Leisure Attractions
Bewilder Box Escape Room Brighton
Sci-fi escape rooms in Hove.
Indoors
Hove
Rainy Day Activities
Indoor things to do with kids when the weather turns in Brighton
It rains in Brighton. Quite a lot, actually. But the city has plenty of indoor options for families. Soft play centres keep toddlers busy. Bowling and escape rooms work for older kids. The Sea Life Centre and Brighton Museum are solid choices for any age. And when all else fails, there is always the cinema. Here are the best places to head when the heavens open.
Indoor Activities
Arcades & Gaming
Brighton's arcade scene goes well beyond the pier. Palace of Fun on the Palace Pier has the classic 2p pushers and grabb...
Free entry - £15 per session Ages 3+
Bowling
Brighton has bowling covered whether you're after a big-name alley with bumpers and arcade machines or something more lo...
£5-£10 per game Ages 3+
Cinemas
Brighton has cinemas for every taste. The Duke of York's Picturehouse is the oldest continuously operating cinema in the...
£8-£15 per ticket Ages 0+
Climbing
Indoor climbing has taken off in Brighton. High Sports Brighton offers roped climbing and bouldering with walls for all ...
£8-£14 per session Ages 5+
Cooking Classes
Brighton Cookery School is the main dedicated cooking school in the city, running hands-on classes for everything from k...
£50-£100 per class Ages 10+
Creative Workshops
Brighton runs on creative energy and you can tap into it for an afternoon. Paint pottery at a walk-in cafe on Trafalgar ...
£10-£80 per session Ages 5+
Escape Rooms
Brighton has a proper escape room scene. Six venues across the city offer everything from murder mysteries to vault heis...
£20-£35 per person Ages 8+
Laser Tag
Laserzone is Brighton's dedicated laser tag arena. Multi-level playing field, UV lighting, fog machines — the full works...
£6-£10 per game Ages 6+
Mini Golf
Brighton takes mini golf seriously. Jungle Rumble on the seafront is the biggest operation — two 18-hole tropical course...
£8-£13 per round Ages 3+
Museums & Galleries
Brighton has a proper museum scene for a city this size. The main Brighton Museum has art, fashion, and local history. T...
Free-£10
Pottery Painting
Pick a piece of plain pottery, sit down with some paints, and take your time. Brighton has two pottery painting studios ...
£10-£25 per session Ages 3+
Soft Play
When the weather turns (and it will), soft play centres are a lifesaver for parents in Brighton and the surrounding area...
£5-£12 per session Ages 0+
Trampoline Parks
Sky High Trampoline Park is Brighton's dedicated trampolining venue. Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball cour...
£8-£14 per hour Ages 2+
Indoor Venues for Families
Leisure Attractions
Dice Saloon
Massive gaming centre with 350+ board games, wargaming hall, and café on London Road.
Indoors
London Road
Leisure Attractions
Pier Pressure Escape Rooms
Immersive escape rooms in central Brighton
Indoors
City Centre
Sports Fitness
Boulder Brighton
Dedicated 10,000 sq ft bouldering centre in Portslade with routes for all levels.
Indoors
Portslade
Leisure Attractions
Cuddly Colony Education Centre
Cuddly Colony Education Centre - in East Street Arcade
Indoors
The Lanes
Leisure Attractions
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre
Wetland reserve in Arundel with an electric boat safari, otters and flat, buggy-friendly paths.
Indoors Changing
Worthing
Leisure Attractions
Duke of York's Picturehouse
Brighton's landmark cinema on Preston Road, since 1910.
Indoors
London Road
Leisure Attractions
Dukes at Komedia Picturehouse
Picturehouse cinema inside Komedia, Gardner Street.
Indoors
North Laine
Leisure Attractions
VRROOM virtual race room
Racing simulators at Brighton Marina that feel like the real thing.
Indoors
Brighton Marina
Arts Culture
Royal Pavilion
George IV's seafront palace, still Brighton's wildest building.
Indoors
The Lanes
Leisure Attractions
Drusillas Park
Zoo and adventure park in Alfriston, 25 minutes from Brighton.
Indoors Changing
Lewes
Leisure Attractions
Knockhatch Adventure Park
Adventure park with Lost World indoor soft play, rides, zoo, farm animals and outdoor play areas
Indoors Changing
Lewes
Arts Culture
Depot Cinema and Restaurant
Independent cinema, restaurant and bar in Lewes.
Indoors
Lewes
Leisure Attractions
Washbrooks Family Farm
Hands-on family farm near Hurstpierpoint, twenty minutes from Brighton.
Indoors
Hassocks
Leisure Attractions
Newhaven Fort
Restored Victorian fort with exhibitions, escape room and adventure playground.
Indoors
Newhaven
Leisure Attractions
Brighton's Murder Mystery - Escape Room
Murder mystery escape room at The World's End pub, London Road.
Indoors
London Road
Rainy Day Tips
Book Ahead
Weekend sessions at popular soft play centres sell out, especially in school holidays. Book online a day or two in advance for Palace Play and Funplex to avoid disappointment at the door.
Parking
Several indoor venues have their own car parks. The Brighton Marina (bowling, cinema, Funplex) has free parking. The Sea Life Centre is near the seafront NCP. City centre venues are better reached by bus.
Cafe Quality
The on-site cafes vary hugely. Brighton Museum's cafe is genuinely good. Soft play centre cafes tend towards basic but functional. North Laine has plenty of family-friendly coffee shops as a backup.
Dual-Age Activities
Struggling with a toddler and an older child? The Sea Life Centre, Brighton Museum, and Funplex all work across age ranges. Bowling at the Marina is good from about age 4 upwards with bumper lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can kids do in Brighton when it rains?
Brighton has plenty of indoor activities for rainy days. Soft play centres (Palace Play, Funplex) are great for younger children. Bowling and escape rooms work for older kids. The Sea Life Centre, Brighton Museum (free), and cinemas at the Marina are all solid options for any age.
Are there free indoor activities for children in Brighton?
Yes. Brighton Museum and the Booth Museum of Natural History are both free and suitable for children. Brighton Jubilee Library runs free events for kids. Some venues offer free toddler sessions on weekday mornings. Check individual venue listings for details.