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What to do at a holiday park on a rainy day
Let’s be honest – when you book a UK holiday park break, a bit of rain is almost guaranteed at some point. But that doesn’t mean the fun stops. The UK’s holiday parks are well-prepped for a bit of drizzle, so boredom’s never an option. Here’s our guide to making the most of a rainy day at a holiday park to help inspire your next break.
Splash around in indoor pools and waterparks
Has your beach day been rained off? Not to fear, you can still splash about indoors. Plenty of holiday parks have indoor swimming pools or – even better – waterparks and splash zones. Here are just a few with stellar indoor swimming spots…
Lizard Point Holiday Park, Cornwall
Cornwall’s got some iconic beaches. But if the weather isn’t playing ball, you can always head indoors for your swimming fix instead. At Lizard Point Holiday Park, there’s an indoor pool with a pirate ship and mini-slide. Plus, there are extra fun activities to try, like high-tech aqua jets to speed you through the water, or aqua paddler boats to race around the pool on.
Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Wales
You’d probably expect one of the biggest holiday parks in Europe to have a decent pool – and you’d be right. This place has a huge indoor pool, dubbed Splashland, complete with a slide for super-charged fun. Once you’ve dried off, there’s also a bowling alley and a whole dome dedicated to indoor sports.
Butlin’s Skegness, Norfolk
Skegness is practically the home of holiday parks in Norfolk, or maybe even the UK. So you’ve got plenty of options to choose from. Butlin’s Skegness is a great choice for water babies. Its mammoth, indoor Splash Waterworld boasts slides, rapids, a wave pool and deeper swimming zones. The perfect spot to burn off some energy when it’s raining.
Southview Holiday Park, Lincolnshire
Another Skegness park to make the list – this spot has an indoor pool with plenty of fun in store. Youngsters can race across the water on kayaks, inflatable jet skis, or water walkerz. Plus, they often set up water obstacle courses over over 5s.
Keep busy with indoor play
Most holiday parks are set up with indoor zones, specifically designed for rainy weather. Think soft play, escape rooms, and even mini golf.
PlayXperience at Butlin’s
At Butlin’s Bognor Regis, you’ll find PlayXperience – a huge indoor attraction with activities galore. You can get stuck in to laser tag, escape rooms, virtual reality games, mini golf or arcade fun.
Soft play
There’s no need to leave the holiday park for some classic soft play fun. A lot of holiday parks have their own soft play on site. Take Summerfields Holiday Park, in Norfolk, for example – it’s got its own soft play for toddlers and younger kids.
Arcades
You don’t need to head down to the coast for penny slots and pinball, because plenty of holiday parks line up their own amusement arcades. Valley Farm Holiday Park in Essex has its own arcade, as does Nodes Point on the Isle of Wight, and White Cross Bay near Windermere in the famous Lake District.
Virtual reality
Sandford Holiday Park, in Poole, Dorset, goes one step further with its own virtual reality area. Youngsters aged eight and above can tackle interactive and immersive games while keeping dry from the rain.
Join in with the entertainment
Holiday parks have been designed with families in mind. So, you can expect a jam-packed entertainment schedule. There are activities to keep everyone busy, from tots to teens and even adults.
Arts and crafts
At Parkdean Resorts, there are all sorts of arty sessions to sign up for. There are arts and crafts dens for littles, offering the likes of pottery painting, slime workshops, sand art, tie dye and build-a-bear classes. Plus, some parks, like Bideford Bay Holiday Park, in Devon, put on arts and crafts sessions for adults, too.
Family-friendly shows
Come rain or shine, you can expect character appearances and high-octane family shows at a range of holiday parks. This ranges from PAW Patrol Mighty Missions and Milkshake! Mornings at Parkdean, to wrestling and Peppa Pig shows at Butlins. And the best bit? It’s all included in the price.
Activities for adults
Kids aren’t the only ones that need entertaining on rainy days. Grown-ups can also make the most of activities, like aqua aerobics, disco-cise classes, line dancing, yoga – all of which usually take place inside.
Sports
The rainy weather gives you a great excuse to try activities you might’ve never considered before. As well as classic bowling alleys, holiday parks often have other sports to try, like hover archery, laser tag or glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
Get cosy in your accommodation
You don’t even need to leave your accommodation to have fun on a rainy day. A holiday park break gives you loads of options to relax and enjoy quality time.
Board games and puzzles
Bring some favourites with you or pick up a new one from the park store and settle in for a family board game tournament. At Bideford Bay Holiday Park, in Devon, you can join in with organised board game nights, so there’s no need to pack your own.
Indoor picnics and movie nights
Stretch out a blanket, pop some popcorn and watch a film together. Many parks offer movie hire services, or you can stream from your device if you’re connected to Wi-Fi.
Arts and crafts
Use local nature finds or invest in a craft pack to make something to remember your break.
With the right park choice and a bit of imagination, you can turn a wet day into one of the highlights of your trip. Explore all our holiday parks with pools, or parks with family-friendly facilities right here. Your next great holiday could be just a click away.
