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INDOOR LIFESAVERS · A HUDDLEPIN LIST

Rainy day activities in Bromley

For when the forecast betrays you: soft play, museums, pools, cinemas, climbing walls and every other place in Bromley where the kids can burn off energy under a roof. Plus what's on indoors this weekend.

121 indoor places 23 free 20 indoor events this weekend

COMING UP · 9-11 OCTOBER

On this weekend, under a roof

Events at indoor venues, so the plan survives whatever the sky does.

Fri 9 October17 things on

Sat 10 October18 things on

Sun 11 October14 things on

INDOOR PLACES

121 rainy-day saviours

Filter by price, café or baby change. All of them warm and dry.

Two people bathing in a thermal pool within a stone-vaulted medieval chamber lit by candlelight.

AIRE Ancient Baths London

London · adults only (18+)

An adults-only thermal baths experience in London, so this one is for date night, not the kids.

Booking requiredLockers

Performer on stage in an elaborate white and gold costume with ruffled details, gesturing expressively against a floral patterned backdrop.from £20

Apollo Theatre

London

A West End stage with tickets from £20, a proper night out for kids who love a big show.

Accessible toiletDog friendlyToiletsWheelchair accessible

Large crowd of spectators with raised arms seated in a theatre auditorium during a performance.

Apollo Victoria Theatre

London

A big West End stage best known for Wicked, with drinks and food you can order straight to your seat.

Art Craft Studiosfrom £10

Art Craft Studios

London

Clay workshops where kids hand-build and paint pottery, with a wheel session for the over-tens and food from Layers Bakery thrown in.

Group bookingsFood on siteParking

Young dancer performing a backbend on a studio floor during a contemporary dance class or rehearsal.

artsdepot

London

A free soft play corner and a café to sit in while the little one potters about.

CaféIndoor play

Friends laughing together outdoors in warm golden sunlight, wearing coats.

Assembly Hall Theatre

Tunbridge Wells

A proper theatre programme in Tunbridge Wells, with under-16s needing an adult alongside them and discounts if you book early.

Accessible toiletCaféWheelchair accessible

Person with red hair viewed from behind standing in a cloud chamber with underwater-themed décor and colourful coral imagery.from £44.50

Avora London: A New-World Cocktail Experience

London · adults only (18+)

A three-course cocktail story where actors send you on a fake research mission to another planet, no kids allowed.

Booking requiredGroup bookingsToilets

Busy indoor bar and restaurant with multiple patrons seated at tables, shelving with bottles visible on the walls, and pendant lighting overhead.from £5

Badger Badger West Norwood

London

Saturday Pokémon club for a fiver, plus a games library and staff who'll pick the right board game for you.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookingsMembership scheme+3 more

Large theatre auditorium filled with audience members seated across multiple curved levels beneath illuminated stage lights.Free

Barbican Centre

London

A vast City arts building you can wander into free, with a café and restaurant to fall back on between whatever's on.

Accessible toiletCaféHearing loopRestaurant+2 more

Barracudas Activity Day Camps - Hayes

Barracudas Activity Day Camps - Hayes

Bromley · ages 4-14

Eighty-odd activities across sports halls, art rooms and a motorsports track, in a holiday camp that runs from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Group bookingsIndoor playOutdoor play

An instructor with long blonde hair watches a young child in a pink top bouncing on a trampoline indoors.

Beckenham Fliers Trampolining Club

Beckenham

A trampolining club where kids can try a free session before deciding if the sport's for them.

Woman in glasses and navy cardigan smiles while processing a book at the library desk surrounded by shelves.Free

Beckenham Library

Beckenham · ages 0+

Free rhyme times, storytimes and a children's book group, plus an under-fives corner and books in plenty of languages.

Blue badge parkingFree parkingGroup bookingsHearing loop+5 more

Bike Shed Moto Co.

Bike Shed Moto Co.

London

A big motorbike hangout in London with galleries of bikes and art, a shop to browse and a 160-seat restaurant to sit down in.

