Half-Term Rainy Day Ideas

Climb the highest heights this half-term at Rock Up Birmingham! This indoor climbing centre has 26 multicoloured and themed climbs towering over 25 feet and more than 70 challenges suitable for all abilities.

Feeling brave? Take on the Twister, brave the Skyscraper or attempt the 18-feet-high Leap of Faith (min. Height 1.2 m). Coming with kids under 5? Don’t worry, the tiny climbers haven’t been forgotten! Toddler Climb and Play lets your little ones explore and climb, so everyone can have a great day out.

Each session also includes a pass to the soft play that has obstacles to climb under, over and through, as well as slides, ball pits, swings and even a dedicated area for the under-2s.

Are you ready to experience gaming like no other? Immersive Gamebox Manchester is the place to be! This immersive and interactive digital experience is designed for the whole family to enjoy.

The high-tech, digital room is full of interactive games for children and adults which creates excitement for everyone. Whack on your sensor headbands, load up the drinks shelf and get ready to take on Angry Birds or the super-tense Squid Game. You can see our very own experience at Immersive Gamebox on one of our latest TikToks here.

This unique activity is such a blast and boy do you work up a sweat! The out-of-box experience is created using projection mapping, touch screen and surround sound for optimal entertainment. All gamers will be fully immersed in a thrilling adventure!

Join Shaun the Sheep, play Aliens In Space, rescue the Royal Family and discover so much more on this exciting family day out.

Visit Camera Obscura and World of Illusions where seeing is not believing! Britain’s most fun attraction and fun for all ages. With five floors and over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits, there is something to entertain all ages.

Tour Edinburgh’s streets without moving. Test your brain against mind-bending illusions. Take spectacular cityscape photographs from our Rooftop Terrace. It’s all part of the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions experience. There are so many magnificent views to capture.

You’ll need at least two hours to discover it all! A swirling light vortex; a maze of mirrors; a chance to swap noses with a friend; see yourself grow, shrink and stretch; play eye-spy with our city view cams; and mess with your mind with brilliant visual effects.

Enter a world of topsy-turvy fun at The Upside Down House in Brighton, a house that is literally, upside down!

Step inside this crazy optical illusion packed full of fun and prepare yourself for a totally out-of-this-world experience. Make your way across the floor, or ceiling, of this fantastic house, balance on top of kitchen cupboards, and discover the fantastic inverted house!

The amount of crazy photos you can capture here is endless, and you’ll definitely never have a family photo quite like this one!

This subterranean playground offers plenty of activities from the heights of Snowdonia and beneath ground level…

This slate mine has been unused for the last 200 years and provides a safe space to feel all the epic thrills you’d find high in the treetops on the underground cave high ropes activity – and there are zip lines too! It is by far one of the most unique attractions in the UK with a feast of exciting activities to enjoy.

If you’ve got 1.25 hours to spare why not jump aboard the Deep Mine Tour? Transport yourselves back to the 19th century, 500ft down in Llechwedd’s fascinating past. This mine tour is the steepest of its kind making it another bucket list experience! The tour is also available in English and in Welsh.

And hey, if the rain clears up there’s always Zip World Titan to try out, outside – that’s the largest zip zone in Europe with a 4-person zip line! 

Take on your siblings on one of 26 state-of-the-art bowling lanes at Hollywood Bowl Cribbs Causeway. Move beyond the lanes and into the amusement area. Play VR games, have a go on classics like Penny Falls or explore other industry-leading games with your friends and family.

And when your energy is beginning to dwindle refuel in a charming American-style diner munching away on hearty hamburgers, tasty hot dogs and thick shakes (served in milk bottles).

There’s a reason why families all over the UK love Hollywood Bowl and it’s because it ticks all the boxes! It’s the perfect rainy day activity with hours and hours of fun and dining experiences laid out for you.

Never be deterred by the rain, especially when you have epic indoor activity centres like Ninja Warrior Gloucester on offer!

Inspired by ITV’s hit programme, Ninja Warrior Adventure UK Gloucester offers you the chance to channel your inner ninja champion! You can climb, balance, jump into foam pits and swing across different obstacles using and developing your Ninja skills. Don’t forget the famous Warped Wall! It’s the ultimate indoor adventure park.

Toddlers will never have to miss out on all the fun at Ninja Warrior UK as there is a Mini Ninjas area suitable for kids under 3. They can enjoy ninja soft play in a safe environment.

