35 indoor things to do on a rainy day in Devon

Days out, Family, Activity

Posted by Clare Willcocks on 2nd October 2021

Baby beneath an umbrella

If you’ve chosen Devon for your family holiday, you’re in for a treat. Come rain or shine, there’s no end of fun to be had.

We’ve rounded up the top indoor attractions in Devon which you can enjoy with the children when the weather is wet, so don’t let the rainy days in Devon get you down! We’ve included links to the attractions' websites, as some of them have special events or seasonal opening hours, so it’s always best to check before you visit to avoid disappointment. The list includes a variety of rainy day attractions, but take a look at our guide to free attractions for families in Devon to discover places to visit on a budget.

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Things to do in North Devon in the rain

Caterpillar rollercoaster

Milky Way Adventure Park, Higher Clovelly

The Milky Way Adventure Park near Clovelly is one of the most fun rainy day activities in Devon, with 110,000 square feet of indoor attractions! There are slides, rides and play areas galore to suit all ages, from tiny toddlers to older children. Little ones will love the Little Starz soft play area and slides, games, sandpit and ride-on tractors of Toddler Town and Fantasy Farm. Don't miss the shows scheduled throughout the day!

Watermouth Castle, Ilfracombe

You’ve never been anywhere like Watermouth Castle near Ilfracombe! A unique family attraction that combines thrilling rides with nostalgia and old-fashioned fun, there’s plenty to see and do on a rainy day as well as in the sunshine. The water show is Watermouth Castle’s pièce de résistance: an indoor water, light and music show which will captivate the children while the rain falls down outside.

Parrot

Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park

There’s a lot to see outside at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park in Combe Martin, so it’s best to visit on a day where there’s intermittent rain, rather than one where it’s set in for hours. You can see lions, wolves, monkeys, penguins, meerkats and sea lions, as well as the fearsome animatronic dinosaurs which thrill visitors, young and old.

The indoor play area is the perfect place to head during a shower, and other indoor areas include the Tomb of the Pharaohs, Critter Cavern and Tropical House.

Ilfracombe Aquarium, Ilfracombe

Located in the Old Lifeboat House next to Ilfracombe's historic harbour, Ilfracombe Aquarium is home to over 75 species of fish from the local coast. Providing the ideal shelter from a shower, pop into the aquarium for half an hour, where the children will find entertainment in the fish, fun quizzes and feeding demonstrations by experienced guides.

lemurs and black panther

Exmoor Zoo, Bratton Fleming

Exmoor Zoo on the edge of Exmoor is mainly an outdoor activity, but it’s worth taking raincoats and wellies and visiting on a rainy day to avoid the crowds and enjoy the animals while it’s quiet. There’s a lovely café if the rain does get too much, and plenty of areas to shelter throughout the zoo.

The Big Sheep

The Big Sheep, near Westward Ho! has numerous rainy-day activities for younger children. The barn area with sheep, llamas and occasionally puppies, pigs and guinea pigs is perfect for escaping the rain, while there are several undercover rides such as the train and tractor. There is a programme of shows, such as lamb feeding, which take place indoors, and a sheltered area to watch the unique duck racing.

As if that were not enough, Ewetopia, the large indoor soft play, will provide hours of fun for the little ones while the adults can enjoy a drink in the café.

Rocks and minerals

Barnstaple Museum, Barnstaple

Barnstaple Museum is bursting with collections and displays focussing on the history of North Devon and the city of Barnstaple. There is a monthly quiz for children and Barney’s Trail for under-fives, which takes little ones on an exciting adventure around the museum with its mascot, Barney the Elephant.

Glass blowing

Dartington Crystal, Torrington

Dartington Crystal makes some of the most beautiful wine glasses and crystal ware. Go on the Factory Experience and you can watch the skilled makers blowing the glass and find out more about the process, one of the most interesting things to do in North Devon in the rain!

