---
title: "14 rainy day activities in London for kids (2026)"
canonical: https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids
last_updated: 2026-10-24
author: The London Scoop team
---

1. [Guides](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/)
2. Rainy day

# 14 rainy day activities in London for kids (2026)

![](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/logo.png)By **The London Scoop team**✓ Last updated 24 October 2026⏱ 29 min read

When it rains in London, these are the 14 indoor options we'd actually use, from soft play and trampolining for burning energy to crafts, cinema and theatre for calmer days. Prices checked October 2026.

## 🦊 Quick answer

- **Best for burning energy:** [trampoline parks](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#trampoline-parks) and [Clip 'n Climb](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#clip-n-climb)
- **Best for under-5s:** [soft play](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#soft-play) and free [library Rhyme Time](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#library-storytime)
- **Best free option:** [Young V&A](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#young-va-workshops) and the [free museums](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-museums-london-kids)
- **Best treat:** [Sea Life London Aquarium](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#sea-life) (book online: it's £11 cheaper per adult)

**October 2026 update:** we've refreshed prices and locations for Flip Out, Clip 'n Climb and Sea Life, added Climbing District's kids' bouldering, and dropped two venues we could no longer recommend with confidence.

The good news is that London is exceptionally well-provisioned for indoor family activities. The bad news is that some of them are extremely expensive, some are only good for specific age ranges, and a few are best avoided entirely unless you enjoy being trapped in a brightly lit cavern with a hundred other frantic parents. This guide helps you work out which is which.

A general principle: the activities that tire children out most are also the ones they enjoy most. Soft play and trampoline parks have the best energy-to-expense ratio of anything on this list. Escape rooms and creative workshops are the best for actually engaging older children's brains. Plan accordingly.

## At a glance

All 14 picks, in the order we rank them. Prices checked October 2026.

| Name | Area | Ages | Cost |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Soft play (Gambado, Kidspace and others)](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#soft-play) | Multiple London locations | 1–8 | ~£8–15 per child |
| [Trampoline parks (Oxygen Activeplay, Flip Out)](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#trampoline-parks) | Acton, East Ham, Brent Cross and more | 5–15 | From £12 per jumper |
| [Clip 'n Climb](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#clip-n-climb) | The O2, Wandsworth, Croydon and more | 4–14 | From £19.50 |
| [Indoor bouldering (Climbing District)](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#climbing-district) | Bermondsey, London Fields, Tottenham Hale | 4–17 | Varies |
| [Pottery painting cafés](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#pottery-painting) | Multiple London locations | 3+ | Piece + studio fee |
| [Kids' craft workshops and drop-ins](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#craft-workshops) | Libraries, museums and arts centres | 3–12 | Often free |
| [Young V&A workshops](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#young-va-workshops) | Bethnal Green, E2 | 0–10 | Free |
| [Kids' cinema screenings](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#kids-cinema) | Multiple London cinemas | 3+ | A few pounds |
| [Bowling (All Star Lanes, Hollywood Bowl)](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#bowling) | Several London sites | 4–14 | Varies by time |
| [Escape rooms for families](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#escape-rooms) | Multiple London locations | 8–14 | Per-room pricing |
| [Sea Life London Aquarium](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#sea-life) | South Bank, SE1 | 2–12 | £25 child online |
| [Indoor markets (Camden, Boxpark, Spitalfields)](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#indoor-markets) | Camden, Shoreditch, Spitalfields | 5+ | Free entry |
| [Library storytime and holiday activities](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#library-storytime) | Every London borough | 0–10 | Free |
| [Theatre for kids](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids#theatre) | West End and beyond | 3+ (depends on show) | Varies |

## Active indoors: soft play, trampolining and climbing

1

### Soft play (Gambado, Kidspace and others)

- 📍 Multiple London locations
- 🎟 ~£8–15 per child, adults often free or low cost
- 👶 Best ages: 1–8

Soft play divides parents along philosophical lines — some find it a joyful liberation, others a headache-inducing sensory assault. But there is no arguing with the results: children go in bouncy and come out exhausted. For under-8s on a rainy day, it is one of the most reliable options in London.

**Scoop tip:** Book online in advance, particularly for weekend sessions, as they fill up. Bring socks — almost all soft plays require them. Café quality varies wildly; many parents eat beforehand.

