12 Activities for Rainy Days in Berkshire

12 activities for rainy days in berkshire

Some of our favourite activities for when we don't quite fancy splashing in muddy puddles! ☔️

Let’s face it, we get a lot of rainy days here in the UK. We know that kids (and parents!) can sometimes go stir crazy being stuck inside all day – so, what can you do on a rainy day if you don’t fancy getting soaked in a play park?

Well, we’ve got some inspiration for you! We’ve suggested some awesome activities that will keep the little ones smiling from ear to ear no matter what the British weather is throwing at you!

1. Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre, Bracknell

Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre is home to a collection of Hawks, Falcons and Owls and offers a variety of opportunities to get up close and personal. Based in Moss End Garden Village in Bracknell, the centre is open to the general public to walk around and see 22 Birds of Prey on site. There are education boards, activity sheets and a gift shop providing lots to learn and see.

They also offer a Half-Day Hands On Experience sessions and Family Falconry sessions, Family Owl Encounters and even Bird of Prey Birthday Parties!

Moss End Garden Village also has a Refill Shop, Reptile Shop, Aquatic Fish Shop, Antiques, Biltong, Table Games, Pottery Painting and more so you can be sure to have a fun day for all the family whatever the weather.

Opening Times: Tuesdays to Saturday from 10am – 5pm | Sunday from 10am-4pm. No need to pre-book.

Admission Prices: Adults: £4 | Children aged 4-15 years: £2 | Concessions*: £3 | 3 years and under: Free – *Concessions include NHS, Military, Services, Careers, over 60 years. Parking is free.

Click HERE to find out more.

Feathers & Fur Falconry Centre, Moss End Garden Village, Maidenhead Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EJ

2. Cobbs Play Barn

Cobbs Play Barn is a bespoke wooden indoor play barn; that allows all the fun of an outdoor play area but without the worry of the weather! Cobbs have created a fun, engaging, and educational environment for children and their parents/carers alike.

There are two levels to discover and explore with slides, climbing frames, a role play and toy kitchen area. The wooden structure is suitable for toddlers up to 8 years, but there is also a soft zone designed for the younger family members too.

Cobbs Play Barn has a café providing hot and cold drinks and homemade lunch options and if the weather does brighten up there is also an outdoor play area with a sandpit and a milkshake bus! (during the warmer months). Cobbs Hungerford also has an extensive farm shop and café – a great place to spend a day out whatever the weather!

Cobbs play barn hosts events and activities throughout the year, to find out more please visit the Cobbs Play Barn website.

Opening Times: Thursday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm | Sunday from 9am – 3pm (Closed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday except for private parties)

School Holidays: Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm | Sunday from 9am – 3pm

Session timeslots are 2 hours in duration – Entry cannot be guaranteed without a pre-booked timeslot.

Prices: 0-11 months: FREE | 1-3 years: £4 | 4-8 years: £5 | Adults: £1

Cobbs Play Barn is a West Berkshire Family Life membership card partner and offers our members a 10%discount off entry and food & drink in the play barn!

See our members’ page for more details and to sign up for your membership card. details of its latest membership offer and to sign up for your free card.

Book your play session HERE.

Read our article about the Play Barn HERE.

Cobbs Play Barn, Bath Road, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0SP

3. The Lookout Discovery Centre, Bracknell

The Look Out Discovery Centre offers hands-on interactive science and nature exhibitions with over 90 exciting activities to entertain children and adults alike. Activities and exhibits are organised in ‘zones’ consisting of the main exhibition, woodland & water, light & colour, insect enclosure and build it!

The new Woodlarks Café is open for takeaway daily from 9am to 5pm offering hot & cold drinks, freshly baked cakes, breakfast food, ciabatta sandwiches, pizzas, crisps & snacks. There is outdoor seating but only occasional indoor seating is available.

There is a gift shop selling science-based toys and gifts.

Session Times: Monday to Friday (term time): 9:30am – 3:30pm | Weekends & holidays: 9:30am – 4:30pm

The Lookout Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Crowthorne, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7QW

4. Bucklebury Farm Play Barn, Reading

Bucklebury Farm is a firm favourite in our household and it’s fabulous Play Barn provides hours of fun and is a welcome place to let off some steam on a wet day! The equipment is colourful and clean and there are facts & informative pictures dotted around which are great for when everyone needs to take a breather. There are 4 different slides (my girls particularly loved the steepest & fastest one!) a zip line, monkey bars and various other obstacles along the way providing endless fun & activity. There is an under 3’s area which is well sized and perfect for littles ones to crawl, explore and find their feet!

