Rainy day family fun

We do get our fair share of brolly weather, but there’s family fun to be had in the Cotswolds come rain or shine. Here’s some ideas of great indoor family attractions and activities to keep you entertained until the sun starts to shine again.

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Whatever the weather kids need to burn off some energy, so on rainy days why not visit one of the great leisure centres in the area. Head to Carterton Leisure Centre, near Witney, and you can enjoy a family swim, bounce at the trampoline park and run riot in the soft play. Don’t worry, there’s a cafe to take a rest in!

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Get crafty with some hands-on fun at Honeybourne Pottery or The Pottery Place in Witney, where you can paint your own pottery or make mosaics. New Brewery Arts in Cirencester offers a huge range of workshops for children, including collage, weaving and drawing.

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Spark their imagination with a trip to one or more of the fascinating museums and heritage sites, such as The Oxfordshire Museum, The Roman Baths, Tetbury Police Museum or Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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Animal lovers can still get their fix on a rainy day at Crocodiles of the World, where you can see over 80 crocodiles and alligators, as well as lots of other reptiles, turtles and animals. Most of the zoo is indoors, but bring your brolly to move between areas and see some of the animals which are kept outside.

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The Cotswolds has some wonderful theatres to keep you all entertained (and dry!). Barn Theatre in Cirencester has some great family shows including live theatre and cinema favourites, and during the spring and summer months the Cotswolds’ very own Giffords Circus tours around the area to delight family audiences.

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For family adventure despite the rain, hop on board the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway and enjoy the stunning views on the 29 mile round trip. Hop off at Winchcombe or Toddington stations to explore the museums and grab a bite in the cafes.

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Step back in time and get hands on at Combe Mill, where you can try your hand at blacksmithing or learn to drive a beam engine. Whilst you’re there explore the interesting collection and chat to some of the volunteers.

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For those with a love of four wheels there’s plenty to keep you entertained on those showery days. The British Motor Museum has the World’s largest collection of historic British cars and is great for families with its interactive exhibits. The Oxford Bus Museum has 35 buses, as well as cars, bicycles and artefacts to discover, and on certain days there are free vintage bus rides too.