17 things to do in Sussex in the rain with kids

While Sussex’s sandy beaches are among my favourites for a sunny day, I’ve spent enough rainy days by the coast to know you’ll have just as much fun in Sussex in the rain with kids.

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From some quirky museums to a royal home, animal attractions and plenty more indoor family fun, there’s lots to discover across the county, including a string of rainy day attractions in Brighton.

So whether you’re visiting Sussex in winter, or dodging the showers in mid summer, here are my tips on the best things to do in Sussex in the rain with kids.

The Royal Pavilion, Brighton

This flamboyant iconic building was created for the Prince Regent, with all the royal extravagance you might expect. And this slightly fairytale architecture, combined with lavish interiors, makes it perfect for a day out with kids in Brighton.

You can buy a children’s trail for a small fee to spot some of the animals dotted throughout the opulent rooms, or amuse yourself looking out for all the dragons at the Royal Pavilion.

Once you get to the music room, staff actively encouraged us to have a lie down on the carpet to see the chandelier rising to the gold patterned ceiling. Great for a rainy day in Sussex with kids too.

Check out the Brighton Pavilion Treasure Map Trail as well, for a fun way to spot some of the quirky highlights nearby too – get 10% off using code MUMMYTRAVELS too.

For more things to do in Brighton with kids, check out my top picks

Sea Life Brighton

The world’s oldest operating aquarium, the Brighton Sea Life Centre is only a shell’s throw away from the sea itself, with more than 150 creatures to spot within the striking Victorian building, including in the Day and Night Area.

Showing how the oceans change over the course of 24 hours, the display includes a bioluminescent beach.

As well as a variety of different underwater habitats to explore, plus the Rainforest adventure, there are extra temptations for families including a stamp trail, regular special events during school holidays, a behind-the-scenes tour, and the UK’s first glass-bottom boat, not to mention the now obligatory underwater tunnel.

Blue Reef Aquarium, Hastings

Set right on the beachfront, the Hastings aquarium might not be the biggest in Sussex but it’s very easy to while away a few hours wandering around – and ideal if you find yourself by the seaside in Sussex on a rainy day.

Look out for the porcupine pufferfish and the stonefish, two of the more unusual inhabitants along with rays, sharks, colourful reef fish, seahorses and the rather fabulous giant pacific octopus.

There are two pages of animals to tick off in a children’s guide as you go around, along with some great facts for mini marine biologists.

Read more about our day out at Blue Reef Aquarium, Hastings here

Smugglers Adventure, Hastings

Walk in the footsteps of real-life pirates and smugglers at Smugglers Adventure in Hastings. This family-friendly experience takes you deep underground into a series of caves and tunnels that were once used for illegal trade on the Sussex Coast hundreds of years ago.

Led through the eerie caves by notorious smuggler Hairy Jack, you’ll get to meet over 70 life-sized characters who help tell the secrets and stories of these infamous outlaws.

There are also plenty of child-friendly information boards and mini films, as well as interactive games and activities where little ones can experience life as a smuggler themselves.

There’s no minimum age for the experience, but younger children may find some of the recreations and stories a little scary – otherwise there’s plenty of fun, a helping of education, and because you’re underground, Smugglers Adventure is a great day out in Sussex in the rain for the whole family. It does close during the winter months.

When the Hastings East Cliff Lift reopens, it’s a fun way to get from the seafront up to Smuggler’s Adventure and the other clifftop attractions

The Shipwreck Museum

The Shipwreck Museum in Hastings is a fascinating maritime museum that helps bring history to life through its collection of artefacts salvaged from shipwrecks in the English Channel over the centuries. There’s also a display of local fossils, including dinosaur bones and footprints.

The family-friendly museum has loads of fun interactive exhibits for younger visitors too, including the opportunity to tie ropes, use pulleys, and load cannons like a historic sailor, a drawing and brass rubbing station, and dinosaur footprints that kids can walk in.

The museum is fairly small but completely free to visit, making it a great place to spend an hour or so on a rainy day in Sussex with kids. Make sure to leave a donation if you do enjoy it.

Toy and Model Museum, Brighton

Located in the secret Victorian cellars underneath Brighton Station, the Brighton Toy and Model Museum is a magical little museum that both kids and adults are sure to enjoy.

The unique museum has over 12,000 toys on display, from antique teddy bears and puppets to beautiful dollhouses, scale Lego scenes, and amazing model railways. 

Some of the toys sit inside display cabinets, while others are much more interactive, such as the old “end-of-the-pier” slot machines that cost just 10p to play.

On the way out, don’t forget to pop by the museum shop and pick up some toys to take home with you. Perfect for reliving your own childhood at the same time.

The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so if you’re visiting at the weekend, make sure it’s first on your list.

Booth Museum of Natural History

*Temporarily closed for essential work – reopning date tbc* Founded as a Victorian collector’s private museum, the Booth Museum is one of those slightly eccentric collections that the UK seems to specialise in – endless cases of birds displayed in their natural setting (complete with eagles pouncing on lambs) plus skeletons and dinosaur bones.

Younger kids will probably be fascinated by it, including the two bears at the entrance, older ones might find it a bit creepier.

Free to enter, although you have to walk through the small gift shop on the way in and out. Closed Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

The Brighton museum and art gallery has an impressively varied collection, with plenty to keep kids entertained

One of the highlights is the Ancient Egyptian mummies, but there are also displays on fashion, exhibits about Brighton itself, masks and puppets in the Performance Gallery, plus it’s home to one of the best art galleries in Sussex.

They often run special family sessions at half-term and in school holidays too. Tickets can be booked online or bought at the door, and you get free return entry for a year with standard admission. Closed on Mondays (except bank holidays).

Set in the Royal Pavilion’s gardens, it’s easy to combine with a visit to George IV’s ornate creation, if you need to fill a full day in Sussex in the rain with kids.

The Observatory Science Centre

Sitting on the grounds of Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, The Observatory Science Centre is an exciting interactive science centre with plenty of hands-on activities for kids of all ages.

The astronomical observatory was established in 1995 in the former home of The Royal Greenwich Observatory, and today it has over 100 interactive exhibits, telescope tours, workshops, family-friendly science shows, and seasonal activities throughout the year.

Most exhibits at the Observatory Science Centre are indoors and suitable for any weather. However, you may have to go outside to get between some of the domes, so make sure to bring an umbrella or coat.

It’s worth knowing that the telescope domes aren’t heated, so it’s good to wear layers on cold days, and the centre’s stargazing evening events unfortunately don’t run on rainy days.

Anne of Cleves House, Lewes

This gorgeous timber-framed medieval house and museum in Lewes was originally built for Henry VIII’s wife Anne of Cleves – although she never actually used it. And there’s a perfect mix of education and fun, with plenty of chances for kids to get hands on and play during your visit to the Anne of Cleves house.

As well as exploring the rooms, including the Tudor kitchen and bedroom with its four-poster bed, kids can dress up along the way, and there are often trails and quizzes plus activities boxes to keep kids entertained.

It’s a good chance to learn about life in Sussex centuries ago, with plenty of everyday items to see. If the rain lets up, take the chance to look into the Tudor garden too, with herbs and trees which Henry and Anne would have recognised if they happened to stroll by today.

Petworth House, Petworth

With its grand house, Petworth House and Park in west Sussex is a great day out in Sussex in the rain, even if you can’t make the most of the huge grounds and lovely gardens.

Set in the heart of the South Downs, it’s normally tempting to spend sunny days exploring outside, including the deer park and the rest of the grounds, often with family trails to help you explore.

But there’s plenty to tempt inside the Sussex National Trust property too. Inspired by the Baroque palaces of Europe, Petworth House has its own impressive collection of art and sculpture, the earliest English globe still in existence (which once belonged to the ‘wizard’ earl of Northumberland) and links galore to famous artists.

You can also peek into the historic kitchens, dating from the mid 18th century, when Petworth needed a small army of 40 servants.

There are plenty of other historic sites in Sussex to visit with kids, including Arundel Castle and Battle Abbey but while these do have indoor attractions, you’ll want to explore outdoors as well so it’s better to save them for sunny days – or at least a dry day!

Newhaven Fort, Newhaven

This 150-year-old fort is one of the string of defences built during the Napoleonic wars to guard against invasion, and it was still used right up until the 1950s.

And inside Newhaven Fort, there are some interactive displays which are fun – or at least memorable! – for the whole family, such as experiencing what a (simulated) World War Two air raid was like from inside an air raid shelter.

The fort, built into the cliff itself, also has an adventure playground for kids and an impressive 10 acres for kids to run around in if the rain clears. If you’re looking for days out in Sussex in the rain with your four-legged friend, well-behaved dogs are welcome too.

Bluebell Railway

A great way to see the Sussex countryside without having to go out in the rain, this steam train adventure takes you a series of vintage train stations for a lovely family adventure.

Along the way, there’s a variety of attractions including museums, engine sheds and children’s play areas at each stop along the 11 miles between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead.

Fans of Downton Abbey will also recognize one of the stations from the show and there are regular events and festivals throughout the year as well.

The whole route takes around 40 minutes, but always check the Bluebell Railway website in advance: they don’t run every day, and the timings of the trains can vary.

Fisher’s Adventure Farm Park, Wisborough Green

For a fun day out with younger kids, Fisher’s Adventure Farm Park is heaven for little animal lovers – and has plenty of indoor play options as well.

There’s an amazing indoor play barn with the kind of play equipment that you’d normally expect outside. In fact, if you don’t look too closely, with the clever lighting, woodland sounds and huge wooden play structure, you could almost believe you were outside! There’s also a sensory den that’s great for little ones.

There’s also more traditional soft play, a baby sensory room, the Barn Theatre, and the Glow Barn, which opened a couple of years ago. With sensory lighting and tranquil music, beanbags and some calming displays to watch, it’s ideal with over-excited little ones, or anyone who needs a chance to relax.

Plus you can still meet plenty of farmyard animals from bunnies, chicks, lambs and kids to alpacas, cows and horses, as well as a chance to get (gently) hands on with daily animal handling sessions in one of the barns, plus occasional feeding sessions.

Out of Bounds, Angmering

The Out of Bounds activity centre has something for everyone, preschoolers to adults – and along with the all-weather outdoor activities if you don’t mind a bit of drizzle (including adventure golf and adventure nets), there are a string of indoor activities.

Find laser tag and ten pin bowling, plus there’s clip’n’climb for something more adrenaline-fuelled. Suitable for age 4+, there are 15 different climbing walls to try and no experience is necessary.

Or younger kids can go wild in a massive soft play. And we’re not talking a few padded frames, the multi-level design has won it awards for best soft play in Sussex, with a spiral slide as well as a ball pit and all the usual cushioned climbing and crawling fun.

Ideal for a rainy day in Sussex with kids or if you’re looking for an active day out.

Try an Escape Room

Testing your family’s teamwork with an escape room is a great way to spend a rainy day in Sussex, especially when you have older children and teens to keep entertained. 

An escape room will have you all working together to uncover clues, solve riddles and puzzles, and escape the room before your time runs out.

There are plenty of great escape rooms all across Sussex. Tulleys Escape Rooms in Crawley has loads of great rooms to choose from, including a Pirate-themed room that’s ideal for beginners and families. Pier Pressure in Brighton has slightly more challenging rooms, with many set inside iconic Brighton landmarks. 

Chichester Festival Theatre

Chichester Festival Theatre has a huge variety of daytime and evening events and activities for families that are perfect for a rainy day.

The popular theatre hosts family-friendly performances throughout the year, from fun sing-alongs for toddlers to comedies, musicals, and holiday pantomimes for older children. 

The venue also has a dedicated family area with arts and crafts, fancy dress, and books for younger kids. Plus, you can enjoy even more activities at the pop-up family fun sessions every Thursday and Saturday.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Royal Pavilion/East Cliff/Newhaven Fort/climbing wall courtesy of Depositphotos, Observatory courtesy Picfari, all other images copyright MummyTravels

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