The London prefix was added to Derry when the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I in 1613. In 1984, the name of the nationalist-controlled council was changed from Londonderry to Derry City Council, but the city itself continues to be officially known as Londonderry.

Why is Derry sometimes called Londonderry?

The right name for the city is Derry from the Irish Doire Cholm Chille – meaning the oak-grove of Colmkille. It got the name Londonderry from a company of swindlers that were founded in London, in the seventeenth century, to drive the native Irish off the land and to settle the place with English and Scots.

When did Derry change to Londonderry?

In the 2015 local government reform, the district was merged with the Strabane district to form the Derry City and Strabane district, with the councils likewise merged. According to the citys Royal Charter of 10 April 1662, the official name is Londonderry. This was reaffirmed in a High Court decision in 2007.

How safe is Derry?

Derry city. To put your mind at rest; the short answer is yes, Northern Ireland is very a safe place to travel. In fact, it is now considered the safest region in the UK. Belfast, its capital city, has much lower crime rates when compared with other cities like Manchester and London.