Rainy days in Birmingham don’t have to mean another day stuck indoors climbing the walls. We’ve tried most of the indoor places in and around the city with Arlo over the years, from free museums to trampoline parks, and this is our go-to list when the forecast looks grim. Every venue, price and postcode has been checked for autumn 2026, and we’ve fixed the ones that have moved, closed or gone up in price.
There’s a mix of free rainy day activities, cheap soft play and bigger days out, plus a few ideas within an hour’s drive if you fancy exploring further afield in the West Midlands.
Quick picks: rainy day activities for kids in Birmingham
- Free: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Library of Birmingham, Lapworth Museum of Geology (weekdays), Ikon Gallery and RAF Museum Cosford (just pay for parking)
- Under £10: Thinktank after 4pm (£3), Laser Quest (from £5 a game), Imagination Street soft play (from £7.45), SnowDome Snow Fun Park (from £7.50)
- For toddlers: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Rock Up, Imagination Street, AirHop Toddler Court and Attwell Farm Park
- For older kids and teens: Teamworks Karting, Laser Quest, AirHop, Planet Ice Solihull and the Gladiators Experience
- Big day out: Cadbury World, National SEA LIFE Centre, Splash Landings at Alton Towers and the National Space Centre
Free indoor things to do in Birmingham on a rainy day
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
One of the jewels of the city and completely free. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday in term time and every day in the school holidays (10am to 5pm). Some galleries are still closed after the long refurbishment, but the Staffordshire Hoard, the Pre-Raphaelite galleries and the Birmingham history galleries are open, and it’s an easy one to combine with the Library across Centenary Square.
Cost: Free | Postcode: B3 3DH
The Library of Birmingham
Free, central and brilliant on a wet day. The children’s library has a huge selection of books and cosy corners, and the roof gardens give you amazing views across the city if the rain eases off.
Cost: Free | Postcode: B1 2ND
Lapworth Museum of Geology
A free museum on the University of Birmingham campus with a huge standing allosaurus, fossils, minerals and rocks. We spent a couple of hours here learning about teeth and carnivores on a worksheet trail, and there’s a lovely education room with puzzles for children. Heads up: from September 2026 to March 2027 it’s open weekdays only, 10am to 4pm, so save this one for a half-term weekday.
Cost: Free (campus parking from £3.40) | Postcode: B15 2TT
Ikon Gallery
A free contemporary art gallery in Brindleyplace, just minutes from the SEA LIFE Centre, so it’s easy to pop in if you’re in the area. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.
Cost: Free | Postcode: B1 2HS
RAF Museum Cosford
Hangars full of aircraft, the National Cold War Exhibition and plenty of hands-on displays, and it’s all free to get in. It’s about 40 minutes from Birmingham near Wolverhampton, and you just pay for parking.
Cost: Free entry, parking £7.50 (£1 less booked online) | Postcode: TF11 8UP
Museums and science days out
Thinktank Science Museum
Four floors of hands-on science at Millennium Point, plus Mini Brum and the Science Garden. It’s a whole day out, but it isn’t cheap at full price. The money-saving trick is £3 per person for entry between 4pm and 4.30pm, bought on site.
Cost: £18.95 adults, £9.95 children in term time (£21.95 and £12.95 in the holidays), under 3s free | Postcode: B4 7XG
Coventry Transport Museum
The largest collection of British road transport in the world, with bikes, cars, buses and interactive displays. The good news is your ticket is valid for a whole year, so one rainy day visit covers you for the rest of the year.
Cost: £15.50 adults, £8.50 children (5 to 16) booked in advance, under 4s free | Postcode: CV1 1JD
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
Art, history and hands-on displays in the centre of Coventry, and Dippy the Diplodocus is on loan here until February 2027, so there’s still time to see him. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday.
Cost: Day entry from £2.50 | Postcode: CV1 5QP
National Space Centre, Leicester
Real rockets, moon rock, interactive galleries and a planetarium show. It’s about an hour from Birmingham, but it’s a brilliant full day out for anyone with a budding astronaut.
Postcode: LE4 5NS
British Motor Museum, Gaydon
The world’s largest collection of historic British cars, from classics to prototypes, with hands-on activities for kids. A good shout for car-mad children.
Postcode: CV35 0BJ
Big indoor attractions in Birmingham
Cadbury World
A Birmingham classic. Learn the story of Cadbury, see chocolate being made and come home with plenty of treats. Tickets must be booked in advance, and they’re much cheaper online than on the day.
Cost: From £18 online (£28 on the day), family of four from £68, under 2s free | Postcode: B30 1JR
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Build zones, rides and the LEGO Miniland of Birmingham, all indoors at the Utilita Arena. Adults must come with a child, and the adult and pre-schooler tickets are great value for little ones on a weekday.
Cost: From £19 online, adult and pre-schooler from £10.50, under 2s free | Postcode: B1 2AA
National SEA LIFE Centre
Sharks, otters and the ocean tunnel at Brindleyplace. Book online and it’s much cheaper than on the day. If you’re planning a few rainy days, the Midlands Adventure Pass (£49 for four attractions) is worth a look.
Cost: From £19 online (£28 on the day), under 2s free | Postcode: B1 2HL
Butterfly Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon
Warm, tropical and full of butterflies, so it’s perfect for a cold grey day. Combine it with a wander round Stratford if the rain stops.
