Things To Do On A Rainy Day

Looking for a way to burn off some excess energy? Let the kids go wild at a trampoline park, where you can bounce off those rainy day blues! Wet weather is the perfect time to visit as you can have fun and keep dry. From seeing how high you can jump to taking on inflatable obstacles, there are plenty of fantastic ways to have fun.

Check out one of our latest articles, Trampoline Parks Near Me, to find your nearest Trampoline Park!

Rock Up has something for everyone, no matter the weather, you can be sure to have an exhilarating and super fun experience here! Whether you’re a big kid or a little kid!

They have 7 locations across the UK, so you can bet you’ll find one near you, and with more than 70 climbing challenges to conquer, where will you start first? did you know they have family climbing sessions that are accessible to all abilities? That means you can all have fun together!

You’ll also find Rock Up & Play is really family friendly with activities even for little tots who aren’t ready to scale the walls, but can certainly climb – soft play! Start their adventure on a two-tier soft play frame, where they can climb, slide and jump into giant ball pits! But if they are ready to climb, then pop along to one of their Toddler Climb sessions.

With expert guides always on hand to help you, all you have to do is climb! It’s a foolproof way to build one’s confidence, and problem-solving skills and takes the family away from screentime, to family quality time and making the most amazing memories. We think this might become your favourite family day out whatever the weather!

Don’t forget to refuel at the cafe, where you’ll find hot and cold food, as well as a variety of refreshments!

It’s the perfect rainy day activity.

Take to the lanes and head off on a family trip to go bowling at Hollywood Bowl! There are a whopping 66 Hollywood Bowl venues around the UK.

Dine out on hearty hamburgers, hotdogs, milkshakes, and more in an American-style diner. Purge your luck in the amusement area and play leading games (including VR).

Once you’re all warmed up competition-wise, head for the lanes and bowl your way to victory. Did you know there are even VIP bowling lanes? These are perfect to book for special occasions and birthdays.

Even little ones will love this indoor activity as there are ramps and bumpers to help them achieve big scores! It’s the perfect activity for a rainy day that all ages will enjoy.

Indoor soft play is the ultimate rainy day activity for kids aged 0 – 10 years old. This classic day out is a great way to beat the rain and still have some fun, from diving into a ball pit to zooming down super slides, find a soft play area near you and let the fun begin!

Adventure/crazy golf is always a good laugh, no matter the weather! And with plenty of great indoor venues, it’s the perfect rainy-day activity.

If you are a teen, you’ll love Golf Fang Liverpool and Portal Mini Golf in Edinburgh. Golf Fang is great for wacky cocktails, street food, DJ performances and super-aesthetic courses. Portal Mini Golf is home to the epic Stranger Things golf course and many other wildly themed courses. You can find out all about these locations and more in our Adventure Golf Near Me article.

You don’t have to stay above ground level to play golf either… At Zip World Slate Caverns, you can head beneath the surface and put your way through ancient slate caverns…

If you have some younger kids, crazy golf courses like Treetop Adventure Golf (multiple locations in the UK), Gravitee Golf and Amazonia are great options to try out.

For more crazy golf inspo check out our article, The Best Mini-Golf Courses In The UK.

Refresh and unwind on a family spa day!

Enjoy some retail therapy and head to your local supermarket or shop online for some spa essentials. Choose from facemasks, herbal teas, moisturisers, bubble bath, and candles.

There are lots of fun and cheap ways to re-create your own DIY home spa with your kids. Download meditation apps, crank up some ASMR in your earphones or watch calming videos on Youtube.

Self-care days are perfect for relaxing and for teaching your kids about mindfulness too! There are so many different ways to relax, whether that’s immune-boosting teas, make-your-own face masks (with natural ingredients), or using an inexpensive head massager. You can even approach having a self-care day by going social media-free.

Detox however you choose! This rainy-day activity is better suited to slightly older children and teenagers.

Don’t you just love the smell of warm, freshly baked cakes, cookies, and biscuits on a rainy day? In this activity, kids can experiment with flavours, colours and shapes and they can get as creative as they wish. 

Make some seriously sweet or savoury treats good enough for the Paul Hollywood handshake. We’ve got many easy and quick recipes you can try from Chocolate Rice Crispy Cakes to Easy Iced Fairycakes, lemon drizzle cake, and even Christmas Cakes (if you’re reading this in December).

Kids will learn essential skills like how to measure, how things work in the kitchen, and how to make themselves food. But aside from the life lessons, it’s a super fun activity and the decorating stage is always the funniest.

All in all, Rainy days are a great way to remind us of all the fun we can have indoors and they encourage us to get creative!

Nothing will spark your kids’ curiosity like the wonders of science. Planning some science fun will help keep the kid entertained in the house. For loads of science ideas, try these 10 easy & cool science experiments with easy step-by-step instructions for kids to do at home.

