The Siege Museum
Museum in Derry-Londonderry on the 1688–89 Siege of Londonderry and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, spread over three floors beside the Memorial Hall.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Siege Museum stands on Society Street inside the historic walled city of Derry-Londonderry, next to the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall. It is a purpose-built museum and visitor centre that tells the story of the Siege of Londonderry, when the city held out for 105 days in 1689 against the army of King James II, and of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, the association that commemorates the siege.
The Memorial Hall next door dates from the 1870s and was later extended. The museum was added as a modern visitor centre and opened in 2016, with help from public funding including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, according to the museum website.
The museum is arranged over three floors. The first floor covers the siege itself, the second floor is dedicated to the Apprentice Boys of Derry Association, and the ground floor has a lobby with a changing display. A library on the second floor holds books on the siege and on the history of Northern Ireland. Guided tours also show the meeting rooms used by several fraternal societies and can be combined with a walk on the city walls.
Highlights
- Permanent displays on the Siege of Londonderry (1688–89)
- Floor devoted to the Apprentice Boys of Derry Association
- Guided tours of the museum, Memorial Hall and city walls
- Meeting rooms of the Apprentice Boys, Orange Order and other fraternal societies
- Library with books on the siege and Northern Irish history
- Lift to every floor and Wi-Fi throughout
Permanent exhibitions
- The Siege of Londonderry – Permanent display on the 105-day siege of the walled city in 1689, with artefacts and interactive elements.
- The Apprentice Boys of Derry – Second-floor exhibition on the Apprentice Boys of Derry Association and its clubs, with a library of books on the siege.
- Founded
- 2016
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £5Concessions |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12 enter free. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Guided group tours of at least 10 people cost £7 (museum and Memorial Hall, about 1 hour), £8.50 (adds part of the city walls, about 1.5 hours) or £10 (more of the walls, about 2 hours) per person. |
| Guided group tour 1: museum and Memorial Hall (1 hour) | £7Groups of 10 or more. |
| Guided group tour 2: includes city walls to Royal Bastion (1.5 hours) | £8.50Groups of 10 or more. |
| Guided group tour 3: includes city walls to Ferryquay Gate (2 hours) | £10Groups of 10 or more. |
Standard admission £6 for adults and £5 for concessions.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The main entrance has two steps and a ramp with a wide door and handrails. Reception has a low-level counter, a lift serves every floor, and each floor has male, female and accessible toilets. Stairs have handrails on both sides. Assistance dogs are welcome. Social narrative videos for visitors are available through a link on the museum website.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus depot · 5-min walk
The museum is a short walk from the city centre; the bus depot is about five minutes away on foot. Ulster Bus and Bus Éireann coaches and Translink trains serve Derry-Londonderry.
By car
Parking available
Free parking for one hour on Society Street; a pay-and-display car park is directly opposite the museum and a larger pay-and-display car park is on Bishop Street, about a two-minute walk away.
The museum is on Society Street next to the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Tea, coffee and meals can be arranged for group tours on request. The museum has an online shop. A library is on the second floor.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours of the museum, the Memorial Hall and the city walls can be booked for groups of at least 10 by email or phone, on any day of the week. Tours can be tailored to the group. Learning resources for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 can be downloaded from the website. |
