Don’t let the rain stop play! There are plenty of things to do on a rainy day in York, and these are some of the best indoor activities, whether you fancy visiting an attraction, losing yourselves in a movie or getting creative and making something lovely to take home with you.
Rainy days in York – Best indoor activities
There are lots of indoor activities in York, which is great news for families. But before you plan a whole day inside, it’s good to know that York is a fantastic place to visit with kids, even if the weather isn’t on your side. Here’s our guide to the best walks around York. Wrap up warm, grab your coats and get exploring! Without further ado, here’s your go-to guide for rainy days in York. To help you plan quickly and easily, we’ve grouped everything into sections with tips, ages and links.
RECOMMENDED
💰 The best free and cheap things to do in York
🪄The best Harry Potter things to do in York
🛌 The best places to stay in York with kids
🤪 The best unusual things to do in York
👶 The best things to do in York with a baby/toddler
😀 Read the Little Vikings Family Guide to York
😎 The best things to do with older kids and teens in York
💶 Save money with the Little Vikings Family Card
At a glance – Fun indoor ideas
– National Railway Museum: Engines, hands-on activities and the wonderful Wonderlab
– JORVIK Viking Centre: Travel back in time to Viking York
– York Castle Museum: A fabulous museum with an iconic recreated Victorian street and much more
– The Yorkshire Museum: Dinosaurs, Vikings and Romans
– York’s Chocolate Story: Discover the sweet history of York’s chocolate past
– Stockeld Park: Home to the largest indoor play area in Europe, PlayHive!
– Rainbows Ceramics: Paint something lovely at this ceramics studio
– York Art Gallery: Explore the collections and enjoy hands-on activities
– The Web Adventure Park: Huge soft play area, with a big outdoor adventure playground too
– Hollywood Bowl: Family bowling, arcades and more
– Agility York: A fun ninja warrior course for bigger kids and adults
– Swimming pools and leisure centres: York Sport, Energise, York Leisure Centre and more
– Explore York Libraries
– Cinemas and theatres: City Screen, Everyman York, Vue, York Theatre Royal, the Grand Opera House York
– The Hole in Wand: Wizard minigolf in the heart of York
– The Potions Academy: Learn the ways of the wizard at York’s own Potion School!
🌦 Museums & Major Indoor Attractions
National Railway Museum – Indoor Galleries and Wonderlab
Explore, learn and play at the National Railway Museum, unofficially York’s umbrella as it’s the perfect rainy day spot in York. There’s lots for children to see and do, with incredible engines and hands-on activities galore. There’s a small indoor play area for younger children, and you can take a ride on the miniature train (small charge) or the road train into town (small charge). Children’s activities run during the school holidays. The new interactive gallery, Wonderlab, is fabulous and, although you’ll need to pay to enter, you can easily spend a few hours there (read our review of Wonderlab here).
Ages: All ages
Why it’s great on a rainy day: Huge indoor spaces; plenty to explore; play area for little ones; free entry
Little Vikings tip: Pre-book Wonderlab for guaranteed entry
📍 National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, YO26 4XJ
🔗 railwaymuseum.org.uk
JORVIK Viking Centre
Travel back to Viking-age York without getting wet at JORVIK Viking Centre, one of the city’s top attractions. The famous ride through the recreated village is warm, dry and a fascinating way to bring Viking history to life. It’s also really memorable – our kids still talk about their first visit.
Ages: 3+ (all welcome, but note that it’s a dark experience that could be intense for little ones)
Why it’s great: Fully indoors; engaging ride that’s unlike anything else in York.
📍 JORVIK Viking Centre, Coppergate, YO1 9WT
⭐️ Little Vikings Family Card offer: Save 20% on admission with our special discount code
🔗 jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk
York Castle Museum – Indoor Victorian Street & Galleries
One of our favourite museums in York – and a real memory-maker – is York Castle Museum. Step onto Kirkgate and wander through recreated Victorian shops, homes and historic displays. There’s a lot to see, so you can easily make a full morning or afternoon of it, and it’s a great way to escape the rain. We can’t get through a visit without a trip to the Victorian sweet shop for a lolly or sugar mouse!
Ages: All ages
Why it’s great: Brilliant immersive indoor spaces; lots to discover; great value tickets valid for 12 months; York kids go free.
