Six Rainy Day Activity Tips for Entertaining the Under 5s

16th March 2017

Britain is full of exciting things to do on a rainy day. Here are some suggestions on where to take your under 5s.

As a parent, sometimes it can be a struggle to plan a day out with young children, especially when it’s wet and drizzly outside. However, with plenty of local museums, aquariums and water parks across the country, Britain is full of exciting things to do on a rainy day. Here are some suggestions on where to take your under 5s on rainy days; along with some travel tips to make sure your little ones enjoy the journey.

Take a trip to an aquarium

Take shelter from the rain outside whilst learning about the creatures of the deep at your local aquarium. Kids of all ages will delight at the chance to explore a new world. Entry is free for under 3s at The Deep in Hull, East Yorkshire where children can see fish, giant rays and sharks swim over their heads in the viewing tunnel. For a bite to eat, head to the Castaways Café for which has a baby feeding station and bottle and food warming facilities. The Deep is a few minutes’ walk from Hull Paragon Interchange which is serviced by direct trains to Manchester Piccadilly, Doncaster and Sheffield. If you’re heading to London, get 2FOR1 entry when you travel by train to the Sea Life London Aquarium, which is home to over 10,000 sea creatures and is well-linked close by to London Waterloo and Charing Cross stations.

Visit a museum

Whatever your kids are into, there are several museums offering plenty of activities and interactive exhibits aimed at younger visitors. As well as providing the chance to learn in a fun environment whatever the weather, entry is free to most museums. From the wonders of nature at World Museum Liverpool to the history of trains and other vehicles at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden (get 2FOR1 entry here), London, you’re only a train ride away from a fun-filled experience that will keep the whole family entertained.

Make a splash at a water park

With no risk of missing out on sunshine, rainy weather is the perfect excuse to head to a water park. A few miles from Stoke-on-Trent railway station, Waterworld is home to gentle water slides and an interactive jungle house especially for toddlers. Just a 15-minute walk from Paignton mainline station, Splashdown Waterpark in Poole has lots of thrills and spills for older kids along with a toddler splash pool and water jets for children aged seven and under.

Travel by train

Save money and stress and take your children on a train ride. Kids under five travel for free when they make the journey with a fare-paying passenger. Without the hassle and expense of fuel and finding a parking space, your family can hop on the train, relax and hop off again once you’ve reached your destination. Keep in mind that children under the age of five that are travelling free of charge can only sit in a seat which is not needed by a fare-paying passenger.

Picnic on the train

We all love a good picnic so prepare for picky eaters by bringing a selection of your family’s favourite treats. Bring a packed lunch of homemade sandwiches, carrot sticks, fruit and snack packs filled with nuts or cheese cubes.

Bring games and toys

Keep your kids entertained and get the whole family involved with a few compact, easy to pack games to keep boredom at bay. Plan ahead and search websites for some free activities you can print and take with you. Alternatively, take crayons and paper for drawing, travel versions of their favourite board games or be ready to play a few rounds of I Spy.

Keep the kids occupied for even less with a Railcard. Plan your Journey and see what you could save today.