We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when you wake up in the morning on your long-awaited holiday and draw back the curtains only to find rain rolling down the window. If the grey clouds look set in for the day, it’s time to start exploring your rainy-day options. Luckily, if you’re on holiday in Dorset, there’s plenty to keep you occupied during spells of wet weather with our list of indoor activities in Dorset.
Family cottages in Dorset
Whether you’re on a family holiday and need something to keep the children entertained, or are a couple whose romantic break feels foiled by the weather, Dorset steps up to the mark when it comes to rainy day activities.
We’ve scoured the whole of the county and put together a list of our favourite things to do in Dorset in the rain. We hope you’ll agree, that while fossil hunting and beach days might be out of the question, there’s plenty to keep everyone from babies to grandma busy (even if the rain looks set to stay for weeks)!
Here are our top things to do on a rainy day in Dorset – click here to find them on a map.
Skip to destination:
Rainy day things to do in Poole The Ark at Poole Park
Set beside a picturesque lake in Poole Park, the Ark is a relaxing indoor attraction in Dorset, perfect for a bite to eat and a bit of family fun. Three levels of soft play with slides, tunnels and activities are waiting for adventurous children up to 11 years old, and there’s a little soft play area for young children too. When you’ve exhausted the soft play, head to the pottery studio where you can paint a piece of pottery to take home with you as a memento of your trip – things to do in Dorset in the rain with your family don’t get much more relaxing than this!
Lemur Landings Soft Play: Image credit Instagram @lemurlandingsplaycentreLemur Landings Soft Play
There are plenty of indoor play areas in Dorset where kids can let off some steam -- Lemur Landings is a soft play area and then some! It’s a haven for families looking for rainy day activities in Dorset and the soft play itself is extensive, with ball blaster cannons and even a climbing centre, with SkyTykes Low Ropes Course and a selection of climbing walls. The roleplay village will keep imaginative little ones amused for hours, while the pre-walkers sensory room is a sanctuary for tiny babies.
Tower Park
When it’s lashing down with no hint of a lull, you’ll be looking for indoor activities in Dorset which will last longer than just a couple of hours. Not only are there a whole host of eateries at Tower Park mega-complex, there’s also entertainment to suit everyone. Catch a film at the Empire cinema, try your hand at ten pin bowling or take the kids to the soft play.
Splashdown: Image credit Instagram @splashdownwaterparksSplashdown at Tower Park
If you’re going to get wet in the rain anyway, why not embrace the fact and take the opportunity to enjoy one of Dorset’s premier water-based attractions? With 13 indoor and outdoor flume rides and three zones for under 5s, there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied for a whole day at Splashdown.
When you’re zipping around on the slides, flumes and indoor and outdoor attractions, you’ll forget the miserable weather and enjoy a day out to remember! Mums and Dads, don’t forget to treat yourselves to a dip in the Jacuzzi!
Poole cottages
Rainy day things to do in Dorchester
Teddy Bear Museum
An intimate family-run attraction, Teddy Bear museum featuring over 100 years of teddy bears in Edward Bear’s teddy bear house! An endearing and unusual museum that takes visitors down memory lane, it’s a good rainy day activity with or without children.
Athelhampton House and Gardens: Image credit Instagram @athelhamptonAthelhampton House and Gardens
The magnificent Athelhampton is a member of the Historic Houses Association.
The rooms are stunningly furnished, and the west wing displays artwork by the Russian artist Marevna who lived at the house in the 40s and 50s. If the rain lets up, explore the surrounding gardens which encompass walled gardens, a 15th-century dovecote and beautiful riverside walks along the River Piddle.
Shire Hall Historic Court House Museum
Delve into the darkly fascinating world of the justice system over the past 200 years and follow in the footsteps of the people who passed through the historic court at Dorchester’s Shire Hall. This immersive experience is fascinating and thought-provoking in equal measure, with plenty to engage children too.
Dinosaur Museum: Image credit Instagram @dinosaurmuseumdorchDinosaur Museum
Museums are great for rainy days out in Dorset, and a fantastic opportunity to educate yourselves about the region you’re visiting - and what better way to learn about the Jurassic Coast than to get up close and personal to its former terrifying inhabitants?