📍 York Castle Museum, Eye of York, YO1 9RY
🔗 yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk
York Minster – Children’s trails and the Undercroft
On a gloomy day, York Minster is a calm, awe-inspiring indoor space where families can wander through centuries of history. Explore the vast nave, look for carvings and creatures, and pop down to the atmospheric Undercroft Museum. Pick up one of the many children’s trails, and why not borrow a kids’ explorer backpack too?
- Ages: All ages
- Why it’s great on a rainy day: Loads to see and it’s fully indoors. Plenty of hands-on activities for kids
- 📍 York Minster, Deangate, YO1 7HH
- 🔗 yorkminster.org
The Yorkshire Museum – Dinosaurs, Romans and more
From Vikings to Roman York, the Yorkshire Museum has legendary status among York’s children who know it as ‘the Dinosaur Museum’. It’s right in the heart of York Museum Gardens, if you do feel like braving the rain!
Ages: 4+
Why it’s great: Hands-on activities and engaging exhibitions; free for York kids. Tickets valid for 12 months.
📍 The Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens, YO1 7FR
🔗 yorkshiremuseum.org.uk
Dig
DIG is the younger sibling of JORVIK Viking Centre, and it’s perfect for curious kids. They’ll get hands-on in the dig pits, encounter amazing artefacts and enjoy the latest exhibitions.
Ages: All welcome, but brilliant for primary age kids
Why it’s great: It’s York’s only attraction that’s totally aimed at kids (although adults very welcome!)
📍 DIG St Saviour Church, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN
⭐️ Little Vikings Family Card offer: Save 20% on admission with our special discount code
🔗 digyork.co.uk
York’s Chocolate Story – Explore York’s sweet history
The guided tour of York’s Chocolate Story is a delicious journey through York’s chocolate-making past, with a few sweet treats along the way. You’ll even make your own chocolate creation to take home (if you can wait that long – we never can!).
Ages: All, but best for 4+
Why it’s great on a rainy day: It’s a lovely way to explore York’s chocolate history, with added treats!
📍 York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, YO1 7LD
⭐️ Little Vikings Family Card discount: Save 20% on admission with the Little Vikings Family Card discount
🔗 yorkschocolatestory.com
🌧 Creative & Crafty Fun
Rainbows Ceramics Paint-Your-Own Pottery
A rainy day is the perfect excuse to paint a pot, tile, mug, piggybank or anything else at York’s popular ceramic painting place on Bootham. Refreshments are available, too, if you need some fuel for your creativity. They also host Little Vikings Award-winning birthday parties.
Ages: All ages
Why it’s great on a rainy day: It’s warm, welcoming and really relaxing
📍 Rainbows Ceramics, 15 Bootham, YO30 7BW
🔗 rainbowsceramics.co.uk
⭐️ Use your Little Vikings Family Card for a 10% discount at Rainbows Ceramics
🏃♀️ Active Indoor Fun & Entertainment
Rainy days don’t have to mean lazy days: there are plenty of active indoor options in and around York so everyone can run, climb and jump their energy off. Here are some of the best places for family sport and leisure in York.
Wizard Golf at The Hole in Wand
The Hole in Wand is an enchanting minigolf experience in York city centre that’s perfect for young wizards. Head along to the Coppergate Centre for a round or just relax with a potion in the Wizard Tavern (use your Little Vikings Family Card for a special perk).
Ages: 4+ ideally, but all welcome
Why it’s great on a rainy day: Fully indoors; manageable length; brilliant for older kids and tweens
Little Vikings tip: It’s popular, so do book in advance.
📍 The Hole in Wand, 14–16 Coppergate Walk, YO1 9NT
🔗 holeinwand.com
Huge Soft Play at The Web Adventure Park
Let them climb, slide and play to their heart’s content at the Web Adventure Park (formerly known as Creepy Crawlies). There’s a huge indoor climbing frame, play village, football zone, fairground rides, ninja warrior course, animal area, dedicated baby zone and loads more to keep them occupied indoors and out. It’s basically heaven for children, and you can easily stay all day. If the weather perks up, head outside for the massive outdoor adventure play area, to meet the animals and enjoy the fairground rides (check if they’re open before you travel).