There is plenty of seating for parents to enjoy coffee, cake and a chat with a bar selling a selection of snacks, cold food, cakes & hot drinks – next to the Play Barn you will find the farms main café serving a wide range of food & drink options. High chairs are available and there are toilets with baby changing facilities.

The Play Barn is suitable for children aged 0 – 13 years (maximum height of 140cm). There are 4 time slot options and sessions are 90 minutes in duration.

Bucklebury Farm is kindly offering our members a 10% discount for Play Barn admission, food & drink in their Café & items in their Shop! Simply show your membership card at the reception or use code: Bucks10 when shopping online.

Visit our membership page to get your membership card.

If the weather is on your side then Bucklebury Farm has entertainment sorted for the entire day boasting a petting zoo, deer safari, outdoor play area with giant bouncing pillows and go karts and a lovely farm shop selling organic produce, clothes, toys & gifts. Bucklebury Farm host a varied programme of events & activities throughout the year making Bucklebury a solid family destination.

Opening Times: Open 7 days per week from 9am – 5pm.

Prices: Play Barn only tickets (available Mon-Fri during term time): £11.95 for 1 adult & 1 child | Extra adults/children: £6.

The Play Barn is free to use with a farm admission ticket.

Click HERE to visit the website and find out more.

Bucklebury Farm Play Barn, Pease Hill, Reading, Berkshire RG7 6RR

5. The Museum of English Rural Life, Reading

The Museum of English Rural Life pays homage to the English countryside and it’s people and explores in depth the traditions and techniques of farming life throughout the decades. Home to impressive artefacts and machinery the MERL offers a generous space for all ages to learn and explore. There are a variety of trail sheets and interactive games available for little adventurers as well as a craft room with colouring and craft activities.

There is a café which is bright and modern and offers hot & cold drinks, soup, snacks, cakes and ice cream and there is also a lovely little gift shop. The MERL has a lovely spacious garden to enjoy if the weather allows which is perfect for a picnic and offers play equipment, shepherd’s hut, bee hotel and a chicken coop!

The car park is free however spaces are limited – you can also use the University Acacia Road car park (please collect a permit from reception). The nearest public car park is Queens Road. The MERL is a fantastic budget-friendly option for all ages to enjoy.

Opening times: Tuesday to Friday from 9am – 5pm | Saturday & Sunday from 10am – 5pm | Closed on Mondays

Admission is FREE but donations are very welcome.

Click HERE to visit the MERL website to find out more.

The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5EX

6. Tiny Town Café, Newbury

Located in the heart of Newbury, Tiny Town provides a fun and engaging environment for children to learn and develop through imaginative play. The centre is designed to promote creativity, social interaction and problem-solving skills, while providing a safe and stimulating space for children to explore.

There are a variety of themed play areas such as a police station, supermarket, hair salon, builders workshop and road as well as props and costumes, allowing children to immerse themselves in a world of make-believe, whilst parents enjoy a cup of coffee and slice of cake! There is also a small soft play area for little adventurers who have not yet found their feet. Sessions are 90 minutes in duration.

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday: from 9:30am – 3pm | Sunday from 10am – 3:30pm with an SEN session from 10am – 11:30am

Prices: Adult: £3 | Child: £7 | Non-Walker: £3.50 | Baby (0-6 months): Free

Tiny Town Café, The Kennet Centre, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5EN

7. Escape in 60, Windsor

Assemble your escape room team from family, friends, work colleagues or team mates! Escape in 60 is something a little different with 4 escape room experiences ranging from 60 minutes to 75 minutes in duration each suitable for a different age range from 7 years and upwards. Inside the escape room will be puzzles to solve and clues to find and race against the clock as you decipher, decode and disentangle the mysteries of the room to escape!

There is a café within the leisure centre serving hot & cold drinks and snacks. Parking is available at the leisure for around £1.60 for 2 hours.

Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 10am – 9:30pm | Saturday to Sunday from 10am – 8pm *please check for bank holiday opening hours.

Prices from £22 per person.

Click HERE to book & find out more.

Windsor Leisure Centre, Stovell Road Clewer, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 5JB

8. Corn Exchange Newbury

One of our go to places to visit on a rainy day the Corn Exchange Newbury always has so much going on with a varied programme including dance, film, music, drama, children’s events, comedy and an annual pantomime. Boasting an impressive 400 seat auditorium, a 40 seat independent cinema, a thriving Café Bar, 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space for the development of large-scale outdoor performances and residencies; and a Learning Centre it really does have something for everyone whether you would like to enjoy the arts as a spectator or become involved in participation.