Bike parkingGift shopFood on siteRestaurant

An adult and two young children approach the farm park entrance building on a sunny day.from £7.50

Bocketts Farm Park

Leatherhead · ages 1-17

Pig racing twice a day, a woodland pony ride and two play barns to fall back on if the sky turns.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBirthday parties+16 more

Empty cinema auditorium with curved rows of blue seats facing a dark screen, lit by overhead gold trim and green emergency lights.

Chequer Mead Theatre

East Grinstead

A local theatre with family shows, free arts and crafts sessions, and a Teddy Bear Storytime for the smaller ones.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingCafé+5 more

Chislehurst Cavesfrom £8

Chislehurst Caves

Chislehurst · ages 3-15

A lamp-lit guided walk through man-made tunnels, with a guide spinning spooky stories along the way.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCafé+6 more

A group of young people smiling together indoors at an indoor climbing wall facility with coloured climbing holds.from £9

Climbing District | Bermondsey — Arch Climbing Wall

London

Bouldering walls, circuit boards and a Rockers Club drop-in for kids from 4, with NICAS courses if they get keen.

CaféGroup bookingsIndoor playWi-Fi

Two people playing an arcade game surrounded by neon purple lighting and a red display screen showing a score.from £31.99

clueQuest - The Live Escape Game

London · ages 2-99

A one-hour puzzle mission for teams, with a game host feeding you clues as the clock runs down.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGift shopGroup bookings+5 more

Control Room B

Control Room B

London · ages 0-16

A Power Station bar with an escape room twist, kids' drinks and colouring before the 21+ crowd take over after 5pm.

Gift shopGroup bookingsIndoor seatingFood on site+2 more

Colourful water slide tubes in bright yellow, orange and red against a clear blue sky at a water park.

Coral Reef Waterworld

Bracknell

Five water slides, an erupting volcano and a pirate ship in the pool, plus a spa for the grown-ups if you can prise yourself away.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingBooking required+5 more

People in red jackets wading in muddy tidal waters amongst moored boats and historic buildings along a riverbank.

Creekside Discovery Centre

London

Wellies on, down the sloped bank into Deptford Creek to dip for animals and read the mud like a history book.

Booking requiredPublic transport nearbyToiletsWheelchair accessible

Modern library interior with visitors studying and browsing books at tables and shelves, with natural light from large windows.Free

Dana Research Centre and Library

London

Free hands-on science galleries with experiments, retro video games and a space section, though you'll need to book tickets in advance.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBooking required+12 more

Children and families playing indoor mini golf through a forest-themed course with illuminated tree trunks and coloured lighting.from £9

Discover Children's Story Centre

London · ages 0-11

Two floors of play worlds to climb through and act out stories in, plus a garden, all built around books rather than screens.

Baby changeBike parkingBlue badge parkingBooking required+7 more

Dominion Theatre

Dominion Theatre

London · ages 5+

A West End stage for musicals and big theatrical shows, but under 5s aren't let in at all.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredToilets+1 more

Five actors performing a comedic scene in an ornate drawing room set, with exaggerated expressions and period costumes.from £20

Duchess Theatre

London · ages 14+

A West End stage for teenagers, with a farcical comedy and an unscripted one-off show that leans hard into dark themes.

Brightly lit pottery studio with multiple tables set up for craft activities, shelves displaying finished ceramics, and festive red decorations.from £20

Emma's Pottery Parlour

West Wickham · ages 0-11

Paint a mug or a plate from over 300 pieces, glazed and fired for one price, in a 90-minute session you'll want to book at weekends.

Baby changeBirthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings+4 more

Escape Hunt Edinburghfrom £28

Escape Hunt Oxford Street

London · ages 8+

Locked-room puzzle games near Tottenham Court Road, with an hour to crack the clues before the door opens.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyGroup bookings+3 more

Modern hotel lobby with colourful seating areas, including red and green velvet chairs, and a reception desk on the right.

Everyman Canary Wharf

London · ages 0-18

Sofa seats, food brought to you, and baby and toddler screenings where nobody minds if your one-year-old kicks off.

