
If you are looking for rainy day ideas or indoor activities then this post is for you. Finding things to do on rainy days isn’t always easy but we’ve come up with free and paid ideas for the whole family.
We’ve also included activities that you can do at home as well.
As the days get colder and wetter, having indoor activity ideas, regardless if they are in your own home or out and about, there’s loads of things you can do as a family.
What are the best indoor children’s games?
Here’s some of our favorite indoor activities at home:
Have a Family Game Night – Everyone picks a game and you start playing. It’s a great indoor activity for the whole family.
Make a Treat Night – Everyone picks their favorite sweets or chocolate and pick a film or play games.
Make a Scavenger Hunt – Join our free Resource Vault and download one of our free scavenger hunts you do can do at home.
Chalk drawing on the pavement – This is a great way to get the whole family creative. You could make a hopscotch board or a snakes and ladders game. Anything and everything goes! We use these chunky chalks from Amazon*.
Pull the garden chairs out and make a train – Whoever is the train conductor wears a hat and off you go.
Find coloured objects – Like find five white objects then four orange objects etc
Treasure trash – Tell the kids that somethings needs to be put away in an area but you aren’t going to tell them what it is. It’s a great way to get everyone tidying up quickly.
Build a tower using spaghetti and marshmallows – This makes a great rainy day game! Get some giant marshmallows and dried spaghetti and get building. The person with the tallest tower wins. We like these giant marshmallows from Amazon*.
If you are looking for indoor ideas or things you can do at home then make sure you look at:
The Parents Guide to Things to do With Kids at Home
37 Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids
21 Halloween Crafts for Kids That Can Decorate Your Home
Free Printables For Parents In Hampshire
If you are looking for things to do in Hampshire then come join our free Resource Vault. It’s packed full of day out ideas and staying in activities. This includes planners and maps!
Join our free Resource Vault here
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Indoor family places to visit
If you are looking for free indoor activities or just the best activities that are indoors in Hampshire then we have you covered. Don’t let the winter months stop you having fun with the family.
All of these indoor family day out ideas are in Hampshire. You may have to book in advance so please check their websites before you visit.
Aquariums and Zoos in Hampshire
If your kids love animals then why not head to the underwater world of an aquarium. Watch as the rays swim past and the sharks go overhead or visit your local zoo or farm. These are perfect places to visit on a rainy day. Not all are 100% present inside but they have inside areas that you can warm up in and enjoy too.
Hawk Conservancy (Andover)
Finkley Down Farm Park (Andover)
Miller’s Ark Animals (Basingstoke)
Birdworld (Farnham)
Marwell Zoo (Winchester)
Oasis Down to Earth Farm (Southampton)
Aldermoor Community Farm (Southampton)
Longdown Activity Farm (Southampton)
New Forest Wildlife Park (Southampton)
Butser Ancient Farm (Petersfield)
Blue Reef Aquarium (Portmouth)
Libertys Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre (Ringwood)
Soft Play Centres in Hampshire
Let the kids burn off some steam at your local soft play. Many are currently only accepting bookings only so make sure you check before you arrive.
Totcity Roleplay Centre (Andover)
Stay and Play Farnham (Farnham)
The Adventure Barn (Winchester)
Partyman World (Eastleigh)
Kids2day Indoor Soft Play (Eastleigh)
Frankies Fun Factory (Romsey)
Wackey Warehouse The Vine Inn (Romsey)
Play Shack (Southampton)
Jeffries Jungle (Southampton)
Jungle Jeans (Southampton)
Monkey Bizness Southampton (Southampton)
Fun City Fareham (Fareham)
Monkey Bizness Gosport (Gosport)
Playzone Portsmouth (Portsmouth)
Pirate Pete’s Indoor Play (Portsmouth)
Trampoline Parks in Hampshire
Bring the kids for a full workout. Let them bounce and jump around in a room through of trampolines. This is great for kids and adults too.
Injoy Southampton (Southampton)
Flip Out Southampton (Eastleigh)
Flip Out Basingstoke (Basingstoke)
Atmosphere Trampoline Park (Basingstoke)
Steam Trains in Hampshire
It may be raining outside but you can still enjoy a steam train at your local park. Nothing gets more exciting than doing outside things in the rain.
Watercress Line (Alton)
Basingstoke Miniature Railway (Basingstoke)
Frimley Lodge Park and Miniature Railway (Basingstoke)
Stansted Park Light Railway (Emsworth)
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway (Exbury)
Museums in Hampshire
Museums are a great place to keep all ages amused. Regardless of what they are in too, there will be a museum for them in Hampshire. Our full list of museums in Hampshire can be found here.