Honest parent details

**Gambado** (Chelsea, Beckenham and Watford) is the premium end of the market. **Kidspace** has several sites, including a big one in Croydon. Many leisure centres also have smaller, cheaper soft play areas. For our area-by-area picks, see the [best soft play in London](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-soft-play-london).

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday mornings are significantly less crowded and less loud. First sessions of the day (usually 9:30–10am) are the civilised choice. Weekend afternoons are full-capacity and the noise levels become meteorological.
- **Buggy access:** Buggy parking is standard at all venues — leave it at the entrance. Inside the play frame is not a buggy environment.
- **Toilets:** Generally fine — these venues are designed for families and the facilities reflect that. Baby changing available at all major venues.
- **Skip if short on time:** Nothing — soft play is soft play. If time is short, the ball pool and main climbing frame are the children's priorities; the peripheral activities can wait.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Eat before you go — this is the universal soft play wisdom. Soft play cafés are rarely good value.
- **Crowd warning:** The first rainy Saturday of school holidays sees every soft play in London become heaving. Book a week ahead if school holidays coincide with bad weather, or arrive at opening before the queues build.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Main play frame — the slides, climbing sections, and obstacle courses are where the energy goes
- Ball pool — mandatory; it will take 20 minutes to retrieve your children from it
- Toddler zone (if under 4) — separate, quieter, less chaotic; a gift for younger siblings

[Official site ↗](https://www.gambado.com/)

2

### Trampoline parks (Oxygen Activeplay, Flip Out)

- 📍 Acton (Oxygen), plus Flip Out in East Ham, Brent Cross, Canary Wharf, Croydon and Hounslow
- 🎟 From £12 (Flip Out East Ham); from £16.95 at Brent Cross
- 👶 Best ages: 5–15

Trampoline parks are the great energy-destruction weapon of the modern London parent. An hour at a trampoline park is worth three hours of indoor soft play in terms of physical expenditure, and children between about 6 and 14 tend to find them absolutely brilliant. The parks have wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball arenas, basketball hoops, and various obstacle courses.

**Scoop tip:** Book in advance and arrive five minutes early for the safety briefing. Grip socks are usually required and cost a couple of pounds at the venue if you don't have them. Older siblings can go together while parents supervise — it's a relatively relaxed experience for adults.

Honest parent details

**Oxygen Activeplay** in Acton (W3) has trampolines and activities for ages 4 and up. **Flip Out** has London sites in East Ham, Brent Cross, Canary Wharf, Croydon and Hounslow; prices vary by site, from £12 at East Ham and from £16.95 at Brent Cross. Some sites run sessions for toddlers at off-peak times — check the schedule before booking.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday mornings in school holidays (when parents have the same idea as you but there's still slightly more space). Opening session is always best. Avoid Saturday afternoons — it's loud, crowded, and the foam pits have long queues.
- **Buggy access:** Leave buggies at the entrance/reception. There's no buggy access into the park floor itself, and it wouldn't survive the landing.
- **Toilets:** Good — these venues are well-designed for families. Baby changing available. Not usually a problem.
- **Skip if short on time:** The foam pits always have queues — skip them if time is limited and stick to the open trampoline floors where there's no wait. The dodgeball sessions run at specific times; check the schedule.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** On-site cafés are priced for a captive audience. Eat beforehand or pack snacks for after.
- **Crowd warning:** Rainy half-term weekends see trampoline parks at maximum capacity. The booking system limits numbers, so if you've booked you'll get in — but it'll be busy. Weekday mornings are the transformation.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Open bounce floor — this is the core activity; wall-to-wall trampolines, surprisingly tiring even for adults
- Basketball hoop trampolines — children find jumping and dunking extraordinarily satisfying
- Foam pit (if queues allow) — the landing is soft, the exit is comedic; allow 20 minutes

[Official site ↗](https://www.flipout.co.uk/)

3

### Clip 'n Climb

- 📍 The O2, Wandsworth, Croydon, Colindale, Uxbridge and Chelsea
- 🎟 From £19.50 at The O2 (60-minute session, about 40 minutes climbing)
- 👶 Best ages: 4–14

Clip 'n Climb is indoor climbing made accessible and genuinely fun for non-climbers of all ages — you're attached to an auto-belay device, which means children can climb independently without an adult holding a rope. There are lots of different coloured climbing challenges of varying difficulty, plus various wall obstacles. It's much more than just a climbing wall and tends to hold children's attention for the full session.