Since you’ll be using lots of everyday items you can find lying around the house, you won’t need to venture anywhere to get what you need.

Simple science experiments for kids are a perfect rainy-day activity that’s also educational too! And if you decide to brave the weather you could always take a science themed trip to the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester or Science Museum London.

What if we told you, that you can create your very own cinema without leaving the house? Stock up some mini marshmallows, hot chocolate and a bowl of popcorn and make a blanket fort in front of the TV.

All you need do is gather every blanket in your home, cushions, pillows, fairy lights, and some slippers to leave by the doorway of the fort. Load up on your favourite snacks, snuggle in, and hit play on your chosen movie.

Unsure which flick to watch? Get inspiration from our list of the 50 best family films of all time and cosy up the snuggliest blanket fort ever!

Who can build the tallest tower out of you and mum? Would you care for a vroom-vroom around the living room in your LEGO car, or will take on the challenge of building the new LEGO Boutique Hotel?

If you love LEGO, we’ve got 10 amazing tips and tricks for you to try when you’re indoors, from great storage solutions to fun things to do with your LEGO pieces, it’s sure to keep you going for an afternoon!

You can also plan a trip to your nearest Legoland Discovery Centre– a must visit for any Lego fan.

Want to know the quickest way to escape the bad weather? Forget flights to sunnier countries and travel to fantastical worlds in your own mind… Your imagination is a wild and magical place, especially when you are a child! So what better way to channel this kind of energy than into a brilliant novel? Getting lost in a book is one of the most thrilling activities you can do while the rain pours outside. 

Whether you like suspenseful thrillers, fairytale fables, dreamy romances, or mind-expanding non-fiction books, there’s no better way to kill time than submerging yourself into a book. You might find an escape or learn about the world around you – either sounds pretty good to us!

We’ve got a list of some of the best books for kids to start reading, from the new ones to some old classics to rediscover! There is also the option for listening to audiobooks too, which is perfect to help the kids wind down before bedtime – especially if it is a night of heavy rain and strong gales of wind, which can be distressing for younger children.

Why stick to your average family board games like Snakes And Ladders when you can shake things up a little with a … MURDER MYSTERY?!

Murder has struck in the stormy weather and every murder needs a brainy detective to bring the case to justice. Are your family up for the challenge?

Best suited to older children with good reading ability, murder mystery games are super fun and ever so slightly bone-chilling… If you love mystery and whodunnits we have some great picks for you.

Check out the Scotland Yard Puzzle Book for a world of brainteasers. Crack codes, follow clues and travel back in time to the 1800s.

If you are after a murder mystery game then should play the iDventure Detective Stories: Still Lake. Great for adults and teenagers, you’ll have to uncover who murdered a famous Russian football player by looking through evidence like letters, photos, secret codes, real objects and websites on the internet…

Turn that frown upside down and make some pizza faces! Pizzas are one of the most straightforward things to make with your kids.

All you need to do is: Buy a pizza base mix, add some water (will tell you how much on your packet mix), knead for 5 minutes, roll it out, let it rise for 15 minutes, smear on some tomato puree, add your cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and then decorate with your kid’s favorite toppings!

Make monster faces, superheroes, and family members or do a self-portrait! Your kids will be giggling their little socks off while beginning their culinary journey.

Then once it’s in the oven it should take between 10-15 minutes to cook through.

What’s to stop you from whipping up more foodie faces?! Read online to find simple and creative recipe cards. We recommend BBC Food for the best and most straightforward family recipes. 

The wet weather won’t last forever, so set your sights on the future and plan your next family adventure! Whether it’s visiting somewhere local or planning a trip to one of the best theme parks in the UK, we can help you to find great days out near you.

Kids and adults will go wild for Immersive Gamebox Manchester! Play games like Squid Game, Angry Birds, and Psychedelic Mansion your own immersive room.

This VR experience is created using motion tracking, touch screens, and surround sound and you’ll even get drinks delivered to you during your game. This new and unique attraction is suitable for kids aged 5+ and you can book a room for up to 6 people.

Immersive Gamebox Manchester is located in the Arndale Shopping Centre, so teens can browse the shops after their visit too. Immersive Gamebox is perfect for a bit of family fun!

We posted a TikTok a few months ago showing our experience at Immersive Gamebox Manchester playing Squid Game & Angry Birds. You can find our Immersive Gamebox Tiktok here. Spoiler alert – we had LOADS of fun!!!

Are you feeling brave? Get ready to test your nerve and skill in the world’s biggest escape game and face all the dangers of the jungle in Jungle Escape at Plantasia Tropical Zoo, Swansea!

This 60-minute escape game has many immersive challenges to complete and unlike other escape rooms, this Jungle escape room is actually held in a tropical zoo. So you can combine your visit with seeing exotic animals too!

If you’re looking for more inspiration, we’ve rounded up a list of the top kid-friendly escape rooms in the UK.

