Rainy day activities in Cardiff

A Welsh Coal Mining Experience

Tonypandy

A trip underground-style, with a simulated dram ride, interactive displays and a coal owner's parlour to poke around.

CaféGroup bookings

acta Community Theatre

Bristol

A community theatre with drama workshops, a youth group and baby sensory mornings, plus a volunteer-run café for cake and simple lunches.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféIndoor seating+2 more

Active Reality

Cardiff · ages 9+

Free-roam VR sessions with zombie shooters and cooking challenges, built for groups of nine-year-olds and up.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings

Albany Gallery

Cardiff

A free art gallery in Cardiff with changing exhibitions, open Wednesday to Sunday with no need to book.

Ants Inya Pants Play Centre

Cardiff

Family-run soft play off Newport Road - one big frame, toddler zone, cafe and adults always free.

CaféFood on siteIndoor playUnder-5s area+5 more

Art Central Gallery

Barry

Free rotating exhibitions of paintings, photography, textiles and sculpture, plus the odd artist talk thrown in.

art-K Barry

Barry · ages 6-18

Structured art classes and holiday workshops for 6 to 18 year olds, with small groups and a proper teacher-student ratio.

Birthday partiesGroup bookings

Barry Island Quasar

Barry · ages 7+

Laser tag games for kids seven and up, booked by phone, with party packages if you can rustle up at least eight players.

Booking required

Being Brunel

Bristol

Step into Brunel's own head, wander a recreated Victorian dining room, then draw on a moving train inside a broad-gauge carriage.

Beth Morris Workshops

Cardiff · ages 0+

Holiday clubs where kids draw, paint and craft their way through a day, split into themed sessions like Doodle Club and Wild Club.

Blackwood Little Theatre

Blackwood

A community stage putting on panto favourites like Snow White alongside grown-up dramas, tickets around £12.

Boom Battle Bar Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 0-18

Axe throwing, electric darts and crazy golf under one roof, with a curfew that turns the place adults-only after early evening.

Birthday partiesCard onlyGroup bookingsFood on site+3 more

Brean Theme Park

Burnham-on-Sea

Free entry with over 40 rides, from a dark coaster to go karts, and you pay only for a wristband or the rides you actually fancy.

Accessible toiletFirst aidIndoor playOutdoor play+4 more

Bristol Aquarium

Bristol

Forty tanks of sharks, rays and jellyfish under the city centre, with feeding talks and an old IMAX screen to finish on.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBirthday parties+11 more

Bristol Magic Theatre

Bristol · ages 10+

Close-up magic and mind reading performed inches from your seat, in a tiny 18-seat room in Clifton.

Booking requiredWheelchair accessible

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Bristol · ages 3-18

Watch Bristol Old Vic's next crop of actors take on Shakespeare, or sign your kids up for weekly acting classes.

Brodies Coffee - On The Wall

Cardiff

A coffee stop by Bute Park with proper flat whites and a view over the park to look at while you drink them.

CaféDog friendlyWi-Fi

Butetown Pavilion

Cardiff

A free community hub with parent and toddler groups, a reading corner and free wifi, open weekdays only.

Wi-Fi

Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths

Newport · ages 5-17

A covered Roman swimming pool you can walk right up to, plus a film that brings the old baths back to life.

Dog friendlyGift shopHearing loopParking+2 more

Cardiff Devils

Cardiff · ages 0+

Watch Elite League ice hockey live, with doors opening 90 minutes before face-off and standing allowed in one block.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredDog friendly+7 more

Cardiff Indoor Flea Market

Cardiff

Free to browse over 70 vintage, antique and retro stalls across three halls, with two cafés for a break between finds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+3 more

Cardiff International Pool & Gym

Cardiff

Flumes, a spacebowl and a lazy river in an hour-long session, with a mini slide for the smaller ones too.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingFree parkingHearing loop+4 more

Cardiff Jump Soft Play Llanishen

Cardiff · ages 0-12

Huge dedicated soft play at Parc Ty Glas Llanishen for ages 0-12 - frames, inflatables, toddler zone and cafe.

Food on siteCaféBirthday partiesParty rooms+3 more

Cardiff Students' Union

Cardiff

Live gigs, sports taster sessions and society events at Cardiff University's student union, with a café and accessible lifts throughout.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+3 more

Cardiff Winter Wonderland

Cardiff · ages 3+

Free to wander around, with an outdoor ice trail through the castle grounds, a covered rink, a big wheel and funfair rides you pay for separately.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCard only+5 more

Cathays Community Centre

Cardiff

A community hall you can hire for a party, rehearsal or event, with a vegan café and bakery on site.

