Tower Museum

Beautifully organized museum that tells the story of Derry/Londonderry and surrounding region comprehensively through exhibits, videos, and other media. We only went because it was raining and windy outside, and ended up spending almost two, fascinating hours. One of our favorite stops of a two-week NI trip.

Visited to see the Peace Heroines exhibit, also went around the main Story of Derry and La Trinidad Valencera exhibitions.

You need a fair bit of time to do these justice, there’s lots to read and loads of audios visual items. Each exhibition was well presented and very informative. At the end there is an interactive room for children which looked very entertaining and educational.

There are super views from the top of the tower which you access on route to the La Trinidad Valencera exhibition.

There is also an item on the Spitfire which was excavated in 2011 as part of the BBC dog for WWII programme.

There is an entrance fee, but the value for money is well worth it.

This was far more comprehensive than I expected and arranged very well, with a number of videos as you work your way around. Sets the City in the multiple historical contexts and you can spend a couple of hours (and I’m usually not a long stayer in a museum)
We visited after going on the City Walking tour and getting this discount.
Worth going to the top floor after and onto the roof space for the views, then working your way done the floors on the Spanish Armada wreck - all news to me that they sailed round here!
A class museum with clearly a lot spent on it to position it’s knowledge well.

What a fascinating place just across from the Guild Hall. We saw three fabulous exhibitions for the princely sum of £2.40 each.

The first exhibition, the tv comedy Derry Girls - which has taken the world by storm - and even had Ms Chelsea Clinton in a cameo role. And the line 'Protestants don't like Abba' that made me laugh aloud. Oh I've never met anybody who doesn't like ABBA.

Exhibition 2 The history of Derry from Stone Age about 10,000 years ago to date including a documentary film.

Exhibition 3 An Armada shipwreck with cannon and weapons recovered from the wreckage. It's a few hours to do the exhibitions seriously and the staff like all the citizens of this scarred city of survivors are so damn friendly and genuinely warm.

Of course I recommend it like I recommend staying in this city for at least 3 nights.

Upon entering the museum, the best thing to do is take the lift/elevator to the 5th floor rooftop. There you will find some seriously impressive panoramic views of the walled City of Derry and the River Foyle.
As you descend, you will find an exhibition that covers the history and drama of the shipwreck of the Spanish Armada’s fourth largest ship, La Trinidad Valencera in 1588. Discovered by the Derry Sub Aqua Club in 1971.
On the ground-floor, the main exhibition focuses on the colourful and dramatic 'Story of Derry' from pre-history to present times.
Not a boring moment during our visit; informative, interesting, well laid out and totally engaging.

Located right in the middle of the city, beside the walls and opposite the guildhall, the building itself is impressive but the exhibits and the museum Itself is very good. 2 pounds in, clean, friendly staff and well laid out with excellent displays and content. Gives you a great insight to the city’s history.

This is a lovely little museum with the expected history of Londonderry through the ages. It has stuff for all ages but in some ways was a bit too teachy without enough of the personal anecdotes (although I loved the one about the butter smuggler having to stand in the sun!) to make it truly engaging.
The information about the shipwreck of the Spanish galleon was fascinating and the guns amazingly impressive. The views from the roof terrace were good although I don't think it was actually signposted unless you knew it was there. Friendly and helpful staff and a bargain entry cost.

We arrived at the museum about 90 minutes before closing, which was just enough time for us to get through the main exhibit only. When I visit a museum, I’m the type of person that reads virtually every exhibit and watches every video presentation, so my guess is that most people would get through between 60-90 minutes.
The exhibit takes you from the time of the first settlers all the way through to the present. It all progresses very logically, and I found it all interesting.

Really loved the exhibition on Spanish Armada. Fascinating not only seeing artefacts recovered but the story behind the local divers and the efforts that went into finding and recovery of these treasures. Went here on a quiet Sunday and had expert guidance and friendly banter from Troy. Did not have time to view in detail the local history section which is very impressive. Will be back another day to do that.

This may be a small museum but there is a wealth of such interesting things to see. Three staff on that day and they were all brilliant and very helpful

For only 4 GBP for an adult ticket, I learnt all about the entire comprehensive history of Derry. The museum is very well and clearly laid out in a way that makes it very easy for the visitor to follow the earmarked trail. The staff are very professional, polite and friendly as well as always being willing to help.