A local’s guide to the best things to do in rainy London; secret churches, immersive experiences and unique shows, these are top activities when it rains!
No one can say for sure, ever, when it’s going to start raining in London; but we just know it will.
The city’s known for being whimsical when it comes to the sun and cloud balance.
Just because it rains, though, doesn’t mean the city stops living: it just guides us to wonderful interiors, historical sites and experiences you wouldn’t necessarily think of when it’s sunny out.
And don’t be mistaken.
Just because you’re visiting London in the summer, doesn’t mean it’s not going to rain: always pack a rain jacket just in case, or maybe, treat yourself to a new one from one of the Oxford Street shops!
Rainy London: 25+ Things to Do When It’s Pouring Buckets
In this guide, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite activities to do in rainy London; whether you’re in Central London or in the outer boroughs, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Yes, even when the weather would almost lead you to think otherwise.
Keep reading, and you’ll find plenty of unique, cheap, and completely free things to do in London when it’s raining!
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Visit the Secret Crypt at St Bride’s Church
St Bride’s Church on Fleet Street is one of my favorite churches in the City of London; I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve visited it.
The Crypt Museum is one of London’s free museums, unique in that you really don’t need to book, and wouldn’t expect to learn about nearly 2000 years of London history beneath what seems like a simple church.
And yet, you’ll be able to see Roman ruins there, a Medieval chapel, Norman and Saxon remains, and learn about the church’s connection to the printing and journalism industries that Fleet Street was once famous for in all of the UK.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Discover the medieval Charterhouse close to Barbican
The Charterhouse, close to the Barbican Centre, is one of my favorite historical sites in London; just like St Bride’s Church, it gets overly atmospherical when it’s raining.
The Charterhouse was originally founded in 1371 as a Carthusian monastery, and evolved into a Tudor mansion, a school, and now, still, an almshouse.
I usually visit by myself and treat myself to a new book about London from the small gift shop – feel free to explore the beautiful chapel, the small museum, and marvel at the secret garden at the front of the Charterhouse!
When you’re done, you’ll find you’re close to the Smithfield neighborhood, one of the oldest areas of London: if it’s still raining, do spend some time admiring the grand St Bartholomew the Great church!
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Discover Free Exhibitions at the Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is a refuge whether it’s raining or not: it’s not only a completely free study spot, but you also have lots of free exhibitions and events going on at all times of the year.
So, if rain dampens your outdoor plans, spend some time at the Curve Gallery, with its contemporary art installations, and, on designated days, you can also discover the wonderful Barbican Conservatory and its serene indoor garden.
Close to the Barbican Conservatory, you also have St Giles Cripplegate church; not the biggest in the city, but one of the oldest – it faces the Barbican Centre, so it’s pretty easy to find!
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Ride the Mail Rail
London’s Mail Rail is an underground miniature train ride at the Postal Museum, which was originally built to transport mail between Paddington, West London, and Whitechapel, East London.
The Mail Rail hasn’t been in operation since 2003, and in 2017, a section of the line was repurposed for visitors to ride it for about 20 minutes.
Again, we’re really close to the City of London, since we’re around Clerkenwell, one of London’s secret areas, also dubbed Little Italy, but with so much more to offer than rich Italian cultural and foodie spots.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Immersive Experience or Escape Room
When it’s raining in London, you always have the option of booking an immersive experience, which really color the London entertainment scene.
Escape the rain and solve puzzles in an escape room, grab your group of friends and try the Alice in Wonderland VR Escape Room, Aim Escape, The Crystal Maze or Killer Escape.
Crimes, puzzles, clues – you get a limited time to solve riddles and move on to the next room, eventually winning the game.
The activity is more suited to young adults and adults, and definitely one of the best things to do in London.
And if you’re not feeling like solving crimes, there are many immersive experiences in London to participate in, and immersive plays as well!
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Victoria & Albert Museum, South Kensington
The Victoria & Albert Museum passes as another one of the best free things to do in London – come rain or shine.
This place is huge and gorgeous to no end.
One of the places I would highly recommend visiting is the statues room; glorious, with a replica of Michelangelo’s David.
The V&A Museum hosts plenty of fashion collections as well, and the Museum shop also happens to be one of the most unique shops in London.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Visit Covered Markets
Located just two/three minutes away from Covent Garden station, the Apple Market is not only covered, but its collection of stalls selling anything from costume jewelry to antiques makes it one of the must-visit markets in London.
If you’re around London Bridge, it is true that most of Borough Market has a lot of streets that involve walking in the rain.
However, there are covers and dozens of food stalls there that allow you to still enjoy a lovely time without the usual commotion.
If you’d rather be fully protected, visiting Camden Market is another good option.
There, from cheap eats to pastel de nata and trendy clothes shops, you really have lots of good places to eat, walk around and rest.
And if you’d like to find some more unusual places to visit, the Mercato Mayfair located inside an old church is another really cool thing to do!
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Stand-Up Comedy
There are a few comedy clubs in London that make for a cool activity when it rains, like The Comedy Store or the Soho Theatre.
