
You have arrived on holiday in Suffolk and you're ready to get out and about exploring, but you've just discovered the forecast is not in your favour... No worries! There are so many rainy-day activities in Suffolk, you’ll be spoilt for choice of things to do during your trip no matter what the weather gets up to.
Go rock climbing, enjoy amusements by the coast or find out what Suffolk was like millions of years ago during your break - there are seemingly endless things to do in East Anglia on a rainy day.
If you’re still planning your trip, pick out a cosy cottage where you can enjoy a fantastic holiday escape come rain or shine!
Suffolk cottages
To ensure you can always plan an exciting day out for yourself, your friends or your kids, we’ve put together this guide detailing ten things to do on a rainy day in Suffolk. Pick out your favourites from this list and, whatever the weather, you'll always have some fun holiday activities up your sleeve to enjoy.

1. Felixstowe Pier, Felixstowe
At this pier, you can still enjoy a day at the seaside even when it’s wet! It’s a fantastic rainy-day activity in Felixstowe where whether you are on a fun family break or you're a couple on a romantic getaway, you can have fun. This wonderful beachfront attraction has lots going on inside the Family Entertainment Centre which offers amusement arcades and indoor rides that will keep everyone well entertained.
Take a look at their events schedule to see what’s on at Felixstowe Pier while you're on holiday in Suffolk. If the rain lets up briefly during your day out, you could still take a wander down the promenade or along the beach, or stay inside the boardwalk café bar for food and drink with a wonderful coastal view.
Location: Felixstowe IP11 2AB
Information: Family entertainment centre with arcades and bowling, open daily 10am - 10pm. Café and licensed bar open Mon - Thurs: 10am - 8pm, Fri/Sat: 9:30am - 10pm, Sun: 9:30am - 8pm. Ice cream parlour and fish and chip shop, seasonal opening hours.
Stay nearby: Daisy's By The Sea, Woodbridge | sleeps 2
Felixstowe cottages

2. Kentwell Hall, Sudbury
This magnificent stately home has over 500 years of history for you to uncover during a wet day in Suffolk. The grounds are exquisite, but inside, the halls are full of ancient objects and intriguing artefacts including fine paintings and period furniture, making it one of the most educational and interesting things to do in Suffolk when it's raining!
There’s a delightful tearoom on site where you can enjoy seasonal hot and cold meals after you’ve explored this marvellous old house. They also run additional wonderful festivals, magical weekends and educational days for curious kids.
Location: Sudbury, CO10 9BA
Information: Standard season ticket - Adults £22.50, Children (5-15) £15.00, Family pass £69, Senior over 64 £22.50.
Stay nearby: Quince Barn, Assington | Sleeps 2 + 2 dogs
Sudbury cottages

3. The Cragg Climbing Wall, Stowmarket
Looking for things to do in Suffolk when it's wet, with children who need to burn off some energy? Get them scrambling, swinging and climbing up The Cragg climbing wall.
They offer lessons and courses for both adults and kids so you can always go as a couple or adult group too. Their bouldering room is particularly popular so make sure you give this option a try, and there are Monkey, Apes and Orangutan classes for youngsters who’ve got the climbing bug – ideal for rainy days in Suffolk.
Stowmarket cottages

4. Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Rendlesham
Venture back to the Cold War when you explore this fantastic museum full of intriguing items, with rooms laid out how they would have been during this unique period of history. Based on the former Bentwaters airfield in a former USAF command post, you’ll see a war operations room and a battle cabin that have been restored as well as a telephone room, decontamination showers and airlock that are also original.
The museum is run by volunteers from the Bentwaters Aviation Society which is a registered charity with fundraising events throughout the year.
Location: Woodbridge, IP12 2TW
Information: Open on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Adults £5, Children (0-14) free, Concessions £4.
Stay nearby: Clyde Cottage, Saxmundham | sleeps 4 and 2 dogs
Woodbridge cottages
5. Felixstowe Leisure Centre, Felixstowe

Images credit: @placesleisuresuffolk
If you're looking for things to do in Suffolk in the rain, but don't mind getting wet still, this one's for you! Another great family day out, it will keep excitable youngsters entertained for hours. Full of great indoor activities in Felixstowe, this leisure centre has all sorts, from badminton to bowls, and children will have great fun at the pool where there’s a giant slide for them to enjoy. If you have little ones with you, they can have a fun afternoon at the creche or soft play.
Adults missing their fitness fix can head to a dance or fitness class, pop by the gym or unwind in the health suite. There’s also an on-site café and shop too so you can refuel and rehydrate after making the most of this wonderful leisure centre.
Location: Felixstowe, IP11 2AE
Information: Various activities available, please see website.
Stay nearby: Monterey, Woodbridge | sleeps 10
Felixstowe cottages