Make a hand cast which will be transformed into a glass handprint to take home, or choose an item to decorate with glass paints. There’s also jewellery making for those who like a little glass, glitz and glam.

Looking at bees on a honey farm

Quince Honey Farm, South Molton

One of the best rainy day attractions, Quince Honey Farm in South Molton has so much to entertain families. Take a guided tour of the Honey Factory and find out about how honey is produced, from bee to jar. There’s a beekeeping tractor tour, a Farm Shop and Restaurant, and, perhaps the biggest draw for families, the Play Hive Adventure Park with an indoor soft play area. Here there are also Critter Encounters and a seasonal daily activity programme, ensuring hours of fun for everyone.

Air Extreme, Barnstaple

This trampoline park in Barnstaple offers fun for all ages, with a range of trampolines and sessions to suit everyone. There are wall to wall trampolines, long running strips with a wall at the end to bounce off and even a huge jumping pillow which is open for certain age groups and sessions. The staff are lovely and make sure everyone has a fun and safe time. Check the timetable before you go to find the most suitable session for you.

Child on a climbing wall

Rock and Rapid Adventures, South Molton

As rainy-day activities go, this one has to be somewhere near the top of the list! The pouring rain outside won’t bother you in the slightest as you test your climbing skills on the selection of indoor climbing walls. There are bookable taster sessions with qualified instructors and hot drinks and snacks to refuel with afterwards.

Arlington Court

Arlington Court, Barnstaple

A little jewel within the countryside of North Devon, Arlington Court is an elegant Regency house near Barnstaple, in which you’ll find a whole host of interesting collections, from seashells to model ships. Children will enjoy spotting all manner of weird and wonderful items, and if the weather has improved after your visit to the house, they can let off steam in the expansive gardens. Take an umbrella and wander over 20 miles of footpaths – it’ll take more than a little rain to dampen the spirits of your intrepid explorers!

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Things to do in South Devon in the rain

Children in a ball pool

Woodlands Family Theme Park, Dartmouth

While you wouldn’t normally think of a theme park as the ideal rainy-day activity, Woodlands near Dartmouth has plenty to offer families looking for some indoor fun. They have the self-proclaimed largest indoor play area in the South West, with five floors of indoor play! Other areas which are completely undercover are the Circus Drome, Falconry Centre and many of the buildings in the Zoo Farm, which will keep your little animal-lovers occupied.

There’s no reason not to go on the rides of the Cyclone Canyon Zone - getting splashed is part of the fun! Please note that the only ride to close at Woodlands in the rain is the toboggan run, for safety reasons. Find more inspiration for your itinerary in our blog post about things to do in Dartmouth.

Leopard

Dartmoor Zoo, Sparkwell

A small zoo on the edge of Dartmoor, this animal park has a fascinating history and is the inspiration for the Hollywood movie We Bought A Zoo, starring Matt Damon. While much of Dartmoor Zoo is outdoors, they sometimes offer Rainy Day Tickets which entitle you to come back to enjoy the zoo again in the sunshine, so there’s really nothing to lose!

Paignton Zoo, Paignton

While much of Paignton Zoo in Torbay is outdoors, there’s plenty to see inside too, so it’s a good choice of wet weather activity when the rain is on and off. The good thing about visiting on a rainy day is that the park is generally a bit quieter, even during the summer, so you can avoid the crowds and enjoy watching the animals from the undercover viewing areas. Crocodiles, rhinos, frogs, giraffes and the Komodo dragon can all be seen from inside.

Children at an aquarium

National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth

Save the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth for a very wet day, as you can spend hours enjoying everything there is to see inside. There are talks and feeds throughout the day, where you’ll learn about underwater creatures great and small, from sharks to coral!

The huge Eddystone Reef tank makes even fully-grown adults feel tiny, as hordes of fish swim up and down the largest single-tank viewing panel in the UK. Pause for lunch at the Waves Café to recharge your batteries for the afternoon, and stop in the shop to pick up a souvenir from your underwater adventure.