Are you walking around in London and it’s starting to rain cats and dogs?! Take cover in the mind-blowing Outneret exhibition. Not only is this attraction free, but it is also unforgettable. Best combo right?

This immersive experience is the largest digital exhibition space in Europe with the world’s largest LED screen deployment. Bringing art and culture to the public for free, the Outernet is a great place to stop by, rain or shine.

Forget staring at the cloudy sky, take a walk underwater at SEA LIFE Brighton and watch majestic sharks, giant turtles and many more wonderful marine creatures swim above you. Ride a glass bottom boat or have a VIP turtle feeding experience – the choice is yours!

Your little ones will be totally mesmerised by this animal attraction. If Brighton is not local to you then don’t worry, we have plenty more SEA LIFE Centres around you. Check out our list of the best aquariums in the UK and see if one of them is nearby.

Say goodbye to standard museums where you can’t touch anything and say hello to more hands-on, kid-friendly museums!

We’ve rounded up some of the best kid-friendly museums that we think you’ll love! From mind-blowing science museums to interactive art galleries, and immersive history tours, there are so many wonderful kid-friendly museums to broaden your child’s experiences.

When it’s raining, the best activities are indoors… This is why, here at Day Out With The Kids, we suggest you visit the amazing Postal Museum for a fun-filled, family day out!

There’s so much to discover from the Mail Rail where you can uncover the fascinating stories of the postal service beneath the streets of London to climbing a miniature train into the original tunnels! You can also explore interactive exhibits that bring 500 years of engineering and postal history to life!

Not to mention Sorted! The Postal Play Space, where your little ones can play in a mini-town with streets, buildings, trolleys, pulleys, slides and chutes. Everything to keep the little ones happily occupied!

If you have curious kids with mechanical minds they will love The MAD Museum in Stratford-upon-Avon.

This museum is home to a colossal collection of robotic birds, sand pictures, 3D faces and an enormous MAD Marble wall. Kids can get their hands on interactive exhibits which include all kinds of unusual contraptions.

And to top it off, it’s the UK’s only mechanical art museum! If you love eccentricity you’ll go wild for this attraction. It’s one of our quirkiest ‘things to do on a rainy day’ ideas.

Do you have an interest in space? Whether you want to become an astronaut or learn about the universe, the National Space Centre combines science, history and photography that will blow your mind!

Not only does the National Space Centre have the largest planetarium in the UK but it houses six interactive exhibits and the iconic 42m high Rocket Tower! It also has 5 space outfits and costumes including the space suit Matt Damon wore in The Martian!

Discover different space telescopes and learn about the observable universe, with a nifty technological computer screen that you can interact with. Check out replicas of satellites. and so much more! You can find out everything you need to know in our very own review article, The National Space Centre Experience.

Learn more about the world around you, the intricacies of different cultures, and the life of others through contemporary and inspirational artwork.

You’ll find exclusive pieces of art here, spread across 6 floors at Baltic. See some of the coolest galleries and exhibitions here and check out the mesmerising sensory room!

Your kids will have a quiet space to explore and they’ll get to play with sensory toys, projections and lights. From fibre optics, bubble tubes, a light table and light-up orbs! There’s plenty here for your kids to enjoy and it’s all FREE!

Journey through the reconstructed Viking Age streets and experience life as it would have been in 10th-century York. Head to an archaeology pit and get digging and uncover Viking artefacts – including ancient poo… There are so many interactive exhibits and hands-on activities to explore at this immersive museum.

Visiting Warwick Castle with children is an adventure that blends history with excitement. As you approach the grand castle, the sheer size and magnificence of the fortress will captivate your little ones’ imaginations. Start your journey with a walk through the picturesque gardens, where peacocks freely roam, adding a splash of color and charm.

Inside the castle, the Great Hall and State Rooms transport you back in time with their majestic armor displays and grandiose decor. Kids will love the interactive exhibits and the chance to see what life was like for knights and royalty. The castle’s dungeon offers a thrilling, slightly spooky experience for the bravest among you!

Outside, the Falconer’s Quest show is a must-see, featuring magnificent birds of prey soaring through the sky in a captivating display. The Horrible Histories Maze is another hit, allowing kids to explore and learn about history in a fun, engaging way.

Visiting Blenheim Palace with children is a delightful adventure that combines history, nature, and fun. Nestled in the heart of Oxfordshire, this grand estate offers something for everyone, making it an ideal family outing.

From the moment you enter the majestic grounds, children will be captivated by the grandeur of the palace and its sprawling gardens. Start your visit with a tour of the palace, where kids can marvel at the opulent state rooms and learn about its fascinating history, including its connection to Winston Churchill.

After exploring the palace, head outside to the Pleasure Gardens. Here, the little ones can enjoy the miniature train ride, which is always a hit! The adventure playground is perfect for burning off some energy, while the Marlborough Maze offers a fun challenge for the whole family to navigate together.