12 of the best indoor activities in London when it’s raining

There are some people out there who claim they’re only happy when it rains, but for the rest of us, a downpour can put a literal dampener on our sightseeing plans. Thankfully, there are plenty of things to do indoors in London, many of which are free, starting with the many museums and galleries the capital is known for. Stroll around the Tate Modern for some fantastic contemporary art, or see Old Masters at the National Gallery.

If entertainment’s more your thing, make a beeline for the West End and take in one of its many award-winning plays or musicals. And there is always a classic, historic pub to take shelter in, or you could indulge in the tradition of afternoon tea. Here are the 12 best things to do in London on a rainy day.

The best cultural things to do in London when it’s raining

1. Admire great artworks at the National Gallery

Located in Trafalgar Square, right in the center of the city, the National Gallery is one of London’s most famous and prestigious art galleries. It houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings, dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.

Highlights

Don’t miss classic masterpieces such as George Seurat’s “Bathers at Asnieres, Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, or Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait.

Address and opening hours:

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN, London. Open Saturday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM.

2. Enjoy a fabulous West End show

London is renowned for its West End shows and boasts a vast collection of theaters, dozens of which are clustered around Shaftesbury Avenue and the Strand. Many of them show world-famous, award-winning plays and musicals, like “Cats,” “Les Miserables,” and “The Lion King.”

Insider tip

Most shows have a matinee performance on Saturday afternoons, which is often cheaper than going in the evening.

Address and opening hours:

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D, London. Opening hours vary; check individual theaters.

3. Explore the Tate Modern

Tate Modern houses the UK’s national collection of modern and contemporary art. The building, a former power station by the Thames in London’s Southbank, is as striking as the art it contains, with several floors and terraces offering views over the river. There are regular temporary exhibitions and several permanent collections.

Highlights

The regularly-changing installations in the Turbine Hall are always worth a look; they’ve ranged from Louise Bourgeois’s giant steel and marble spider, “Maman,” to Ai Weiwei’s “Sunflower Seeds” — 100 million individually handcrafted porcelain seeds.

Address and opening hours:

Bankside, SE1 9TG, London. Open 10:00 AM-6:00 PM daily.

4. Travel through time at the British Museum

At the British Museum, you can immerse yourself in two million years of human history, art, and culture; this vast, elegant building in Bloomsbury contains a selection of incredible exhibits from all around the world, including the controversial Elgin Marbles.

Highlights

Unmissable sights include the Rosetta Stone — the key which unlocked the ancient hieroglyphs — a colossal bust of Ramesses the Great, and a statue from Easter Island. Enjoy the spectacular, glass-roofed Great Court on your way in, too.

Address and opening hours:

Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG, London. Open Saturday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM-8:30 PM.

5. Learn about Britain’s royal history at the Tower of London

This Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the Thames that dates as far back as its creator, William the Conqueror. Over 10 centuries, it has served as a prison, royal residence, and treasury. Today it’s perhaps best known as the home of the Crown Jewels.

Here's the ultimate guide to visiting the Tower of London

Highlights

You can meet the famous ravens who live here and learn more about why they are known as the guardians of the tower. Legend says the kingdom will fall if they ever leave.

Address and opening hours:

EC3N 4AB, London. Open Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-4:30 PM (last admission 3:30 PM); Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM (last admission 3:30 PM).

6. Escape into a world of literature at the British Library

The British Library is home to a collection of over 170 million books and documents covering every age of written civilization, from the Magna Carta to Jane Austen's notebooks to lyrics handwritten by the Beatles.

Highlights

All year round, you can visit the Treasures Gallery, where you’ll discover iconic items such as Leonardo da Vinci's manuscripts and the Gutenberg Bible.

Address and opening hours:

96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB, London. Open Monday-Thursday, 9:30 AM-8:00 PM; Friday, 9:30 AM-6:00 PM; Saturday, 9:30 AM-5:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM.

The best shops to visit in London when it’s raining

7. Explore the famous Harrods department store

Harrods, the iconic luxury department store in Knightsbridge, dates from the 1830s, and covers 1.1 million square feet of retail space. It has 330 different areas, spread over eight floors, selling almost everything you can imagine; in fact, in 1969, it even sold a lion. Today you’re more likely to find designer goods as well as an extensive food hall in its opulently sculpted and carved interiors. Escape the cold of winter in London and come here for afternoon tea.

Highlights

Label lovers won't want to miss the Superbrands department on level one. Perfume cognoscenti should head straight to the Salon de Parfums on the sixth floor. And it’s worth doing some upmarket souvenir shopping here too. Hungry? Head to the magnificent food hall where you can buy anything your tastebuds desire, from designer chocolate, champagne, and oysters to freshly baked bread and pies.

Address and opening hours:

87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL, London. Open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 11:30 AM-6:00 PM.

