When it rains, it pours. And, it couldn’t be more true this week. The heavens have opened and right when the kids are off for the summer, which as parents is fun, fun, fun. If your kids are climbing the walls then these things to do o rainy days in Yorkshire might just be what you need. We’ve been searching for fun activities to keep you and the kids entertained during the wet weather. Check out our lists of things to do when it rains in Yorkshire.
1. Go Climb The Walls
Are kids climbing the walls bored inside? Why not get them climbing literally at one of Yorkshire’s fabulous climbing walls? In Hull, you can enjoy Rock City and the amazing climbing activities just for kids or the whole family. They hold climbing courses and Family Bouldering days out.
York’s Red Goat climbing is a great place to try your skills. Leeds has a brilliant climbing wall along Kirkstall Road called The Climbing Lab, where kids can get lessons and also have birthday parties! The Mini-Works is a smaller part of The Works in Sheffield and is a space, especially for children, groups and beginners – parents can supervise kids as they climb.
2. Get bouncing
East Yorkshire has a range of trampoline parks that are a great place to let the kids burn off some energy when the bad weather arrives. Get down to either Beverley’s Inflata Nation, Hull’s Gravity Trampoline Park or Jump Around Inflata Park in Hornsea.
York has Point Zero, which has a variety of experiences from Toddlers to Jump Sessions. Leeds and Sheffield also have a great bouncing experience with Gravity Active on Kirkstall Road and Jump Inc in Meadowhall.
3. Get Extreme
Xscape in Castleford is home to Snozone and has an amazing ski slope where you can learn to ski and snowboard. It’s England’s largest indoor real snow resort. Your kids can get in-house lessons or just hit the slopes and enjoy fun times. Find out more here.
Or, you can channel you inner Lewis Hamilton at York’s MotorSports Village. The indoor track is the perfect place to while away the hours by burning some rubber on the track. It doesn’t get much more extreme. Find out more here.
4. Who Said Education Had To Be Boring?
Yorkshire has some of the most exciting and creative places where you can take your kids to entertain them. And, much like putting their veggies in a nice tomato sauce, the interactive museums get children to learn without them even knowing it’s good for them! Win, win.
The National Railway Museum gets your kids up close with some of the greatest feats in engineering and teaches them the history of transport. York is also home to our favourite museum Castle Museum. You can learn about how things have changed throughout the years as well as be transported to a huge life-size Victorian street.
Eureka! Is The National Children’s Museum near Halifax and has some great interactive fun for you and your kids to enjoy – it’s well worth a great day out.
5. Make A Splash
From Barnsley’s Calypso Cove to Scarborough’s Alpamere, Yorkshire has some of the best swimming pools and slides in the UK. If you don’t want to get wet, get soaked instead and let your kids run wild at these fun & family-friendly swimming pools and water parks. Check out our list of the best ones here.
6. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth
Found in the centre of York, York’s Chocolate Story takes you on a tour of the world of chocolate. You can enjoy delicious treats whilst on the tour as well as explore the gift shop afterwards and purchase some tasty treats.
7. Go See Some Animals
You can enjoy over 3,500 fish and marine life at the stunning sea life centre The Deep in Hull. It is one of the UK’s biggest and most spectacular aquariums in UK. Tropical World in Roundhay Leeds is filled with the UK’s largest tropical plant and animal collection outside of Kew Gardens. Explore and enjoy all the various creepy critters on this perfect day out.
In North Yorkshire, why not visit the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough? It has over 2,500 creatures that will take you on an underwater adventure through the ocean and help you discover some amazing creatures. It also has a great play park to let off some steam.
8. Visit One Of Yorkshire’s Stately Homes
There are loads of beautiful stately homes you can visit across God’s Own Country and have a wander around and learn some history whilst you’re at it. We have a great list of stately homes here.
9. York Motorsports Village
Are your kids adrenaline junkies? Then York Motorsports Village is sure to rev their engines. The indoor activity in Yorkshire offers an opportunity for all ages to have fun with the easy-to-drive F3 Junior go-karts that go around 9mph to the F1 racing experience for ages 13+,
Whether they go head to head in a race or do timed practice laps the incredible place is the next best thing to being Lewis Hamilton. There are also virtual reality headsets and simulators that will give you the chance to race in the world’s finest cars.Find out more here.
York MotorSports Village, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross Leisure Park, York, North Yorkshire, YO32 9JS
10. Jorvik Viking Centre, York
Found at the famous Coppergate in York across from Hole in the Wand mini gold is the classic Jorvik Viking Centre, which is always a crowd pleaser. Delve into the history of the Vikings in this interactive centre with lifelike mannequins and life-size dioramas depicting Viking life in the city. You can ride through the remains of 1,000-year-old Viking settlements and then afterwards learn about excavating artefacts that were found below the very museum you are in. Jorvik Viking Centre,19 Coppergate, York YO1 9WT
Find out more here.
11. Castle Museum, York
Another of York’s must-visit attractions, even more on a rainy day in Yorkshire is the Castle Museum. A former prison, the Castle Museum is famous for holding the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin in his last days. It’s a fantastic family day out which takes you through an immersive experience of all things history. From the evolution of the army to the evolution of the home, you’ll be able to show your kids how you passed the time on rainy days in Yorkshire compared to how they now do with their handheld computer games. Castle Museum, Tower St, York YO1 9RY
Find out more here.
12. Tropical World, Leeds
Full of all sorts of creatures and critters, the indoor jungle/ Leeds zoo Tropical World in Leeds, Roundhay is the perfect place to while away the hours on a rainy day. Check out a range of fishes from the depths of the sea, menacing meerkats who look like they’re always up to no good, to beautiful butterflies that flutter around their enclosure – it’s a fun day out for all the family. And, did we mention there is a gift shop at the end? Tropical World, Princes Ave, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2ER
Find out more here.
13. Thackery Medical Museum, Leeds
The Thackery Museum in Leeds is a must-visit even when it isn’t raining. Learn about medicine through the ages, found at St Jimmys Hospital in Leeds. It has something for all ages – and kids will be fascinated by the gory fun of the museum. You may find that your kids know more than you from what they learnt at school. The touch, feel and smell of the place makes it an interactive experience for all sense and one we’d highly recommend. 141 Beckett St, Harehills, Leeds LS9 7LN
Find out more here.
14. Let Loose! Adventure Park
Found in the heart of the East Riding of Yorkshire, this exciting adventure park has been open since 2017 and has caused quite a stir. It’s the perfect place to let your little tykes loose, it has a range of exciting things to do such as high ropes, zip lines, roller skating and a super slide. There is an indoor park for when the rainy weather comes With all of the above the kids will be buzzing as they play at this incredible park. Let Loose! Adventure Park, Hull Rd, Woodmansey, Beverley HU17 0RS
Find out more here
15. Ninja Warrior, Bradford & Sheffield
If you’re a fan of the popular TV show, then you will love this new park opening in West Yorkshire. Test your skills on its range of Ninja Warrior-inspired course that has something to test all abilities. There is a huge inflatable obstacle course as well as party rooms and a cafe to get refreshments.
Find out more here.
Read More: 14 Of The Best Places To Visit For A Day Trip In Yorkshire