Children in a swimming pool

Waves Leisure Pool, Torquay

If the weather’s wet, why not get wetter? This leisure pool in Torquay has a sloping floor so offers easy access for little ones, and with a flume, wave machine, water-play activity centre, toddler slide and water jets, there’s something for all ages. Relax in the warm 30°c water, forget about the rain outside and be reminded why this is one of the best things to do in South Devon in the rain.

Splashdown Quaywest, Paignton

You may think we’re slightly mad suggesting an outdoor waterpark on our list of things to do on a rainy day, but there’s method in our madness. On a rainy summer’s day, when the air is still warm but the crowds stay at home, there is nothing better than embracing the wet weather and getting completely soaked on the thrilling waterslides and splashpools at Splashdown, Paignton.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter

A fascinating museum bursting to the seams with ancient artefacts and interesting exhibits, the RAMM is a great option for families with older children. Telling the story of Devon and Exeter’s rich history and global connections, it is home to all manner of intriguing items, from mummified remains to exotic animals.

Kents Cavern

Kents Cavern, Torquay

Deep underground, Kents Cavern in Torquay maintains a constant temperature year-round so it’s the perfect place to escape the rain and learn about one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe. The guided tour will take you through the different chambers of the cave which was formed 2.5 million years ago. Discover the bones and teeth of ancient Ice Age animals which lived there, and experience what it’s like when the lights go out!

Torquay Museum

Discover the story of Agatha Christie’s life and works as well as natural history and Torquay through the ages at Torquay Museum. There’s a rich programme of temporary exhibitions which are worth checking on their website. Children will find plenty to keep them entertained, from the interactive game ‘Curse of the Mummy’s Hand’ to the crawl tunnel, dressing up and toys, as well as numerous interactive exhibits throughout the museum.

Victorian sweet shop

Bygones, Torquay

The perfect rainy-day attraction, Bygones is an indoor world where the past has been brought alive in the form of a walk-through Victorian street scene, chock-full of numerous authentic items and fascinating recreated scenes. There’s also a 27-ton steam engine, a model railway, a mock WWI war trench and a WWII Anderson shelter. The museum is dog-friendly, which is a bonus for those holidaying with their four-legged friends.

Dartmouth Steam Railway, Paignton

If you’re looking for wet weather activities which still enable you to enjoy the great outdoors, the Dartmouth Steam Railway is a top choice. You can choose the ‘Round Robin’ option which includes steam train, river boat and bus rides to visit the holiday towns of Paignton, Dartmouth and Totnes. Perfect to avoid parking charges and wet walks from car parks, you can hop on and off, enjoying the shops and cafes on offer in these unique locations.

Mother and daughter bouncing on trampolines

iBounce, Exeter or Newton Abbot

The same concept as Air Extreme, iBounce Exeter and Newton Abbot offer a selection of trampolines and sessions where you can escape from the rain as a family and enjoy the added bonus of wearing everyone out at the same time!

Ice skating at the Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth

Get your skates on at Plymouth’s very own ice-skating rink! Glide around the real ice rink and feel the rush of wind in your hair. For those who aren’t too confident on the ice, there are skating aids available to hire in the shape of seals, polar bears and penguins, catering for everyone from under-fives to adults.

Powderham Castle, Exeter

Powderham Castle is one of Devon’s oldest family homes, set in a beautiful deer park alongside the River Exe, near Exeter. Take a guided tour of the inside of the castle and wonder in awe at the elegant rooms as you are regaled by stories of the Courtenay family who live there to this day. If the sun comes out, there’s plenty outside too. The Walled Garden Play Area and Pets Corner are sure to delight the little ones, and once everyone is worn out, take a break in the Courtenay Cafe.

Killerton House in Devon

Killerton House, Exeter

An 18th-century house surrounded by glorious gardens and parkland, Killerton House near Exeter is a play area for young and old alike! The house was donated to the National Trust by Sir Richard Acland and it is his family’s history which you can learn about inside the friendly Georgian manor. If you’re feeling peckish, you can treat the children to an a la carte meal from the award-winning restaurant. A wonderful way to kill a couple of rainy hours and fill their tummies at the same time!

