Guildhall Tours

The Guildhall was originally built in 1887 by The Honourable The Irish Society at a cost of £19,000.00 and was officially opened in July 1890.  Bombed twice in 1972, the building was refurbished and reopened in 1977 at a cost of £1.7m.  Fashioned in neo gothic style it is one of the most striking buildings in the northwest.  Housed in the Guildhall are some of the finest examples of stain-glass windows in the whole of Great Britain.  Decorated with Drumfrese sandstone, marble, oak panelling and ornate ceilings, the Guildhall is the premier tourist attraction in Derry. 


A magnificent concert organ, one of the finest in Europe, is situated in the main hall.  The organ was built originally by Messrs Hill of London at a cost of £837 and is still fully operational.  Today, the Guildhall clock, modelled on Big Ben in London, is the fourth largest clock in Ireland.  Each of the four faces measure 13ft 6in in diameter and use the Cambridge Quarter and Westminster chime.  The Council Chamber in the Guildhall also facilitates Council and Committee meetings.  The Mayor’s Parlour is where visitors and dignitaries are received and entertained by the Mayor of the Day.


The Guildhall is a beautiful building and if visiting the city is well worth taking time to see.

For Guildhall Tours please contact

Colin Sharp
Guildhall Superintendent
The Guildhall
Guildhall Square
Derry  BT48 6DQ
Tel  028 71 377335
E-Mail  colin.sharp@derrycity.gov.uk