Things to do in Cornwall in the rain: 21 indoor and wet weather activities

Things to do in Cornwall when its raining

Royal Cornwall Museum

The Royal Cornwall Museum is a celebration of Cornish art and culture located in Truro, West Cornwall – and is ideal for a rainy day visit. There is a dynamic timetable of events and a whole host of exhibitions throughout the year. Many include family activities (such as costumes and interactive workshops), but for the grown ups there are also monthly talks and museum lates. Their full programme of activity can be found on their website.

Location: Truro, Cornwall

Opening Times: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 16:00. (Open Monday-Saturday during school holidays)

Pricing: Adult tickets (including an annual pass): £7.50. Under 18s: Free entry

Falmouth Art Gallery

The Falmouth Art Gallery may not be large, but it’s always interesting, with a broad and eclectic collection. Their events and exhibitions programme changes regularly, with works from their permanent collection displayed alongside work from local artists, community groups, major museum loans, school children and students, so there’s always something interesting and local to see. Their events cater for all ages and would make a great visit if you have a spare couple of hours on a wet day.

Location: Falmouth, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 16:00, Wednesday 10:00 – 13:00

Pricing: Free entry

Pendennis Castle

Enjoy a breathtaking 360º view from the top of Pendennis Castle, an artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII between 1540-1542 which formed part of the King’s Device programme to defend and protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire. Here you can explore Cornwall’s past through indoor displays including gun rooms, turrets, and exhibitions. The castle also hosts events for children during most school holidays to bring the history to life.

Location: Falmouth, Cornwall

Opening Times: Days vary depending on the season; 10:00 – 16:00

Pricing: Ticket prices vary depending on the season. Free entry for English Heritage members.

Penlee House Gallery and Museum

The Penlee House Gallery and Museum is the perfect place to discover the art of West Cornwall in Penzance for a couple of hours on a rainy day, which includes the works of the Newlyn School and Lamorna artists. The gallery covers local history of Cornish life from archaeology finds to ceramics, social history and fashion. Their licensed cafe, The Orangery, allows you to relax with a coffee, homemade cake or a delicious light lunch during your visit.

Location: Penzance, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 (1 April – 31 October), Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 16:30 (1 November – 31 March)

Pricing: Adults: £6. Young Adult (18-26): £3. Children go free.

The Eden Project

Renowned for its iconic biomes, this Cornwall attraction known simply as ‘Eden’, stands as a consistent favorite among the UK’s top tourist destinations. At the Eden Project you can step into the Mediterranean and Rainforest biomes and enjoy the sensation of being outdoors while staying comfortably dry, which makes for an ideal rainy day out on those days you were hoping to get outside. Stroll down through the beautiful gardens, and if you’re accompanied by children, make sure to stop by their adventure play area, which is perfect for kids to burn off steam.

Location: St Austell, Cornwall

Opening Times: Days and times vary each week and are available on the Eden website.

Pricing: Prices vary by season. Adults: from £33 (standard) or from £38 (peak). Children: from £11 (standard) or from £12 (peak). Under 5s go free.

Hall for Cornwall

If you’re wanting to take a day trip to Truro and love theatre, make sure you make room in your itinerary for the Hall for Cornwall, where they offer an impressive selection of comedy, musicals and other brilliant performances. It’s often possible to get tickets for their shows fairly last-minute, so even if you’ve been caught off guard by the rain, it’s still well worth taking a look at what’s on that day or week.

Location: Truro, Cornwall

Opening Times: Box office open Monday – Saturday 14:00-17:00 (Hours extend around performance times).

Pricing: Varies on performances and seat preferences

Tarquins Gin Distillery Tour

If gin is your tipple of choice then you’re sure to love a rainy day spent at Tarquin’s Gin Distillery, where you can be taken on a tour for the ultimate Cornish Gin behind-the-scenes experience. Enjoy their original Tarquins Cornish Gin, a botanical masterclass and a complimentary tutored tasting of the core 4 gins, perfectly paired with a mixer. The total tour time is 90 minutes – and you may not be too bothered by the rain by the time you leave!

Location: Wadebridge, Cornwall

Opening Times: Wednesday – Sunday (Hours vary for tour times).

Pricing: Adults (18+): £18 with optional add-ons

Tate St Ives

Visiting Tate St Ives is another great rainy day activity. A striking building overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in front of Porthmeor Beach, it showcases pieces by artists whose captivating works have brought international attention to St Ives and West Cornwall. Alongside displays from the Tate collection, the gallery showcases modern and contemporary art from around the world through a variety of exhibitions.

