.
Bus 212, the Maiden City Flyer, is a fast and frequent service between Derry and Belfast (£10, 1¾ hours, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday, 11 on Sunday), calling at Dungiven. Goldline Express 274 goes from Derry to Dublin (£16, four hours, every two hours daily).
Other useful Ulsterbus services include the 273 to Omagh (£8, 1¼ hours, hourly Monday to Saturday, six Sunday) and the 234 to Limavady and Coleraine (£6, one hour, five daily Monday to Saturday, two Sunday), continuing to Portstewart and Portrush on weekday evenings.
Lough Swilly Bus Company (Map; Foyle St; 7126 2017) has an office upstairs at the bus station, and runs buses to Buncrana, Carndonagh,