The Dinosaur Museum is in the centre of Dorchester, but you’ll be transported back in time to walk among life-size reconstructions of these astonishing Jurassic creatures. From dinosaur excavation to puzzles and technology, there’s so much to keep children entertained, and plenty of interest for adults too.
Dorchester cottages
Rainy day things to do in Bournemouth
Oceanarium
Aquariums are warm, welcoming and full of interesting things to look at on a rainy day, the perfect idea for an indoor day out in Dorset. Sealife from all around the world can be admired in this vast aquarium which houses everything from penguins to sharks! Crocodiles, clownfish, jellyfish, octopuses, rays and turtles are just a handful of the creatures you can expect to see at Oceanarium.
Besides meeting the residents, there’s plenty for children to do, including an adventure trail and an under 10’s underwater-themed play zone. Regular talks and feeding sessions make for an educational trip and there’s a café for when it’s your turn to be fed!
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum: Image credit Instagram @russellcotesRussell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
For art lovers, this really is one of the finest indoor things to do in Dorset. Set in a beautiful location overlooking the sea in Bournemouth, the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery has a fascinating history.
The ornate building which houses the gallery was given as an extravagant gift by Merton Russell-Cotes to his wife, Annie. They went on to fill their extraordinary home with British art, curating alongside it a fascinating collection of objects and artefacts from their travels across the world. The resulting eclectic collection is a delight, and you can’t help but feel like you’re walking around their home as you explore the artwork.
Mr Mulligans
Mr Mulligans is an indoor adventure golf centre which is like no crazy golf you’ve ever seen! Lit with psychedelic colours and featuring some crazy scenes, including a comic book set, light experience and apocalyptic crash scene – it’s the perfect option for couples or families looking to escape the rain and try something a bit different. There’s a licensed bar and restaurant on site for afterwards!
Bournemouth cottages
Rainy day things to do in Wareham
Lulworth Castle
The Lulworth Estate is some 20 square miles, in which lie beautiful Lulworth Cove and 5 miles of the Jurassic Coast. If it’s raining though, you’ll want to leave those for a dry day and head instead for Lulworth Castle. The magnificent building is one of the top castles in Dorset and affords fantastic views of the countryside and coast from its tower and there’s also a tea room for homemade cakes and cream teas!
.jpg)
Bovington Tank Museum: Image credit Instagram @theuntoldpastBovington Tank Museum
This entire museum is inside, and with an advertised 4-5 hours of things to see, it’s a good one for an indoor day out in Dorset. The exhibitions tell the story of armoured warfare, covering over 100 years of history and displaying over 300 armoured vehicles.
Dorset Adventure Park
The outdoor Wibit Waterpark is an inflatable sports aqua park with over 200 metres of inflatable obstacles for aquatic fun! Get yourself to Dorset Adventure Park pronto!
Wareham cottages
Rainy day things to do in Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis Museum
As the rain pours down outside in Lyme Regis, enjoy the splendid sea views from this seaside museum which is brimming with Jurassic fossils and tells the tale of Mary Anning on the site of her former home and fossil shop.
Marine Aquarium
This friendly, family-run aquarium is home to a whole host of sea creatures whose native habitats can be found along the Jurassic Coast. Visitors to Marine Aquarium are encouraged to get up close and personal with the aquatic critters, with unique experiences including holding the starfish, feeding the mullet and even stroking a lobster!
Marine Theatre
Stop by the Marine Theatre one evening for wonderful entertainment perfect for grown-ups and kids! They offer plenty of great live performances, from jazz performers to Shakespearian groups, so you can sit back and enjoy a great show during your holiday.
Lyme Regis cottages
Rainy day things to do in Bridport
Sladers Yard Gallery
Presented inside a beautiful Georgian rope warehouse is a beautiful array of contemporary British artworks, handmade furniture and designer crafts. The exhibitions at Sladers Yard Gallery change regularly and there are sometimes talks by exhibiting artists. The café is a good spot to stop for refreshment after browsing the artwork.
Artwave West
This independent contemporary art gallery features changing exhibitions bringing several artists together to provide visitors with a varied display of work at any one time, while solo shows concentrate on the art of one artist to give a deeper background into their work and practices. Artwave West is a must for art lovers.