**Scoop tip:** At The O2, a session is 60 minutes, with about 40 minutes of climbing after the safety briefing. Wear sports clothing and closed-toe shoes. Good for birthday parties too.

Honest parent details

The auto-belay system genuinely works: even quite young children (4 and up) can participate with reasonable confidence, and the graded difficulty means there's always a challenge for older kids too. It's one of those rare activities that works across a wide age range, making it ideal for mixed-age family groups.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday sessions are significantly less busy. Sessions are timed and capacity-controlled, so it never gets truly chaotic — but weekday mornings mean shorter queues at each wall.
- **Buggy access:** Buggies are left at reception. The climbing area is not accessible with a pushchair, which is sensible — there's a lot of vertical motion happening.
- **Toilets:** Good, with changing facilities. Standard venue-quality. Not usually an issue.
- **Skip if short on time:** The peripheral obstacle walls are worth doing but if time is short, prioritise the main climbing towers — that's the part children talk about afterwards.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Most Clip 'n Climb sites are in retail or leisure parks with plenty of food nearby. Better than eating at the venue.
- **Crowd warning:** Birthday party groups can temporarily dominate certain walls on weekend afternoons. The venue rotates groups, so it usually resolves within 15 minutes — but it can feel frustrating if you're waiting for a specific wall.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Warm up on the easier coloured walls — the grading system is honest; start easy and build confidence
- The signature walls — the ones that generate the most noise and the most repeat attempts
- Work up to the hardest wall they can attempt — children will surprise you, and themselves

[Official site ↗](https://www.clipnclimb.co.uk/)

4

### Indoor bouldering (Climbing District)

- 📍 Bermondsey, London Fields and Tottenham Hale
- 🎟 Varies — check kids' club prices
- 👶 Best ages: 4–17 (kids' club)

For children who want something more challenging, indoor bouldering is excellent: low walls, thick mats, no ropes, and graded problems that reward problem-solving and persistence rather than size. **Climbing District** has centres in Bermondsey, London Fields and Tottenham Hale, and runs Rockers Club for young climbers: ages 4 to 17 at Bermondsey and 6 to 17 at the other centres.

**Scoop tip:** Check the kids' session times and booking rules on the website before you go; children usually need to be supervised or in a booked session. Wear flexible clothing.

Honest parent details

The atmosphere at bouldering gyms is usually welcoming for beginners. Children who show interest often become enthusiastic quickly. Shoes can be hired.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday evenings and weekend mornings are the most popular — the climbing community keeps specific rhythms. Afternoon weekdays are often quieter. Check individual venues.
- **Buggy access:** Mixed — some gyms are in converted arches or warehouse spaces that aren't particularly pushchair-friendly. Check before you go if you're bringing a baby as well as older children.
- **Toilets:** Standard gym facilities. Fine but not remarkable. Baby changing is less consistently available than at purpose-built family venues.
- **Skip if short on time:** The beginner walls are the right call for a first visit — don't try to tackle the overhanging routes on day one. Build up gradually and leave wanting more.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Bouldering gyms often have café areas with good coffee. Worth checking.
- **Crowd warning:** After-work crowds (5–8pm weekdays) can make the popular routes very busy. The atmosphere is usually friendly, but beginners can feel self-conscious at peak times. Mornings are better for less experienced climbers.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Shoe hire and chalk — sort out the admin first; it takes 10 minutes and is worth doing properly
- Beginner and intermediate bouldering problems — the colour-graded routes; children respond well to the clear progression system
- Watch the better climbers on the hard routes — this is free, educational, and consistently impressive

[Official site ↗](https://climbingdistrict.uk/)

## Creative activities: pottery, crafts and workshops

5

### Pottery painting cafés

- 📍 Multiple London locations
- 🎟 Price of pottery piece (from ~£10) + studio fee
- 👶 Best ages: 3+

Pottery painting studios offer one of the most reliably pleasant rainy day options for families: children sit at a table, choose an unglazed ceramic piece (mug, plate, money box, animal figure), paint it however they like, and the studio fires it and holds it for collection. It's calm, creative, and genuinely engaging for a surprisingly wide age range.

**Scoop tip:** Book ahead for weekends and school holidays — they fill up. The café element means you can combine the activity with lunch or cake, making it a full-morning outing.

