Guildhall Derry – civic heart on the Foyle

Overview

Entry is free, and the building’s best feature, the stained-glass windows gifted by London trade guilds, is open to anyone who walks in. The neo-Gothic Guildhall stands on the bank of the River Foyle, just outside the walls of the 400-year-old city, its clock tower modelled on London’s Big Ben. The square in front is the city’s main event space, used for the Derry Halloween celebrations, the City of Derry Jazz Festival and the Spring Carnival.

History

• 1887 – The Honourable The Irish Society commissions a municipal building to replace a fire-damaged predecessor. Architect John Guy Ferguson designs the original red-sandstone structure, completed in 1890.
• Early 20th century – Two serious fires force a comprehensive rebuild. In 1912 the interior is restored and the clock tower, modelled on Big Ben, is added, giving the Guildhall its present outline.
• Through its life – the building houses the City Council, mayoral functions, weddings and conferences.
• Stained glass – London trade guilds donate a collection of windows, each illustrating a different trade from fishmongers to musicians.
• 2015 – a refurbishment adds touch-screen panels, audio guides and improved accessibility.

What to see

If you have half an hour, give it to the windows and the organ; the rest can be a quick loop.

• Stained-glass windows – the narrative panes in the main hall are the reason to come, each one a different London guild.
• The Great Organ – a 3,132-pipe instrument by Sir Walter Parratt, still used for concerts, civic events and weddings.
• Clock tower – the Big Ben-modelled clock, its chimes carrying across the square.
• Plantation exhibition – touch-screen panels on the history of the Ulster Plantation.
• Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour – original woodwork and period furnishings, still in official use.
• Guild Café – on the ground-floor rear, doing teas, coffees and light meals, handy mid-tour.
• Gift shop – books, crafts and souvenirs on Derry’s history.
• Nearby – within walking distance are the Tower Museum, the John Hume Peace Prize exhibition, the Void Gallery and the Bogside murals.

Events and festivals

• Derry Halloween – held each October, when the square fills with light installations and street theatre, including Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon projection. It is the biggest night in the city’s calendar and the square gets very busy.
• City of Derry Jazz Festival – a summer series of free concerts that often use the square’s open-air stage.
• Spring Carnival – a parade and market in May.
• Organ recitals – regular lunchtime performances on the Great Organ, typically Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Getting there

• Parking – several on-street bays around the building, plus the City Hall car park a short walk away on Guildhall Street. Check signage for time-restricted fees.
• Public transport – the nearest stop is Guildhall/City Hall on the Ulsterbus network, served by routes 30, 31 and 32, just outside the main entrance. Derry-Londonderry railway station is a 10-minute walk, with regular services to Belfast.
• Accessibility – wheelchair-friendly entrances, internal lifts, ramps, accessible toilets, an audio loop and braille kiosks throughout. Staff are trained to assist visitors with dementia and autism.

Practical information

Opening hours

Last entry is one hour before closing.

Admission and tours

Guided tours run daily at 11am and 2pm. Book ahead via the official website or buy on the day at the ticket desk.

Facilities

• Wheelchair-friendly entrances and lifts to the main exhibition spaces.
• Toilets and baby-changing facilities on the ground floor.
• Free Wi-Fi in the café and public areas.

To catch the building at its liveliest, time a visit for a lunchtime organ recital and stay for the clock tower chimes.