23 awesome indoor places to beat rainy day boredom

For kids aged seven to 15, a whizz around the Capital Karts track in Barking will help burn off some steam. There is a height restriction (minimum 125cm).
When: Mon-Weds, 9am-11pm; Thurs-Sun, 9am-midnight
Where: Capital Karts, Unit 1 Rippleside, London, IG11 0RJ

Explore a world of imagination, adventure and stories at the Discover Story Centre in Stratford. Book a two-hour slot and you and your kids (up to age 11) can lose yourself in the wonderful, magical worlds at Discover.
When: Daily, 10am-5pm
Where: Discover Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, Stratford, London, E15 4QZ

Enjoy a day indoors at the oldest operating aquarium in the world, built in 1872. At Sea Life Brighton you can see the UK's largest collection of sharks and rays under one roof, as well as turtles, piranhas, jellyfish and starfish, all without worrying about the weather forecast.
When: Daily, 10am-3pm
Where: Sea Life Brighton, Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TB

From soft play for the little ones to enthralling laser tag for the older kids and adults, Raze the Roof in Penryn has something to keep everyone occupied on rainy days.
When: Mon-Fri 9am-6.30pm; Weekends, school holidays and bank holidays 10am-6.30pm
Where: Raze The Roof, 30a Parkengue, Kernick Road Industrial Estate, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EP

When it's too wet for a trip to the park, Scallywags Indoor Play in Birmingham is perfect. Featuring a toddler village soft play area, sports arenas for football and basketball and ball pits, it will keep you kids entertained for hours.
When: Mon-Sat, 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Where: Scallywags Indoor Play, The Fort Shopping Park, Birmingham, B24 9FP

Spread across three levels, there's lots of fun to be had at 360 Play in Leicester. Activities include an interactive ball zone, four-lane wave slide, climbing areas, ball pits, dodgems and a carousel.
When: Sun-Thur, 9.30am-5.30pm, Fri-Sat, 9.30am-6pm
Where: 360 Play, Meridian Leisure Park, Lubbesthorpe Way, Leicester, LE19 1JZ

Beat the rainy day blues by diving to the depths of the ocean at Skegness Aquarium. Marvel at sharks, rays and other marine life ... well away from the rain outside.
When: Daily 10am-5pm, school holidays 9.30am-6pm
Where: Skegness Aquarium, Tower Esplanade, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 3HH

Although there is plenty of outdoor fun to be had at All Things Wild Nature Centre, there is also plenty going on inside. There are fascinating reptiles and other small animals to meet, a dino barn to explore and lots of indoor play to keep smaller ones occupied – including a beach.
When: Sun-Thur, 10am-6pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-8pm
Where: All Things Wild, Station Road, Honeybourne, Near Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 7QZ

One of Europe's largest indoor skateparks, Ramp 1 in Warrington has something for everyone, from beginners (aged 6 and over) to expert skaters. You can hire skateboards and scooters, so it's a brilliant place to test out new kit. Plus there's a large cafe for mums and dads to relax in while your little ones burn off all that extra energy.
When: Term Time Mon-Fri, 3-9pm; School holidays Mon-Fri, 10am-9pm; Sat, 9am-9pm; Sun, 10am-7pm
Where: Ramp 1, Penketh Business Park, Unit 1 A, Liverpool Road, Warrington WA5 1QX

Older kids will love zooming around the track at TopGear Karting in Durham, picturing themselves as the next Lewis Hamilton. Suitable for children over eight who are at least 4ft 2 in height.
When: Sun-Fri, 10am-6pm; Sat 9am-9pm
Where: TopGear Karting, Unit 13 Renny's Lane, Gilesgate Moor, Durham DH1 2RS

Chill Factore is the UK's longest indoor ski slope with real snow. There is plenty of fun to be had whatever your age. From the Mini Moose Land for the under-fours to the Luge Slip'n'Slide and the Sledge-O-Mania.
When: Mon-Fri, 12-8pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Where: Chill Factore, 7 Trafford Way, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester, M41 7JA

Take the underground tour for the full history on coal mining in the north of England at the National Coal Mining Museum. Under-fives aren't allowed to go below ground but there is a Mini Miners play area where they can still have plenty of fun.
When: Daily 10am-5pm
Where: National Coal Mining Museum for England, Caphouse Colliery, New Road, Overton, Wakefield, WF4 4RH

There are a number of different escape games to choose from at CyberQ but if you've got younger kids, The Virus Man is a good first choice. The game can be adapted to suit kids as young as five and involves a cartoon super-villan – Virus Man. You'll need to complete games and tasks to stop him spreading his virus across the world!

