5 Great day out ideas for a rainy day

Now summer has come to an end, we can all expect the weather to go back to overcast days and rainy nights. However, don't cancel that day out just yet. Here are five great days out that you can do, rain-or-shine.

This is probably one of the first things we all think of when it starts raining, so museums can often be filled with people looking to escape the showers. This can make getting into a museum very difficult, but, with a little forward planning, getting in can be a breeze. Simply keep up to date with your weather app and book slots ahead on rainy days.

There are some great museums across the UK, that you can easily find yourself getting lost in for hours. If you’re in London and you have children, few museums can inspire such wonder as the Natural History Museum. If you’re an art fan, why not see the cutting edge of art at the Tate Modern or look back in time, at the National Portrait Gallery. There are plenty of great museums outside of London too, such as the Tate Liverpool, the Manchester Art Gallery or the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Museums are a great way to see some culture and get out of the rain, so don’t write them off just for being busy.

This may sound odd at first, given our first thought when it rains is to go inside. However, a walk in the rain can not only be fun, but it can also clear the mind. The sound of rain is something we all find relaxing, so grabbing an umbrella when it rains and heading out can be a great experience. It can give you a new perspective on where you live, as the streets become empty with everyone inside.

When you see rain has been forecasted, heading to your local pub or favourite bar can brighten your day. Since everyone is heading inside, a pub or a bar can be a really exciting place to go. You might see some old friends or make some new ones, or perhaps have a quiet drink with your family.

There are some great bars in London that are not just inside, but underground; Bar Americain is a great choice, if you’re looking for an intimate, glamorous setting with a prohibition era theme. Pubs are in no short supply in London, so simply head down to your local. There are some amazing bars all over the UK, such as Wilson's Social in Manchester and Twisted Lemon in Brighton, so heading down to your favourite pub or bar can be a great way to be social on a rainy day.

Normally when we see the sights, we do it on a sunny day. However, seeing the sights on a rainy day can be just as good, if not better. On a rainy day, tourist spots will be much quieter as many tourists will have gone to shelter from the rain and cold weather. Trafalgar Square in London, the Angel of the North in the North East and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol are just a few examples of some of the great sights you could visit. 

An overcast day can be a great backdrop on any photos you take that day too. If you asked someone to picture a day in London or in Manchester, they’d probably imagine one with a typical grey sky, so be sure to bring your camera with you.

An indoor market can make a rainy day feel like a day in summer, as you weave through crowds and find bargains. At an indoor market, you can get away from the rain, have something to eat and find something you love.

Britain is famed for its indoor markets, from Affleck’s in Manchester to Snoopers Paradise in Brighton. There are so many indoor markets to choose from, each with a variety of stalls, so you can find anything that you are looking for. 

Banner credit: Couple in the rain (Sanja Radin)