Honest parent details

There are pottery painting cafés all over London, so search for one near you. Prices add up for a whole family, since you pay for each piece plus a studio fee, but the activity fills a couple of hours and children end up with something they've made themselves.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday mornings are often not busy at all — you can walk in without booking. Weekends and school holiday mornings do need advance booking.
- **Buggy access:** Good — these are café-style spaces with tables and room to manoeuvre. Baby in a carrier or highchair while older siblings paint works well.
- **Toilets:** Standard café facilities. Fine, not remarkable. Baby changing varies by venue — call ahead if you need it.
- **Skip if short on time:** The firing process takes a week or two — factor in a return visit to collect the finished piece. Don't choose the most intricate ceramic if you want to paint quickly.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Most pottery cafés serve tea and cake. The pottery is the main expense.
- **Crowd warning:** These venues are deliberately calm and quiet — that's the whole point. The main stress is booking: a popular Saturday session in October half term needs a week's advance notice minimum.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Choose a simpler piece — a mug or a flat plate paints much faster than a complex animal figure
- Two coats of the main colours — the ceramic needs two layers to look good after firing; budget 20 minutes per coat
- Details and finishing — the last 30 minutes for names, patterns, handprints for the youngest; this is the part they'll show people

6

### Kids' craft workshops and drop-ins

- 📍 Libraries, museums, arts centres across London
- 🎟 Often free or low cost
- 👶 Best ages: 3–12

London's network of public libraries runs free and low-cost craft sessions throughout the year, particularly during school holidays, that are brilliantly programmed and chronically underattended. Half-term craft mornings at your local library are one of the genuinely great free activities in London, and worth checking well in advance as they're often fully booked.

**Scoop tip:** Sign up to your local library's newsletter and your nearest arts centre's family mailing list. These events are often publicised with limited notice and book up quickly.

Honest parent details

Beyond libraries, arts centres like the **Barbican** and the **Southbank Centre**, and galleries like **Tate Modern**, run family activities and workshops, particularly in school holidays. Programmes change, so check each venue's family pages before you go.

#### The details

- **Best time:** These sessions are scheduled — check in advance. Many library craft sessions run in the morning.
- **Buggy access:** Libraries are fully accessible and pushchair-friendly. Arts centre foyers are generally good. Check individual venues if in doubt.
- **Toilets:** Library and arts centre facilities are generally good with baby changing. Far better than most paid venues.
- **Skip if short on time:** N/A — these sessions have a fixed duration, usually 45–90 minutes. They're designed to be the right length.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Bring snacks. Arts centre cafés vary; a packed lunch is cheapest.
- **Crowd warning:** Popular holiday sessions fill up — book where you can, and arrive early for drop-ins.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- The workshop itself — arrive on time; the best craft sessions have a clear structure and children engage much better from the start
- Browse the library while you're there — if the session is at a library, getting a new book is a free bonus
- Walk home via a new route — half the value of going to different parts of London is that children discover new streets

[Official site ↗](https://www.barbican.org.uk/)

7

### Young V&A workshops

- 📍 Bethnal Green, E2
- 🎟 Free (museum entry free)
- 👶 Best ages: 0–10

The Young V&A in Bethnal Green runs regular drop-in workshops that are free and very well-designed for different age groups. Even without a specific workshop, the museum itself is excellent for creative, active exploration — and it's genuinely one of the most child-friendly spaces in London, which on a miserable rainy day counts for a lot.

**Scoop tip:** Check the workshop calendar on the Young V&A website before visiting. Bethnal Green tube is two minutes away.

Honest parent details

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter and the staff have more time for individual children. Weekend workshops are popular and should be checked for availability.
- **Buggy access:** Outstanding — purpose-built for families, wide corridors, lifts everywhere. The best museum in London for pushchair access.
- **Toilets:** Good, well-maintained, baby changing available. Easy to find throughout the building.
- **Skip if short on time:** Small enough to cover in 90 minutes. If a workshop is running, do that first and explore the galleries around it.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** The museum café is reasonable, and Bethnal Green Road has good affordable cafés.
- **Crowd warning:** Weekend workshops have waiting lists — check online before you go if the workshop is the point. The museum without a workshop is still excellent.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Workshop (if running) — the structured creative sessions are the highlight and well worth planning around
- Play gallery — open-ended physical play; toddlers will want to stay here indefinitely
- Imagine gallery — creative exploration for 3–8 year olds; the design process is engaging and hands-on

