Known simply as Derry by most people, Londonderry is the second-largest Northern Irish city with a population of 85,000. It has the distinct honour of being chosen as the inaugural UK City of Culture, an initiative beginning in 2013.
Companies employing locals include Seagate Technology, DuPont, and E&I Engineering. Surprisingly, the three major employers in Londonderry are all American firms.
Derry has a rich history and, with its 17th-century city walls still fully intact, it is known as one of the best examples of a walled city in Europe. Tower Museum is focused on telling Derry's history and is one of the most popular attractions in the city. Head outside the city and check out Northern Ireland's highest waterfall in Ness Country Park.
Austins, the world's oldest independent department store, is one of the reasons Derry is the best shopping destination in the northwest. It predates even Harrods in London by 15 years. With two main shopping districts, Derry satisfies even shopaholics.
Nadine Coyle of Girls Aloud and poet and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney both have strong connections to Derry.