Allergy awareRestaurantSensory friendlyWheelchair accessible

F1® Arcade London

F1® Arcade London

London · ages 7+

Full-motion F1 racing simulators in central London, with a bar and restaurant attached, but under-18s have to be out by 6pm.

Birthday partiesCaféGroup bookingsIndoor seating+4 more

Flip Out London E6from £7

Flip Out London E6

London

An hour or two of trampolines, drop slides and dark caving tunnels, with toddler sessions and family passes to soften the price.

Birthday partiesCaféFirst aidFree parking+5 more

Frameless

Frameless

London · ages 0+

Four galleries of projections and spatial sound you wander through at your own pace, with a bubbles-and-music class for tots.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféGift shop+8 more

Symmetrical Art Deco interior with golden walls, ornate stained-glass doors, black pillars, and wall-mounted lighting fixtures.

Freemasons Hall, London

London

A 55-minute guided tour round an Art Deco Masonic hall and its museum of odd ritual objects.

Accessible toiletToiletsWheelchair accessible

Freud Museum Londonfrom £9

Freud Museum London

London

Step into the room where Freud actually worked, couch and all, with an audio guide included in the ticket.

Card onlyGift shopWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi

Funland Amusement Parksfrom £5

Funland Amusement Parks

Hayling Island

A seafront fairground with 18-plus rides, a log flume and a coaster, plus soft play if the little ones can't do the big stuff yet.

CaféGift shopIndoor playFood on site

Garrick Theatrefrom £17.50

Garrick Theatre

London

A West End stage with acrobatics, comedy and musical shows, with under-15 tickets from £17.50.

Accessible toiletDog friendlyToiletsWheelchair accessible

Child climbing an indoor wall with coloured holds, reaching towards pink and blue wall features.from £249

Geckos Climbing Ltd

London · ages 9+

Bouldering and top-rope climbing on 8m walls at The Castle, plus outdoor rock climbing, for kids aged 9 and up.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+4 more

Night-time exterior of the Gielgud Theatre showing illuminated ornate Victorian architecture with red signage for the musical Oliver!.from £50

Gielgud Theatre

London · ages 7+

Oliver! at full West End length, with a proper interval, for kids old enough to sit through nearly three hours of it.

Booking required

Goals Leicesterfrom £8

Goals Beckenham

Beckenham · ages 5-12

Five and seven-a-side football on all-weather pitches, junior coaching for 5 to 12s, and parties with a host who runs the games.

Birthday partiesCaféFree parkingGroup bookings+8 more

Hard Rock Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe

London

A burger and memorabilia stop where kids wander a free rock and roll museum before the food even arrives.

Allergy awareGift shopFood on siteRestaurant+1 more

Group of children with an adult entertainer posing in front of a themed adventure playground structure at a leisure venue.from £13.50

Hobbledown Adventure Farm Park and Zoo

Epsom · ages 0+

Forts, dragons and tunnels to climb, a proper zoo to wander round, and jumping pillows to finish the day off.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesCaféGroup bookings+9 more

Group of children holding pumpkins in a pumpkin patch field on a sunny day.from £13.50

Hobbledown Heath

Hounslow

Over a hundred animals, four themed villages to climb through and a treetop net park, all on card-only parking.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCard onlyGroup bookings+7 more

Stone museum building with clock tower surrounded by purple flowering plants and green stems under blue sky.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

London

Forest Hill museum with aquarium and free gardens - Soft Play N never.

CaféGift shopPicnic areaToilets

Hunterian MuseumFree

Hunterian Museum

London · ages 5+

Free anatomy museum with real specimens from John Hunter's collection, better suited to older kids than toddlers.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingDog friendly+3 more

Ifield Barn Theatre

Ifield Barn Theatre

Crawley

Live pantomimes and plays staged in a genuine 700-year-old barn, with free parking right next door.

Accessible toiletWheelchair accessible

An adult and child wearing geometric headsets play together in a neon-lit gaming environment with digital displays.

