We wish we didn’t have to write this article but alas, here we are Londoners. Thanks, British weather! Well, let’s stop moaning about it and make the most of our beautiful capital, with this roundup of wonderful things you can do around London when it’s a rainy day in London.
1. Brighten your day with a trip to London’s beautiful indoor rainforest
Barbican Conservatory is a verdant oasis in the heart of the city that will will make you forget all about the pouring rain, transporting you to a faraway jungle instead. Similarly, London’s Sky Garden is a great place for a sky-high drink and some awesome city views, even on a rainy day.
2. Or brighten up your living room with some flowers
We’d say Columbia Road flower market is the haven for all things floral but of course, if the weather isn’t nice then you’re not going to want to stroll around outside over dilapidated daisies, are you? Why not pick up a bouquet from Petals at Bibendum, or one of London’s other lovely flower shops?
3. Take cover in a charming bookshop
There’s something about bookshops that leave us all warm inside, so why not hide from a rainy day in London alongside the smell of leather-bound ledgers? We recommend a gander around these 16 charming London bookstores that are perfect for literature lovers.
4. Or visit one of London’s incredible free museums
London is filled with amazing free things to do and buildings to visit, so why not head out for a day of discovering some art and culture? As we all know we’re home to some of the world’s best museums (like the infamous Natural History Museum), and we’ve rounded up 31 of the best free ones for you here.
5. Settle in a cute café for a rainy day cappuccino
What better way to while away a rainy day in London than with a warm cup of coffee and some people-watching? Get comfy in one of our city’s many amazing coffee shops with a book and some music, or even switch up your work environment for the day if you can.
6. Warm yourself up with a cup of the good stuff
We love tea and we sure love a cup of coffee, but hot chocolate can’t go amiss, even in the summer. It’s the ultimate comfort drink — so if you’re craving something extra decadent, check out these 10 delicious chocolate shops that are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.
7. Or how about something a bit stronger?
Needless to say, any day spent at a bar is a good one, but rainy days provide the perfect excuse to hide away from the world with a drink in hand… after all, there’s not much else you can do, right? You sure won’t have trouble finding bars in London, but if you’re looking for some inspiration, we have plenty of suggestions for a pretty cocktail, a cosy glass of wine, or a pint at one of the city’s oldest pubs.
8. If you want to start early, these bottomless brunches are brilliantly boozy
…And you can head straight to the bar right after, like a true Londoner. Here are some of our favourite bottomless brunch spots, but in case you suddenly crave pancakes and mimosas at 1 am, you can always opt for this 24-hour bottomless brunch when it’s raining.
9. Use the opportunity to discover your new favourite restaurant
Even in London, we don’t get enough rainy days to check off all of our city’s best restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a casual lunch or a fine dining dinner experience, we truly have it all. To get you started, here are the absolute best restaurants the Big Smoke has to offer, according to Londoners themselves.
10. Or eat your way through this giant Italian food hall
We promise you that Eataly has enough food and wine to last you several hours, so the giant Italian food hall on Broadgate is the ideal place to tuck into some pizza and pasta, or start your own afternoon wine tasting crawl. If you like some more cuisine variety, head to the marvellous Mercato Mayfair, which happens to sit inside a church!
11. Relax with a delightful afternoon tea
I think we can all agree that a hot cuppa is the ultimate rainy day in London remedy, and an assortment of pastries, sandwiches (and perhaps champagne?) can make it even better. We’ve rounded up 22 of London’s loveliest afternoon teas which are perfect to brighten up any grey day.
12. Take cover under a railway arch …
… And we don’t mean just to hide from the unexpected downpour! London’s railway arches are the new place to be, especially on a rainy day. Check out Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross for some shopping and food, or Camden’s Bavarian-inspired Beer Hall nestled under railway arches.
13. Kick back and snuggle up at a cosy cinema
There’s truly no better way to escape London rain for a couple of hours than with a visit to the cinema. Grab some popcorn, kick back, and relax with a movie whilst laid out on a reclining sofa. Just try not to fall asleep! Take a look at our roundup of London’s cosiest independent cinemas.
14. Let the good times roll at a bowling alley or indoor golf course
Spend a rainy afternoon with a competitive round of bowling, or challenge your friends to some fun arcade games. Check out these fun bowling alleys, lose track of time at the north London alley that has it all!
15. Eat some gorgeous vegan food
London is awash with some of the finest vegan cuisines on the planet. In fact, the Happy Cow blog has just named it the most vegan-friendly city in the world for this year. The big smoke really does offer it all when it comes to plant-based grub; so, head to one of our brilliant vegan restaurants when there’s rain in London and indulge in some tasty dishes.
Don’t let a rainy day in London ruin your enjoyment of this beautiful city! After all, we’re pretty well adapted to it in this country so you can always find something to do in London, come rain or shine!