[Official site ↗](https://www.vam.ac.uk/young)

## Entertainment: cinema and bowling

8

### Kids' cinema screenings

- 📍 Odeon, Vue, Cineworld — multiple London locations
- 🎟 A few pounds per ticket at kids' screenings
- 👶 Best ages: 3+

Major cinema chains run weekend morning kids' screenings at much lower prices than normal — often just a few pounds a ticket. They show family films (often slightly older releases) in the morning. Check your nearest Odeon, Vue, Cineworld or independent cinema for its kids' club.

**Scoop tip:** Book online in advance — kids' screenings often sell out, especially in school holidays. The reduced price only applies to the designated morning kids' screenings, not regular showings of family films.

Honest parent details

The reduced-price kids' screenings are usually in the largest screens, and the fact that the whole audience is families means the social pressure around noise and fidgeting evaporates entirely. For parents, this is a genuine relief. For very small children, it's also often their first cinema experience, which is worth making good.

#### The details

- **Best time:** The 10am or 11am weekend screenings are the specific ones — these are the discounted family sessions. Regular afternoon showings cost full price even if they're family films.
- **Buggy access:** Most cinemas have accessible screens with lift access. Call ahead if you need specific accessibility arrangements. Buggy parking at the front of the screen is usually available.
- **Toilets:** Cinema toilets are standard and generally fine. Baby changing in multiplex cinemas is usually available.
- **Skip if short on time:** N/A — it's a film. You go, you watch, you leave. The experience is the experience. Choose the film well and you won't need to skip anything.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Cinema food is poor value. Bring your own snacks.
- **Crowd warning:** The first rainy school holiday Saturday has every family in London trying to book the same 10am showing. Book the Wednesday before. This is not a decision you can leave to Friday night.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Choose a shorter film — most family films are 85–100 minutes, but some run to 2 hours; check the runtime
- Arrive 10 minutes early — good seats fill up and the trailers are part of the experience for children seeing the cinema for the first time
- Budget for one treat — it's the memory they'll keep

9

### Bowling (All Star Lanes, Hollywood Bowl)

- 📍 All Star Lanes (Holborn, Brick Lane, White City, Stratford); Hollywood Bowl (several London sites)
- 🎟 Varies by venue and time
- 👶 Best ages: 4–14

Bowling works across a wide age range and is fun for adults too. **All Star Lanes** (Holborn, Brick Lane, White City and Stratford) is the premium end, with diner-style food and lane-side service. **Hollywood Bowl** has several London sites and is more family-friendly in a cheerful, functional way, with bumpers for little ones.

**Scoop tip:** Book lanes in advance, particularly at All Star Lanes which fills up on rainy weekends. Bumpers and ball ramps for young children are standard at all these venues — ask at the desk if they're not already set up.

Honest parent details

#### The details

- **Best time:** Off-peak weekday slots are often cheaper — check for offers. Weekend lunchtimes are busy but manageable if booked.
- **Buggy access:** Good at all major bowling venues. Wide lanes areas, accessible facilities, easy to navigate with a pushchair.
- **Toilets:** Good — these are well-funded entertainment venues and the facilities reflect that. Baby changing available.
- **Skip if short on time:** One game of bowling takes about 45 minutes for a family of four. Don't book a second game thinking you have time — factor in food, shoes, pre-game messing about, and post-game arcade detours.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** All Star Lanes serves food lane-side (not cheap but convenient). Hollywood Bowl has a café.
- **Crowd warning:** All Star Lanes on a rainy Saturday afternoon is busy and loud in a fun way. If your children are noise-sensitive, Hollywood Bowl or an early-weekday visit is a better call.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- One game of bowling — don't rush it; the slow pace is half the fun for children who take ten minutes to aim each ball
- Shoe hire and bumper setup — factor in 10 minutes for logistics at the start
- Arcade machines (where there are some) — set a budget and let them have one go

[Official site ↗](https://www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/)

## Unusual and underrated options

10

### Escape rooms for families

- 📍 Multiple London locations
- 🎟 Varies — usually priced per room or per player
- 👶 Best ages: 8–14

Escape rooms have proliferated dramatically across London in recent years, and many venues now offer family-friendly rooms designed for mixed age groups. The premise — solve puzzles to escape from a themed locked room in 60 minutes — is reliably thrilling for children who are old enough to engage with the puzzles (roughly 8 and up) and excellent for actually getting the whole family working together.

