Spend less, live better in the UK’s most affordable city

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A move back to Derry and Strabane isn’t just great for work-life balance; it could boost your bank balance too.

Our cost of living is much lower than in other major UK cities, with the monthly cost of a one-bed apartment, and full-time childcare, both more than three times cheaper than in London.

A monthly bus pass in Derry-Strabane is just a third of what you’d pay in London, and socialising is also more wallet-friendly: a three-course meal in Dublin costs more than twice what it would in one of our LegenDerry local restaurants!

With an average commute time of 30 minutes – compared to 70 minutes in London, and 60 minutes in Belfast – you and your family will have more time to savour the quality of life here: our beautiful beaches, great outdoor spaces, rich culture and friendly people.

It’s no wonder ‘cool, credible, cheap’ Derry was named one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times – and ranked first for remote working in Northern Ireland, and fourth in the UK.

Major employers think Derry and Strabane is pretty great too. You’ll find graduate roles, high-level jobs and remote, hybrid and flexible working opportunities in sectors including FinTech, software development, life and health sciences and advanced manufacturing and engineering.

There are now three daily flights from City of Derry airport to London Heathrow, and the newly opened A6 from Derry to Dungiven has also made the drive to Belfast quicker than ever.

The £250m City Deal will also give the region another valuable boost of investment, innovation, infrastructure and growth.

There’s never been a better time to come home – but don’t just take our word for it! Check out these money-saving stats:

The average monthly cost of a one-bed city centre apartment is £590 in Derry-Strabane, compared with £1860 in London and £1660 in Dublin

Full-day, monthly childcare in Derry Strabane costs £500 compared with £1,590 in London

A monthly buss pass in Derry-Strabane is more than three times cheaper in Derry-Strabane than in London

Hourly parking will cost three times more in Belfast than in Derry – and 15 times more in London

The average monthly salary in Derry-Strabane after tax is £1,950 – just £98 less than in Belfast

Basic monthly heating costs in Derry-Strabane are cheaper than Belfast, Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Dublin

(Source: Numbeo Cost of Living Sept 2022)

For more information on living and working in the North West, visit investderrystrabane.com

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The Foyle Maritime Festival returned to the banks of the River Foyle

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After a four-year absence, the award-winning event has returned with exciting live performances, shop tours, water sports, LegenDerry food trails and much more.
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race also made a welcome return to the Maiden City.
This year’s theme is What Lies Beneath, focused on the natural beauty of the oceans, rivers and lakes, and how we can protect marine life.

On Friday, July 22, the River Foyle was illuminated by a Parade of Light featuring the Clipper Race Fleet and the Phoenix Tall Ship, a synchronised fireworks display, and an hour of illumination, performances and installations along the quay from early evening through to midnight.

On Sunday, July 24, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Sandra Duffy, joined the crowds on Derry’s quayside to bid farewell to the Clipper Race fleet as they left the city on the final leg of their global adventure. The eleven Clipper 70 racing yachts have been central to the festivities throughout the Foyle Maritime Festival, and there were emotional scenes as they embarked on a beautiful Parade of Sail up the Foyle before heading for the final race start in Greencastle.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet departure from Foyle Marina, in the last leg of the global race from Derry to London brought the Foyle Maritime Festival to a colourful conclusion with a massed crew photocall, a parade of sail and a farewell from Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor, Councillor Sandra Duffy. Picture Martin McKeown. 24.07.22
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Hit ‘The Spot’, Derry’s new street art gallery

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The city’s first street art and urban arts gallery has been launched.

The Spot gallery, created by UV Arts social enterprise alongside the Inner City Trust, is located at the Garden of Reflection on Bishop Street.

The new gallery’s debut exhibition connects the growing local street art movement with a modern and contemporary exhibition space, graffiti store and creative hub for urban artists.

Artists exhibiting are responsible for many of the large-scale murals dotted across the City and District.

The gallery also hosts a series of educational workshops, professional training services and alternative art, prints and products.

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Strabane enjoys bumper Summer Jamm

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Strabane’s Summer Jamm made a welcome return to the streets in June.

The event saw live music, traditional games, amusements, cultural activities, a petting zoo and circus skills performed across a range of venues. Meanwhile, foodies were treated to a range of sweet and savoury delights at the Castle Street Food Quarter.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy: “Summer Jamm is always a great draw for visitors, and it’s fantastic to see the event return with all the benefits it brings to the local economy.”

This year, Strabane BID collaborated with businesses on a special Love Strabane event, showcasing the best of Strabane has to offer as well as one-off promotions on local products and services.

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‘Cool, credible, cheap’ Derry named one of best places to live in UK

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Derry has been hailed as the best place to live in Northern Ireland in a survey by The Sunday Times.

The newspaper praised the city as “cool, credible and cheap” in its annual UK-wide list, highlighting the benefits of “years of investment” and the millions of pounds spent regenerating the town centre.

Judges added: “Younger buyers are moving in, attracted by the city’s brisk outward-facing air and its closeness to the border with the Republic.”

The seaside villages of Ballycastle and Helen’s Bay also made the list of Northern Ireland’s top locations.

Meanwhile, Derry was also named as having the best community spirit in the region, in a survey from the retailer Spar.