If you have a chance to enjoy the gardens, the children’s play area is sure to brighten up their day.

Castle Drogo, Exeter

Castle Drogo stands high above the Teign Gorge, built by 20th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. There are quiz trails to keep inquisitive children interested and engaged, as well as talks and art and craft workshops at certain times. If there’s a gap in the rain and you get the chance to explore the gardens, the charming Wendy house is sure to delight the children!

A la Ronde, Exmouth

A la Ronde, Exmouth

A la Ronde in Exmouth is a quirky little sixteen-sided house built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter, when they returned from a grand tour of Europe in the late 18th century. It houses thousands of objects and mementoes which they brought back from their travels and won’t fail to captivate both adults and children alike. Wander through the magical rooms where you’ll find treasures such as walls decorated with feathers and shells, unusual works of art, diamond-shaped windows and curiosities including Inuit models and an emu egg!

Compton Castle, Torquay

A foreboding and austere medieval fortress in Torquay which will ignite the children’s imagination, inspiring thoughts of fairy tales and knights! You can explore the inside at your leisure, taking in the Great Hall, Sub Solar and Solar, as well as the medieval kitchen and chapel. There are often activities for children, plus a children’s trail. The grounds are equally impressive if the sun breaks through and you get the chance to head outside.

Check the National Trust website for opening times, as Compton Castle is not open every day.

Greenway House, Kingswear

Greenway House, Kingswear

Author Agatha Christie’s holiday home, Greenway House is high up on the list of indoor activities for a rainy day. There are seasonal activities for children, including an Easter Egg Hunt and Christmas fun. All year round, there’s a free ‘Spotter Trail’ around the house, and one for the garden if the rain eases off. 

Coleton Fishacre, Kingswear

Like Greenway above, this 1920s country family home is full of fun indoor activities for a rainy day. There’s a free ‘Spotter Trail’ which encourages children to look for specific items throughout the house. In the kitchen you’ll all be challenged by the napkin folding activity, and everyone is sure to love trying on the period outfits in the handling room.

Cotehele House

Cotehele, Saltash

Technically in Cornwall, but only just over the border, this extraordinary Tudor House boasts impressive collections displayed in wonderfully preserved rooms, which children will love snooping around. There is a free children’s trail to follow and the fabulous tapestries are bursting with animals and quirky details to spot.

On the quay, the Discovery Centre offers more indoor exploration in the form of hands-on activities based on the wildlife and nature surrounding Cotehele. At the Mill, you can watch the team milling flour (if the water levels are high enough) and children can have a go themselves, as well as dressing up in Victorian clothes!

Dartington, Totnes

Dartington near Totnes is a treasure trove of highly tempting independent shops and eateries, as well as artisan crafts and a glass gallery selling Dartington Crystal. Book in for a pottery painting session at Crazy About Clay and take home a hand-painted souvenir of your holiday. If the children have pocket money to spend, their eyes will light up in the old-fashioned toy shop which has a mixture of wooden toys as well as modern favourites.

Marbles on a wooden table

House of Marbles, Bovey Tracey

The House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey is more than just a shop, it’s a Devon institution and one of the must-visit indoor activities in Devon if you’re staying in the area. Intricate marble runs, animated animals, a giant floating marble and glass blowing in the glass works make for a fascinating few hours with something unusual around every corner. There's a lovely shop and cafe too, so plenty to keep you all occupied indoors.

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Stay in one of our Devon cottages

Our Devon cottages are situated all across the county, from the moors to the coast and everywhere in between - a perfect base to see all the things to do in Devon in the rain. If you can’t bring yourself to venture outdoors in the wet weather, make the most of your holiday cottage – some have indoor swimming pools and games facilities which will have you hoping for an excuse to stay in!

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Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.