8. Browse the historic Liberty London

This elegant store first opened in 1875, specializing in selling ornaments, fabrics, and objets d’art from Japan and the East. Today it’s still the place to go for fabulous fabrics and furnishings, as well as beauty products, designer clothing, and stylish homewares.

Highlights

The present building on Regent Street, dating from 1924, is in the half-timbered, Tudor style, and was constructed with the wood from two former gunships.

Address and opening hours:

Regent Street, Carnaby, W1B 5AH, London. Open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM-6:00 PM (public holidays, 10:00 AM-8:00 PM).

The best food and drink experiences to enjoy in London when it’s raining

9. Shop til you drop at Borough Market

One of the biggest and oldest London food markets, Borough Market near London Bridge sprawls over 4.5 acres. There are more than 100 stalls, stands, restaurants, bars, and shops selling everything from artisan cheeses to freshly baked bread, traditional Italian gelato, specialty coffee, and wine.

Best time to go

Weekends are when the market is best, but it’s also at its most crowded. You can avoid the crowds by visiting on a weekday afternoon.

Address and opening hours:

SE1 9AL, London. Open Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.

10. Indulge in a traditional afternoon tea

There can be nothing more quintessentially British than the custom of taking afternoon tea. It dates from 1840, when the 7th Duchess of Bedford felt peckish between lunch and dinner, and the habit of having a pot of tea with some small cakes with bread and butter was born. Today, most of London’s finest hotels, from Claridge’s to the Ritz, offer afternoon tea where you’ll get a lavish set of finger sandwiches, elaborate pastries, and scones with cream and jam. There are even some inventive options afternoon tea options among London’s food experiences — scones and prosecco on a double-decker bus, anyone?

Best time to go

Traditionally, afternoon tea is usually taken at around 4:00 PM, but many places will serve it throughout the day, between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Address and opening hours:

Claridges, Brook Street, W1K 4HR, London. Afternoon tea served daily, 2:45 PM-5:30 PM.

11. Enjoy a gin-tasting experience

London has a fascinating history with gin, which became a craze in the 18th century. Today, there are dozens of distilleries and specialized gin bars in the capital, where you can learn about how it’s made, what botanicals and other ingredients are used, and, of course, enjoy a few tastings.

Highlights

Some tasting experiences offer the opportunity to make your own gin, like at The Ginstitute in Notting Hill, which you can customize to your own taste.

Address and opening hours:

The Ginstitute, 186 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LA. Session times vary.

12. Dine or drink in a historic pub

There’s nothing quite like getting cozy and settled at a table or booth inside a good, old-fashioned, British boozer. London has plenty of atmospheric and historic pubs, including The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, the oldest riverside pub in London — dating from 1520 — Holborn’s Ye Olde Mitre Tavern, which has been open since 1546, and the George Inn in Southwark, which has existed since 1583 and was a favorite watering hole of Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.

Best time to go

Head here for lunch or dinner; most old pubs offer simple but tasty food, including substantial sandwiches, fish and chips, and hearty pies.

Address and opening hours:

The Prospect of Whitby, 57 Wapping Wall, E1W 3SH, London. Open Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM-11:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM; Sunday, 12:00 PM-10:00 PM.

FAQs

What cultural activities can I do in London when it’s raining?

Explore world-renowned museums like the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), or the National Gallery, or visit contemporary art spaces such as the Tate Modern or the Saatchi Gallery. You can also check out specialized museums like the Museum of London or the Science Museum.

Are there any covered markets in London I can visit when it’s raining?

Yes, there are several; Borough Market, near the Southbank, is the oldest market in London and has over 100 stalls and traders selling fresh produce and hot food. Greenwich Market in south London has many food stalls but also sells jewelry, antiques, and clothing, while Old Spitalfields Market in east London sells many artisanal and craft products, as well as clothing, jewelry, and homewares.

What indoor entertainment is on offer in London when it’s raining?

Attend a matinee or evening performance of a play or musical in London's famous West End theaters, or visit one of London’s unique movie theaters, like the BFI IMAX or the Regent Street Cinema, the oldest in the city and the birthplace of British cinema.

What are the best shopping destinations to go to in London when it’s raining?

Hamleys on Regent Street is one of the most famous — and oldest — toy shops in the world, set over seven floors with more than 50,000 types of toys for sale. Nearby is Liberty London, a historic and elegant department store specializing in upmarket clothing, jewelry, and homeware, while Selfridges on Oxford Street sells designer clothing, beauty, and accessories and has a vast food hall.

Where are some good places to eat and drink in London when it’s raining?

Pop into a pub for a pint and a pie, or order afternoon tea in an upmarket hotel like Claridges or the Ritz. Borough Market, the largest food market in the city, is largely covered too.