Days Out NI
Museum Derry

Tower Museum

Walk Derry's full story inside the city walls, then take the lift to a rooftop view over the Foyle.

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OpenDaily 9am to 5:30pm with last admission a…
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One to two hours, including the rooftop terraceHow long
Family-friendlyBest for
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Tower Museum — Walk Derry's full story inside the city walls, then take the lift to a rooftop view over the Foyle.

  • Getting in: Ticketed; buy online or at the door. Published rates around £4 adult, £2 child, £2.40 concession, £9 family (2 adults, 3 children). Check before you go.
  • Opening: Daily 9am to 5:30pm with last admission at 4pm; confirm current hours before travelling.
  • Family: Yes. Family ticket available and lift access to all floors.
  • Tours: Self-guided across five levels; guided tours can be booked in advance. Group rates available on request.
  • Food: No on-site café confirmed; plenty of cafés in the surrounding walled city.
  • Parking: No large on-site car park; use nearby city-centre car parks within the walls.
Plan your visit

A city museum in transition

For more than thirty years the Story of Derry ran across the museum's floors, charting the city from its founding through the plantation, the siege, and into modern times. That exhibition closed in March 2026 and is moving, along with the Spanish Armada collection, to the new DNA Museum at Ebrington. What's on now is the Derry Girls Experience, with original memorabilia from the series, plus a preview space for the new museum. You move through at your own pace rather than on a fixed tour. Allow time at the top for the open-air roof terrace and its panorama over the Foyle and the walled city.

Low-cost entry Self-guided Rooftop city views Derry Girls Experience Lift to all five levels Family-friendly
Good to know before you go:

The Tower Museum's long-running Story of Derry exhibition closed in March 2026, and the Spanish Armada gallery (telling the story of La Trinidad Valencera) has closed too — both are moving to a new DNA Museum at Ebrington, due to open in 2027. Check what's currently open before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 📷Camera or phoneMost galleries are photo-friendly — just check for any no-photos rooms.
  • 👟Comfy shoesPlenty to take in on foot, room to room.
  • 💷A few poundsFor the café, the shop, or a donation where entry is free.
  • 🕰️A bit of timeThe stories reward a slow look rather than a dash round.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Ticketed; buy online or at the door. Published rates around £4 adult, £2 child, £2.40 concession, £9 family (2 adults, 3 children). Check before you go.
Opening
Daily 9am to 5:30pm with last admission at 4pm; confirm current hours before travelling.
Tours
Self-guided across five levels; guided tours can be booked in advance. Group rates available on request.
Age limits
None. All ages welcome.
Food
No on-site café confirmed; plenty of cafés in the surrounding walled city.
Family-friendly
Yes. Family ticket available and lift access to all floors.
Parking
No large on-site car park; use nearby city-centre car parks within the walls.
Accessibility
Internal lift to all five levels. Check before you go for specific access needs.
How long to allow
One to two hours, including the rooftop terrace.
Address
Tower Museum, Union Hall Place, Derry BT48 6LU
Questions

Before you go

How much is it to get in?
Ticketed; buy online or at the door. Published rates around £4 adult, £2 child, £2.40 concession, £9 family (2 adults, 3 children). Check before you go.
What are the opening times?
Daily 9am to 5:30pm with last admission at 4pm; confirm current hours before travelling.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. Family ticket available and lift access to all floors.
Are there guided tours?
Self-guided across five levels; guided tours can be booked in advance. Group rates available on request.
Is there parking?
No large on-site car park; use nearby city-centre car parks within the walls.
Getting there

Tower Museum is at Tower Museum, Union Hall Place, Derry BT48 6LU. No large on-site car park; use nearby city-centre car parks within the walls. Tap below for directions.

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Nearby

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The story

About the Tower Museum

The Tower Museum opened in 1992 inside Magazine Gate, within Derry's 400-year-old city walls and across from the Guildhall. Since opening it has won four major awards and become one of the city's best-known visitor attractions, telling the story of Derry across five levels of a purpose-built tower.

Its two best-known permanent exhibitions were the Story of Derry, covering the city's history from its origins to the present, and An Armada Shipwreck, the story of La Trinidad Valencera, one of the largest ships in the 1588 Spanish Armada. The vessel sank off the Donegal coast and was rediscovered by divers in 1971. Both are now closed and being prepared for a new DNA Museum at Ebrington, expected to open in 2027. In the meantime the Tower Museum stays open with the Derry Girls Experience and a DNA preview space.