Rainy days
A rainy day does not mean the end of your day out; there are loads of places along the River Thames where you can have fun indoors. Come rain or shine, there is always somewhere to take the kids.
Visit an interactive museum
There are always family events and activities going on at the River & Rowing Museum. Many of the exhibitions and galleries are specifically designed for all the family to enjoy. Visit the fantastic Wind in the Willows Gallery which brings Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole to life. Gallery trails and drawing activities are always available.
Enjoy a day of history
Basildon Park is a great choice for a family day out. Pick up an activity pack at the entrance and help your kids learn more about the house and its collections. Basildon Park is one of the few National Trust properties that allows kids to touch and feel certain items around the house, offering a more hands on experience. Kids can touch the patterns in the shell room and spot monkeys, elephants and leopards in the Angkor room, hidden in the Indian scene wall painting.
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Experience Tudor life
Packed with fun quizzes, activities, facts and illustrations, the free family trails are the perfect way to explore Hampton Court. Is the palace haunted? Take a ghostly children's trail and see if you can find the ghost of Queen Catherine Howard, one of Henry VIII's wives, but she isn't the only one! Meet characters from the Court of King Henry VIII, with an enjoyable costumed guided tour. Experience the sights and smells of a real Tudor kitchen, which would have catered for 600 people twice a day!
Explore a haunted house
Brave young visitors can explore what is reputedly the most haunted house in Britain. Ham House was home to the extravagant Duchess of Lauderdale, who was renowned as a political schemer during the Civil War and Restoration period. She is said to still haunt its passageways with her pet dog. Family tracker packs are available throughout the open season and family ghost tours are available during the school holidays.
Take a short break
Fancy taking the kids away for the weekend but worried they will get bored if the weather is bad? Then take the family to Runnymede Hotel and Spa, which specially caters for families. With special family breaks including a family ticket to Hampton Court Palace or Windsor Castle, not to mention the hotels indoor children's pool, where there are hours of fun to be had on a rainy day!