**Scoop tip:** Check that the specific room is age-appropriate before booking — some escape rooms have frightening themes that aren't suitable for children. Ask the venue directly if unsure. Teams of 3–6 work best.

Honest parent details

Many London escape room venues offer family-friendly rooms with appropriate difficulty levels, and some have starter rooms that work well for a parent and child pairing. The experience is typically 60–75 minutes all in, making it a good half-day activity combined with lunch.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Escape rooms are entirely bookable — you get your own room and your own time slot, so the general "when is it busy" question doesn't apply. Book whatever works for your schedule.
- **Buggy access:** Difficult — escape rooms are by definition small, themed spaces, often in converted buildings. Not suitable if you have a baby in a pushchair. Leave it with someone or use a carrier.
- **Toilets:** Available in the venue's common areas. Go before you enter the room — there is no bathroom break during the escape.
- **Skip if short on time:** There's no skipping — you're in a room for 60 minutes. The experience has a defined start and end. Plan the rest of your day around it.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Most escape room venues are in central London areas with good food options nearby. Plan for lunch before or after — the debrief and adrenaline crash goes well with food.
- **Crowd warning:** Not applicable — private rooms. The only "crowd" issue is the other families in the venue's reception area before and after, which is minimal.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- The room itself is 60 minutes — that's the whole activity; the briefing and debrief are part of the experience
- Arrive 10 minutes early for the full briefing — understanding the rules properly affects how the first 15 minutes goes
- Debrief over lunch — the discussion of what happened, who found what clue, who nearly cracked it; this is half the value

11

### Sea Life London Aquarium

- 📍 South Bank, SE1
- 🎟 Online: £28 adult, £25 child (2–15). On the day: £39 / £35. Under-2s free.
- 👶 Best ages: 2–12

Sea Life on the South Bank is a proper rainy day anchor — fully indoors, impressive, and with enough variety to justify a couple of hours. The shark displays are reliably spectacular and the jellyfish are hypnotic. It's not a huge space but it's well designed.

**Scoop tip:** Book online in advance — it's £11 cheaper per adult than paying on the day. Combined tickets with other nearby attractions can be good value. The South Bank location is good for combining with a riverside walk.

Honest parent details

The honest note is that it's expensive on the day: £39 per adult and £35 per child (2–15) at the door, against £28 and £25 if you book online. Under-2s go free. It's worth having in your back pocket for when you need a reliably good activity with easy logistics.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Weekday mornings in term time. Weekend afternoons are busy throughout.
- **Buggy access:** Good — purpose-designed visitor attraction with ramps and lifts throughout. The tunnels and tanks are accessible with a pushchair.
- **Toilets:** Good, with baby changing. Located near the entrance and mid-point of the route. Well-maintained.
- **Skip if short on time:** The gift shop at the end is its own event — budget 15 minutes and the will to say no.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** The South Bank has plenty of food options, and Borough Market is about 15 minutes' walk. Skip the aquarium café.
- **Crowd warning:** The busiest areas get crowded at lunchtime, but you can loop back for a second look.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- The shark displays — reliably the highlight
- Walk through again — the second time children look up rather than straight ahead
- Jellyfish displays — genuinely hypnotic; even teenagers tend to stop and stare for longer than expected

[Official site ↗](https://www.visitsealife.com/london/)

12

### Indoor markets (Camden, Boxpark, Spitalfields)

- 📍 Camden, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street
- 🎟 Free entry
- 👶 Best ages: 5+

London's covered markets are an underrated rainy day option for families — you can wander for hours, eat excellent and varied street food, browse independent shops, and soak up a genuinely lively atmosphere, all for free. **Camden Market** is the biggest and most theatrical, particularly the Horse Tunnel Market and Stables section. **Old Spitalfields Market** is excellent on Sundays with a broad mix of food, fashion, and vintage. **Boxpark Shoreditch** (shipping container market) is a brilliant, buzzy option for older children and teenagers.

**Scoop tip:** These are best when children are old enough not to need constant supervision in a crowd — roughly 5 and up, and significantly better for 8+. Budget for food — the real draw of these markets is the eating.