Accessible toiletCaféIndoor seatingWheelchair accessible+1 more

Cathays Library

Cardiff

Free local library with rhyme time sessions and a heritage collection of old Cardiff maps and photos to dig through.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Cathays Picture Framing & Gallery

Cardiff

A small Cardiff gallery and framing shop where you can browse original Welsh and international art up close.

Free parking

Celf Gallery

Cardiff

A contemporary art space in Cardiff, open Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with buggy access throughout.

Chance & Counters - Board Game Café (Cardiff)

Cardiff · up to age 14

Pick a table, pick from 700-plus board games, and let a "gaming guru" teach you the rules over pizza or a pint.

Allergy awareBirthday partiesDog friendlyIndoor seating+2 more

Cheeky Monkeys

Cwmbran · ages 0-12

Indoor soft play meets an outdoor jungle frame and seasonal water play, with laser tag thrown in for good measure.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor playFood on site+2 more

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Bristol

Free walk across a famous bridge, plus a museum with hidden vaults, a film and a children's trail to hunt down.

Bike parkingCaféGift shopGroup bookings+5 more

ColourWheel Art Class Cardiff

Cardiff

Adult art courses in Cardiff covering drawing, colour mixing and impressionist painting, taught over three-hour sessions.

Congress Theatre

Cwmbran

A theatre box office for pantomime and family shows, with wheelchair access and a lift to the auditorium.

Accessible toiletCaféWheelchair accessible

Delta Force Paintball Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 7+

Woodland paintball battles across six themed zones, with a lightweight Miniball option for kids from age 7.

Booking required

Discobowl Cardiff

Cardiff

Lanes with disco lights, laser quest, arcade games and a scrapyard golf course under one roof in Cardiff.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings+5 more

Doniford Farm Park

Watchet · ages 0-12

Free to walk round and feed the animals, then pay a small fee to let the kids loose in the indoor playbarn.

Allergy awareCaféGift shopIndoor play+2 more

Egni Children's Activity Centre

Blackwood · ages 3-10

An indoor ninja-style obstacle course with Nerf Wars and Laser Tag sessions layered on top for a proper break-a-sweat couple of hours.

Birthday partiesCaféIndoor seatingFood on site

Escape Rooms Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 12+

An hour locked in with your team to crack codes and hidden clues across seven themed rooms, some of them properly spooky.

Booking required

Everyman Cardiff

Cardiff

A proper cinema with sofa-style screens, sit-in waiter service and dedicated screenings for babies, toddlers and school-holiday families.

Allergy awareCaféFood on sitePublic transport nearby+4 more

Ffotogallery

Cardiff

Free photography exhibitions in Cardiff, though the gallery is shut until October 2026 for its next big show.

Flashpoint Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 0+

Bouldering without ropes or harnesses, with a dedicated Den area for the under-7s and routes up to V12 for anyone chasing a challenge.

CaféFree parkingFood on siteToilets

Front Room

Weston-super-Mare

Small theatre putting on family shows and interactive performances, including music sessions for the under-6s crowd.

Accessible toiletFood on siteStep-free accessToilets+1 more

Fun HQ Cardiff

Cardiff · up to age 11

Indoor soft play and Clip 'N Climb by the International Pool - 3-floor play zone for under-11s.

CaféFood on siteBirthday partiesParty rooms+4 more

Funparx Cardiff

Cardiff · up to age 12

Multi-storey soft play and AirPark on Hadfield Road - one ticket, under-9s soft play, cafe on site.

CaféFree parkingIndoor playBirthday parties+4 more

Funtastic

Caerphilly · ages 0-11

Soft play split by age, with a soccer area and disco corner to burn through a 110-minute session.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBirthday partiesFood on site+3 more

Fuze

Tonypandy · ages 0-11

A soft play frame, slides and a climbing wall for kids to have a go on, in timed two-hour sessions.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféIndoor play+1 more

G39

Cardiff

A free contemporary art gallery in a converted warehouse, with changing exhibitions, a zine and artist-book library, and talks to drop into.

Dog friendlyFree parkingStep-free accessWheelchair accessible

Game Station Bus Gaming Van

Cardiff · ages 7-14

A games van packed with PlayStation 5s, Xbox Ones and Switches parks up at your address for a party up to 10 kids can play at once.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredWi-Fi

Giant's Cave

Bristol · ages 4+

A steep 130-step descent through a 200-foot tunnel to a cliff-side platform looking straight at the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

CaféIndoor seatingFood on siteVegetarian options

Grangetown Hub

Cardiff

Free story and craft sessions plus a parent and toddler group in a library that's open till 7pm on Wednesdays.

