Best indoor things to do on a rainy day in Nottingham for families

It's raining, it's pouring and the kids are driving you up the wall. There's only one thing for it... no, not Monopoly, a fun rainy-day activity.

Lucky for you, there are plenty of indoor activities for families to enjoy here in Nottingham from bowling to museums.

So ditch the wellies and get ready for a trip into town. Think of this as your ultimate guide to things to do on a rainy day in Nottingham.

Here are some ideas for things to do:

1 - Bowling

TenPin at Clifton Boulevard

There are a few places to go bowling in Nottingham but Tenpin is a good venue to start with thanks to its multiple activities on offer. You can choose from laser tag to pool to arcade games with prices starting from 3. The venue in Clifton Boulevard is easy to reach and booking can be done online. Although with 26 lanes, there is a lot of space for everyone to get involved.

If you are feeling particularly brave, Tenpin also offers karaoke but don’t worry, there is also a bar for some courage before you take the stage.

2 - Indoor climbing

The Nottingham Climbing Centre, Huntingdon Street

The Nottingham Climbing Centre is a good way to test if you are afraid of heights or not. The centre offers kids and adult climbing for several different skill levels from beginner to advanced. They even run classes designed for children as young as five years old which are perfectly safe.

The centre will walk through everything you need to know ahead of taking your first step onto the climbing course so no need to worry if you haven't done it before.

3 - Make a splash

Various Locations

It might sound odd to get out of the rain by getting wet but hear us out. The Subtropical Swimming Paradise at Centre Parcs near Sherwood Forest is heated to 29.5C all year round and covered in lush green tropical plants and trees. The swimming paradise is the home of excellent water rides and slides, including the Tropical Cyclone and Wild Water Rapids.

Victoria Leisure Centre on Sneinton Market is closer to the city centre and you can easily buy a day pass if you want to pop in for a swim. You do need to book in advance which can be done through the app or online. As part of Active Nottingham, there are lots of other sites around Nottingham which offer simular swimming facilities.

4 - Pottery painting

Pot n Kettle, High Road, Beeston

Pot n Kettle has been part of Beeston since 2007 offering nice relaxing afternoons of ceramic painting. They do cater for kids but it's worth noting that bank holidays or school holidays can be really busy so you do need to book in advance. If you can’t get in for a session then the team also offer a take-home kit where you can set up a paint party for your budding Picasso in your kitchen.

The idea is simple: turn up, choose a pot or keepsake and paint. The perfect rainy afternoon activity that will leave you feeling relaxed.

5 - Pay a visit to Wollaton Hall

There is so much to do at Wollaton Hall and only a fraction of it is outside. Younger kids will enjoy walking around the halls taking in the exhibitions which include hidden history, going back in time and also dinosaurs. Older children may enjoy the transport museum which showcases Nottingham’s famous Raleigh bikes.

The Natural History Museum is worth a walk through too as there are over 750,000 exhibits including creepy crawlies and taxidermy.

6 - Indoor go karting

Teamsport, Victoria Business Park, Netherfield

Go Karting can be incredibly good fun and thanks to Teamsports being indoors, there is no need to get cold while watching it. The Teamsport track is in Netherfield and it's the perfect sport for anyone with an adrenaline seeker in the family.

You don’t need a driver’s license but you do need to be at least eight years old to take part. Also, quite sensibly, your feet do need to be able to reach the pedals so there are height requirements. If you fall short of the requirements, then you can head to the restaurant to grab a slice of pizza while you wait.