16 things to do on a rainy day around Birmingham - Birmingham Live

Sea Life Centre, Flamingoo, Legoland, Solihull Play Town, Cadbury World, Flip Out Telford and Rock Up are just some of the many great things to do around Birmingham when it's cold and raining

* This guide was updated in December 2025 *

During the winter months, it can be tricky to entertain the kids when the weather is bad.

Fortunately, there are loads of fantastic things to do in and around Birmingham that don't require coats, hats and umbrellas.

In this guide, we've brought together all the amazing museums, cinemas, indoor attractions, swimming pools and unusual days out that can be enjoyed by all ages regardless of whether it is cold or raining.

Read more: Perfect National Trust walks with cafes to enjoy around West Midlands

Read next: 11 stunning waterfall walks within a couple of hours of Birmingham

It's best to book in advance to avoid disappointment. You can sometimes get better deals if you book ahead too.

We've included some free places too as we know that our funds disappear after Christmas.

1. Museums and art galleries

We are blessed with some amazing museums right in the heart of the city and further afield too.

Parts of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in Chamberlain Square have reopened and there's a wonderful Edwardian Tea Room here.

Check out Ikon in Brindleyplace, the Barber Institute in Edgbaston and The Herbert in Coventry, all of which offer free admission but do appreciate a small donation for upkeep.

Here's our guide to 17 family-friendly museums in the region - and many of them are free or only cost a couple of pounds for kids.

2. Cadbury World

Most of Cadbury World is indoors so it's great for a rainy day. The famous Bournville attraction is divided up into zones - a journey through the history of chocolate making, a 4D cinema experience, a trip down memory lane and a ride. Plus, of course, there's free chocolate!

Look out for special shows and events during school holidays. You need to book in advance rather than turn up on the door to guarantee entry. Read our review here.

3. Legoland

Every aspect of Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham is indoors, making it great for wet weather.

It's right in the heart of the city centre, set on the pretty canal in Brindleyplace, and not far from Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill Stations.

Families can enjoy creative workshops, soft play, a Build and Test Area, a DUPLO Farm, 4D cinema and two rides - Merlin’s Apprentice and Kingdom Quest, the entrance to which is set to look like a castle complete with balconies, flags, knights and jesters.

There are often special events taking place over school holidays. Check out our guide here.

4. Sea Life Centre

There's a 360 degree tunnel at the Sea Life Centre which you can walk through and gaze at sharks, turtles and exotic fish as they swim over your head and under your feet.

Home to over more than 2,000 creatures, including some adorable penguins, there's an extensive marine protection programme you can learn about at attraction, which is also in Brindleyplace.

Whilst there, visit the 4D cinema too.

5. Role play towns and soft play centres

We have some amazing role play centres around Birmingham.

A new Mini Town opened in September 2025 called Flamingoo. Based in Erdington, it features shops, a police station and park set along a little road that children can 'drive' along.

Solihull Play Town has a fire station, a supermarket, a medical centre, a beauty salon, a builders yard and café all set around a village square with a barbecue, picnic table and postbox on the green in the middle.

You'll probably also enjoy Mini Brum at Thinktank, a whole role play city for kids, at the science museum at Millennium Point.

There's also the Children's Play Village in Warwick where kids can dress up as firefighters, deliver the mail from the post office, pretend to have their nails done at the salon and stop off at the tea shop for a make believe cup of tea and cake.

We asked Brummie Mummies for their favourite soft play centres in the region, take a look at what they suggested here

6. The Snowdome

If you're pining for snow over the winter, head to The Snowdome in Tamworth.

You can try your hand at snowboarding, skiing, tobogganing, ice-skating and adrenaline tubing. Certainly not for the faint hearted, the latter involves hurtling down the slope in specially designed inflatable tubes. Go on, we dare you!

There's also a swimming pool with a flume and floats too.

7. Indoor Crazy Golf

There are two, 18 hole indoor crazy golf courses right in the heart of Birmingham.