And what’s more? There are Ninja Warrior UK centres across the whole of the UK! Find your nearest one on our main DOWTK page.

If there’s a world I want to live in, it’s always going to be the one with snow all year round! This epic indoor ski and snowboard resort will make you feel like you’re in the Alpine Mountains.

Ski down the UK’s longest ski slope or learn how to do freestyle snowboard tricks. You’ll get to practice on a variety of obstacles including rails, boxes, and a jump, as well as a dedicated area for snowboarders. Agile skiers or beginners can perfect their snow plough and learn a few tricks with expert ski instructors.

You’ll be busy for hours learning loads of new skills and having a laugh at Chill Factore! And it’s one of the most unique Half-Term Rainy Day Ideas on this list…

Raise your hands if you’re a cat person… As you’ve probably already guessed from the name, Kitty Cafe is a hive for cats of all sizes, breeds and ages. While you dry off from the rain you’ll get to make friends with intelligent felines or watch them climb up cat trees above you. Just remember to keep an eye on your food because cats like coffee and biscuits too – even if it’s bad for them!

Filled with history and wonder, The Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic attraction host an array of fantastical activities perfect for rain-dodging days. From an award-winning walking tour, interactive exhibits and Hamilton Dock, there are lots of great activities for families to explore.

This immersive experience includes special effects, dark rides, 9 interactive exhibits and impressive galleries and full-scale reconstructions! Tick off your boat-bucket list and check out historic ships like the world’s last remaining White Star Vessel and RMS Titanic’s original tender ship, the SS Nomadic.

Print off an online scavenger hunt at home and leave clues all around the house for the kids to follow. Leave a small present at the end of the trail like a bag of chocolate buttons or an inexpensive treat your kids will eat or play with. This idea is great for all the seasons too whether it’s Christmas break, the Summer holidays, Halloween or Easter. Tailor your trail to whatever season you’re experiencing. You can get some cracking ideas off Pinterest too if ever you want to create your own props and clues.

TikTok is like marmite these days, people either love it or hate it and at DOWTK you know we just love it!!! It’s a great source for inspiration all across the board with recipes, crafts, and of course dance routines. If you used TikTok in lockdown you’ll know how big dance crazes got and they have continued to be a popular feature on Tiktok. So, why not bust some moves and learn the TikTok style and dance together? You’ll be laughing your little socks off in no time. There’s nothing better than a challenge when you’re bored at home. 

Parents, I know your thought train has instantly choo-choo’d all the way to ‘omg what about the mess?!’. However, you’ll get to build your own pillow and blanket forts together and then spend the afternoon watching all your favourite flicks. Don’t you ever just want to chill out with your youngsters? It’s a creative way to jazz up watching the telly if you feel like having a lazy day.

When you’ve finished constructing your fort, grab your bed socks, load up on snacks, cosy up and hit play on the remote. Your kids will enjoy seeing you so relaxed too. Whether it’s the weekend or you’re enjoying your half-term holiday, it’s a cheap way to have lots of fun using objects you already have at home.

If you are in search of Half-Term Rainy Day Ideas that incorporate creativity then why not spend the day baking lots of goodies with your kids?

Brownies, fairy cakes, rice crispy cakes, cookies, bread, pies, cheesecakes, banana bread – the list goes on! Have a ‘Great British Bake Off’ moment and go ham in the kitchen. Buy sprinkles, food colouring, and coloured icing and get experimental. Revel in the mess and the creative process and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Whether it’s fruit salads in the form of faces, creamy butterfly fairy cakes or a straight-forward packet mix, you can have a lot of fun in the kitchen together.

If you are lucky enough to have a garden then I just have 2 words for you… MUD PIES! Rain + Dirt are the only two ingredients you need for a batch of sludgy mud pies. Get some buckets, spades, glasses, bowls, cookie cutters, plastic knives and forks, some pebbles and make some quirky concoctions in the back garden.

If getting muddy isn’t your thing then how about getting absolutely drenched instead?! I’m talking about having an absolute splash-fest!!! Throw on your best wellies and waterproof coats and go splashing all over the shop! Jump like Peppa and George in the biggest puddles and have a whale of a time.

Just remember to wrap up very warm while you play outside in the rain, as you don’t want your little ones catching a cold.