Location: St Ives

Opening Times: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 – 16:20

Pricing: Adults: £10.50, Children: Free. Free admission for Tate Members.

Things to do in Cornwall in the rain with kids

Finding activities suitable to to enjoy with kids in the rain can be tough, but there are many wet day activities Cornwall can offer to keep the children entertained (whilst still having fun yourself!) during your visit. Here are a few options for you to consider.

House Trap Escape Rooms

Ready to take on an adventure? House Trap Escape Rooms offers several escape rooms ready to give you a real life gaming experience. With a set time and puzzles to solve, it’s a perfect choice for bringing the whole family together. The rooms provide you with the chance to escape reality for an hour and discover a range of fun, exciting challenges in a fully interactive experience that is suitable for ages 12+.

Location: Bodmin, Cornwall

Opening Times: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00 – 20:00 (aside from some seasonal closures)

Pricing: 2 Players: £50. 3 Players: £66. 4 Players: £80. 5 Players: £90. 6 Players: £96

Raze the Roof Family entertainment centre

It’s always an adrenalin-filled experience at Raze the Roof, an indoor arena family activity centre filled with fun. Laser tag is a great option for a fun-filled time with friends and family, especially on a rainy day, and they also offer Gel Blaster (indoor paintballing) and virtual reality simulators. There’s also indoor soft play with slides, climbing walls and ball cannons – providing something for little ones, kidults, and everyone in between!

Location: Penryn, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 18:00, Saturday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00

Pricing: Varies depending on activity and gaming package.

Bowling at Ozzell Bowl

A bowling alley is a popular activity choice for somewhere to take the kids when the weather isn’t the best, and it’s a classic for a reason! Along with 8 bowling lanes, Ozzell Bowl is also host to a fantastic children’s soft play area, and a well-stocked bar with year-round drink promotions. You’ll also be able to indulge in quick and convenient bites at their food bar, challenge yourself with arcade games and pool tables and get involved in air hockey excitement.

Location: St Austell, Cornwall

Opening Times: Wednesday – Thursday 17:00 – 21:00, Friday 14:00 – 21:00, Saturday 12:00 – 21:00, Sunday 12:00 – 17:00 (Times change during school holidays, check website for details)

Pricing: Adult: £7.95 (first game), Child: £6.95 (first game), with prices reducing for subsequent games

Blue Reef Aquarium

Explore hundreds of different species from the sea at Blue Reef Aquarium, which offers enchanting views and insightful knowledge of reef life and the fascinating inhabitants that call it their home. There are plentiful talks and feeding sessions which provide a great opportunity to get close up with the animals and learn more about them for little ones. An unforgettable underwater adventure and a great day out in Newquay that’s suitable for everyone.

Location: Newquay, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 17:00

Pricing: Standard (13+ years): £14:35. Junior (3-12 years): £11:10. 0-2 years go free.

Paradise Park JungleBarn

This enormous indoor ‘JungleBarn’ play centre is based within Paradise Park, a wildlife sanctuary in Hayle. The park itself is a good option for a drizzly day or if showers are forecast, since there is a mix of outdoor and indoor actvities. The JungleBarn offers a great selection of indoor fun when it’s raining in the form of giant slides, soft play and a special toddlers’ zone with ball fountain, as well as a snack bar, balcony overlooking the gardens, and jungle-themed rooms. If there’s a break in the weather, pay a visit to the animals that live there, including otters, parrots and red pandas.

Location: Hayle, Cornwall

Opening Times: Varies depending on season but will generally be open 10:00 – 16:00 with the JungleBarn often open later for late afternoon play

Pricing: Adults: £19.25 Children (3-15 years): £16.25 Under 3s go free. (Park and JungleBarn prices. There is also the option to pay for park only or JungleBarn only)

Bodmin Jail

An immersive and interactive journey through Cornwall’s history awaits you at Bodmin Jail. Technology and theatrical effects merge to bring spine-chilling tales to life in their Dark Walk experience, and you’ll uncover the secrets of Cornwall’s murky past within the walls of this 18th-century prison. For those seeking an extra thrill, there are late-night ghost walks, spine-tingling cinema experiences, and paranormal tours that promise to send shivers down your spine. This haunting adventure is the perfect choice for rainy days, with late-night events specifically tailored for those aged 16 and above.

Location: Bodmin, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 9:30 – 16:00

Pricing: Varies depending on tours booked

Lighthouse Cinema

Avoid the rainy day blues with a trip to the cinema in Newquay – a failsafe solution for something to do that’s sure to go down well with everyone. Showing the latest releases as well as screening theatre, opera and ballet performances, a cinema trip offers a welcome escape from the rainy reality outside. Plus, an excuse to stock up on cinema snacks never goes amiss!