Immersive Gamebox - Southbank, London

London · ages 3+

Locked-off game boxes where your crew competes as a private team, no strangers, no shared screens.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredLockersFood on site+1 more

Antique glass bottles with aged labels displayed in a wooden cabinet, including a poison bottle with skull and crossbones marking.from £10

Jack The Ripper Museum

London

A walk through the murder rooms, victim histories and suspect theories of Whitechapel's most notorious cold case.

Red and yellow pirate ship ride swinging high with passengers, surrounded by themed playground structures and tropical plants.from £32

Jolly Rocker

Windsor · ages 1+

A LEGO-built theme park with over 55 rides, from a swinging pirate galleon to a 30mph coaster and a splash park in summer.

Birthday partiesCaféGift shopGroup bookings+6 more

Children and adults playing on inflatable slides and trampolines in a brightly lit indoor leisure facility.from £7.95

Jump In by AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park Esher

Esher · ages 1+

Trampoline arena, a toddler zone and a 25-activity climbing centre under one roof, with grip socks bought at the door.

Birthday partiesCaféFree parkingGroup bookings+2 more

Person in helmet and racing suit driving go-kart indoors under fluorescent lights.from £6

K1 Speed Canary Wharf

London · ages 7+

Indoor electric go-karting for kids seven and up, with junior karts hitting 20mph and races timed to the minute.

Birthday partiesCaféGroup bookingsIndoor play+4 more

Lee Valley Animal Adventure Parkfrom £7.50

Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park

Waltham Abbey · ages 0-12

Farm animals to feed, swan and teacup rides, a giant bouncy pillow and adventure play, all outdoors near Waltham Abbey.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCafé+8 more

Ornate entrance hall with Islamic tilework, decorative columns, brass chandelier and patterned ceiling in a historic house museum.

Leighton House

London

A Victorian artist's house with a jaw-dropping tiled Arab Hall, a new family trail, and a café you can visit without a ticket.

CaféToiletsWheelchair accessible

Interior of a gift shop with display tables featuring books, decorative items and patterned homeware, beneath a large floral arrangement hanging from the ceiling.from £8.50

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens

Horsham

Grade I listed gardens with seven lakes, wallaby feeding and a Dolls' House Museum to explore over a good three to four hours.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBirthday partiesBlue badge parking+14 more

Lightroomfrom £10

Lightroom

London · ages 0+

Big projected shows on 11-metre walls that you wander round rather than sit and watch, near King's Cross.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféCard only+2 more

London Bus Museumfrom £24.35

London Bus Museum

Weybridge · ages 4-17

Climb aboard rows of historic double-deckers and, at weekends and holidays, actually ride one on the road.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCard only+3 more

Visitors walking towards the entrance of a brick museum building with promotional banners on a sunny day.Free

London Museum Docklands

London

Free museum with a soft-play family gallery for building tunnels, role-play and trails, right by Canary Wharf.

Baby changeBirthday partiesBottle warmingBreastfeeding friendly+11 more

Historic theatre interior with ornate gilt ceiling, red velvet seats, and an empty stage framed by an elaborate proscenium arch.

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

London

A Hammersmith theatre with panto and family shows, wheelchair access sorted and a £2 levy tucked onto every ticket.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBreastfeeding friendlyToilets+1 more

Lyric Theatrefrom £20

Lyric Theatre

London

A West End stage for Room on the Broom and other family shows, with the ticket price hinging on which production is on.

Accessible toiletToilets

Two children in protective goggles and lab coats conduct a science experiment with coloured liquids in test tubes and beakers.from £270

Mad Science London

London

A science party that comes to you, with slime, bouncy balls and a big final experiment to send everyone home buzzing.

Miart Gallery London

Miart Gallery London

London

An indoor art gallery in London open six days a week, if you fancy a quiet browse with the kids in tow.

This is a PHOTOGRAPH.

South Kentish Town Underground station entrance, a Victorian-era brick building with arched windows and signage.from £28

MISSION: BREAKOUT

London · ages 9+

Three underground escape rooms with 60 minutes to crack puzzles, from spy-hunting with Churchill to a post-apocalyptic London.