Army Medical Services Museum (Aldershot)
Allen Gallery (Alton)
Curtis Museum (Alton)
Jane Austen’s House (Alton)
Alton Abbey (Alton)
Chawton House (Alton)
Museum of the Iron Age (Andover)
Andover Museum (Andover)
Army Flying Museum (Andover)
The Willis Museum (Basingstoke)
Milestone Museum (Basingstoke)
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (Farnborough)
Cathedral Church of St. Michael and St. George (Farnborough)
Aldershot Military Museum (Farnborough)
Rural Life Centre (Farnham)
Waverley Abbey (Farnham)
Museum of Farnham (Farnham)
Museum of Arm Flying (Stockbridge)
Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum and Memorial Garden (Winchester)
Winchester Science Museum (Winchester)
Adjutant General’s Corps Museum (Winchester)
Winchester City Museum (Winchester)
The Royal Green Jackets Museum (Winchester)
The Gurkha Museum (Winchester)
Westgate Museum (Winchester)
Peninsula Barracks (Winchester)
Wolvesey Castle (Winchester)
Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum (Hamble)
Solent Sky Museum (Southampton)
Southampton Art Gallery (Southampton)
SeaCity Museum (Southampton)
West End Local History Museum and Heritage Centre (Southampton)
Eastleigh Museum (Southampton)
West End Local History Museum and Heritage Centre (Southampton)
Solent Sky Museum (Southampton)
Winchester Castle and Great Hall (Winchester)
Emsworth Museum (Emsworth)
Westbury Manor Museum (Fareham)
Gosport Museum (Gosport)
Havant Museum (Havant)
St Peter’s Church (Petersfield)
Petersfield Muesum (Petersfield)
Portsmouth City Museum (Portmouth)
D-Day Museum and Overload Embroidery (Portmouth)
Southsea Castle (Portmouth)
Portsmouth Natural History Museum (Portmouth)
The Museum of Naval Firepower (Portmouth)
Charles Dickins Muesum (Portmouth)
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (Portmouth)
Portsmouth City Museum and Record Office (Portsmouth)
Fort Nelson (Porstmouth)
Beaulieu National Motor Museum (Brockenhurst)
St Barbe Museum and Gallery (Brockenhurst)
Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (Brockenhurst)
Burley Village of Witches Mystery Treasure Trail (Brockenhurst)
Buckler’s Hard Museum (Brockenhurst)
Cinemas in Hampshire
Nothing beats a trip to the cinema. Check the times of your local screen and let the love of the movie take you to a faraway place.
Cineworld Aldershot (Aldershot)
Odeon Andover (Andover)
Odeon Basingstoke (Basingstoke)
Vue Basingstoke (Basingstoke)
Vue Farnborough (Farnborough)
Vue Easteligh (Eastleigh)
Showcase Cinema De Lux Southampton (Southampton)
Cineworld Whiteley (Fareham)
Odeon Port Solent (Port Solent)
Vue Portsmouth (Portsmouth)
Bowling in Hampshire
Bowling is a great family activity that everyone can get involved with. Even the smaller members of the family can have a go. It’s a great way to really re-connect as a family.
Riverside Bowl (Andover)
Farnborough Bowl (Farnborough)
Hollywood Bowl (Eastleigh)
Tenpin Southampton (Southampton)
Hollywood Bowl Portsmouth (Portsmouth)
Climbing Centres in Hampshire
Climbing walls are great for bigger kids who love to jump and climb at home.
Golden Gecko Climbing (Romsey)
Rock Up Whitley (Fareham)
Related Posts:
- The Definitive Guide To Days Out in Hampshire
- 31 Family Days Out in Hampshire For All Ages
- 52 Things to do in Hampshire this Weekend
Swimming and Sports in Hampshire
Swimming is a great family activity that is perfect for rainy days. Most pools offer a family swim at weekends too. There’s also loads of places you can play family sports like tennis and badminton.
Alpine Snowsports Centre (Aldershot)
Alton Sports Centre (Alton)
Andover Leisure Centre (Andover)
Basingstoke Aquadrome (Basingstoke)
Places Eastleigh (Eastleigh)
Havant Leisure Centre (Havant)
The Rapids (Romsey)
The Quays (Southampton)
Alpine Snowsports Centre (Southampton)
Woodmill Activity Outdoor Centre (Southampton)
Fareham Leisure Centre (Fareham)
Havant Leisure Centre (Havant)
Taro Leisure Centre (Petersfield)
Portsmouth Indoor Tennis Centre (Portsmouth)
Portsmouth Watersports Centre (Portsmouth)
The Pyramids Centre (Portsmouth)
We hope these indoor activities help you find things to do in Hampshire!
Laura x
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more ideas on things to do in Hampshire then head over to the Things To Do section here on Things To Do In Hampshire With Kids where you’ll find over 50 day out ideas in Hampshire that the whole family will enjoy. You could also pop over and follow our Facebook page here or our Hampshire days out Pinterest boards for lots more ideas on what you can do as a family in Hampshire; Days Out For The Kids in Hampshire and Cheap and Free Days Out in Hampshire.
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