Experience in Derry, United Kingdom by Marie-Clare

What is it like to live in Derry? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Derry is my home town and I've lived here all my life so I know it well. I would definitely recommend it for someone who has never been here before. Derry is a growing city but is renowned by locals for having a 'village mentality', meaning people are quite close knit & very friendly. It's a very cultural city with lots of history behind it with plenty to do & see.

What is the student lifestyle like in Derry?

I think within the past 5-6 years Derry has really taken off in terms of student life. Whether you are studying at the Northwest Regional College, or at the University of Ulster Magee, there is always events organized by the students unions such as mystery bus tours and 'take me out' competitions. There is also a wide choice of bars & nightclubs, Derry people enjoy a good drink as most irish people do!

How much does it cost to live in Derry?

The cost of living in Derry varies. Transportation such as buses and taxis are cheap enough, and there is a lot of budget shops such as poundworld & b&m bargains which sell all the basic things, some of cheaper food supermarkets include Tesco & lidl. Rent here is quite high, you could expect to pay around £500 a month for a two bedroom apartment. However there is student accommodation available near the colleges which would be a cheaper alternative.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Derry? Is there any advice you can give?

I can't really advise you on what it's like to rent student accommodation through the university or college because I've never had to, however if you are looking to rent privately through a landlord it can be quite difficult, especially to find something that isn't too expensive and that's in the city centre. One website that is very good is propertypal.com, it lists all the available properties through estate agents with photographs and contact details.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food here is very high standard, there are lots of beautiful restaurants around the city centre with lots of choice. However, if you are looking for more traditional irish food the a lot of pubs in the city centre do pub grub which include things like traditional Irish stew or steak & guinness pie! You'll never go hungry :) There are also a lot of nice chinese takeaways, Pizza places and the usual McDonalds, KFC & Domino's.

What places would you recommend visiting in Derry?

I would recommend visiting the famous Derry Walls & the tower museum which explains a lot of the history behind Derry and has a lot of interesting artefacts on display. It is an extremely old city with a lot of stories behind it. There is also a lot of nice places to visit on the outskirts of Derry if you are able to drive or organize a bus, such as Grianan of Aileach, the inishowen area is just about a half an hours drive outside of Derry and has some amazing views and beautiful beaches.

Is it good to eat out in Derry? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

As I mentioned before there are lots of restaurants in Derry, some of my favorites would be Quay West, Custom House, The Bentley Bar & Steakhouse, Guapo Mexican food, & Karma which is a tapas bar and does amazing cocktails! The good thing about Derry is that there are always plenty of good deals and promotions on, for example during the week Quay West does 50% off food and drink so you could get a main course and drink for around £10!

Is the nightlife good in Derry? Where is good to go?

Derry is growing so the more it grows, the more choice for nightlife grows. For typical chart music there are nightclubs called Sugar & Earth which would be the place to be. Sandinos bar is known for its quirky style and cosy atmosphere downstairs, however there is a bigger bar upstairs which hosts 80's, indies & pop nights, along with electronic nights also.
If you're into rock & indie music, the bound for boston & masons bar would be of interest. For electronic, house & techno music,there a plenty of promoters running nights in the likes of the Strand Basement, The Nerve Center or the Gweedore. To get a taste of traditional irish music Peader o'Donnells or The Gweedore have live bands playing most nights. There's a little bit of something for everyone when it comes to nightlife!

What advice would you give future students heading to Derry?

Bring plenty of choice when it comes to clothing. It rains a lot here, and it can be quite cold, during the winter so a warm waterproof coat is needed! However we do have our nice days now & again :) If you're stuck, don't feel scared to ask for help, people in Derry are very helpful and welcoming of foreign visitors. :) Most importantly, enjoy!