The Corn Exchange regularly hosts a range of family events from film, special parent & baby screenings, tots cinema, magicians, theatre shows and arts and craft activities. To find out more information about all on offer visit their website HERE.

Opening Times: Monday: Closed | Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm (or until the end of the performance) | Sunday from 11am to 5pm

Corn Exchange Newbury, Market Place, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5BD

9. The Little Play Lounge, Padworth Common

The Little Play Lounge is a safe space and stylish lounge full of eco-friendly wooden play equipment for little ones from 0 – 3.5 years. Flooded with natural sunlight and surrounded by lush greenery from the surrounding gardens, the baby zone features premium mats, sensory toys and a black & white zone to encourage cognitive development whilst toddlers can enjoy testing there agility and strength on the wooden climbing frames.

The Little Play Lounge offer ‘baby club’ sessions for babies from birth – 9 months and ‘open play’ sessions for 0 – 3.5 years. There is a café onsite serving hot & cold food and drinks and a range of lunch options. They also host various events throughout the year.

The Little Play Lounge provides a safe and intimate space for little ones and their parents to socialise and have fun!

Opening Times: Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am – sessions are 90 minutes in duration.

Prices: Adult: £3.50 | Baby (birth to 6 months): £5 | Little One (6 months – 3.5 years): £5 | Older Child (3.5 years +): £3.50

Click HERE to visit the website, book a session and find out more.

The Old Rectory, Rectory Road, Padworth Common, Berkshire RG7 4JD

9. KD Gymnastics, Newbury

KD Gymnastics offer a welcoming environment to explore gymnastics under the guidance of qualified coaches. Classes are available from 18 months right through to adults.

They also offer drop-in Open Play Gym sessions with soft obstacles, toys, foam pits and trampolines and full use of all the gymnastics equipment which is ideal for energetic little ones to let off some steam!

Open Play Gym Sessions are one hour in duration & times vary each day, so please check out their website, Facebook page or call: 01635 45986 before visiting.

Prices: £5 for 1 adult & 1 child | £5 for each additional adults or children **Please note these sessions are cash or bank transfer only and do not take card payments**

KD Gymnastics also have various events taking place throughout the year and host birthday parties. Find out more by visiting their website HERE.

Unit D, Hambridge Road Industrial Estate, Bone Lane, Newbury, RG14 5SH

11. BCA Zoo & Education Centre, Maidenhead

BCA Zoo is located within a small part of BCA College’s 400 acre campus. The zoo is a highly regarded practical training resource for students. The BCA Zoo is a full member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) outlining their commitment to having the best standards possible for animals, students and visitors.

BCA Zoo is home to over 100 species of animal ranging from scorpions to lemurs! BCA Zoo offers a varied programme of (pre-booked only); Family Zoo Days, Zoo Tours, Zookeeper Experiences, Animal Academy and Reptile, Mini Primate and Meerkat Encounters!

BCA Zoo is only open for pre-booked events and encounters which take place at weekends, bank holidays and during half terms and do not offer walk ins.

Prices: Range start from £8 per person | Under 3’s go free.

There is a café that providing snacks and drinks open only during Family Zoo Days. You are welcome to bring your own food to enjoy before or after your encounter.

Free parking is available and the zoo is fully wheelchair accessible.

Click HERE to book and to find out more information.

BCA Zoo, Hall Place, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 6QR

12. Rockstar Climbing Centre, Swindon

Located just over the Berkshire border in Swindon, Wiltshire, Rockstar Climbing offers fun and active sessions for adults and children from 4 years and upwards.

Boasting first of their kind ‘Fun Walls’ for 5 years plus this creative and immersive experience uses sounds and lights to create an unforgettable experience that young climbers will never forget! ‘Wild Climber’ sessions are for ages 4-7 years – for complete beginners to children who have climbed before these sessions develop climbing skills through fun and games whilst also learning about safety, friendship, trust and communication.

Rockstar Climbing also offer private classes, adult classes and host birthday parties.

Prices: ‘Wild Climber’ classes (ages 4 – 7 years) are 75 minutes in duration: £14.50 | ‘Fun Wall’ classes (ages 5 years plus) are 90 minutes in duration: Adults & Under 18’s £18 | Family Saver tickets are available.

Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 10am – 10pm | Saturday & Sunday from 9am – 6pm.

Refreshments are available – find out more by visiting their website HERE.

Rockstar Climbing Centre, Unit 3-5, I.O. Centre, Radway Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN3 4WH