Best things to do on a rainy day

The weather outside might be frightful, but inside it’s delightful! Make the most of your free time with family and friends by enjoying any of these fun indoor activities. From exploring an underwater world at an aquarium to watching the latest film or indulging in an afternoon tea and spa, there are plenty of options to keep you entertained. 

What’s more, Boundless members get exclusive discounts and benefits at many of the attractions we’ve listed below. 

Already a Boundless member? Simply log in to gain full access to all the offers and benefits included in your membership. 

Not yet a member? If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. Enjoy unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more.

Explore aquariums on a rainy day

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A day trip to an aquarium is an excellent rainy day activity for families with young children, as it offers a sensory experience and a chance to see a fascinating array of sea creatures. 

Watch in wonder as sharks, rays, jellyfish and octopuses float in huge tanks and watery tunnels, while learning more about the ocean’s weird and wonderful marine life.

The UK has a great selection of aquariums to visit, and each offers a unique insight into conservation efforts and unique wildlife encounters.

Boundless members can enjoy savings at a number of aquariums when booking through Kids Pass. Kids Pass provides a range of offers at the UK’s finest aquariums, such as free entry for under-12s or up to 20% off admission for both adults and children. 

Family blogger Rose Fox recently enjoyed a day out at Bristol Aquarium with her two children using Kids Pass.

Take advantage of cinema discounts

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A trip to the cinema is a perfect rainy day activity for all ages. Who doesn’t love settling down with popcorn and a drink to watch the latest sci-fi, romantic comedy or action blockbuster? 

Boundless members can get discounted cinema tickets, drinks and snacks through The Cinema Society, saving up to 37% at chains such as Odeon, Vue, Picture House, Cineworld and Showcase. 

Cinema membership discounts

If you’re an avid cinema goer or film buff, why not become a member of a cinema near you? Many offer membership schemes with benefits such as special member-only screenings and discounts. 

Explore indoor adventure and wildlife parks

If you have children to entertain, visiting an adventure or wildlife park with a soft play or a trampoline park can be a great way for them to exercise and have fun on rainy days. 

Many of the UK’s best zoos and wildlife parks have fantastic indoor areas, housing tropical birds as well as smaller reptiles and mammals. Many zoos also have soft play or interactive displays for children, plus family-friendly cafés. 

Boundless members can enjoy exclusive savings at a number of wildlife attractions when booking through Kids Pass. Kids Pass provides a range of discounts at some of the UK’s top zoos, offering up to 33% off admission for both adults and children. 

Do some wildlife spotting

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You could also bundle up against the elements and visit one of nine WWT centres across the UK. Take shelter in one of the accessible hides and enjoy spotting wetland wildlife while under cover. You can always get cosy in the café, too – every WWT centre has one.

As a Boundless member, you and up to five children can take advantage of unlimited access to all nine WWT centres, plus 50% off for one additional adult guest. You'll also enjoy 10% off at the on-site cafés and shops, which are very tempting diversions on a rainy day!

Escape rooms

Can you solve the clues to complete your mission and escape from the locked escape room? These venues offer a thrilling indoor team-building activity that adventurous teenagers and adults will love. 

There are numerous escape rooms to be found across the UK – Boundless members can get up to 15% off Black Hawk in Oswestry, which offers escape rooms and more, using Kids Pass. 

Kids Pass

Not just for children, Kids Pass has more than 1,000 fun attractions and offers to explore. Enjoy discounted entry on everything from theme parks to zoos and bowling. As a Boundless member, you can save up to 56% on attractions using Kids Pass. 

You’ll find a wealth of amazing discounts, which you can browse either by category (theme park deals, aquarium deals or cinema deals, for example) or geographical area. Take a look at our guide to using Kids Pass for more information on how you can save.

Indulge in luxury experiences indoors

Treat yourself and a loved one to a pampering spa day experience. From soaking in a hot tub to lounging in a sauna or steam room, this has to be one of the most indulgent and relaxing ways to spend a rainy day. 

Whether you’re after a luxury couple’s night away or a spa day with a friend, Boundless members can save up to 20% on Virgin Experience Spa and Beauty Days. 

Afternoon tea experience

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Spend the afternoon tucking into delicate sandwiches, scrumptious scones and cakes in style by enjoying an afternoon tea experience. Many of the UK’s top hotels and restaurants offer a special afternoon tea menu, including Claridge’s, The Ritz and The Savoy. 

If you’re after a more budget-friendly option, Boundless members can check the tastecard app to see if there are any afternoon tea deals available, and can also save up to 20% on a range of afternoon tea packages with Virgin Experience Days.  

Indoor swimming pools

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Come on in, the water’s lovely! An outing to an indoor pool can be a fun way to spend a rainy day. Whether you’re a seasoned lane swimmer or prefer to pootle in the shallow end, swimming is a great way to boost your health and fitness. 

You could venture to your local leisure centre for a fun family-float session, or many Virgin Experience Spa Days venues have pools if you’re after a more leisurely adult-only dip. Boundless members can also check to see if there are any current offers available through Kids Pass.

Virgin Experience discounts

From spa days to track days and cultural tours, Boundless members can save up to 20% on Virgin Experience Days.

Find the best bowling alleys near you

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Who doesn’t love the competitive nature of bowling? It's an ideal indoor activity for families to enjoy, and there are hundreds of tenpin bowling alleys dotted around the UK. 

Many bowling alleys have arcades, bars and restaurants, so you could easily spend an entire rainy afternoon playing games. For younger children (or adults in need of some assistance…), you can generally hire lane blockers to make it easier for all ages and abilities to join in.

As a Boundless member, don’t forget to check if there are any current savings to be had at local bowling venues using Kids Pass.

Discover local museums near you

Why not beat the rain with a trip to your local museum? Often free to visit, local museums are a great way to learn more about the history of your area.

Alternatively, why not discover some of London’s best museums for kids, including the National History Museum and the Science Museum? If you’re a Boundless Plus member, you could make the most of your day in London by visiting one of the Historic Royal Palaces sites, such as the Tower of London or Hampton Court Palace (see below for details).

Historic Royal Palaces saving

If you’re a Boundless Plus member, don’t forget you get unlimited admission to all the Historic Royal Palaces sites, plus admission for one additional adult and up to two children per visit. 

Try an immersive experience

From art galleries where paintings come to life to virtual expeditions, life-size board games and performances where you’re part of the show, there’s a world of immersive experiences out there, most of them indoors and many suitable for younger participants. If you’re looking for something to distract you from murky weather, this would definitely do the trick. 

Many of these aren’t cheap, admittedly, but as a Boundless member you can save up to 20% on selected immersive experiences with Virgin Experience Days. 

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus. 

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions, including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive walking community, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.