The craft village

If you ever find yourself wandering around Derry, I would highly recommend heading into the craft village. 

It’s tucked away right in the heart of the city, the Craft Village feels like a little hidden world of its own. It’s a charming maze of cobbled streets, colourful shop fronts, and cozy courtyards.

What makes it so special? For starters, it’s occupied with independent local makers and artists. You can find everything from jewellery and pottery to unique prints, textiles, and little home décor treasures. It’s one of those places where every corner has something you didn’t know you needed — until you spot it.

There’s also a lovely sense of community there. Most of the artists are happy to chat about their work, and you can feel the pride that goes into every handmade piece. It’s the perfect place to pick up a thoughtful gift or just treat yourself to something one-of-a-kind. One of my personal favourite shops would be ‘GIRL’ that opened a few months ago, it is the new store that combined Sass&Halo and Han, two great businesses who have handmade accessories and clothes as well as artwork, 

And of course, no visit is complete without a stop at one of the cafés, Evie is also recently opened and is the sister cafe to Yumcakes and serves new york style sandwiches that definitely better than subway. The cottage is also a great option with a lot of variety and is quite popular.

It’s a great place for students to see one of the most important places to Derry and also allows them to support local businesses during their time studying.