Rainy Day Activities near Penrith for Families

Let’s be honest: it rains in Cumbria. Sometimes quite a lot. But a wet day needn’t mean a wasted day — there’s plenty to do near Penrith when the weather turns, especially if you’ve got children in tow. Here are our favourite rainy day activities for families staying at our Fern Cottage, Maple Cottage, and Rittson Cottage.

Indoor Attractions

Rheged Centre

Just off junction 40 of the M6, Rheged is built into an old quarry and describes itself as Europe’s largest grass-roofed building. Inside you’ll find a cinema (showing mainstream and family films on a big screen), a climbing wall, a soft play area for younger children, exhibitions, shops, and a good cafe. It’s the go-to rainy day destination for families near Penrith, and it’s only about 10 minutes from all three of our cottages.

Address: Redhills, Penrith CA11 0DQ
Good for: All ages, easily half a day

The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven

If you’re up for a 45-minute drive to the Cumbrian coast, the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven is well worth the journey. Interactive exhibits cover the town’s maritime history, Georgian heritage, and local wildlife. Children enjoy the hands-on displays, and the views from the top floor across the harbour are lovely even in the rain.

Penrith Museum

A small but interesting free museum in the centre of Penrith, housed in a former school building on Middlegate. The displays cover the town’s history from Roman times to the present day, including archaeology from the local area. It’s not going to fill a whole day, but it’s a pleasant hour’s browse and easy to combine with town centre shopping and a cafe stop.

Address: Middlegate, Penrith CA11 7PT
Admission: Free

Lowther Castle

Even on a rainy day, Lowther Castle is worth visiting for the covered adventure playground alone. The Lost Castle play area is one of the best in Cumbria — a massive wooden play structure built into the castle ruins, with slides, climbing walls, rope bridges, and tunnels. There’s also an indoor cafe. Older children and adults will enjoy exploring the restored gardens, and the castle ruin itself is atmospheric in any weather.

Address: Lowther, Penrith CA10 2HH
Admission: Adults approximately £10, children approximately £5 (check website for current prices)

Swimming Pools and Leisure

Penrith Leisure Centre

The leisure centre on Southend Road has a swimming pool, gym, and sports hall. The pool has a small flume and splash area for children, and family swim sessions are reasonably priced. It’s a reliable wet-weather option, and you can combine it with a trip into Penrith for lunch and shopping.

Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest

Just outside Penrith, Center Parcs has the Subtropical Swimming Paradise — a vast indoor water park with rapids, flumes, a wave pool, and a lazy river. Day passes are sometimes available for non-residents, though availability varies and booking ahead is essential. If you can get one, it’s a brilliant rainy day treat for families.

Creative and Learning Activities

Pottery Painting and Craft Workshops

Several craft studios near Penrith offer drop-in pottery painting and crafting sessions for families. These are perfect for a rainy afternoon — children can paint their own mug or plate to take home as a souvenir, and adults often enjoy it just as much. Check locally for current options, as studios change frequently.

Penrith Playhouse

The Playhouse on Auction Mart Lane is Penrith’s independent cinema and theatre. It shows a mix of mainstream and independent films, plus live theatre performances, pantomimes (at Christmas), and children’s shows. Check the programme online before you visit — catching a matinee is a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Cafes and Tea Rooms Worth Visiting

Sometimes the best rainy day plan is the simplest: find a really good cafe, order cake, and wait for the weather to pass. Penrith has several excellent options:

• Fellpack: Modern cafe-bar with excellent coffee, brunch, and a relaxed atmosphere. Good for older children and teens.
• Cranston’s Food Hall: Part butcher, part food hall, part cafe. The cafe serves hearty meals using Cranston’s own meat, and you can stock up on supplies for your cottage kitchen at the same time.
• The Bluebell Bookshop: An independent bookshop on Angel Lane with a lovely cafe area. Browse the shelves, choose a book, and settle in with a coffee. Children’s section is well stocked.

Cosy Cottage Days

Of course, one of the great advantages of staying in a self-catering cottage is that a rainy day can be just as enjoyable indoors. All our cottages have comfortable living rooms, well-equipped kitchens for baking with the children, and a good supply of books and games. Maple Cottage has original fireplaces and oak beams that make it wonderfully cosy when the rain hammers down outside, while Fern Cottage has an enclosed garden where children can play even in light drizzle. Rittson Cottage has the charm of listening to the river from inside on a wet afternoon.

A wet day in Cumbria is not a disaster — it’s just a different kind of adventure.