Location: Newquay, Cornwall

Opening Times: Various, check film times on website

Pricing: Adult (15+): £8.50 Child (3-14 years): £6.50

Swimming at St Austell Leisure Centre

Rain or shine, a trip to the swimming pool is always a fun indoor activity. St Austell Leisure Centre has some great activities at their swimming and soft play facility, with four levels of fun and wavy slides, crawl tubes, log bridge, cargo nets, dizzy discs, roller squeeze, monster bash and much more!

Location: Newquay

Opening Times: Monday – Wednesday 6:00 – 21:30, Thursday 6:00 – 21:00, Friday 6:00 – 20:00, Saturday 7:00 – 16:00, Sunday 8:00 – 16:00

Pricing: Adult: £6.85, Child: £4.75, Under 3s: Free

Lanhydrock House

The beautiful National Trust estate, Lanhydrock House, stands as a particularly lovely example of a Jacobean mansion that captivates visitors to Cornwall with its grandeur and architecture. With an impressive collection of Victorian furnishings, tapestries, and ornate decorations, it offers a glimpse into history and the lifestyle lived during the Victorian Era. There are also plentiful experiences for children to enjoy; you can explore the kitchens, meet the staff and play in their a newly refurbished nursery. From board games and a theatre with dress up and props, to Punch the rocking horse, there’s lots to get involved with.

Location: Bodmin

Opening Times: Open March – October (Opening times vary depending on time of year)

Pricing: Adults: £22, Children: £10 Free for National Trust members. (check out also National Trust Cornwall 14 day explorer pass)

Things to do in Cornwall in the rain with dogs

Got your four-legged friend with you on your rainy day in Cornwall? No worries, there are dog-friendly days out for when it’s raining throughout the county.

Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm

Canine companions are welcome at this working cyder farm, where you can take a guided tour and learn about the cyder-making process, ride on a tractor through the orchard, and sample the farm’s produce. Part open-air, part undercover, it’s a good choice for a drizzly day with a dog in tow. The whole family is sure to enjoy a visit here, with fruit juice for children and plenty of farm animals for everyone to make friends with.

Location: Newquay, Cornwall

Opening Times: Open daily 09:00-17:00 November – March, 09:00-18:00 April – June and September – October, and 09:00-20:00 July – August

Pricing: Free entry with the option to purchase tickets to access more areas or try a tour

Dogs on leads are welcome.

Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway

Bad weather and pawed pals needn’t stop you embarking on a nostalgic journey through time with the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, Cornwall’s sole full-size steam-operated railway. Offering a leisurely 13-mile round trip from Bodmin General, passengers are treated to the sights, sounds, and scents of a bygone era, capturing the essence of a 1950s Cornish branch line. The countryside looks just as beautiful in the rain, albeit perhaps more dramatic, and it’s undercover, as well as proudly being one of Cornwall’s dog-friendly attractions (they must stay on the floor rather than the seats). All aboard for a captivating journey into the past!

Location: Bodmin, Cornwall

Opening Times: Closed over winter months with the exception of ‘Santa By Steam’ in December; Railway timetable varies over summer season

Pricing: Adult: £22, Child: £11, Under 3s: Free, Dogs: £2.50

Dogs on leads are welcome.

Cornwall Gold and Tolgus Mill

All-weather attraction Cornwall Gold is steeped in Cornish history, with an ancient tin mill to explore, interactive exhibitions, delicious homemade food, and a variety of inside activities to keep everyone entertained. They’re a highly dog-friendly attraction and offer free Tolgus Stream Panning which lets you sift sand with a traditional gold pan to reveal gems and hidden treasures. Pottery painting is also available for fun for all the family, as well as a variety of other enjoyable family indoor activities that work for all weather conditions.

Location: Near Redruth, Cornwall

Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 16:00

Pricing: Free entry (With the option to pay for activities like pottery painting and the bear workshop)

All dogs are welcomed in the venue and on the Terrace.

Walk along the beach

A list of things to do in Cornwall with dogs simply wouldn’t be complete without suggesting a beach walk, rain or not – there’s something to be said for embracing the weather and just getting out in it anyway. If the opportunity to take your furry friend for an invigorating walk in the rain on the beach or along the harbour presents itself – take it! The Cornish coast offers distinct beauty in the rain, with the dramatic landscape enhanced by wet weather. Plus, your canine companion will likely relish the chance to splash in puddles and enjoy the damp sand under their paws.