Monopoly Lifesizedfrom £54

Monopoly Lifesized

London · ages 9+

A supersized, escape-room take on Monopoly where teams race round a giant board to buy up property and bank the most cash.

Booking requiredGift shopLockersParty rooms+3 more

Garden shop display viewed through wooden trellis, with flowering plants in foreground and stone ornaments and statuary visible inside.

Moss End Garden Village

Bracknell

A garden village with reef aquariums, reptiles, birds of prey and a pottery studio all under one roof, plus free parking all day.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+5 more

Museum of Brandsfrom £8

Museum of Brands

London

A walk through 200 years of adverts, packaging and toys, from Victorian shop shelves to today's digital brands.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopPublic transport nearby+5 more

Visitors sit on benches outside a modern museum building with red signage and brick architecture on a sunny day.Free

Museum of the Home

London

Free period rooms, a playhouse and a sensory den to explore, with no booking needed and no minimum time limit on your visit.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingDog friendly+7 more

National Army MuseumFree

National Army Museum

London · ages 0-8

Free galleries about army history plus a soft-play zone, Play Base, built for the under-8s.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCafé+7 more

Grand neoclassical museum building with columns and flags, framed by green trees, with visitors on the lawn below.Free

National Maritime Museum

London

Free galleries where kids land a Mars rover, climb through a sea-themed playground and walk into a galaxy box.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCafé+8 more

A dinosaur skeleton sculpture towers above a tree-lined street facing the Natural History Museum's Victorian Gothic building and clock tower.Free

Natural History Museum

London

Dinosaurs, a blue whale and rainy-day halls in South Kensington - free entry, book timed tickets.

Booking requiredGift shopFood on siteWheelchair accessible+3 more

No Escape

No Escape

London · ages 10+

A 60-minute escape room where teams crack clues and secrets to break out, built for ages 10 and up.

Paradox Museum Londonfrom £18.50

Paradox Museum London

London · ages 0+

A walkthrough of 50-plus optical illusions in South Kensington, including a Zero Gravity room made for photos.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGift shopGroup bookings+5 more

Two performers sit on stage under warm and purple lighting during a theatrical production.from £9.50

Park Theatre

London

Two stages near Finsbury Park with comedy nights, drag storytelling and relaxed shows built for families, not just West End transfers.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBreastfeeding friendlyCafé+5 more

Peckhamplexfrom £7.59

Peckhamplex

London · ages 0+

Every ticket is £7.59, and there are weekly screenings built for parents with babies or autistic kids.

ToiletsWheelchair accessible

Pope's Grotto

Pope's Grotto

Twickenham

A quirky underground grotto you explore yourself with a printed plan, open just a handful of days a year.

Booking required

Two people walk hand in hand along the Prime Meridian line on a paved courtyard in front of historic brick buildings.from £12

Prime Meridian

London · ages 4+

Stand with a foot in each hemisphere on the actual Prime Meridian line, then try landing a Mars rover in the gallery next door.

Bike parkingBlue badge parkingCaféPublic transport nearby+3 more

Historic theatre building facade illuminated at night with ornate arched windows, marquee signage and red entrance doors.from £17.50

Prince Edward Theatre

London · ages 12+

Beetlejuice on stage in the West End, aimed at teens and adults rather than young kids, with a strict 12+ recommendation.

Booking requiredFood on site

Puttshack Bankfrom £9.50

Puttshack Bank

London

Indoor tech mini golf at Bank - bookable 9-hole courses with food, near Bank Underground.

ToiletsWheelchair accessibleFood on siteRestaurant+6 more

Raphael ParkFree

Raphael Park

Romford

A free 44-acre park with a big fenced play area, twelve tennis courts and a lake to walk round until dusk.

