Ireland
Derry / Londonderry: the conference village
INTACT 17TH-CENTURY WALLS, A COMPACT, WALKABLE CENTRE AND VENUES SPANNING FOUR CENTURIES – NORTHERN IRELAND’ S SECOND CITY MAKES EVERY EVENT FEEL PERSONAL
T he city’ s name is steeped
in history. Londonderry is the official name of the city and county, though“ Derry” – its oldest name, from the Irish doire, meaning oak grove – is heard just as often.
Northern Ireland’ s second-largest city spans both banks of the River Foyle. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Ireland and in 2013 became the first UK City of Culture. Getting there is easy: City of Derry Airport has direct flights from key UK cities, including a daily London Heathrow service, and a new regional route to Dublin is on the way.
Its 17th-century walls are among the finest in Europe. They run for some 1.5 kilometres and stand up to 11 metres high, and this is the only city in Ireland whose walls remain completely intact. Walking them offers a unique vantage point over a city that still follows its original Renaissance-style street plan. No surprise, then, that Time Out named Derry / Londonderry among Europe’ s 10 most underrated destinations for 2026.
Over four centuries the walls have adapted to a changing city, gaining three additional gates. Inside and beyond them, the main thoroughfares are lined with Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings, making the walk between venues a visual treat.
The economy, once powered by textiles, now produces high-performance materials such as Kevlar and Lycra, and global names including Seagate have operations here.
A conference village What really sets Derry / Londonderry apart is its compact layout, which creates a genuine“ conference village” atmosphere. Major venues, hotels, restaurants and attractions are all a short walk apart. Delegates move easily along historic streets or across
St Columbs Cathedral, Derry
Below: DERRY Guildhall, Derry City, Co. Londonderry the symbolic Peace Bridge between meetings, networking and social programmes. As the meeting point of the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way, the city also puts dramatic coastal and rural scenery on the doorstep.
Old and new Organisers will find an eclectic mix of spaces. The Playhouse, established in 1992 in the former St Mary’ s convent, delivers arts, education and peacebuilding programmes, with a 140-seat theatre, gallery, dance studio and breakout rooms.
On the East Wall, St Columb’ s Hall was built in 1886 by the St Columb’ s Hall Total Abstinence Society as part of the temperance movement. Now enjoying a renaissance, it caters for 50 to 800 people. It has welcomed iconic figures including Emmeline Pankhurst, who campaigned for women’ s suffrage there in 1910.
The neo-Gothic Guildhall, opened in 1890, is one of the north-west’ s most striking buildings. It is famed for stained-glass windows donated by the London livery companies, depicting everything from fishmongers to musicians. Its Main Hall holds 400 seated or 600 standing, with further spaces for up to 60.
Jumping from old to new, the Millennium Forum opened in 2001 as the city’ s first purpose-built theatre. It has 1,000 seats and one of the largest theatre stages in Ireland, plus modern conference suites and stylish reception areas. For larger gatherings, the Foyle Arena offers event space for 2,000 and banqueting for 800.
Visit Derry’ s business events team supports planners throughout, with complimentary help on venue sourcing, accommodation, bids, site inspections and programme development. For planners seeking accessibility and authenticity, Derry / Londonderry delivers a city where business events feel personal, connected and memorable. n
30 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 145