6. Ipswich Museum, Ipswich
Discover the delights of this fantastic museum, a wonderful indoor attraction in Ipswich where you can see fantastic archaeological collections, the intriguing death masks of Titos Flavious Demetrios and the Ogilvie bird collection. See mammoths, gorillas and lions in the Victorian National History Gallery and discover what Suffolk was like millions of years ago in The Ipswich Story exhibition.
This wonderful museum is free to enter and hosts fantastic family-friendly events and special exhibitions, so keep an eye out on their site to see what indoor activities will be happening while you are on holiday in Suffolk.
Location: Ipswich, IP1 3QH
Information: Free admission. Open Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00 – 17.00, Sunday: 11.00 – 17.00. Closed Mondays.
Stay nearby: The Skyscraper, Woolverstone | sleeps 18
Ipswich cottages
7. Snape Maltings, Snape Bridge

One of the more cultural indoor things to do in Suffolk, this multi-attraction venue has something for everyone. Fantastic events take place all year in the concert hall, which is best known for its wonderful operas, so if you are big into music ensure you take a look at their showings.
If you would rather explore, there are often free exhibitions on in the four art galleries located around the area made up of The Maltings Gallery, The Quay Gallery, The Pond Gallery and The Letterings Arts Centre, the last of which promotes lettering artists and artwork. It’s free to enter the Snape Maltings Visitor Centre too and there are plenty of charming shops for you to browse at your leisure.
Location: Snape IP17 1SP
Information: Free parking. For opening hours, please see website.
Stay nearby: Riverside Cottage, Saxmundham | sleeps 4
Snape cottages
8. Adnam's Brewery Tour, Southwold

If you enjoy a pint or two, a tour of Adnam's Brewery is sure to be top of your list of things to do on a rainy day in Suffolk, or even a sunny one, come to that. For at least 670 years, beer has been brewed at their Southwold headquarters, and in the company of an experienced tour guide you will get to see behind the scenes and discover what makes Adnam's beer so special.
As with any brewery tour worth its salt, the experience culminates in a tasting session, during which you'll get to sample some of the beers whose production you have just learnt about. Adnam also offers distillery tours of the facilities where they produce spirits including gin and vodka.
Location: Southwold, IP18 6JW
Information: For tour times, prices and to book, please see website.
Stay nearby: Golden Rise Cottage, Lowestoft | sleeps 6 and 3 dogs
Southwold cottages
9. Ipswich Transport Museum, Ipswich

Image credit: @davidjsawtell (left)
Discover over 100 major transport and engineering objects that were made or used within the Ipswich area at this impressive Suffolk attraction, the Ipswich Transport Museum. For transport mad children, this is one of the best indoor activities for kids in Suffolk - you’ll be bowled over by the amazing array of vehicles and memorabilia that they house. It’s a fascinating indoor activity in Ipswich for anyone interested in vehicles or engineering or just wanting to know more about the local area.
There’s even fun for families with a model railway that children can drive and an activity zone with jigsaws, a wooden train and pictures to colour in. Kids can also drive Dennis the bus and see Kenny the conductor during your day out.
Location: Ipswich, IP3 9JD
Information: Standard admission - Adults £6.50, Children £4, Under 5s free, Concessions £6, Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £18. For opening days and times, please see website.
Stay nearby: The Skyscraper, Woolverstone | sleeps 18
Ipswich cottages
10. Adventure Island Play Park, Lowestoft

Taking the kids along to a play park is a great thing to do on a rainy day in Suffolk as it can keep youngsters entertained for hours and let them burn off some energy while you’re on holiday. At Adventure Island Play Park, Children can board Pirate Pete’s Pirate Ships and chase off enemies with the ball cannon or explore the aerial runways. Under 5s will love speeding down either of the two slides in Polly’s Palm Island while the area for the under 2s has its own mini slides and baby bouncers.
There’s even laser tag for older children and a food and drink area where mums and dads can relax.
Location: Lowestoft, NR33 7NL
Information: For opening times and prices, please see website.
Stay nearby: Golden Rise Cottage, Lowestoft | sleeps 6 and 3 dogs
Lowestoft cottages
Start planning your holiday in Suffolk
What are you planning on getting up to during your holiday? No matter what the weather does, you’ll be sorted with these rainy-day activities in Suffolk.
Head to Gainsborough’s House to take in magnificent artwork or let the kids splash about the Felixstowe Leisure Centre. Venture to the coast and make the most of the stunning location even with grey clouds overhead, or explore rural Suffolk uncovering a wealth of fun activities and destinations.
Begin planning an unforgettable break to this wonderful corner of the UK by browsing our collection of Suffolk cottages. With a stay in one of these fantastic escapes, you won’t want to leave your home from home, even when the sun is shining!
Suffolk cottages