Best solution I've found is to dig it out, even if there's a lot.There was a similar question recently and somebody recommended a weedkiller, can't remember what it was. Ordinary Round Uo just runs off the leaves because of their waxy surface.

Hi, Yes you can dig it out but its a great root grower and this is the place to aim your efforts at,
glydophate is the wide killer used here in france, its a contact weed killer and it needs to be put on the leave and stem of the ivy
best way to do this is to wear a rubber glove and then put an old wool glove on the same hand
So now you have 1xrubber glove & 1x woollen glove on the same hand,
soak the wool glove with the contact weedkiller and rub the ivy leave and stems, it takes time but the way it works is that the weedkiller soaks into the plants leaves & stem and this ends up in the root system and its this way of doing the job that kills the ivy,
As ive said its a job that takes time but this will kill the ivy

Ps any contact weed killer will do the job "But wear eye protection, keep the weedkiller far away from children daft people & animals and please please wear eye protection any little minute splash into your eye can cause loss of sight so dont take the risk.

And last of all make sure when your done you get rid of the two gloves you've been using in a safe way.

Thanks for your reply Dungy but it does sound a bit like a job for an expert, I am only a novice at this sort of thing and the thought of being blinded by a minute splash does not appeal!

I sympathise, Cmenome. Just the smallest remnant of root will grow back with gusto.
In my experience persistant hacking immediately followed by painting damaged stems with weedkiller (any strong weedkiller, the sort sold to kill brambles and tree roots) will eventually eradicate it. Obviously care needs to be taken when using weedkillers, but as long as you are sensible it shouldn't be a problem.

I'd recommend digging it out.We took over a garden that had a mass of Ivy plants that had been grown up trellis in the middle of the lawn :-/ It took us weeks to hack it to ground level with secateurs and then days more to dig it out,but we've had no regrowth at all and that bit is now a herb/veg bed.