Palmers Brewery Tour
Palmers have been brewing in Dorset since 1794, and share their hundreds of years of expertise with you on their Brewery Tours. You’ll be guided through the Malt Loft and taught about the ale-making process, starting from the raw ingredients entering the building on the third floor, to the finished product at the end.
Redlands Yard
Home to a variety of independent traders, Redlands Yard is a lovely spot for a browse on a rainy day. In the Craft Centre, you’ll find a Gallery of Makers which exhibits work from local artists and craftspeople. Settle down in the welcoming restaurant for a feast of home-cooked meals, from light lunches to hearty hot meals.
Jurassic Fun Centre
Jurassic Fun Centre boasts slides, water cannons and other water apparatus to provide hours of fun. There are lots of indoor activities at this Dorset attraction to keep little ones and big kids entertained all day long.
Bridport cottages
Rainy day things to do in Wimborne
Kingston Lacy
Not what you’d expect to find in the rural Dorset countryside, Kingston Lacy was built to resemble a Venetian Palace and is packed with things to see, from curiosities to family souvenirs. There are paintings by famous artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, as well as a whole room of Egyptian artifacts. A true Wimborne treasure trove!
Artist working at Walford Mill: Image credit Instagram @walfordmillWalford Mill
Set in a converted historic Watermill, Walford Mill houses a variety of craft studios where you can see talented makers at work and buy their beautiful wares. From printmaking and illustration to jewellery and embroidery, it’s a great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs on your holiday, while supporting local people.
Tivoli Theatre
Head to the stunning Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne to catch a show or watch a movie out when the weather takes a turn for the worse. This beautiful theatre originally opened in 1936, and was almost demolished in 1979, before being restored and reopened by a team of volunteers in 1993. Check out what's on, grab a last-minute ticket and cosy up inside to get whisked away by a great performance.
Wimborne cottages
Rainy day things to do in Weymouth
Sea Life Centre
There are over 2,000 creatures to see in the incredible underwater world that is the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits, so it’s a good option for a day when you can dodge the showers. The sealife is split into zones which house creatures which can be found in tropical lagoons, rainforests, rockpools, shipwrecks and harbours, to name but a few of the habitats. There’s also a seahorse nursery, penguin beach, turtle sanctuary, seal harbour and otter enclosure. Visitors can learn about the sealife centre’s conservation projects and how they are helping threatened marine life.
Sandworld: Image credit Instagram @charlie_booker_tvSandworld
There are some rainy day attractions in Dorset which you just know you’ll never experience the likes of anywhere else! Sandworld is one of those places. It's a huge gallery of awe-inspiring sand sculptures, featuring everything from dinosaurs to scenes from favourite films. It makes a fantastic indoor day out as there's the opportunity to have a go yourself too!
The Palm House Café
The Palm House Café isn’t your average indoor play area. The café has a lovely selection of pancakes and waffles, perfect for you to tuck into with a hot drink while watching your children enjoy themselves in the play area, with plenty of toys to keep them occupied. The surroundings aren’t half bad either, compared to the usual dark and stuffy atmosphere you can normally expect from soft play areas! Glass ceilings make it a bright and airy place to enjoy time together as a family.
Portland Bill Lighthouse
A former lighthouse keeper’s dwelling, the Portland Bill Lighthouse museum is now home to interactive displays and exhibitions of historical artefacts pertaining to the lighthouse and its keepers. A highlight is the ‘Into The Dark’ zone where you can experience a stormy sea journey. There is a modest entrance fee (£2.50 at the time of writing) and children go free, so it’s a good one if you’re on a budget.
Stuart Wiltshire Glass
Watch the master at work as he blows impressive vases, vessels and candlesticks, as well as gifts and keepsakes. The warmth of the furnace is welcome on a cold and rainy day, and watching the process at Stuart Wiltshire Glass from beginning to end is a therapeutic way to spend an hour.
Weymouth cottages
Map of Dorset's rainy day activities
Planning a holiday in Dorset?
We have a fantastic range of holiday cottages in Dorset, from cosy countryside escapes for two, to large group houses on the coast for that big celebration. Dogs are welcome in many of our cottages, and there are lots of special extras such as hot tubs and children’s play areas to make your stay a memorable one.
Choose from houses with incredible sea views, close to the cities or nestled in the peaceful countryside. Where will your Dorset holiday take you?
Browse our family cottages in Dorset