In Camden, close to Camden Town station and all the cool charity shops on Camden High Street, you have one of the most famous laughing spots.
It’s raining in the city and you don’t know what to do?
The Camden Comedy Club is completely free to enter, and you can even check upcoming events on their website.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Visit the British Library
The British Library is one of the quietest study spots in London, and an amazing place to get some productive work done.
If you love books, you have the option of coming here to read a book or work on your laptop, or you can visit Daunt Books in Marylebone.
It’s not located too far, it’s one of the most beautiful bookshops in London, and it also allows you to browse books and read for a while.
It gets moody, and super comfortable.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Visit the Old Operating Theatre in London Bridge
The Old Operating Theatre in London Bridge is another really cool sheltered escape for a rainy day in London: a historical, striking sight!
The theatre is hidden away in the attic of the 18th century St Thomas’s Church, and was transformed into an operating theatre around 1822; the oldest surviving place of the sort in Europe.
Medicine enthusiasts, you’ll find the Old Operating Theatre offers a truly immersive journey into 19th century medicine, complete with medical tools and an operating table.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Get Inspired at Liberty of London
Liberty of London is a must-visit department store; since it’s located in Soho, at the corner of Carnaby Street, it’s really easy to access.
Of course, the Liberty patterns and fabrics are one of the things to buy in London if you want a proper souvenir, but only admiring without buying doesn’t take anything away from the experience in my opinion.
If you’re looking for proper British shops, Liberty is it; fashion, makeup, high-end perfume brands, you’ll find everything and more there, and can easily kill an hour or two there.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Catch a Movie at Curzon Soho
You’ll find quite a few cheap cinemas in London, and lots of independent cinemas for a good moment at the movies.
When it’s rainy in London, one of the most relaxing things to do is to get a movie ticket at one of the independent or luxury cinemas, like the Electric Cinema or the Curzon Soho.
The Electric Cinema can be found on Portobello Road, one of Notting Hill’s colorful streets, and even the shop window is absolutely gorgeous.
Curzon Soho, however, offers you the gift of location as it’s close to all the delicious Chinatown restaurants.
But if you’re on a budget, visit Genesis Cinema in East London, and you’ll get here some of the cheapest tickets in town!
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Tate Modern
One of the best things to do in London Bridge is to discover the Tate Modern, which is filled with permanent and gorgeous temporary exhibitions.
When it’s raining in London and you’re living on a budget, one of the top choices you can make is visiting one of the free museums.
There are many, from the Tate Modern to the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Serpentine Gallery…
And even more unusual places, like Sir John Soane’s Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, in Holborn – one of the museum houses I love the most.
Whether you’re alone or in the company of friends and family, make sure to give this one a try as you might expand your imagination and creativity.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Afternoon Tea
Many visitors traveling to London for the first time include an afternoon tea experience in their plans, and there are many different kinds of afternoon tea.
I would recommend some of the grand-themed ones, such as magic-themed afternoon tea experiences of the kind you’ll find at Cutter and Squidge in Soho.
If you’re able to afford something way more luxurious I would suggest having the famous afternoon experience at the Ritz.
Or you can also visit one of London’s instagrammable cafes to create your own custom afternoon tea!
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Go on a Stately Home or Palace Tour
That’s right, what better way to enjoy the day than by taking a tour of the royal life experience?
Well, there are several tours you can take to visit the Houses of Parliament, including visiting the inside of Elizabeth’s Tower (Big Ben) itself.
There are, in addition, countless secret palaces and castles in London to discover – whether you want to stay in Central London or are willing to make your way to places like Eltham Palace or Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham!
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Natural History Museum, South Kensington
The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are both located in South Kensington, one of the poshest areas in London.
Two of the best free museums you’ll encounter in town, with endless galleries and oh so many things to learn about history, science and health!
If you’re looking for the best free things to do in London when it rains, don’t overlook those two places.
There are lots of cafes to work nearby if you feel like studying after a visit to the museum.
A fun thing to do with friends, alone or with family – for all ages!
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Spend Some Time at Stanfords Bookshop
The only travel and map bookshop in London, Stanfords on Mercer Walk is also a beautiful bookshop to wander around, what with the maps on the floor and the rows upon rows of colorful globes.
If you happen to have some cash, there’s also a cute little coffee shop inside Stanfords for a quick coffee, and if you don’t, then discovering your next reads is also a really cool thing to do.
Close by, St Martin’s Courtyard, with its colorful lights and covered passageway, is another beautiful place to protect yourself from the rain and, for more artistic sights, the nearby London Graphic Centre is also big enough to wander inside for a bit.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: British Museum
One of the best free things to do in London when it rains is to visit the British Museum.
This is a huge, beautiful building filled with History which contains some of the most famous artifacts in the world, including the Rosetta Stone.
From Roman ruins to Greek art and Egyptian pharaohs’ stone busts, there’s so much to see at the British Museum you can easily forget yourself there for a few hours.
