Things to do in Brighton on a rainy day

Brighton has plenty of warm, sunny days and an array of things to do and see when the weather is lovely. However, when the rain falls and the air gets chilly, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty of great activities you can find indoors. Here are some things to do in Brighton on a rainy day so you can still enjoy sightseeing and make the most of your time in this fantastic city.

01

Visit the Brighton Toy and Model Museum

The Brighton Toy and Model Museum is one of the best places for a family day out when it’s raining. The museum has a fantastic collection of over 10,000 historic toys and models from the UK and Europe, including model trains, construction toys, radio-controlled aircraft, puppets and more. Some of the museum’s highlights include the Glamour of Brighton exhibit featuring model trains and railways, a quarter-scale steam engine, a motorised miniature Ferris wheel and a radio-controlled model Spitfire aircraft.

02

Explore Preston Manor

Preston Manor is a fantastic Georgian manor house with 20 elegant reception rooms to explore on a tour during a rainy day. You can see the servants’ quarters, the butler’s pantry, the kitchen, the maids’ rooms and lots more, giving you a glimpse into the upstairs and downstairs life of the past. For more thrills, take a ghost tour or try an immersive murder mystery game that takes place on-site.

03

See the Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is a must-see attraction in Brighton and the perfect place to spend a rainy day. The exotic palace was built as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV, giving it a unique blend of Regency glamour and dramatic Mughal (Indian) architecture. During a tour, you’ll see various ornately decorated rooms in the palace, such as the saloon, the Prince Regent Gallery and the royal bedrooms. Pavilion tours feature expert guides who offer tales and anecdotes about this landmark’s unique history. The pavilion is also surrounded by formal gardens that are worth exploring if the rain’s not too heavy.

04

Get creative at the Painting Pottery Cafe

The Painting Pottery Cafe is a fun and quirky place to spend a rainy day. This hands-on art centre offers plenty of activities to enhance and engage your creativity, such as ceramics to paint, clay to sculpt, workshops to attend and more. There’s no better way to remember your trip than by creating your own fun and unique memento. For those travelling with family, this is definitely a rainy-day activity that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

05

Find enchantment at the Wizard’s Attic

Located within the Brighton & Hove Museum of Creativity, the Wizard’s Attic toy gallery is an excellent learning and discovery centre for children. The interactive exhibit features a wizard’s workshop divided between modern-day and Victorian themes with model trains, toy soldiers, dolls, mechanical toys and teddy bears. Some of the collection’s highlights include German bisque dolls, Pierotti portrait dolls of the royal family, dollhouses with different architectural designs, British and French automata, clockwork toys, a German push-along train and rare Steiff bears.

06

Challenge yourself at Bewilder Box

The Bewilder Box Escape Room offers a fun-filled adventure game that requires you to complete puzzles and challenges against the clock to gain your freedom from a series of locked rooms. You’ll find various versions of the game that allow you to compete as a team, both featuring rich storylines and cult ’80s characters for the ultimate in entertainment. With professional performers and in-built cinematic features, this is an escape room experience with a thrilling twist.

07

Discover natural wonders at the Booth Museum of Natural History

The Booth Museum of Natural History is a great place to spend a rainy day, whether you have the kids or you’re on your own. The museum features an array of Victorian taxidermy, fossils, bones and animal skeletons, particularly of British bird species. You can even see extinct animals such as the dodo bird and woolly rhinoceros, as well as large and rare animals like whales and primates. The museum also has a massive collection of preserved butterflies and Victorian curiosities, such as a merman.

08

Take the kids to the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

Visiting the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is the perfect way to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day. Housed in the grounds of the magnificent Royal Pavilion, the museum is home to collections from the Royal Pavilion Estate as well as exhibitions on decorative art, world art, fine art, film and media, oral history and social history. Kids will love the natural sciences collection, which includes British birds and insects, and the toy collection, containing historic dolls and toys dating back to the 18th century.

Ready to plan your trip?

Whether rain or shine, Brighton has tonnes of exciting things to see and do. If you’re planning a trip to Brighton, take a look at deals on Brighton hotels from Expedia to save on your next holiday.