The Great British weather is famously unpredictable wherever you go in the UK. One day it could be cracking the flags the next day we could be three foot deep in snow - but we wouldn't have it any other way.
Luckily in Liverpool we have plenty of things to do indoors for if you ever get caught in a bit of bad weather. From places to see some great art, to crazy golf for adults, you’ll definitely manage to keep yourself dry.
Forgetting your umbrella won't put a dampener on your trip to the city and with everything we have suggested here you’ll be sure to have a great time come rain or shine.
Don’t forget, if the heavens open and you need to get from A to B, you can use the Merseyrail loop line to get you round town and keep you nice and dry!
MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES
MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL
The Museum of Liverpool will keep you occupied for hours on a rainy day. Discover the history of Liverpool, our music links, maritime heritage and our rich sporting legacy in one of the most amazing buildings in the city.
FACT
Head over to FACT on Wood Street for an afternoon of contemporary art with a digital twist, you definitely won't have seen art work like it anywhere else. There is also a bar, cafe and three cinema screens in there too so it’s a brilliant way to spend the day away from the rain.
WORLD MUSEUM
Head over to the World Museum for an afternoon of learning all about the history of the world! There’s loads to explore in here from Ancient Egypt, to learning all about space and watching the beautiful fish swim about in the aquarium; it's a great place for getting the kids out the rain!
VISIT THE PLANETARIUM
Whilst you’re at the World Museum make sure you stop off at the Planetarium. Travel through space and time to discover the wonders of the universe in this immersive, fulldome experience. See mysterious planets, learn about the birth of the sun and wonder at the possibility of alien life in this cinema experience with a twist. At only £3 for adults and £2 for the kids it’s a great way to escape the rain.
WALKER ART GALLERY
The Walker Art Gallery holds a stunning collection of paintings, sculptures and art works spanning over six hundred years so there is plenty to see in here to pass an hour or two away from the elements. This year they are also welcoming exhibitions showcasing Leonardo Da Vinci and Charles Rennie Mackintosh so it’s definitely worth braving the rain for these.
TATE LIVERPOOL
Tate Liverpool on the Royal Albert Dock is a great place to go if you want to get out of the rain and surround yourself with a huge collection of modern and contemporary art that is sure to brighten up even the dullest of days. Alongside their usual selection of work there are also special exhibitions such as this year’s Keith Haring show; definitely not one to miss.
THE BLUECOAT
The Bluecoat is a brilliant place to stop off to keep dry as there is so much to do in there. Alongside their art exhibitions there is an Espresso bar and bistro, local independent businesses and loads of regular events.
THE MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM
Submerge yourself in Liverpool’s historic seafaring past at the Merseyside Maritime Museum and discover our connections to the sea. Throughout the museum you’ll find exhibits, free events and trails perfect for keeping the kids entertained.
THE BEATLES STORY
The Beatles once said ‘Rain, I don't mind’ and we certainly wouldn't mind heading down to The Beatles Story if it started raining. The immersive experience takes you round the lives and careers of the Fab Four and is a must for any Beatles fan visiting the city. Situated in Britannia Vaults at Royal Albert Dock, head underground to escape the rain outside.
OPEN EYE GALLERY
Find Open Eye Gallery on Mann Island and explore one of the UK’s leading photography spaces. It houses a collection of photographs dating from the 1930s as well as hosting regular themed exhibitions; it’s a real hidden gem of the cities art scene.
BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE
Exploring the British Music Experience is a great way to spend some time out of the rain. Learn all about Britain's musical history and see memorabilia from some of the biggest artists from over the decades.
LIVERPOOL LANDMARKS
LIVERPOOL CENTRAL LIBRARY
For a bit of peace and quiet on a rainy day head over to Central Library. One of the city's most stunning buildings, be amazed by the glass dome that fills the ceiling and then wander into the Picton Reading room to feel as if you have stepped onto the set of Harry Potter - it’s that quiet in there you could hear a pin drop!
CATHEDRAL TRIP
No trip to Liverpool is complete without heading to one of our awe-inspiring Cathedrals and it also makes a great excuse to get out of the rain. Housed at either end of Hope Street, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King sits at the top of Mount pleasant and the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral (the biggest cathedral in Britain) looms over the city on St James Mount.
THE CAVERN CLUB
If you’re around Mathew Street and the heavens open, head down into the cellar of the most famous club in the world. Explore The Cavern Club and everything it has to offer, from gigs, souvenir shop, free tours and Beatles memorabilia.
RADIO CITY TOWER
View the fantastic Liverpool skyline from the top of St John’s Beacon, home to Radio City. It’s a great way to get out of the rain and see the city from above.
ACTIVITIES
SUGAR AND DICE
Rainy days go hand in hand with a board game session so we would recommend heading over to Sugar and Dice on Cornhill Street for a bit of friendly competition. They have more board games than you even knew existed so you can either dig out a classic or ask one of their friendly board game expert staff to pick you out a new one. It may be raining cats and dogs outside just make sure you aren’t arguing like cats and dogs inside!
BREAKOUT LIVERPOOL
If you want to put your brains to the test then head over to Breakout Liverpool for some puzzle fun. You are locked in a room and given an hour to try to solve the clues and crack the codes to escape - a brilliant way to make sure you stay dry whilst keeping active (mentally and physically).