You’re really close to Tottenham Court Road, with some really cute cafes and bookshops worth visiting.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square
Close to Leicester Square, Covent Garden and The Strand, Trafalgar Square is a place I love spending time at to see gorgeous Christmas lights.
Yet, when it rains, inside the National Portrait Gallery I go.
Inside, the collections of royal portraits and other significant historical figures are housed inside some of the prettiest rooms ever, very much remindful of the Roman palaces I love so much.
If you’re not into painting, you will also find a few sculptures, stunning ceilings and maximalist decor very much worth a glance or two, especially when it’s raining and you’re tight on budget.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Wallace Collection, Marylebone
Located in an 18th century mansion in the beautiful Marylebone neighborhood, just off Oxford Street, the Wallace Collection is one of the most beautiful, free museums in London.
From sculptures to striking stairs, armor rooms, fine paintings and furniture so beautiful you won’t believe your eyes, the Wallace Collection makes for a hidden gem that, well, should not stay hidden.
Especially not when it’s raining cats and dogs, and especially not when you can stumble upon works by Rembrandt or Velázquez when walking from one extravagant room to the next.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Admire Central London’s Shopping Arcades
If you’re more into beautiful architecture rather than mere shopping, another one of my favorite free things to do in Central London when it rains is spending time in the shopping arcades dotted around the area.
Piccadilly and Regent Street are best to see some beautiful shopping arcades, like the Royal Arcade or Burlington Arcade.
They’re not only filled with luxury perfume brands, jewelers and clothing shops, but also make for striking historical sites.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Catch a West End Show
Why not indulge yourself in a funny afternoon in London gorging yourself on Cabaret music in West London?
Enjoy a show at one of London’s renowned theatres, such as the West End or the Globe Theatre.
However, if you are traveling to London with kids, there are kid-friendly musicals waiting like Frozen and Matilda the Musical to be seen.
From free comedy shows in Camden to plays around Shaftesbury Avenue, you can snatch some really cheap theater tickets in London using some tricks online too, like the CentralTickets website (and I mean, really cheap!).
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Tower of London
One of the most famous palaces in London is the Tower of London, and to visit it is to learn about the fascinating London past.
The Tower of London is an internationally famous monument, one of England’s iconic structures, and one of the wonders of the World!
So when you’re visiting and looking for the true blue landmarks in London, it’s really a monument you can’t overlook.
The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1066 as a demonstration of Norman power, and you can today admire the Crown Jewels there too.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Spend Some Time at the Outernet
Right outside of the Tottenham Court Road station (namely on the Northern Line and Central Line), Outernet at the Now Building is an immersive space that only requires you to step in and look up.
Dazzling, the immersive exhibitions showcasing anything from butterflies to Christmas landscapes are displayed all year round, for free, and are a great way to break away from rainy Central London for a bit.
Let’s not forget we’re close to Charing Cross Road’s TK Maxx here, so you can do all of these activities in one go if you have some time to spare.
There are always three to five immersive installations going on at the Outernet, and it’s so mind blowing that I definitely recommend you do that at least once.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Charles Dickens Museum
If you want to learn about the life and art of Charles Dickens, his Georgian terraced house is available to visit, and it’s not even far from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.
Well, not that much.
You can visit the house of the famous A Christmas Carol author at Doughty Street in King’s Cross, in the London Borough of Camden.
There are actually quite a few gorgeous palaces in London worth a sight when it’s raining and you don’t really know what to do.
There is a difference between palaces and stately homes, and the historic house of Charles Dickens, which has been turned into a Museum, is a really dreamy spot.
Things to Do When It Rains in London: Sir John Soane’s Museum, Holborn
While reaching the Sir John Soane’s Museum will require a bit of walk, we’re actually close to the end of Long Acre, one of my favorite streets in Covent Garden.
And even if it’s pouring rain, this free museum located on the shores of the Holborn area is an unmissable sight.
Former home of architect Sir John Soane, who namely worked on the Tivoli Corner in the City of London, the museum is indeed filled with Soane’s huge, personal collection.
A breathtaking collection at that, ranging from Roman to Egyptian artifacts, fine sculptures and paintings, and period rooms so beautiful you won’t want to leave.
What to Do When It’s Raining in London: Wellcome Collection
The Wellcome Collection is another free museum that I feel isn’t talked about enough.
We’re on Euston Road here, at the end of Tottenham Court Road, and close to Warren Street station.
An anatomy, medicine and health museum, the Wellcome Collection is a very picturesque place that offers free exhibitions all year round, with a secret, completely free library you can spend some time at with a good book while staying dry.
Rainy London: 25+ Things to Do When It’s Pouring Buckets
Thus ends this guide to Rainy London; you’ll hopefully have found here lots of new things to do in the city, whether solo, with kids, friends, or family!
There are many more secret spots in London you can check out when the weather is gloomy –
Check out my guides to the best hidden gems in London, East London, West London, North London and South London to find them all.
In addition, these are a few spots I’ve been loving for ages now, that you can also include on your bucket list: