It’s no secret that London gets pretty cold over the winter months but that’s no reason for you to stop having fun! From brilliant, free museums, to cosy indoor markets to games of shuffleboard there are lots of inside activities to keep you entertained in the city that always rains.
1. Visit an indoor market
[flickr: Alison Day]London is famous for it’s street markets and while sadly a lot of them are outdoors with no cover from the elements, there are a selection of London markets that will keep you dry. The plaza at Covent Garden for example with a wide variety of restaurants and shops or east London’s stunning Leadenhall market with it’s decorated archways are great places to while away a miserable day.
2. Have a go at shuffle boarding
[londonshuffle]Shoreditch’s newest claim to ‘edgiest place in London’ is The London Shuffle Club. Boasting 8 shuffleboard courts, 2 bars and a food court and located in the iconic Truman Brewery the shuffleboard club is really quirky and really really fun. Sip on their signature cocktails such as ‘Shuffle Dandy,’ while eating pizza and shooting a little disk across the slippery lane… Trust me, you’ll be surprised how much you enjoy it!
91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QR
3. Go book shopping
[flickr: La Citta Vita]One of London’s best kept secrets is the South Bank Centre Book Market hidden away under Waterloo Bridge meaning come rain or shine you’re protected from the weather. Open every Friday-Sunday with a fantastic selection of second-hand and antique books you can satisfy both your inner book worm AND inner hipster in one hit.
A301 Waterloo Bridge, London SE1 8XX
4. Buy an umbrella
[weebirdy]Let’s face it, it’s probably raining – instead of calling it a day why not buy yourself a new brolly and carry on! Established in 1830, stepping into this vintage world famous umbrella store feels like stepping back in time. As absolute umbrella experts James Smith and Sons will be sure to keep you warm and dry, (and help you snap the perfect insta!)
Hazelwood House, 53 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1BL
5. Go swimming
[better.org]Go swimming? When it’s cold out? Are we mad? No, we’re not! London Fields Lido in Hackney is an Olympic sized outdoor swimming pool. Most importantly the lido is heated and therefore open all year round! So go on – tease your senses with a dip in a the warm water while the air above freezes your nose – at the very least it’s a good work out!
London Fields West Side, London E8 3EU
6. Visit a museum
[thelasttuesdaysociety]This one is fairly obvious but London does have such a fantastic selection of museums on offer. As well as the classics such as The British Museum or The Museum of Natural History, London also offers some slightly more unusual museums such as The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History. Inside the museum you’ll find a menagerie petting zoo as well as an extremely quirky cocktail bar. Spend a cold London afternoon in this weird and wonderful paradise.
11 Mare St, London E8 4RP
7. Go out of this world at the Greenwich Planetarium
[instagram: date london] Take a trip into space at the planetarium at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. From the comfort of your reclining seat let the astronomers at London’s only planetarium show you the wonder of our universe. Getting up close and personal with the red-hot sun will soon make you forget about the cold outside!
Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ
8. Try out a new restaurant
[inamo]London’s food scene is legendary – and for good reason! With such diverse restaurants to chose from you’ll find it hard to pick just one. To make it easier for you, we recommend Inamo – it’s a funky Asian-fusion restaurant chain with cool interactive tables and iPad order service. Have a look at London’s other Asian-fusion delights here!
