Indoor activities
Find indoor activities for half term holidays, bank holiday weekends, seaside escapes and city breaks. Take your pick from indoor attractions and such as free museums and other indoor attractions such as aquariums and galleries, or if you’re feeling braver, there are climbing centres, underground caverns and cycle velodromes. You can tour television studios and explore living history heritage attractions, or even whet your whistle on a brewery tour. Whatever you fancy doing, England is packed with indoor activities and things to do on a rainy day.
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Get on board at the National Railway Museum
The world's largest railway museum is home to a staggering collection of restored locomotives, including the fastest steam engine of all time.
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Visit Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum
Find out how Manchester’s famous inventions helped shape the modern world, from the world’s first steam-powered mill to the splitting of the atom, at this fantastic indoor attraction.
Location: Manchester
Visit Europe's largest library
The Library of Birmingham houses a million printed volumes, the largest number held by any public library in the UK.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Nine floors of silver-screens
A visit to the National Media Museum is a must if you love photography, film, television, animation, gaming or the internet.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Watch films in style at The Electric Birmingham
Lounge on a sofa with a drink in hand and watch the latest blockbusters at the UK's oldest working cinema.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Rainy Day Activities: Discover military history at The Royal Armouries
Britain’s national museum of arms and armour is home to a fascinating and unique collection, including the only existing suit of armour built for an elephant.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: See famous works in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum
With numerous famous artworks and historical artefacts on display, the award-winning Royal Albert Memorial Museum is a must-see indoor attraction in the heart of Exeter.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Rainy Day Activities: Explore Oxford's Museum of Natural History
Delve into Oxford University’s scientific archives, housed inside one of the city's most beautiful neo-Gothic buildings.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
July events: Buxton International Festival
Take your seats and enjoy a summer celebration of music, art, opera and literature on the edge of the scenic Peak District.
Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
Rainy Day Activities: Aim for a strike at All Star Lanes
Bowling, dining, cocktails and perhaps a touch of karaoke - a simple combination of indoor activities that guarantee a memorable boutique experience.
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Rainy Day Activities: Visit much-loved author Beatrix Potter’s home
Uncover the life of the children’s author and illustrator as you explore the enchanting landscapes that inspired her.
Location: Near Sawrey, Hawkshead, Cumbria
Rainy Day Activities: Be inspired in Shakespeare's Schoolroom
Explore the historic building where William Shakespeare spent his schooldays and discovered theatre for the first time; an ideal thing to do when it rains.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire