Whereas Suffolk’s seashores are at all times a unbelievable option to spend a sunny day, I’ve spent sufficient wet days within the county to know you’ll have simply as a lot enjoyable in Suffolk within the rain with children.
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From some quirky museums to a royal burial web site, animal sights and many extra indoor household enjoyable, there’s heaps to find throughout the county.
So whether or not you’re visiting Suffolk in winter, or dodging the showers in midsummer, listed below are my tips about the perfect issues to do in Suffolk within the rain with children.
Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge
It’s a narrative that’s straight from a fairytale – a king buried underneath a hill together with his treasure, undisturbed for hundreds of years. Till a small workforce of archaeologists found “the discover of a lifetime” within the mounds at Sutton Hoo on the eve of the Second World Battle.
Last resting place of the King of the Wuffinga, Raedwald, King of East Anglia who dominated within the seventh century, his boat had rotted away however the treasured objects of his hoard survived, from jewelry to gold cash and an intricate steel helmet.
There’s a treasure path for teenagers, plus dressing up and you may stroll out to the burial mounds if the rain isn’t too unhealthy, in addition to visiting Tranmer Home, embellished as it could have been through the Second World Battle.
In the event you’re visiting Suffolk in winter, it’s price figuring out that there are restricted opening hours through the winter months. Prebook tickets right here.
Learn extra about our go to to Sutton Hoo with children
Ipswich Museum
EDIT: Briefly closed and reopening in 2026 The pure historical past part is the largest draw with children at Ipswich Museum, however that’s solely the beginning of what there may be to see in the event you’re searching for issues to do in Ipswich within the rain with children.
You’ll be able to uncover native historical past, in addition to taking a visit by time to find extra in regards to the Iron Age, the Romans and the Saxons – best in the event you’ve additionally seen Sutton Hoo.
There are additionally shows on Historic Egypt, plus animals together with gorillas to lions and even a uncommon sub-species of giraffe within the Victorian pure historical past assortment – and final however very positively not least, a mammoth.
Christchurch Park and Mansion, Ipswich
Constructed on the positioning of a twelfth century priory, Christchurch Mansion is unbelievable in the event you’re searching for a free day trip in Suffolk within the rain with children, with a mix of historical past, museum and locations to play if the unhealthy climate improves.
You’ll be able to discover rooms embellished in several types from the previous 450 years, starting from the Tudors proper by to the Victorians.
There’s additionally artwork on show, together with Gainsborough and Constable, in addition to different reveals, starting from ceramics to musical devices and toys – the momentary exhibitions have additionally centered on every part from Ed Sheeran to the facility of tales.
Ickworth, Bury St Edmunds
The Italianate palace of Ickworth is named a lot for its stunning gardens and grounds as for the home, with its uncommon rotunda, however in the event you’re visiting on a wet day in Suffolk, there’s nonetheless loads to see.
The constructing was supposed to be as a lot gallery as dwelling, and there’s nonetheless some spectacular artwork on present at Ickworth – designed to encourage guests, there are sometimes household actions with the identical intention.
There’s additionally an opportunity to see how the servants lived, venturing into the servants’ quarters, together with tales of a number of the most vibrant earls and marquesses who’ve referred to as Ickworth dwelling.
And for many who are decided to get outdoors and never deterred by some drizzle, there’s an all-weather path to find. Prebook tickets right here.
Mid-Suffolk Gentle Railway, Stowmarket
The Mid Suffolk Gentle Railway is Suffolk’s solely commonplace gauge heritage railway, with a museum for train-lovers in addition to an opportunity to make a journey on a steam prepare.
There are occasions all year long, together with Middy within the Battle Years, an opportunity to nearly return to the Forties, and Santa specials at Christmas.
Do test the timetable earlier than you flip up although because the trains don’t run on daily basis.
Ipswich Transport Museum
Discover over 100 automobiles on show on the Ipswich Transport Museum, all made or used within the native space over a interval of round 200 years.
So in addition to police vehicles and hearth engines, you’ll discover bicycles, classic prams, lawnmowers and even a funeral hearse.
There’s additionally a mannequin railway, the place everybody can strive their hand at driving the trains, plus an exercise zone for teenagers – a really enjoyable option to spend a wet day in Suffolk with children massive and small!
The Meals Museum
The Meals Museum in Stowmarket is the one considered one of its sort within the UK, exploring every part you must find out about rising, making, and consuming meals.
An ideal place to get youngsters extra engaged with the place their meals comes from and the individuals who produce it, children will love the numerous hands-on reveals and interactive shows across the museum, together with the chance to check out agricultural instruments.
There are additionally loads of enjoyable indoor actions for the entire household, resembling talks, excursions, demonstrations, meals tastings, and baking lessons.
The primary museum is about throughout 17 buildings and also you’ll have to go outdoors to get between them, so be certain that to convey an umbrella/coat. The farm space and grounds aren’t significantly wet day pleasant. However tickets are legitimate for 12 months, so you may at all times return one other day to benefit from the outside actions too.
Aldeburgh museum
Aldeburgh is considered one of my favorite locations on the Suffolk coast – however ideally when the solar is shining. So in the event you’re searching for one thing to do in Aldeburgh within the rain, it’s properly price popping into the city’s little museum.
Housed within the sixteenth century Tudor Moot Corridor, which continues to be used for council conferences, the museum is predicated downstairs, with a wildly eclectic assortment to find.
In addition to a number of the city’s with Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds, you’ll see reveals from Aldeburgh’s maritime previous and a few distinctly uncommon odds and ends, together with drawers stuffed with collected butterflies.
Lengthy Store Museum
Suffolk’s inexperienced fields are sufficient to make you neglect that the county has its personal industrial historical past as properly – and the Lengthy Store Museum is the place you may uncover it.
Making engines, machines and automobiles, the positioning has been transformed to a museum, with loads of quirky information and surprising reveals to convey every part alive for households – together with how deep the county’s deepest properly is.
And together with dressing up, making sample moulds in sand and extra trails, children can discover a van which employees typically slept in, in addition to tales together with that of Elizabeth Garrett, who was a relation of the manufacturing unit homeowners, earlier than happening to her personal inspiring achievements. Closed through the winter months.
Lowestoft Maritime Museum
The Lowestoft Maritime Museum is an interesting family-friendly museum that takes you on a journey by the maritime heritage of Lowestoft. It’s dwelling to a big assortment of maritime artefacts, together with actual lifeboats, ship reconstructions, and an enormous scale-model boat assortment.
Youthful friends will probably be given hats to put on as they enter the museum, with fisherman, captain, sailor, and pirate hats to choose from.
The museum additionally has loads of participating hands-on actions to maintain little ones entertained, together with a youngsters’s maritime identification path and a household play room with sea-themed jigsaws, puzzles, and youngsters’s books.
The museum does shut briefly over the winter months, so be certain that to test the opening schedule earlier than your go to, however in any other case it’s a enjoyable possibility for a wet day by the Suffolk coast.
Snape Maltings
On the financial institution of the River Alde, not removed from Aldeburgh, there’s at all times one thing to find at Snape Maltings for households.
The transformed Victorian buildings now home artwork galleries, unbiased outlets, a eating places and cafe, in addition to efficiency venues – to not point out occasions and actions for teenagers, together with free toddler music classes, and seasonal enjoyable like Halloween trails.
Younger Harry Potter followers can benefit from the probability to go to Snape close by as properly – and get a photograph with the signal if the rain isn’t too heavy.
Landguard Fort, Felixstowe
Who knew that Suffolk was the positioning of the final opposed seaborne invasion of England, the place the Royal Marines fought off the Dutch in 1667, of their first land battle?
When the battle befell close to Harwich Harbour, the present Landguard Fort hadn’t but been constructed, constructed within the 18th century earlier than extra work was finished within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when it performed an vital anti-aircraft position through the Second World Battle.
Disarmed in 1956, now you can discover the maze of tunnels, passageways and rooms throughout the historic fort, with guided excursions alongside the shows, plus some particular re-enactments going down all year long
There are additionally particular household occasions which occur all year long.
Easton Farm Park, Woodbridge
Easton Farm Park is ideal in case your children like to get fingers on with the animals, with an opportunity to stroke and meet bunnies, pygmy goats, horses, donkeys and guinea pigs.
It’s additionally an awesome place in the event you’re visiting Suffolk within the rain with children – as I can attest, having ended up exploring throughout a torrential summer season downpour – with tiny tractors and play areas inside.
Or there are pony and tractor trailer rides when it’s dry, plus a path by the water meadows.
Try my evaluation of a (moist) day trip at Easton Farm Park
Baylham Home Uncommon Breeds Farm, Ipswich
Excellent with youthful children, you will get near pleasant cattle on the Baylham Home Uncommon Breeds Farm, with a free bag of feed to supply to cows, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, and poultry dwelling right here.
Because the identify suggests, lots of the animals on this farm are uncommon breeds that you just aren’t more likely to see in very many locations, and there’s loads to be taught alongside the farm path. Don’t miss the prospect to cuddle a goat too!
No have to ebook, and youngsters get a free bag of animal meals on arrival. Inevitably you will want to stroll between the totally different barns and sheds, so do come ready with waterproofs and wellies although.
Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich
Not removed from the border with Essex (we visited whereas staying in Mistley), it’s additionally straightforward to achieve Jimmy’s Farm from fairly Pin Mill in addition to Ipswich. And with its farm and wildlife park, to not point out some superb meals within the cafe and store, there’s loads to maintain you entertained on a wet day trip with children.
Together with the furred and feathered inhabitants, there are some nice indoor play areas too, together with tender play.
Plus you may see over 80 totally different species of animals, so that you’ll discover farmyard creatures (together with some uncommon breeds) but in addition meerkats and wallabies plus camels and crocodiles – as above, you’ll have to stroll between a number of the lined areas, whereas some animals are open air, so it’s greatest for a drizzly day reasonably than in torrential rain.
Get Inventive at a Craft Cafe
For inventive children, a craft cafe is an effective way to spend a wet day in Suffolk with children – and there are loads to select from.
In the event you’re in Ipswich, Pennikity Pots Ceramics Cafe provides ceramics portray classes proper within the coronary heart of the town. Or Glass & Craft is one other craft centre round a 15-minute drive away, with glass and ceramic portray, clay moulding, bear making, sand artwork, mosaics, and extra.
Or head to the Wild Raspberry Ceramic Café in Shotley. In addition to portray your individual ceramics – with every part from animal figures to souvenirs and plates – there are a bunch of different workshops together with the prospect to strive printing, make mosaics… or slime.
The Craft Cabin & Tea Room in Glemsford has espresso and truffles in its cafe, in addition to a spread of enjoyable crafts for ages 2+, from portray pottery animals to colouring in and taking part in with loopy sand.
Clip’n’Climb
Energetic children can burn off some power at Clip n Climb, a big indoor climbing centre in Ipswich, with quite a lot of climbing partitions appropriate for various ages and expertise ranges.
There are many workers on the ground to ensure tools is safe and provide assist when wanted. Plus, actual daredevils may also try the exhilarating vertical drop slide and the thrilling leap of religion.
Common climbing classes are appropriate for teenagers 4 years and older. However in the event you do have toddlers who’re too small to climb, the centre additionally has a tender play space and cafe the place you may look ahead to the older children to complete their climbing session.
Go Karting
Whereas Suffolk is dwelling to a number of unbelievable karting tracks, Anglia Indoor Karting in Ipswich is the county’s greatest and greatest indoor karting centre – best when its trying a bit of gloomy outdoors.
The big karting centre has two predominant racing circuits and a smaller household observe, with particular karts out there for youngsters 5 years and above.
Children between 5-7 can benefit from the battery operated mini Kubz Karts, older youngsters (8+) can journey the 200cc engine Kadet Karts, whereas teenagers (16+) will love the speeds they will attain within the 270cc engine grownup karts.
Children can hit the tracks on their very own or mother and father can be part of within the enjoyable too. Simply strive to not get too aggressive with the little ones!
Strive an Escape Room in Suffolk
An escape room is an effective way to check your loved ones’s teamwork, problem-solving, and artistic pondering expertise in an thrilling high-pressure setting.
You’ll all have to work collectively in opposition to the clock to find clues, decode riddles, and resolve puzzles that will help you escape.
There are many thrilling escape rooms all throughout Suffolk, together with Cluetopia in Ipswich, Suffolk Escape Room in Saxmundham, EO Escape in Sudbury, and The Proof Room in Bury St Edmunds.
In the event you’re staying close to the Norfolk-Suffolk border and searching for extra wet day actions, try my decide of the perfect issues to do in Norfolk within the rain with children
Disclosure: This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Christchurch Mansion/Ickworth/Rabbit/Climbing wall courtesy of Depositphotos, all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
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