Postcode: CV37 7LS
SnowDome Tamworth
It might seem crazy heading somewhere cold on a rainy day, but the Snow Fun Park is always a hit. Over October half term it becomes Hocus Snowcus (23 October to 1 November, £12.45 per child), and there’s also skiing, ice skating and swimming on site. Read our SnowDome Tamworth guide for more.
Cost: Snow Fun Park from £7.50 per person | Postcode: B79 7ND
Burn off energy: trampolines, climbing, karting and laser tag
AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park, Kings Norton
The trampoline park formerly known as Rush, with wall-to-wall trampolines, giant airbags and new mixed reality games. Toddler Court sessions are a great cheap option for under 6s.
Cost: Open jump from £15.95 for 60 minutes, Toddler Court from £6 | Postcode: B30 3DZ
Rock Up, Broadway Plaza
Colourful themed climbing walls with auto-belays, so no experience is needed, and it’s suitable from age 1 up. Booking in advance is much cheaper.
Postcode: B16 8LP
Laser Quest Birmingham, Acocks Green
A multi-level, glow-in-the-dark laser tag arena that’s a proper rainy day favourite with older kids. Games last about 20 minutes.
Cost: From £5 a game (ages 7+, minimum height 1.1m) | Postcode: B27 7UH
Teamworks Karting, Digbeth
Fast indoor electric karts for age 8 and up (minimum height 147cm), plus laser tag and racing simulators for age 6 and up. One for older kids and teens.
Cost: Karting from £38 | Postcode: B5 5SE
Planet Ice Solihull
Public skating sessions for all ages and abilities. Book online before you go to guarantee your session.
Postcode: B92 8JN
Treetop Golf, Bullring
Two jungle-themed indoor mini golf courses on the top floor of the Bullring, with pizza and treats to finish. They run quieter sensory-friendly sessions too.
Cost: £13 adults, £10 children, £6.50 under 5s for 18 holes | Postcode: B5 4BU
Midlands Roller Arena, Lutterworth
Hours of roller skating fun with family sessions and themed skate nights, and it’s a great way to stay active on a wet day.
Postcode: LE17 5JD
Inflata Nation, Telford
A giant inflatable theme park with slides, obstacle courses and inflatable games at Telford Forge Shopping Park.
Postcode: TF3 4AG
For something a bit different, read our reviews of the Gladiators Experience at the NEC and Peppa Pig Space Adventure at the NEC.
Soft play and farms with big indoor play areas
Imagination Street, Redditch
Not normally my kind of place, but this one ticks all the boxes. There’s a huge soft play with role play areas, an inflatable park and even a mini F1 track. Adults go free on term-time weekdays, and the Tea & Play deal (3.15pm, term time) includes a hot meal.
Cost: From £7.45 term time, £8.95 at weekends and in the holidays | Postcode: B96 6HH
Attwell Farm Park
An enormous indoor soft play, animal barns, small animal handling and a bug barn, so you can still have a great farm day when it’s pouring down. See our full children’s farms near Birmingham guide for more farms with indoor play.
Postcode: B98 9DB
Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge
Huge indoor soft play areas plus animals, tractor rides and outdoor play for when the sun comes out. Just off junction 13 of the M6.
Postcode: ST19 5RE
Splash Landings, Alton Towers
A Caribbean-themed indoor waterpark with slides, a lazy river and water play, so you won’t care that it’s raining outside.
Postcode: ST10 4DB
Riverside Hub, Northampton
A bit further afield, but the four-storey soft play is one of the biggest we’ve seen, with slides and an indoor go-kart track too.
Star City and Resorts World
Star City
A big entertainment complex with Europe’s largest cinema (including 4D and VIP seating), bowling, arcades, laser tag, crazy golf and climbing all under one roof. Parking is free.
Postcode: B7 5SA
Resorts World Birmingham
Next to the NEC, with a cinema, arcade, shops and plenty of places to eat, so it’s easy to fill a wet afternoon.
Postcode: B40 1PU
Head to the cinema
One of my favourite rainy day activities with children is to just go and catch a movie and escape for a couple of hours. Most chains run cheap kids’ morning showings at weekends and in the school holidays, so check your local cinema’s website for their family club prices before you go.
- Odeon Broadway Plaza: 220 Ladywood Middleway, B16 8LP
- Everyman Mailbox: Wharfside Street, The Mailbox, B1 1RE
- Reel Cinemas Quinton: 563 Hagley Road West, B68 0BS
- Star City: Watson Road, B7 5SA
Rainy day activities in Birmingham: FAQs
What can you do in Birmingham on a rainy day for free?
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Library of Birmingham, Ikon Gallery and the Lapworth Museum of Geology (weekdays) are all free and indoors. RAF Museum Cosford is free too, and you just pay for parking. See our free and cheap things to do in Birmingham guide for more.
Where can I take a toddler on a rainy day in Birmingham?
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre (adult and pre-schooler tickets from £10.50), Rock Up (from age 1), AirHop’s Toddler Court (from £6), Imagination Street and Attwell Farm Park are all great for little ones.
What’s good for older kids and teenagers on a rainy day?
Teamworks Karting, Laser Quest, AirHop, Planet Ice Solihull and the Gladiators Experience are all popular with older kids. See our 50 days out with teenagers for more ideas.
We update this guide regularly. Prices were checked in September 2026, but always check the venue’s website before you set off.
Last Updated on Saturday, September 26, 2026 by Lavania Oluban