Honest parent details

#### The details

- **Best time:** Saturday and Sunday are the most vibrant for Spitalfields and Camden. Spitalfields also runs weekday markets but at reduced scale. Boxpark is good any day it's raining.
- **Buggy access:** Variable. Camden Market is chaotic on weekends and a wide buggy will slow you down considerably. Spitalfields is better — more open space. Boxpark is good for buggies.
- **Toilets:** Varies by market. Camden has public toilets near the Lock. Spitalfields has facilities in the market building. Boxpark relies on surrounding area. Plan ahead.
- **Skip if short on time:** Pick one section of the market rather than trying to see everything. Camden's Stables is the best section for children; Spitalfields' food stalls are the main event on Sundays.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** This is the eating — every market has plenty of street food. Budget for it rather than eating cheaply first.
- **Crowd warning:** Camden on a rainy Saturday is very busy — it's been a tourist destination for 30 years. This is either part of the fun or the main reason not to go, depending on your temperament. Spitalfields on a weekday morning is much more manageable.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- Pick your food first — once children are hungry the wandering stops; eat early and enjoy the browse
- One section of the market — the Camden Stables, the Spitalfields food hall, or the Boxpark units; don't try to do all of Camden
- Find something weird and interesting — every London market has one stall that's genuinely peculiar; finding it is the game

[Official site ↗](https://www.camdenmarket.com/)

13

### Library storytime and holiday activities

- 📍 Public libraries across all London boroughs
- 🎟 Free
- 👶 Best ages: 0–10

London's public libraries are one of the most underused free resources for families in the city. Every borough runs regular storytime sessions (typically weekly), and during school holidays the programming expands to include craft sessions, author visits, coding workshops, and themed activities. They are free, well-run, and — unlike many of the activities on this list — not particularly crowded.

**Scoop tip:** Book in advance — popular sessions fill up quickly. Find your nearest library at gov.uk/find-local-council or by searching "[your borough] library events". The Summer Reading Challenge (July–September) is particularly brilliant for readers aged 4–11.

Honest parent details

For babies and toddlers, Rhyme Time sessions at libraries are one of the genuinely great free activities in London: 20–30 minutes of songs, nursery rhymes, and gentle interaction in a warm, indoor environment. Children love the ritual of it and it's excellent for language development. For older children, half-term craft mornings and reading challenge events are worth tracking down.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Sessions are scheduled — check your local library's calendar. Most Rhyme Time sessions run Tuesday or Wednesday mornings. Holiday craft sessions are usually the same time each day of a holiday week.
- **Buggy access:** Excellent — public libraries are fully accessible and designed for all visitors. Pushchair parking is standard. One of the most pushchair-friendly environments you'll visit.
- **Toilets:** Good and accessible. Baby changing usually available in the main library building.
- **Skip if short on time:** These sessions have a fixed duration (20–45 minutes usually). They're designed to be the right length — there's nothing to skip.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Libraries don't have cafés (usually). Come fed or bring snacks. The walk to and from the library is often the best bit — treat it as an adventure.
- **Crowd warning:** Popular Rhyme Time sessions do fill up — book in advance through your local library's website or app. Holiday craft mornings can be oversubscribed if you wait until the first day of holidays to book.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- The session itself — 20–45 minutes of structured singing, stories, or crafts; this is the main event
- Browse and choose a book — the library is there; leave with something new
- Walk home a new way — this is genuinely the library's best gift to local families: it makes you explore your own neighbourhood

[Official site ↗](https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council)

14

### Theatre for kids

- 📍 West End and fringe venues across London
- 🎟 Varies widely — from free to £60+ per person
- 👶 Best ages: 3+ (depends on show)

A West End show might not seem like a rainy day impulse decision, but London's theatre offering for children is extraordinary — and there are genuinely affordable options if you know where to look. The **National Theatre** offers free family activities in its foyers year-round, and its full productions of family shows are among the best theatre experiences in London. The **Unicorn Theatre** (near London Bridge) is entirely dedicated to work for young audiences.

**Scoop tip:** Check TodayTix and the theatres' own websites for discounts and day seats. Afternoon matinées are better for children than evening shows.

Honest parent details

For big West End shows, day seats, last-minute deals on apps like TodayTix and off-peak matinées can make tickets much more affordable than the headline prices suggest. A child seeing a big musical for the first time is one of those experiences that lands disproportionately well.