CaféFood on siteParkingRestaurant+1 more

Large outdoor amphitheatre at night with hundreds of seated spectators watching a theatrical performance on an illuminated central stage surrounded by trees.from £7.50

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

London

Watching a show under the sky in Regent's Park, with the plot only as gripping as the weather holds out.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingDog friendlyGroup bookings+6 more

An adult and two children having a picnic at an outdoor table, with a yellow RAF helicopter display visible in the background.Free

Royal Air Force Museum London

London · ages 4+

Free entry to over 100 real aircraft, plus a Spitfire cockpit to sit in and an outdoor playground shaped like mini planes.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+15 more

An adult and young child play together on a cobbled courtyard in front of the Royal Observatory's distinctive brick buildings with domed towers.from £12

Royal Observatory Greenwich

London

Prime Meridian, planetarium and telescopes above Greenwich Park - book ahead for school holidays.

Booking requiredGift shopFood on sitePublic transport nearby+2 more

Science MuseumFree

Science Museum

South Kensington, London

South Kensington free science galleries plus ticketed Wonderlab - Soft Play N never.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGift shopGroup bookings+1 more

Child watching illuminated jellyfish swimming behind glass at an aquarium tank.from £28

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

London

South Bank aquarium by the London Eye - sharks, penguins, turtles and an ocean tunnel indoors.

ToiletsAccessible toiletBaby changeGift shop+6 more

Aerial view of a brick building with a domed roof surrounded by mature trees and manicured gardens, with a white marquee tent alongside.Free

Serpentine South Gallery

London

Free contemporary art exhibitions in Kensington Gardens, with a digital guide that does a lot of the explaining for you.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+9 more

Shakespeare's Globefrom £14

Shakespeare's Globe

London · ages 0+

Open-air Tudor theatre where kids can try on costumes, get their faces painted and watch a proper Shakespeare production.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+8 more

Shrek's Adventure Londonfrom £16

Shrek's Adventure London

London · ages 6-15

A 70-minute walk-through with a 4D flying bus ride, DreamWorks characters and nine live shows along the way.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCard onlyGift shop+2 more

Sondheim Theatre

Sondheim Theatre

London · ages 7+

A full West End staging of Les Misérables, nearly three hours long, best suited to kids seven and up who can sit still.

Booking required

Three performers on a dark stage with hanging chains, two seated and one standing.

Southwark Playhouse Borough

London

A theatre near Elephant and Castle with a bar for the grown-ups while the family show is on.

Staff member in green Squires uniform holding a slice of cake in a garden centre café.Free

Squire's Garden Centre

Stanmore

A free-to-enter garden centre with an aquatics room of tanks and reptiles, plus pottery painting and a café that stops hot food at 3.30pm.

CaféDog friendlyFree parkingIndoor seating+4 more

St. Martin's Theatrefrom £19.50

St. Martin's Theatre

London · ages 7+

Take your seven-plus-year-old to see if they can spot the killer in the world's longest-running play, The Mousetrap.

Card onlyGift shopFood on siteWi-Fi

St. Paul's Cathedralfrom £3

St. Paul's Cathedral

London

Climb 528 steps to the top of the Dome for a proper view over London, then explore the Crypt and a family history trail below.

Bike parkingBlue badge parkingPublic transport nearbyWheelchair accessible

Stratford East

Stratford East

London

A proper panto stage in Stratford, with Surinderella putting an Indian spin on Cinderella for kids five and up.

Booking requiredCaféWheelchair accessible

Row of treadmills with screens in a gymnasium fitness studio.Free

Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre - Active Lambeth

London

Olympic-sized ice rink, two pools and a soft play area under one roof, with free swimming for Lambeth kids under 11.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféStep-free access+2 more

Grand neoclassical museum building with white columns and pediment against clear blue sky.Free

Tate Britain

London

Free wander through five centuries of British art, with the world's biggest Turner collection and free tours four times a day.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+9 more

A go-kart racer in blue and black suit and helmet navigates an indoor track past blue barriers, with other karts visible in the background.

TeamSport Go Karting Docklands East London

London · ages 4-99

Indoor electric go-karting with a proper Mini Racer setup for 4 to 7 year olds and a motorsport-themed mini golf course too.

Birthday partiesBlue badge parkingBooking requiredCafé+9 more

Two people in helmets racing blue and black go-karts on an indoor track with tyres and barriers visible.

