Days Out NI
Theatre & gallery Derry

The Guildhall

A free-to-walk-in landmark and ticketed concert hall, right on Derry's riverfront.

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OpenMon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; last en…
FreeBook ahead
DerryTheatre & gallery
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An hourHow long
FreeAdmission
All agesBest for
On siteCafé
NearbyParking

The Guildhall — A free-to-walk-in landmark and ticketed concert hall, right on Derry's riverfront.

  • Admission: Free to enter the main hall, stained-glass windows, organ and Plantation of Ulster exhibition.
  • Tickets: Concerts, performances and events in the hall are ticketed and booked ahead; prices vary by show, so check the venue's listings.
  • For families: Year-round season of concerts, live music, dance, craft markets and seasonal events; interactive Plantation exhibition for younger visitors. Check listings for family dates.
  • Opening: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; last entry one hour before closing. Event nights may differ.
  • Café: Cafe Guild on site for refreshments.
  • Best for: All ages; the interactive exhibition suits younger children.
Plan your visit

What families can see and do

Walking in is free, so you can show the kids the main hall, the clock tower modelled on Big Ben, and the stained-glass windows without spending a penny. The Plantation of Ulster exhibition on the ground floor is the part younger children take to: it is interactive, with 17th-century maps and artefacts to look at and screens to play with. The 3,132-pipe organ is a talking point in the hall above. On top of the free spaces, the hall runs a year-round programme of concerts, live music, dance and craft markets, plus seasonal events, and guided tours run daily for a small charge if you want the full history.

Free to enter Ticketed concerts Plantation exhibition Cafe on site City riverfront Book shows ahead
Good to know before you go:

Venues like this run year-round seasons of concerts, live music, dance, exhibitions and craft markets, with seasonal events through the year. Check their own listings for dates and prices.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🎟️Your bookingShows and big exhibitions sell out — book ahead where you can.
  • 💷A bit of pocket moneyFor the café, the shop or a show programme.
  • 🧒An eye on the age guidanceSome shows and galleries suit certain ages best — check first.
  • 📱The what’s-on pageThe programme changes all the time — see what is on the day you go.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Admission
Free to enter the main hall, stained-glass windows, organ and Plantation of Ulster exhibition.
Tickets
Concerts, performances and events in the hall are ticketed and booked ahead; prices vary by show, so check the venue's listings.
Family programming
Year-round season of concerts, live music, dance, craft markets and seasonal events; interactive Plantation exhibition for younger visitors. Check listings for family dates.
Best for ages
All ages; the interactive exhibition suits younger children.
Opening
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; last entry one hour before closing. Event nights may differ.
Cafe
Cafe Guild on site for refreshments.
Toilets
Yes, with baby-changing facilities.
Parking
No dedicated car park; public city-centre car parks nearby.
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible.
How long to allow
About an hour for a free visit; longer for a tour or show.
Address
Guildhall Square, Derry~Londonderry, BT48 6DQ.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to get in?
Free to enter the main hall, stained-glass windows, organ and Plantation of Ulster exhibition.
How do I get tickets?
Concerts, performances and events in the hall are ticketed and booked ahead; prices vary by show, so check the venue's listings.
Is there anything for kids?
Year-round season of concerts, live music, dance, craft markets and seasonal events; interactive Plantation exhibition for younger visitors. Check listings for family dates.
When is it open?
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; last entry one hour before closing. Event nights may differ.
Is there a café?
Cafe Guild on site for refreshments.
Getting there

The Guildhall is at Guildhall Square, Derry~Londonderry, BT48 6DQ.. No dedicated car park; public city-centre car parks nearby. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About the venue

The Guildhall was built in 1887 in a neo-gothic style with Tudor touches, and it sits just outside Derry's city walls on the quayside. Its clock tower was modelled on London's Big Ben, and its collection of stained-glass windows was donated by the London trade companies, each representing a different trade.

It is home to Derry City and Strabane District Council and serves as both a civic building and a public venue. Inside, the main hall holds a 3,132-pipe organ, and the ground floor houses the Plantation of Ulster exhibition, an interactive display covering the colonisation of Ulster under King James I, with artefacts including period maps.