Treetop Adventure Golf is based at Bullring. Choose from the Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, together with themed bars and cafes. Take a look at our guide to it here

And you can try Ghetto Golf too, which combines crazy golf, graffiti, cocktails and street food.

It's at the Custard Factory in Digbeth and is for over 18s only, so you'll need a babysitter if you've got kids. There's an old bus, half a mini and local landmarks too, like the Old Crown pub, Mr Egg and the Jewellery Quarter.

8. Ice skating rinks

Get your skates on and head Planet Ice in Solihull. Open seven days a week, it has an on site skate shop, cafeteria, parents lounge and bar.

There's also Planet Ice in Coventry which offers penguin skating aids and toys for little ones to enjoy on the ice!

9. Birmingham cinemas

Journey to faraway lands far away from the grotty weather with a trip to the cinema.

We have plenty to choose from in Birmingham. Check out our full guide to the best cinemas in Birmingham here.

And look out for special offers for kids on selected days too, especially over the holidays.

10. Flip Out Telford

Flip Out Telford offers a full day out when it's raining. There's 10 attractions to discover, including go karting, a Vortex Tunnel, E-Karting, Laser Quest and much more.

What's great is that all of the attractions are included within your session price.

And, if it stops raining, you can venture into nearby Telford Town Park for lots more fun too. Read our review here

11. Swimming pools

If it's wet outside, you may as well enjoy getting wet in a nice warm swimming pool.

We have some brilliant pools to choose from in and around Birmingham.

Many include slides, water features, jet sprays and lots offer swimming lessons and form part of gyms.

Kingstanding Swimming Baths, Northfield Sports Centre and the £9 state-of-the-art leisure centre in Stechford are all worth a look.

Check out our guide to the best swimming pools in Birmingham.

12. Indoor Climbing

Rock Up Birmingham at Broadway Plaza, offers families 26 different climbing challenges including the 18ft high Leap of Faith and the wobbly Stairway to Heaven.

There's also Redpoint Climbing Centre, Cecil Street, which provides a 3D climbing experience featuring lots of different shapes, angles and even stalactites! You can also try out a mountain skills course, where you will learn navigation and expedition skills.

Or try bouldering (stripped-down rock climbing just using climbing shoes, balance and technique) at Birmingham Bouldering Centre on Water Street.

Listen to our latest Brummie Mummies Podcast episode:

13. Trampoline parks

There are lots of large trampoline parks in the Midlands where kids can bounce to their hearts' content, whatever the weather. Inflatable Zone in Halesowen features a Human Hungry Hippos game and a tube forest for you to play in too.

There's also the huge £50,000 Inflata Nation Theme Park in Stechford, which offers a giant inflatable multi-person wrecking ball game and Rush UK in Kings Norton, which has a ninja warrior style assault course. Find out more about it here

You can also try Flip Out in Sandwell and Jump Xtreme in Tamworth.

14. Escape Rooms

Escape the rain in an escape room! Escape Live on Constitution Hill features a Peaky Blinders escape room.

And Clue HQ in the Jewellery Quarter has four immersive escape rooms, including Egyptian, dragon and pirate themes.

You can sometimes get special deals during the holidays, such as kids play free.

14. Stunt scootering and skateboarding

Creation Skate Park in Balsall Heath is said to be the Midlands biggest extreme sports venue where you can do BMX, scooter, inline and skateboarding seven days a week.

Check out our guide to other places where you can go for extreme sports here.

15. Circus school

Ever fancied joining the circus? Try CircusMASH, which has a dedicated circus centre in Kings Heath.

Here, you can learn how to master the trapeze and aerial acrobatics as well as a spot of juggling too. Take a look at our guide here

16. Muddy puddle walks

Peppa Pig never feels blue under a raincloud. Stick your wellies on, wrap up warm and go and jump in some muddy puddles in one of these 12 lovely winter walks where you get to explore intriguing places like Kinver Edge and

It's also worth exploring Clent Hills and the Lickey Hills too for breathtaking views across the area.

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