ToiletsWi-Fi

Hopewell Colliery

Coleford · ages 4-16

A real ex-miner takes you underground to see actual coal being dug and hauled up in carts.

Booking requiredCaféFree parkingGift shop+1 more

Houdini's Escape Room Experience - Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 8+

A 60-minute puzzle room where your team works together to escape before the clock runs out, best from age 8 up.

Booking required

House of Sport

Cardiff

Roller skating, padel, netball and five-a-side under one roof, with a football party package for the birthday crowd.

Birthday partiesCaféChanging PlacesIndoor seating

Infinity Trampoline Park Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 1-99

Bouncing across 70-plus linked trampolines, an airbag for flips and a dodgeball arena, with a Mini Bouncers slot for the under-fives.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféCard only+4 more

Insole Court

Cardiff

A Victorian mansion with ornate gardens to wander, a walk-through audio drama exhibition, and a café for cake afterwards.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeCafé+8 more

Jump Adventure Trampoline Park

Newport · ages 2+

An hour of bouncing across 50-plus trampolines, a Ninja Warrior course and soft play, with sessions running from age two upwards.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBirthday partiesBooking required+9 more

Jungle Play - Goodsheds

Barry · ages 1-8

Jungle-themed soft play in Barry with a separate baby zone, food ordered straight to your table, and adults get in free.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesCard only+6 more

JustOne Theatre Arts

Cardiff · ages 3-18

Weekly dance, singing and acting classes in Cardiff for ages 3 to 18, with a performance team for the ones who want to go further.

Lane7 Cardiff

Cardiff

An evening bowling spot in Cardiff that turns strictly 18+ after 7pm.

Booking required

Little Oaks Town

Newport · ages 1-8

A miniature role play town with a café, farm shop and construction yard for kids to run their own little world.

Allergy awareBirthday partiesBooking requiredCafé+2 more

Little Tree Studio (Cardiff)

Cardiff · ages 16+

A three hour Bob Ross style oil painting class in Cardiff where you leave with your own 12" x 16" landscape canvas.

Food on site

Llandaff North and Gabalfa Hub

Cardiff

A free local library with a story and rhyme time, a dinosaur craft session and a proper toddler area to potter about in.

Baby changeIndoor seatingToiletsUnder-5s area+1 more

Llanrumney Hub

Cardiff

A community library with parent and toddler groups, Monday morning mobility sessions and free wifi to sit and get on with things.

Baby changeIndoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Llantarnam Grange

Cwmbran

Free contemporary art and craft exhibitions to wander round, with a craft shop and café to round off the visit.

Allergy awareBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+4 more

Makers Guild Wales (Craft in the Bay)

Cardiff · ages 7+

Free craft gallery by Cardiff Bay showing work from Wales's makers, best for browsing with a curious seven-year-old plus.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBirthday parties+4 more

Mambo Play Centre

Cardiff · ages 0-12

Dedicated soft play on Ocean Way - three frames, locked baby area, cafe and parties up to age 12.

CaféFood on siteIndoor playBirthday parties+4 more

Memo Arts Centre Barry

Barry

A theatre and arts centre in Barry where you catch a show, with free parking and buggy storage sorted for you.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBottle warming+5 more

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Bristol

Guided walks through limestone gorges, ancient woodland and hidden caves across the Mendip Hills.

Dog friendlyOutdoor playPicnic areaPicnics allowed+2 more

Nantgarw China Works & Museum

Cardiff

A guided tour round a real 19th century porcelain works, with a craft corner for younger kids while older ones do the trail.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+4 more

National Museum Cardiff

Cardiff

Free Cathays Park museum with dinosaurs and art - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBreastfeeding friendly+14 more

National Roman Legion Museum

Caerleon, Newport

Free Caerleon Roman museum with barracks and garden - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingDog friendly+13 more

Newport Pets

Newport

A pet shop in Lliswerry where you can browse tanks of fish, aquarium kit and live birds, with a dog groomer working out of the same store.

Free parking

No Comply Skatepark

Newport

An indoor skatepark for open sessions, lessons and skate parties, with everyone from five-year-olds to grown-ups on the ramps.

CaféGift shopParty rooms

Norwegian Church Arts Centre

Cardiff

A small white timber church by the water where you wander the art on show and hear how it once served Norwegian sailors, then grab cake in the café.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBlue badge parking+8 more

Oakham Treasures

Bristol · ages 6-16

A wander through old shop fronts, vintage tractors and thousands of everyday bygones under one roof.

CaféFree parkingWheelchair accessible

Parc Play Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 0-12

Indoor-outdoor soft play on Curran Embankment for up to age 12 - meadow, zip wire, castle and cafe.

