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Sometimes, the UK weather will drive you crazy – and that’s something I wish I knew before going to London for the first time.
The sad wrath of the weather shouldn’t bring you down, though, when you know all about things to do in London when it rains!
After a while, you get used to the weather, and from free art galleries to some really unique shops, you will quickly forget about the rain.
Promise!
21 Best Things to Do in London When It Rains
Whether you’re looking for things to do in London at night or when it rains, you will definitely find cool places to visit.
Well, if you’re more of a church ruin type of person, that’s not the moment you’ll visit.
Same thing when it comes to visiting all the secret gardens I love so much.
If you are planning to travel to London but are scared it will rain, don’t worry.
You can still really have a blast walking around some of the best museums in London, shopping centers, and guided tours!
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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.
And of course, there are many shops in Oxford Street nearby which are the perfect destination when it’s raining in London.
Read: The Cutest Pink Places in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Watch the Cabaret
That’s right.
One of the best places to go on a rainy day in London is to visit theaters or lively bars that offer live shows.
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, you can snatch some really cheap theater tickets in London using some tricks online too, like the CentralTickets website (and I mean, really cheap!).
Read: The Best Free Rooftops in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Tour of Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament
That’s right, what better way to enjoy the day than by taking a tour of the royal life experience?
Obviously, if you’re going to go on self walking tours in London when it rains, you’re going to want to stay inside.
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.
Visits to Buckingham Palace are now open for the summer, and these tours are always something entertaining – and magical – to do during a rainy day!
Read: The Best Free Views in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Tate Modern or the National Gallery
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…
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.
Both the National Gallery and the Tate Modern are free to access except for temporary exhibitions, but when it’s about Yayoi Kusama, that’s some quids well spent.
Read: St Dunstan in the East – London Church Ruins
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Harrods or Selfridges
When it’s raining in London, one of the most sensible things to do is to go on a shopping spree at iconic department stores like Harrods or Selfridges.
Harrods is a department store located in Knightsbridge, where you’ll find over 3,000 brands that revolve around fashion, haute couture, makeup, shoes, accessories, food, perfume and much more.
Some of the most famous luxury candle brands can be found at Harrods, which also offers a stunning Egyptian Hall.
This Egyptian Hall is precisely one of the best hidden gems in London, carefully crafted and oh so detailed.
Selfridges is located on Oxford Street, and you’ll find some of the best makeup stores in London right inside this huge building.
Beautiful architecture here too, with anything from some of the best macarons in London to Louis Vuitton bags and Natasha Denona palettes.
Read: The Most Secret Places in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Brick Lane Beigel Shop & Beigel Bake
If you really want to walk around Brick Lane’s street art when it’s raining, you’ll have to stop at a couple of shops, coffee shops and restaurants along the way – you’ll be soaked wet otherwise.
First stop, one of the best hot chocolate spots in London with Dark Sugars, a must visit for some gorgeous hot drinks.
If you’re looking for street food, you’ll find the best bagels in London at Beigel Shop and Beigel Bake – two institutions in the surroundings.
Beigel Shop is a favorite, but there’s not much difference – only Beigel Shop offers some beautiful rainbow bagels that are almost too beautiful to eat.
However, none of these places offer seating space, so you also have the option of visiting Kahaila, a rustic coffee shop in which you can hang out for hours.
They also offer amazing rainbow cakes which taste is unmatched – and beautiful Red Velvet cake too!
And then, I’d say a visit to the underground Shoreditch markets located further down on Brick Lane is also a cool thing to do when it rains in London!
Read: The Best Cinnamon Buns in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Natural History Museum or Science Museum
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 in Kensington 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!
Read: The Cutest Bakeries in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Churchill Arms Pub
The Churchill Arms is easily one of the most beautiful pubs in London, and a perfect spot to stop by on a rainy day.
I never recommend drinking alcohol, but I feel like the real magic of gorgeous London pubs lies in their decorations.