#### The details

- **Best time:** Saturday and Sunday matinées at 2–2:30pm are the family slots. Afternoon shows mean children aren't exhausted going in and there's still time for dinner out afterwards.
- **Buggy access:** West End theatres are mostly Victorian buildings with variable accessibility. The National Theatre is excellent — modern, fully accessible. For West End shows, call the venue in advance to ask about pushchair arrangements and accessibility.
- **Toilets:** Theatre toilets are famously inadequate for the volume of people they serve. Go in the interval. Baby changing is inconsistently available — ask when booking.
- **Skip if short on time:** You can't leave a show halfway through without disrupting others. Choose a show you know will hold your child's attention for the full running time — check age recommendations carefully.
- **Eat cheaply nearby:** Theatre areas (West End, Southbank) have every food option available. Eat before rather than at the theatre — the interval bar is expensive and the queues are legendary.
- **Crowd warning:** The interval bar queue at a sold-out West End family matinée is an endurance event. Pre-order drinks or bring your own snacks in. The show itself will be packed — that's also part of the magic.

#### ⏱ If you only have 90 minutes

- National Theatre foyer activities — check what's on; some don't need a ticket
- Or: a short-run children's show at the Unicorn Theatre — specifically designed for young audiences, often under 60 minutes
- Dinner afterwards on the South Bank — make it a proper occasion; first theatre experience memories stay

[Official site ↗](https://www.unicorntheatre.com/)

## The rainy day survival kit

Beyond specific venues, a few general principles that make London rainy days easier:

- **Have a shortlist, not a plan.** Rainy days arrive suddenly. Keep a running shortlist of 3–4 options for each age range so decisions take minutes, not hours.
- **The public library is always there.** Free, warm, stocked with books and activities, and welcoming to families. As a no-preparation option for any age, it's unbeatable.
- **The journey counts.** Riding the DLR, going on the Overground or visiting a different part of the city is part of the adventure for children.
- **Free museums are your best friend.** When in doubt, a free museum is more civilised than most paid alternatives. Pack snacks, pick up the family trail, and you have a good rainy day for the price of a travelcard.
- **Book ahead for anything bookable.** Clip 'n Climb, trampoline parks and Sea Life all fill up on rainy weekends. Pre-booking a couple of options for the next few weekends removes the last-minute panic.

London's weather is famously grim and famously variable. But with a little planning, rainy days can be just as good as sunny ones — sometimes better.

Some of the best rainy day options are free. Our [best museums for kids](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-museums-london-kids) guide covers twelve, most of them free, and [free things to do in London with kids](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/free-things-to-do-london-kids) is worth bookmarking for any day. For under-8s, see the [best soft play in London](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-soft-play-london), area by area, and when the sun comes out, the [best parks and playgrounds](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-parks-london-kids).

## FAQs

What can kids do in London when it rains?

Soft play and trampoline parks for burning energy, Clip 'n Climb or bouldering for older children, pottery painting and craft workshops for calmer days, kids' cinema screenings, bowling, Sea Life London Aquarium and theatre. Free museums and libraries are the best free options.

What are free rainy day activities in London for kids?

Free museums (Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Young V&A, British Museum), library storytime and Rhyme Time sessions, and free family activities at arts centres like the Barbican and Southbank Centre.

How much is Sea Life London for kids?

Booking online, tickets are £25 per child (2–15) and £28 per adult; on the day they're £35 and £39. Under-2s go free. Book online to save.

Where is Clip 'n Climb in London?

At The O2, Wandsworth, Croydon, Colindale, Uxbridge and Chelsea. At The O2, sessions cost from £19.50 for 60 minutes, with about 40 minutes of climbing.

What's the best rainy day activity for toddlers in London?

Soft play, library Rhyme Time and the Young V&A. See our [soft play guide](https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/best-soft-play-london) for picks by area.

Do I need to book rainy day activities in London?

Yes for anything with sessions: trampoline parks, Clip 'n Climb, soft play at weekends and Sea Life (cheaper online). Museums and libraries are often walk-in, though big museums recommend free timed tickets.

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Source: https://guides.thelondonscoop.com/guides/rainy-day-activities-london-kids · The London Scoop, a free weekly email for London families: https://www.thelondonscoop.com/subscribe?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=rainy-day-activities-london-kids