ToiletsCaféFood on siteWi-Fi+6 more

Park and Dare

Treorchy

Live theatre and family shows in an intimate old venue, with free parking right at the front door.

Baby changeCaféFree parkingFood on site+1 more

Party 'N' Play

Newport · ages 0-8

Soft play for babies through to eight-year-olds, with a Monday morning quiet session and Nerf War Arena parties if you fancy something noisier.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCaféFree parking+6 more

Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 4-18

A weekly performing arts academy in Cardiff where kids rotate through singing, drama and film making, with a free trial before you commit.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredGroup bookings

Peggy's Pots Cardiff

Cardiff

Pick a mug, plate or bowl and paint it yourself, from £5 an item, no studio fee to sit and do it.

Baby changeBirthday partiesBooking requiredFood on site+4 more

Pierhead Building

Cardiff

Free entry to Cardiff Bay's landmark building, with a giant floor map of Wales, a trail for 5 to 7 year olds and free tours of the Senedd.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBottle warming+13 more

Powerhouse Hub

Cardiff

A free local library hub with parent and toddler groups, books, computers and wifi, open right through the week except Sundays.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

PurplePie Gallery

Cardiff

A small gallery space among plants where you can browse original artwork and try a creative workshop on a Saturday afternoon.

Puxton Park

Weston-super-Mare · ages 2-16

A working farm day out with go-carts, zorbing, tractor rides and an animal barn to fill a whole day, not just an hour.

Baby changeBirthday partiesBottle warmingBreastfeeding friendly+14 more

Puzzled Escape Rooms

Cardiff · ages 13+

Two live escape rooms in Cardiff where teams crack codes to save a sinking ship or stop a rogue AI, built with adults in mind.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBooking requiredFree parking+2 more

Raglan Farm Park

Usk · ages 1-11

Forty acres to explore, plus a vast indoor play barn for when the fields turn to mud.

Card onlyGift shopIndoor playFood on site+2 more

Revival Floatation Centre

Cardiff · adults only (18+)

An adults-only float centre in Cardiff where you lie in warm saltwater and let your brain switch off for an hour or so.

Rhydypennau Hub

Cardiff

A proper library with regular baby rhyme time, storytime and craft sessions, plus toddler groups to break up the week.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Rock 'N' Critters Marine Aquatics

Barry

A showroom stacked with tanks of fish, invertebrates, live rock and coral you can wander round for free, open six days a week.

Rock UK Summit Centre

Treharris

A residential activity centre where groups climb, canoe, build rafts and try a man-made caving system over a stay of a few days.

CaféGroup bookingsIndoor playOutdoor play+3 more

Roxy Lanes Cardiff The Friary

Cardiff · ages 0-18

Eight bowling lanes plus duck pin, curling, shuffleboard and karaoke rooms, all priced by the activity.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCard onlyFood on site+2 more

RSPB Newport Wetlands

Newport

Free wetland reserve with four trails, dragonflies and water voles to spot, and 7,500-year-old human footprints preserved in the mud.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+9 more

Rumney Partnership Hub

Cardiff

A free library and community space with books, public computers and wifi, open most days except Friday and Sunday.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre

Winscombe

Free railway heritage stop where kids can climb aboard a vintage coach and stand on the footplate of a real shunter engine.

Bike parkingGift shopIndoor playOutdoor play+2 more

Sherman Theatre

Cardiff · ages 3-18

Family pantomime and theatre with BSL, captioning and relaxed performances built in, right by Cathays station.

Blue badge parkingBooking requiredCaféWheelchair accessible

South Wales Miners Museum

Port Talbot · ages 0+

A retired coal miner leads you underground to see the pit face, then it's a blacksmith's forge and steam engines above ground.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféGroup bookings+3 more

Spit & Sawdust

Cardiff

Skateboarding sessions and coaching at an indoor-outdoor Cardiff skatepark, with a café doing homemade burgers and flatbreads.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBirthday partiesCafé+7 more

St Fagans National Museum of History

Cardiff

Free Wales open-air history museum near Cardiff - buildings, farm and craft demos.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopParking+2 more

St John's House Trust

Bridgend

Free entry to a historic house that opens just twice a month, with forest school activities laid on for children.

St. Mellons Library and Hub

Cardiff

A free local library with parent and toddler groups, computers and a community hall for all sorts of activities.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Taskforce Paintball Games

Cowbridge · ages 8+

Low impact paintball, laser tag and airsoft for kids from age 8, plus team command tasks to test the group.

Birthday partiesGroup bookings

Techniquest

Cardiff

Cardiff Bay science centre with planetarium - Soft Play N never.