Kids will also love the Alice in Worcesterland game. Aimed at beginners and younger players, it involves solving puzzles to find Alice, who's gone missing in a magical world.
When: Mon-Fri, 10:30am-9pm; Sat-Sunday 9am-9pm
Where: CyberQ Escape Rooms, 3 Lowesmoor Wharf, Worcester WR1 2RS

Interested in Escape Rooms? Check out our recommendations for the best family-friendly escape room here

Bounce your cares away as the rain falls outside at Bounce House, Liverpool's new city-centre inflatable theme park. There are high slides, climbing walls, a maze and an assault course, plus a gaming room and an ice cream bar! And there's a brilliant cafe where soggy mums and dads can take a break while the kids burn off extra energy.
When:
Where: Bounce House, Units 1 & 2 Glacier Buildings, Harrington Road, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool L3 4BH

Leave your weather worries behind at Imagine That!, a science and discovery centre in Liverpool. Kids will love moving between the science zone, the construction zone, the art area, and splashing around in the water area. Check out the mini sparks special days too: scintillating shows, wonderful workshops and free exploration ... It promises to be STEM-sational!
When: Thurs-Sun in term time
Where: Imagine That! Science and Discovery Centre, 26-32 Faraday Road, Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, L13 1EH

Scotland's largest indoor rainforest, Amazonia is full of indoor animal fun. Meet a variety of primates, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish all under the roof of a large tropical house.
When: Daily 10am-6pm
Where: M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, Lanarkshire, Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell ML1 3RT

Learn to climb at Alien Rock in Edinburgh. If you're a novice, you can to book a session with an experienced climber to show you the ropes but if you're a confident climber, you can just book, turn up and go. Only for children aged 8 and over; under 14s must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
When: Mon-Fri, 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-7pm
Where: Alien Rock, 8 Pier Place, Edinburgh, EH6 4LP

Step out of the bad weather, and back in time to a 19th-century Scottish prison at Inveraray Jail in Argyll. Explore a stunning piece of social history with your kids and hear stories from the costumed characters in this captivating(!) living museum.
When: Daily, 10am-4pm
Where: Inveraray Jail, Argyll, Scotland, PA32 8TX

South Wales' biggest trampoline park, at JumpJam kids can bounce around on inflatables, flip into airbags, battle with pugle sticks, scale the climbing wall and see how long they can cling on to the mechanical rodeo bull. It's tougher than it sounds!
When: Mon-Thurs 4-6pm; Fri, 11am-8pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-5pm
Where: JumpJam, Unit 2, Horsefair Road, Waterton Industrial Estate, Bridgend CF31 3YN

Love trampoline parks? Read our recommendations for the UK's top trampoline parks here.

Although Mumbles Pier is largely outside there are plenty of indoor activities and fun to be had on a rainy day. From amusement arcades, a little art gallery and a four-lane bowling alley, it's a great day out whatever the weather.
When: Pier: Daily 9am-9pm. Arcade: Daily 10am-10pm
Where: Mumbles Pier, Old Lifeboat Cottage, Mumbles Road, The Mumbles, SA3 4EN

Escape any bad weather at North Wales' largest indoor play space, The Fun Centre, with two giant drop slides, swinging ropes, a dark maze, a tumble tower, laser quest, go karts and more. There's even a mini museum and a licensed, family-friendly restaurant when you want a break from the excitement.
When: Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 10am-4pm
Where: The Fun Centre Christchurch, Bangor Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

There is so much to do at We Are Vertigo in Belfast that you won't know where to start! It's Northern Ireland's only alpine-themed adventure centre and you can choose from bouncing around in the trampoline park, tackling the high ropes or scaling the 30ft ice tower. There are also mini versions of the climbing wall and zip line, a double ice flume and monkey bars.
When: Mon-Fri, 12-5pm; Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 11-5pm
Where: We Are Vertigo, Newtownbreda Industrial Estate, 1 Cedarhurst Rd, Belfast BT8 7RH

Squeeze in a big blockbuster between rounds of tenpin bowling at Brunswick Moviebowl in Londonderry. The ultimate rainy day out for everyone.
When: Daily 9am - late
Where: Brunswick Moviebowl, Brunswick Lane, Pennyburn Industrial Estate, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 0LU