TeamSport Go Karting Mitcham South London

Mitcham · ages 8+

Indoor electric go-karting on an 800m multi-level track, with a Mini Racers option for younger kids who aren't tall enough for the real thing yet.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféFood on site+2 more

Young person studying at a table in a library reading room with other visitors in the background.Free

The British Library

London · adults only (18+)

Free gallery of genuinely famous manuscripts, but the Reading Rooms themselves are an over-18s, pencils-only affair.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBlue badge parkingCafé+8 more

Close-up of a heavy metal shackle and chain on weathered wood, displaying restraint equipment from a historical prison.from £8

The Clink Prison Museum

London · ages 0-16

A small, dimly lit prison museum where kids can handle real torture devices and hear grim tales of former inmates.

The Courtauld Galleryfrom £7

The Courtauld Gallery

London

A townhouse gallery of Impressionist paintings where under-18s get in free and a phone doubles as the guidebook.

Bike parkingCaféCard onlyGift shop+2 more

Modern blue building with distinctive angular roof set amongst autumn woodland under cloudy sky.Free

the Design Museum

London

Free permanent collection on Level 2 covering how everyday objects get designed and made, plus school-holiday design camps for the older kids.

CaféGift shopLockers

Formal gardens with flowering borders and topiary surrounding a cream canvas marquee, with visitors strolling on the lawn and a modern pavilion visible to the left.

The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle

Edenbridge

Open-air shows on the grounds of Hever Castle, with your own picnic and drinks allowed in before the show and at the interval.

Accessible toiletFree parkingPicnics allowedWheelchair accessible

Person's hands shaping clay on a pottery wheel, creating a vessel with textured surface.

The Kiln Rooms

London

A working pottery studio that only takes kids by arranging a private one-off session, not walk-in classes.

The London Dungeonfrom £27

The London Dungeon

London · ages 5+

A 75-minute walkthrough of London's grislier history with live actors, jump scares and one drop ride, best saved for kids who like being spooked.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCard onlyGift shop+2 more

Crowds of visitors outside the distinctive white fabric roof and golden support towers of The O2 arena on a sunny day.

The O2

London

A whole complex of things to do under one roof, from climbing the roof itself to bowling, battle games and indoor skydiving.

Bike parkingFree parkingFood on siteParking+1 more

Two men perform a scene on stage, sitting on a wooden platform over water, engaged in an intense conversation under blue lighting.

The Old Vic

London · ages 0+

A proper West End style theatre near Waterloo with e-tickets, a script library and a cafe that's open to anyone, ticket or not.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCafé+6 more

A uniformed guide speaks to a group of adults and children in a tropical forest setting at night.from £24

The Paddington Bear Experience

London · ages 0-15

A 70-minute walk-through where kids meet Paddington, help Mrs Bird tidy her kitchen and dance to a Calypso band in Windsor Gardens.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredCafé+11 more

The Royal InstitutionFree

The Royal Institution

London · ages 4+

Free entry to a museum of 200 years of scientific history, tucked in a Mayfair townhouse with family talks laid on too.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+5 more

Shaftesbury Theatre illuminated at night with Motown the Musical advertising banners, surrounded by historic architecture and city streets.from £25

The Shaftesbury Theatre

London · ages 3-99

A big West End stage for a proper musical, plus daytime tours round a Grade II* listed theatre.

Accessible toiletBike parkingHearing loopStep-free access+1 more

Gourmet burger with sesame seed bun, melted cheese, leafy greens and seasoned patty on patterned paper wrapper.

The Thieves

London

Retro arcade games, VR racing, darts and private karaoke booths, with a restaurant serving burgers and Sunday roasts.

Birthday partiesGroup bookingsParty roomsRestaurant

Theatre Royal Haymarketfrom £10

Theatre Royal Haymarket

London

Peppa Pig's Big Family Show lands here for around 80 minutes including an interval, tickets from £10.

CaféFood on siteToilets

TOCA Social, The O2from £9

TOCA Social, The O2

London · ages 0+

Private boxes for interactive football games, with foosball and screenings on the side at The O2.