Birthday partiesCaféGift shopGroup bookings+3 more

TEN.

Cardiff

A small Cardiff gallery space open Wednesday to Saturday for a quiet look round.

The Art Workshop

Cardiff · ages 7+

Drawing, painting and mixed media classes for children, with a Junior Academy for the 7 to 12 crowd.

The Blakehay Theatre

Weston-super-Mare

A proper old theatre in Weston with panto and family shows, plus relaxed performances if bright lights and loud bangs are a worry.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBreastfeeding friendlyCafé+3 more

The Dolman Theatre

Newport

A local stage for family musicals and theatre, with Newsies among the shows on the bill.

Indoor seatingToilets

The Giant Wheel

Cardiff · ages 0+

A ride on an observation wheel lit up with over 20,000 colour-changing LED lights.

Card only

The Helicopter Museum

Weston-super-Mare · ages 3-15

Over a hundred rotary wing aircraft to climb through, plus a chance to try a pilot's helmet on for size.

Baby changeBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+7 more

The Old Library Community Cafe

Caerphilly

A café with board games and an under-5s area, open for coffee and a play Monday to Saturday.

CaféIndoor seatingUnder-5s areaWi-Fi

The Red Dragon Centre Cardiff

Cardiff

Bowling, an IMAX cinema and arcade machines under one roof, a solid rainy-day option a few minutes from Cardiff Queen Street.

CaféFree parkingFood on siteRestaurant+2 more

The Role Up Play Village

Pontyclun · ages 1-12

A themed play village where kids run their own farm shop, salon, A&E and space centre, indoors and out, in timed sessions.

Birthday partiesCaféGroup bookingsIndoor play+1 more

The Senedd

Cardiff · ages 5-7

Free entry to watch Welsh democracy in action, with a trail and play area built for 5 to 7 year olds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+14 more

The Talent Shack

Cardiff · ages 4-18

Weekly drama, dance and musical theatre classes for 4 to 18 year olds, with showcases in their own theatre.

Booking requiredFree parkingParkingStep-free access

The Turner House

Penarth

A free gallery behind Penarth station, small enough for a quick look on the way to the train.

Free parking

The Workers Gallery

Porth

A free community gallery in Porth open Saturdays, showing exhibitions and hosting local cultural events and groups.

Accessible toiletBike parkingGift shopIndoor seating+1 more

Treforest Escape Rooms

Pontypridd · ages 0+

Sixty minutes to solve a themed physical escape room or try free-roam VR, with your group kept entirely to yourselves.

Booking requiredFree parking

Tropiquaria Zoo

Watchet

Snakes, meerkats and a tropical aquarium under one roof, plus daily animal talks and indoor and outdoor play if the weather turns.

Birthday partiesGift shopIndoor playOutdoor play+3 more

Two Rhythms

Cardiff · ages 0+

Music, movement and relaxation sessions built around light, colour and sound, run one-to-one or in small groups.

Blue badge parkingParkingWheelchair accessible

Tyfu Play

Cardiff · ages 0-8

Bilingual soft play cafe in Whitchurch for newborn to age 8 - book a session, proper coffee upstairs.

ToiletsBaby changeHigh chairsCafé+5 more

University of Bristol Botanic Garden

Bristol

Wander through zones from Mediterranean to tropical plants, with free entry for under-18s and a Wednesday guided tour thrown in.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBlue badge parkingFood on site+4 more

Utilita Arena Cardiff Box Office

Cardiff · ages 14+

The box office and entry point for big touring shows and pantomimes at Cardiff's arena, with the age rule and cashless setup you need to know before you go.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféCard only+4 more

Vindico Arena

Cardiff · ages 0+

A full-size ice rink in Cardiff with public skate sessions, Ice Discos and toddler bob skates for the wobbly ones.

Accessible toiletBirthday partiesBlue badge parkingBooking required+13 more

Wales Millennium Centre

Cardiff

A working theatre in Cardiff Bay where kids catch big touring musicals, opera or family shows, with a buggy park laid on for children's performances.

Accessible toiletBaby changeGift shopFood on site+2 more

Whitchurch Community Centre

Cardiff

A community hall in Cardiff you can book out for a children's birthday party, with wheelchair access and wifi.

Birthday partiesWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi

Whitchurch Hub

Cardiff

Free story times, toddler groups and craft sessions like dinosaur mask-making at a local library that doubles as a rainy-day fallback.

Indoor playIndoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Zone Play Cardiff

Cardiff · ages 0-11

Dedicated soft play off Penarth Road for babies to age 11 - cafe, free parking and party rooms.

Free parkingCaféWi-FiUnder-5s area+4 more