You have another one of the prettiest pubs in London in London Bridge on Tooley Street, with a very different vibe too!
At the Churchill Arms, the real magic lies in the stunning floral outdoor decoration that changes seasonally.
Whether you’re looking for Christmas decorations or beautiful spring arrangements, the colors and vibes remain unmatched!
And for some good pub grub, obviously, you’ll be well-served at the Churchill Arms!
Read: The Best French Patisseries in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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 and cute Harry Potter shops in Soho.
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!
Read: The Most Beautiful Restaurants in Mayfair
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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.
Read: The Best TK Maxx in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour
You might have to plan your visit to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour in advance, but at times, you can snatch a last minute ticket.
There are plenty of Harry Potter locations in London that require the sun so you don’t get soaked, like walking from London Bridge to Leadenhall Market.
If you can manage to get a ticket to the Harry Potter studios, delve into the magical world of the famous wizard and you will kill at least a half day.
One of my favorite things to do in London when it rains, and well worth the price!
Read: The Complete London Travel Guides
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Let’s play D&D!
We have quite a few good board game cafes in London, and when it rains, it’s really cool to team up with your friends – or people you don’t know – to play a good game.
Not necessarily a TTRPG, however, do enjoy a leisurely afternoon with hot drinks, pastries, and the sounds of people racing to the win.
There are tons of alternative ways to spend a good classic moody day in rainy London, either at home or out in the city.
If you live in London, you could even invite some friends over, order some food and have fun!
Read: The Best Things to Buy in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Chocolates
There are a few amazing chocolate shops in London that need a visit if you fancy the tastiest chocolates of your life.
These include the Harrod’s’ Chocolate Hall, Pierre Marcolini, Rococo, Artisan du Chocolate and Cartografie amongst many others.
Shopping in London really is one of the best things to do when it rains, and what could be better than a tasting experience?
During winter, when the weather is angriest, popping by a chocolate shop on Regent Street or at a stand at Selfridges just makes sense!
Read: The Must Have Apps to Survive in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Visit London’s Markets
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 beautiful 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!
Read: How to Eat in London on a Budget
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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.
Read: The Best Coffee Shops in Shoreditch
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Victoria and Albert Museum
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.
I don’t think you’d be able to see the entire museum in one day, but the weather is also really moody in London.
So if you’re looking for free things to do in London when it rains, visit the V&A Museum piece by piece, and you’ll really be impressed with the beauty of the collections.
Really.
Read: The Best Cafes to Work in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Afternoon Tea Experience
Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at one of London’s charming tea rooms.
Many visitors traveling to London for the first time include this experience in their plans, and there are many different kinds of afternoon tea.
It makes all the sense given the tradition.
I would recommend some of the grand-themed ones, such as Harry Potter-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!
Read: The Cutest Pink Cafes in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Escape Rooms
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!
Read: The Most Instagrammable Restaurants in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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.
Read: The Best Things to Do in Camden Town
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: 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.
Read: The Best Vegan Doughnuts in London
Best Things to Do in London When it Rains: Jazz Clubs
There are a good few jazz clubs in London, with the most famous being Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho.
And if you like music, from cozy to fancy private places and more rustic vibes, you’ll love attending a good live performance.
Some of the best jazz clubs in town include The Piano Bar in Soho, 606 Club, Jazz Cafe Posk and Jazzbourne amongst others.
You’ll find a few in Central London, where nightlife is a huge part of the area – take yourself on a date, or make new friends in London and discover a new type of music together!
Read: The Best Doughnuts in London
21 Best Things to Do in London When It Rains
There you have them, all the best things to do in London when it rains!
Don’t waste the opportunity to explore all the prettiest neighborhoods and places in London just because it’s raining – otherwise, you might actually never travel here!
Smile, enjoy, and the weather in London is so unpredictable it will most likely be sunny in a few… before it starts raining again.
All that’s left to do is know how to pack for London efficiently, and that’ll be one less worry!
Until next time!
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