SPRING CITY TRAMPOLINE PARK
If you want to put a spring in your step and jump out of the rain why not head over to Spring City Trampoline Park in Brunswick for an afternoon of trampolining. Bounce about on their 49 flat bed trampolines, dodgeball, basketball lanes and a Jump Bag - it's great fun for all the family.
LANE 7
If the heavens open on your trip to Liverpool then book in for a game of bowling at Lane 7. The bar and bowling alley has everything you will need to escape the rain.
GHETTO GOLF
For a night out with a difference when the heavens open book yourself in for a round of Ghetto Golf in the Baltic Triangle. Tee off from inside a caravan and come across loads of weird and wonderful surprises along the way; its a golf course unlike any you will have seen before.
JUNKYARD GOLF CLUB
For more crazy golf fun, head over to Junkyard Golf Club in Liverpool ONE. Pick from either the Bozo, Gary or Pablo courses and be taken on a whirlwind golf adventure unlike any other. This is so much fun you’ll be glad it started raining!
NQ64
If you’re over 18 and a fan of old school video games and arcade machines then the best place to go when the heavens open is to NQ64 on Colquitt Street. Open till late this bar turned arcade has everything from Pac-Man to Tekken, Guitar Hero and Mario Kart. Team a game with a specially themed cocktail and you’ll never want to leave.
CINEMA TRIP
One of the best things to do when it rains is to head to the cinema and we have some great ones in Liverpool to settle down to a film in. Check out the Everyman Cinema for a luxury experience on your own comfy sofa; FACT for all your independent movies and Liverpool ONE’s Odeon for all the big blockbusters. Top it off with some popcorn and you've successfully avoided the rain!
VR ARCADE
The future of video gaming has arrived in Liverpool in the form of VR Here, a state of the art VR gaming arcade on Paul Street. Grab a headset and jump into the virtual world of gaming. There are even VR cars and bikes to turn your hand to a bit of racing; a perfect way to escape the rain.
ROUND OF POOL
Pass the time on a rainy evening with some drinks and a couple of games with your mates. If you head to Boston Pool Loft they have loads of pool, snooker and table tennis tables alongside a bit of shuffleboard. For another option, try out Roxy Ball Room for your own table tennis tournament or a bit of beer pong. You could spend hours in these places dodging the rain!
HOT WATER COMEDY CLUB
If the bad weather gets you down then a good old laugh at Hot Water Comedy Club will sort that out. Head over to see some of the best local and touring comedians do their thing on the Hot Water stage. Loads of their shows are free too so make sure you check their listings to see what you fancy.
RED BRICK HANGAR
For a unique shopping experience head over to the Red Brick Hangar in the Baltic Triangle. Independent traders have filled the old warehouse with a range of arts & crafts, clothes, vinyl, and everything in between. You’ll definitely find something interesting in here.
TOURS
MERSEY TUNNEL TOUR
You can't get further away from the rain if you’re underground so go behind the scenes on a tour of the famous Queensway Mersey Tunnel that was opened in 1934. You’ll learn all about the construction of the tunnel, visit the original control room and go deep below the city streets. Did you know they have also been featured in Hollywood movies?! And if it’s good enough for the A-list...
FOOTBALL STADIUM TOUR
Liverpool is a football mad city which means no trip is complete without taking a tour of either Anfield Stadium or Goodison Park. The tours are mainly inside the stadiums so it's the perfect excuse to jump out of the rain and into the home of Liverpool or Everton football clubs.
LIVERPOOL GIN DISTILLERY
We don’t need an excuse to head to the Liverpool Gin Distillery but the rain gives us a good one! Not only can you try a gin from their extensive menu, you can also turn your hand to distilling your own, go on a distillery tour or take part in Bartender School.
LOVE LANE BREWERY TOUR
If beer is more your thing, head over to Love Lane Brewery in the Baltic Triangle for a brewery tour. You’ll be able to avoid the rain and discover the history of Love Lane beers, how they are made and then sample some afterwards as well! You’ll have so much fun in here you won’t even notice if it’s stopped raining outside!
FOOD & DRINK
BALTIC MARKET
Come rain or shine, the Baltic Market is always a great place to head for mouth watering food and musical entertainment. The street food style market is home to an ever changing list of indie food vendors, a fully stocked bar and more events than you could wish for. Top tip - the halloumi fries are incredible!
GO FOR SOMETHING TO EAT
There’s nothing better than resting your legs and sitting down to a brilliant meal when the weather is bad. We have so many restaurants, bars and cafes in Liverpool you won’t struggle trying to find something tasty to eat. Check out this blog ‘Around the World in 80 Dishes’ for a bit of inspiration.
GRAB A COFFEE
Sometimes all you want to do is sit back, relax and watch the world go by. There’s no better time to do this then when the heavens open and we have plenty of coffee shops to doge the rain and grab a coffee in. Check out some of the best ones HERE.
The great thing about these activities is that they will be there come rain or shine so you don't just have to wait for a downpour to check them out. Let us know what you’re getting up to in our lovely British weather over on our Twitter @VisitLiverpool.
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This blog post has been written by Sophie Shields, Digitial Marketing Assistant for Marketing Liverpool.
Sophie is from Liverpool, loves all things music, particularly the local music scene and Liverpool FC.