Indoor Activities
The challenge of entertaining the little darlings can become even more exasperating when bad weather sets in but don’t let a drop of rain dampen your spirits.
Apart from the enthralling and diverse museums dotted around the South East, which almost all include a something specifically aimed at children, there are an array of other indoor activities that can brighten your child’s day. Whatever their genre, age or interests, we have something for all the family to make them forget the grey skies outside.
Featured Indoor Activities
Abbotsbury, Dorset
The Children’s Farm at Abbotsbury is a wonderful place for a family day out. Children can spend many hours cuddling guinea pigs, bottle feeding baby goats, riding ponies, racing toy tractors, and burning up excess energy on the indoor soft play area. The baby goats also race around a track twice a day, and after the race children are invited to take a goat for a warm down walk on a lead.
Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Hampshire
The National Motor Museum Beaulieu is home to over 250 vehicles from every motoring era. All housed under one roof, the exhibition includes some of the earliest examples of motoring to legendary World Record Breakers like Bluebird and ‘TV Star’ cars like Del Boy’s Reliant Regal. Take a trip in a space age pod as you experience Wheels, a dark ride through motoring history or visit Jack Tucker’s Garage with all the sounds and smells of a typical 1930’s country garage.
Dickens World, Kent
Step into the Victorian era at Dickens World in Kent as you and your family explore colourful settings from Charles Dickens’ well-loved books and get the chance to meet some of literary best loved characters. Take the Great Expectations Boat Ride, walk the corridors of Marshalsea Prison or be scared by ghosts of his novels in "The Haunted Man". With all this under one roof, you're sure to have a great day out regardless of the weather outside.
Guildford Spectrum, Surrey
For fantastic indoor fun head to Guildford Spectrum in Surrey where kids can let off all the steam they can muster. Try your hand at a spot of ice skating at the Olympic sized ice rink, or tenpin bowling at the 32 lane alley. Keep your little water babies happy at one of the four pools in the complex. The leisure pool is must for kids with flumes, a tyre ride, bubble beds, sprays and a wave machine.
Portsmouth, Hampshire
Portsmouth is a great city for all weathers. If the weather isn’t at its best, pay a visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium and see how the creatures of the deep deal with the wet weather! The Royal Marines Museum in Southsea shows visitors how the Royal Marines have developed into the world-renowned elite fighting force of today, or head to Gunwharf Quays for shopping, bowling or the cinema.
Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is a fantastic day out for kids of all ages. Spread over three rooms, Boy gallery, Solo gallery, and the Story Centre, it’s an ideal day out when the weather is not at its best. There are storytelling, crafts and workshops in the Museum at the weekends and at school holidays. There is also a Museum shop and Cafe Twit where you can stop for a drink and homemade cake. The Museum is closed until 10 January for a major refurbishment.