Ages: 0–12
Why it’s great: It’s basically heaven for kids, and a total lifesaver for families in York
📍 The Web Adventure Park, Wigginton Road, YO32 2RH
🔗 webadventurepark.co.uk
Tackle the Ninja Warrior Course at Agility York
Agility is an exciting and unique centre, with two ninja warrior style obstacle courses catering for the whole family as well as a small soft play area for younger children. They also have fitness classes (including buggy fit and family fit), parkour and a lovely cafe, The Shack. Their birthday parties have even won a Little Vikings Award.
Ages: 5+ for the big course
Why it’s great: It’s brilliant active fun, and the cafe’s great, too.
📍Agility Parks, Millfield Ln, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6QY
🔗 agilityparks.co.uk
Clip’n’Climb at York Leisure Centre
Families used to have to travel out of York for a clip and climb experience, but not anymore! The Clip ‘N Climb arena at York Leisure Centre at Monks Cross is fantastic, with a huge variety of climbing challenges for all ages from 4+. Book it for an hour or even book a birthday party for some active fun with a difference. They also have swimming, soft play and other activities such as badminton and football.
Ages: 4+
Why it’s great: It’s a fun way for active kids to challenge themselves and work up a sweat!
📍York Leisure Centre, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross Dr, Huntington, York YO32 9AF
🔗 yorkleisure.co.uk
Hollywood Bowl
If bowling’s your thing, Hollywood Bowl is guaranteed to please the whole family. It’s an all-singing, all-dancing experience with arcade games, American diner, and 24 lanes of tenpin fun. There’s even a VIP experience if you feel like splashing out. Just along the road, Tenpin York is another fun bowling option, and they do laser tag too.
Ages: 4+
Why it’s great: Who doesn’t love bowling?!
📍Hollywood Bowl, Kathryn Avenue, Monks Cross Dr, Huntington, York YO32 9AF
🔗 hollywoodbowl.co.uk
Swimming (various pools across York)
With a 25-metre pool and small training pool, York Sport is very popular with families in York looking to swim. They have Little Vikings Award-winning swimming lessons and host birthday parties too. Visit the York Sport website for more info. Energise and York Leisure Centre are also popular choices for families in York looking for swimming, climbing, netball, hockey and much more.
Head to the cinema
City Screen is a lovely city-centre cinema with a fab café and riverside views. It has a regular Saturday morning kids’ club, toddler time (usually a short 30-minute show), Big Scream viewings for parents/carers with babies under a year old and autism-friendly showings (City Screen Picturehouse, 13-17 Coney Street, York YO1 9QL). Everyman York is a sumptuous cinema showing mainstream and arthouse films. There’s a Baby Club so you can take your little one and enjoy a hot drink and cake with your ticket (Everyman York, Odeon Buildings, Blossom Street, York YO24 1AJ; visit the website). Vue is an out-of-town, multiscreen extravaganza showing all major new releases (Vue York, Clifton Moor Centre, Stirling Road, York YO30 4XY). Brand new to the York cinema scene is Cineworld York with thirteen state-of-the-art screens, IMAX and more. Community Stadium, Kathryn Avenue, York YO30 4XY – Visit the Cineworld York website
💸 Free & Cheaper Indoor Ideas
York has plenty of low-cost ways to stay dry on a rainy day:
- – Free entry to the National Railway Museum
- – Explore York Libraries are cosy, welcoming and free to enter
- – Free under-17 entry at York Minster
- – York Designer Outlet has a covered play area that’s free, and loads of free parking
💸 Further afield
These places are well worth heading out of York to on a rainy day (or any other day!):
- Stockeld Park (especially the PlayHive indoor play area
- The Deep, Hull’s huge aquarium
- The Royal Armouries in Leeds – and admission’s free
- Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park
Last updated November 2025
Please always check opening hours, prices and other details before you travel, and always pre-book where necessary.
This guide was written by the Little Vikings editorial team. Little Vikings is an award-winning, independent guide to family-friendly activities in and around York, run by a local family with an in-depth knowledge of the best things to do and places to go.
About Little Vikings – York for Kids
Little Vikings is York’s award-winning family guide, run by a local family who know the city inside out. We explore, review and recommend the best things to do, see, eat and experience with kids in York and beyond.