The Maiden City came out on top of the NI communities, and placed seventh in the whole of the UK.

Around 64% of those surveyed described themselves as happy living in their community, with 53% of those from Northern Ireland – the highest in the UK – adding that their community gave them a sense of belonging.

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Awards success for LegenDerry eateries

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A Derry tapas restaurant is celebrating after being named World Food Restaurant of the Year at a nationwide awards ceremony.

El Tapas Gra, based in Waterloo Place, picked up the gong at the YesChef Ireland awards in Limerick.

A member of the local LegenDerry Food and Drink Network, the bar and restaurant serves Catalan-influenced cuisine infused with locally sourced ingredients.

Meanwhile the hugely popular Quaywest, on Derry’s Boating Club Lane, was named Ulster Seafood Restaurant of the Year.

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New initiative puts Derry on the map for international conferences

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Visit Derry has joined forces with leading local firms and academics to boost the number of international business events hosted in the city.

The Ambassador Circle is a joint project between Tourism NI, Visit Derry and Visit Belfast, and part-funded through the region’s Tourism Recovery Action Plan.

It seeks to target and promote key conferences and events, and promote the North West, and Northern Ireland, as a leading business destination.

Odhran Dunne, CEO of Visit Derry, said 90% of business events come to the city through the support of a local ambassador.

He added: “The new Ambassador Circle is key to our success in attracting conferences and will act as a catalyst to inspire and motivate our local ambassadors to actively seek opportunities to host business events that will support the district’s tourism economy.”

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Lift-off for new Edinburgh flight

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Passengers can now fly direct from City of Derry Airport to Edinburgh, on a new service launched by Loganair.

The 55-minute direct flight will run three days a week (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday), with additional Thursday and Saturday flights during the peak summer months.

Among the guests on the inaugural flight in May was Aidan O’Kane, president of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “From tourism to trade, this new route will be a huge boost to the North West economy, strengthening our regional links across the Irish Sea.

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Stormont approves £15m funding for Ebrington hotel

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The Stormont Executive has announced £15m worth of investment for a new 152-bed hotel in the Ebrington area of Londonderry.

The work will involve the refurbishment of the clocktower and five buildings in the former military base.

The first and deputy first ministers visited the development on Thursday to confirm the plans.

About £7m is coming from the executive office’s investment fund and almost £2m from Invest NI.

First Minister Paul Givan said it was “another step forward” for Ebrington and for the city.

“It continues to grow as a vibrant, modern city which is looking to the future with confidence – and there is a real sense of that optimism here today,” he said.

Mr Givan paid tribute to those involved in the redevelopment of the 29-acre site at Ebrington, which had been a military barracks until 2003.

Ebrington’s development is widely regarded as a key to Derry and the region’s wider economic growth.

“As today’s ideas become tomorrow’s opportunities, I will be watching with interest as potential turns into reality for Londonderry,” he said.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the start of work on the hotel “is a milestone day for Derry”.

“Together with the Grade A office space due to be completed soon, this new hotel will bring a renewed sense of vibrancy and a real boost to the regional economy,” she said.

“I offer my congratulations to the developers and all who have played a part in getting us to this point,” Ms O’Neill added.

Plans for the hotel were unveiled in 2017 and granted planning permission by Derry City and Strabane District Council the following year.

Ebrington is the largest regeneration site in Derry.

A former naval base that opened in 1841, it was known as HMS Sea Eagle during World War Two and was an important part of the North Atlantic Command.

Work is expected to be completed on the four-star hotel in the summer of 2023.

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Derry/Londonderry: Stormont approves £15m funding for Ebrington hotel

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The Stormont Executive has announced £15m worth of investment for a new 152-bed hotel in the Ebrington area of Londonderry.

The work will involve the refurbishment of the clocktower and five buildings in the former military base. The first and deputy first ministers visited the development on Thursday to confirm the plans. About £7m is coming from the executive office’s investment fund and almost £2m from Invest NI. First Minister Paul Givan said it was “another step forward” for Ebrington and for the city.

“It continues to grow as a vibrant, modern city which is looking to the future with confidence – and there is a real sense of that optimism here today,” he said.

Mr Givan paid tribute to those involved in the redevelopment of the 29-acre site at Ebrington, which had been a military barracks until 2003.

Ebrington’s development is widely regarded as a key to Derry and the region’s wider economic growth.

“As today’s ideas become tomorrow’s opportunities, I will be watching with interest as potential turns into reality for Londonderry,” he said.

Artist Impression of Ebrington Hotel at Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry

‘Renewed sense of vibrancy’

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the start of work on the hotel “is a milestone day for Derry”.

“Together with the Grade A office space due to be completed soon, this new hotel will bring a renewed sense of vibrancy and a real boost to the regional economy,” she said.

“I offer my congratulations to the developers and all who have played a part in getting us to this point,” Ms O’Neill added.

Plans for the hotel were unveiled in 2017 and granted planning permission by Derry City and Strabane District Council the following year.

Ebrington is the largest regeneration site in Derry.

A former naval base that opened in 1841, it was known as HMS Sea Eagle during World War Two and was an important part of the North Atlantic Command.

Work is expected to be completed on the four-star hotel in the summer of 2023.

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