Birthday partiesGroup bookingsHalal optionsFood on site+2 more

Trinity Theatrefrom £15

Trinity Theatre

Royal Tunbridge Wells · ages 6+

A proper local stage for Christmas panto, gigs and youth theatre, a five-minute walk from Tunbridge Wells station.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféDog friendly+7 more

Modern theatre building with distinctive yellow, white and grey geometric facade and red illuminated signage.

Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

Wembley · ages 3+

A proper theatre trip for kids from age three, with a restaurant and bar on site if you want to make an evening of it.

Accessible toiletLockersRestaurantToilets+1 more

Large stained glass window depicting agricultural and rural scenes, viewed through ornate wooden doorways in a historic interior space.Free

Two Temple Place

London

A grand riverside building near the Strand you can only get into on select dates, with an hour-long tour that actually goes somewhere interesting.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+3 more

V&A South KensingtonFree

V&A South Kensington

London

Free design museum in South Kensington - fashion, courtyard picnic and rainy-day galleries.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+5 more

Vaudeville Theatrefrom £19.50

Vaudeville Theatre

London · ages 10+

A West End matinee-or-evening trip for older kids and teens, built around shows like Six that actually suit a 10-plus crowd.

Accessible toiletDog friendlyToiletsWheelchair accessible

Victoria Palace Theatrefrom £10

Victoria Palace Theatre

London · ages 10+

A big West End show, currently Hamilton, running just under three hours with a proper interval.

Booking requiredFood on siteWheelchair accessible

Busy outdoor street scene with crowds of people gathered outside a pub, some seated on stools with drinks, trees overhead, bicycles parked nearby.

Well & Bucket

London

A Sunday roast pub with party rooms tucked away, open late most days if lunch turns into an afternoon.

Indoor seatingParty roomsRestaurant

Two visitors viewing a classical bust sculpture displayed in a museum gallery case.Free

Wellcome Collection

London

Free galleries exploring health and the human body, with a library and daily tours thrown in.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféChanging Places+7 more

Historic stone and brick buildings housing the gallery and library, with pedestrians on the street below under clear blue sky.Free

Whitechapel Gallery

London

Free displays and artist-led activities in an east London gallery where under 16s never pay for the ticketed show.

Baby changeBlue badge parkingCaféCard only+9 more

Wicked The Musicalfrom £25

Wicked The Musical

London · ages 7-5

A two-and-three-quarter-hour West End musical at the Apollo Victoria, best for kids who can sit through flashing lights and a proper story.

Booking requiredCard onlyGift shopIndoor seating+1 more

Large dinosaur sculpture with open mouth displaying teeth, set amongst green woodland foliage.

World of Dinosaurs

Broxbourne

Over 30 animatronic dinosaurs to walk among, plus a train ride, crazy golf and soft play if the rain sets in.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCard only+9 more

Two young children in a park holding hands whilst surrounded by protective gear and skateboards on the ground.from £75

Zebra Skate - Skateboarding and Rollerblading for all ages

London · ages 5-12

Week-long or single-day skate camps in Kensington Gardens teaching kids to rollerblade and skateboard, kit included.

Booking required

Good to know: rainy days in Bromley

Any free rainy-day options?

Yes, Barbican Centre, Beckenham Library, Dana Research Centre and Library, Hunterian Museum and 19 more are free to get into and fully under cover.

What does a paid visit cost?

Paid indoor places start from £3. Prices and ages are on every listing, taken from the venue's own published list.

Where's the soft play?

Barracudas Activity Day Camps - Hayes, Bocketts Farm Park, Climbing District | Bermondsey — Arch Climbing Wall, Discover Children's Story Centre and 13 more have soft play, the toddler-proof choice when it's tipping down.

Do I need to book?

Soft play and trampoline parks usually run timed sessions that sell out on wet weekends, so book the morning before. Museums and galleries are mostly walk-in. Each listing links to the venue's own booking page.

THE WEEKENDER

Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.

The best family things happening around Bromley, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.

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